MLB

YANKS COULD SKIP JOBA’S FIRST TURN IN ROTATION

TAMPA – The Yankees are contemplating skipping Joba Chamberlain during the first trip through the rotation for two reasons:

One, with a 150-innings limit on his electric right arm it would be a way of attaining that goal.

Two, it would allow the Yankees to open the new Yankee Stadium with CC Sabathia, their $161 million ace.

“It’s in the mix,” manager Joe Girardi said yesterday when asked if skipping Chamberlain was an option.

Sabathia will open the season in Baltimore on April 6. Because the Yankees don’t play on April 7, Sabathia could return April 10 in Kansas City. Five days later he would be ready to hurl against the Indians, his original team, in the home opener.

A fifth starter isn’t needed until April 12 in Kansas City and that could be Chamberlain’s debut.

If that’s the case, Chamberlain could fall in between Sabathia and Wang in the rotation.

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A year ago Phil Hughes‘ every pitch was watched with anticipation since he was being counted on to be a major part of the rotation.

Hughes made his first start of the exhibition season with absolutely no chance of cracking the rotation unless a starter is injured in Florida. Even if a starter goes down, the nod might go to Alfredo Aceves or Brett Tomko.

“I was given an opportunity,” said the 22-year-old Hughes, who was 0-4 with a 6.62 ERA in eight games a year ago when he missed three months with a stress fracture in the right ribs. “I don’t feel I was not prepared or too young. I struggled and got hurt.”

Hughes, who will open the season at Triple-A, worked two scoreless innings yesterday in a 5-1 win over the Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Attempting to work inside Hughes hit two batters and walked one.

“I was ahead in the count and went [inside] for effect,” Hughes said. “I caught a couple of sleeves. I wasn’t trying to hit them. I was trying to get the ball in, not for a strike, but in.”

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George Steinbrenner attended the exhibition season opener, watching from his box behind the plate. The Boss sat with Reggie Jackson and granddaughters, who wore Derek Jeter shirts. Assisted by an aide, Steinbrenner left in the eighth inning with wife Joan and daughter Jessica.

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Nick Swisher inadvertently got caught in “Cousin Gate” Wednesday in Dunedin. Looking for a ride back to Tampa, Swisher asked Alex Rodriguez for a lift. Swisher entered the SUV before Rodriguez and had no idea the diver was Yuri Sucart, Rodriguez’s cousin, whom Rodriguez outed as his steroid mule.

“I didn’t know who he was but I do now,” Swisher said.

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Because Brian Bruney likely will play a big role in the Yankees’ eighth-inning plans, manager Joe Girardi said he was happy to see the hard-throwing right-hander put together an effective outing.

“He pounded the zone pretty good. That’s what I like to see,” Girardi said of Bruney, who didn’t allow a hit and fanned one in a solo inning.

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Wang, Chamberlain and Sabathia threw in the bullpen yesterday. Sabathia is scheduled for a simulated game Sunday and will make his spring debut a week from today.

Bernie Williams, whose final workout is today, threw out the first pitch. Williams is in camp working out before joining Puerto Rico’s team for the World Baseball Classic.