SEATTLE MARINERS
Ichiro Suzuki, CF
Jose Lopez, 2B
Raul Ibanez, LF
Adrian Beltre, 3B
Jeff Clement, DH
Richie Sexson, 1B
Wladimir Balentien, RF
Jaime Burke, C
Yuniesky Betancourt, SS
NEW YORK YANKEES
Melky Cabrera, CF
Derek Jeter, SS
Bobby Abreu, RF
Shelley Duncan, 1B
Hideki Matsui, LF
Jason Giambi, DH
Morgan Ensberg, 3B
Jose Molina, C
Alberto Gonzalez, 2B
PREGAME NOTES:
- Although there is no official confirmation from the team, Jim Baumbach reports that Jorge Posada's doctors have essentially all prescribed rest, which is obviously the best case scenario. According to Girardi, Posada will likely need two weeks of rest and two weeks of strengthening his shoulder and then a rehab assignment. Think mid-June at the earliest.
- Phil Hughes saw an eye specialist and was told he's slightly nearsighted so he'll probably be wearing glasses the next time he takes the mound because he dislikes contacts. Maybe Rickey Vaughn can find him a pair of sporty-looking specs?
- Jose Veras is with the club and replaces Hughes on the active roster. Darrell Rasner is not currently on the active roster, so it's likely Veras or perhaps Kennedy could get sent down on Sunday to make room for him.
- The Yanks come into this series losers of their last 3 games and 6 of their last 8 games.
- Erik Bedard is a lifetime 4-3, 3.58 ERA in 11 games (10 starts) against the Yanks, but has thoroughly dominated them in his last 5 starts (3-0, 1.64 ERA, 0.88 WHIP).
- Chien-Ming Wang is a lifetime 6-0, 2.51 ERA, 0.91 WHIP in 6 starts against the Mariners, including 2-0, 1.17 ERA, 0.65 WHIP in two starts last season.
- Yanks career numbers vs. Bedard can be viewed here. Mariners career numbers vs. Wang can be viewed here.
Pete Abe now has official confirmation on Posada's ailing shoulder. He has been diagnosed with rotator cuff tendinitis. Rest and rehab is the solution. Posada claims that surgery is a possibility but not until the offseason.