Around the Yankee Galaxy: Unwritten rules and stiff backs

Nick Johnson was held out of yesterday's lineup because his back flared up (presumably after extra batting practice on Friday). Girardi also said he is considering moving NJ down in the lineup.

• An expert on the 'unwritten rules' of baseball said that A-Rod, along with A.J. Pierzynski, are in a class by themselves in terms of breaking those rules. However -

The primary difference between A-Rod and A.J. is that Pierzynski is devious; everything he does on a ball field is calculated... I don't give A-Rod that much credit.

Joe Posnanski wrote an article defending A-Rod -

...it seems to me the key factory here is: It's A-Rod. And all that entails. I mean, let's face it ... if that was Albert Pujols running across the mound, and that was a pitcher who has accomplished as much as Dallas Braden griping about it - say Anibal Sanchez or someone - it seems to be there would be a whole lot of "Shut your fat face, kid," talk going on across the country.

But it's not Pujols. It's A-Rod. And because it's A-Rod, there are suddenly a lot of people saying: "Yeah, you can't just run across the mound - everybody knows that!" Because it's A-Rod there are people admiring Dallas Braden for standing up to the big bully who dared stomp on his new carpet. Because it's A-Rod, the story is lively and the coverage is intense and the opinion seems to be at least leaning Dallas Braden's way. Hey look: Another reason to despise A-Rod!

Here's the video. Take a gander quick before MLB removes it. I feel like I've seen countless other players do that... but is it because they have and the pitcher hasn't cared, or is it because they've come close to the mound but never run over it?

• President Obama will welcome the defending champion Yankees into the White House tomorrow. Andy Pettitte said -

Some of us have been a little spoiled with all these trips to the White House, but it's obviously an honor. Anytime we get a chance, we know it's a good day for us.