Asbury Park Press from Asbury Park, New Jersey • Page 43

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2009 ASBURY PARK PRESS BASEBALL www.app.com page cb closer to starter: Girardi, Cashman reassured by solid outing YANKEES NOTES Albdadejo wins find bullpen spot iia Mm. stup feraard Yank pitcher Joba Chamberlain throw en of hi warmup pitch prior to facing Cincinnati In spring training on Monday. The starter pitched into the sixth Inning of the Yankee' win over the Red, (apphoto) Jonathan Albaladejo won the competition for the final spot in the New York Yankees' bullpen. Albaladejo beat out three long-relief candidates, who were sent to the minors on Tuesday. Alfredo Aceves and Dan Giese were optioned to ScrantonWUkes-Barre, while Brett Tomko was reassigned to the Class AAA club.

Catcher Kevin Cash also was reassigned to New York's top farm team. "It was a tough decision," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "Albie has pitched well. He throws strikes. He's tough." Tomko had been considered the front-runner for the spot but the Yankees opted to keep Albaladejo instead of any of the possible long relievers.

Albaladejo and Phil Coke can throw multiple innings and could fill that void. "I'm extremely disappointed," Tomko said. "I respect their decision. I feel like I pitched my way onto this team. They said they wanted to go with a short (inning) guy and not a long man.

I can do that. That's what the frustration comes from." Tomko can opt of his contract in June. Cashman said Tomko and Giese likely will work out of the bullpen. The projected Class AAA rotation is Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, Kei Igawa, Jason Johnson and Aceves. Damaso Marte and Brian Bruney will be the setup men for Yankees closer Mariano Rivera.

Jose Veras and Edwar Ramirez also will work in relief. The competition for a backup infielder spot between Angel Berroa and Ramiro Pena might not be decided until late this week. RODRIGUEZ PROGRESSING: Alex Rodriguez is making progress in rehab after hip surgery and could soon move his workouts from Colorado to the New York Yankees' spring training complex. A firm date for the switch to Tampa, is not set, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman (3a Efee THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SARASOTA, Fla. This time, Joba Chamberlain stuck around.

Chamberlain pitched into the sixth inning Tues-, day, a step forward in his development as a starter, I and the New York Yankees i took advantage of four Cin-1 cinnati errors in a 6-3 vic-j tory over the Reds, who I played the last few innings 7 without their ejected man-'j ager. The Yankees wanted Chamberlain to pitch six innings for the first time this spring, and he came close. The right-hander allowed five hits and two runs in 5 innings, leaving after the Reds scored twice. "Good," Chamberlain said. "It's still got to get better.

Velocity and attacking the (strike) zone, I felt good. It was something to build on." The Yankees' fifth starter hadn't lasted longer than 4Vs innings in any of his five previous games this spring, going a total of 14 innings. It was Chamberlain's final chance to pitch deeper into a game, and he did what the Yankees wanted, striking out six along the way. "It's what we wanted to see from him," manager Joe Girardi said. "A good step.

He was pretty good today. He was anywhere between 90-96 (mph) today." Chamberlain began last season in the bullpen, then moved into the rotation in late May and made 12 starts. He wound up leading all AL rookies in ERA (2.60) and was second with 118 strikeouts. "Here's a young man who started for a couple months (last season)," Girardi said. "I think be- that way." Melky Cabrera drove in three runs with a double and a sacrifice fly, leading a lineup that got plenty of help from Cincinnati's defense, i Reds manager Dusty Baker was ejected by plate umpire D.J.

Reyburn following a heated argument in the sixth inning. It was an unusual outburst by Baker, who was ejected only once last season. The blowup came after someone in the Reds dugout yelled something at Reyburn, who turned and said something back. Baker, who was seated next to the dugout on a folding chair, got into an animated exchange with the umpire and was ejected. Instead of leaving the field immediately Baker would have had to walk along the right-field foul line and leave through a gate he told crew chief Charlie Reliford that he cause he was dominating out of the 'pen, I think people expected him to pitch like that every inning as a starter.

It's not going to happen. Joba has so many expectations on him and I'm not sure he can live up to the expectations. "He has a chance to be a top-end starter, which we all know is very hard to come by. He has that potential." Chamberlain has been inconsistent this spring, which made his appearance on Tuesday reassuring. "A little bit of a roUer coaster," general manager Brian Cashman said, describing his performances.

"Early on, the velocity was down. Then he was up. His last outing, he reverted a little bit back. He says he feels fantastic. "I know last spring he was very unimpressive, and when it was lights, camera, action, it was game on.

Some people are was going to watch the rest of the Inning from the dugout. "I said, 'Hey, man, I ain't leaving right now because I ain't walking down Baker said. "It's a long walk. I wasn't going to hold up the game. I told Charlie I'll leave after the inning." Micah Owings gave up four runs only one of them earned and six hits in five-plus innings, striking out five.

Owings is in line to be the fifth starter, although Baker hasn't made it official. "I haven't heard yet," Owings said. "I know that stuff takes care of itself." Notes Yankees DH Hideki Mat-sui was limited in drills by a stiff neck. Girardi said Matsui could play today. Yankees RF Xavier Nady said he was OK after being hit on the left elbow by a pitch in the sixth.

He left the game with a bruise. Etes NOTES said Tuesday. But he said the latest it would be is April 13. "We're still talking about it," Cashman said. The Yankees open a three-game road series at Tampa Bay on April 13.

"Everything is going well," Cashman said. "He's working extremely hard. Everything is going as planned." Rodriguez had surgery in Vail, on March 9 and the Yankees don't expect the third baseman to rejoin the team until about May 15. Cashman added that the three-time AL MVP has indicated he hopes to be back sooner. Rodriguez has started lightly swinging a bat, and manager Joe Girardi received a message from the star, slugger saying he was set to resume throwing this week.

"He was going to up his work level a little bit more," Girardi said. "His rehab is taking another step. Seemed like he was in a good frame of mind. We miss him and he misses us." MISSING VOICE: The new Yankee Stadium won't sound nearly the same on opening day. Bob Sheppard, the longtime voice of the New York Yankees, will miss the start of the season while he continues to recover from a bronchial infection.

Now in his late 90s, Sheppard became the public-address announcer at the old Yankee Stadium in 1951. He missed last season because of his illness. "I will not be able to be at Yankee Stadium for the series with the Cubs or opening Day," Sheppard said in a statement Tuesday. "My personal physician advised me to wait until I am ready. I am looking forward to doing games in the new stadium." The Yankees host exhibition games with the Chicago Cubs on Friday night and Saturday.

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732-451-1077 1 1 Grumpys Tackle Custom Rods, Rod and Reel Repair 906 NE Central Ave. 732-830-1900 Fish Bonz Bait Tackle Rod Reel Repairs 103 LaceyRoad 609-9712928 Mets finalize 25-man roster THE ASSOCIATED PRESS PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -The New York Mets' Opening Day roster is set. The Mets reassigned right-hander Elmer Des-sens and outfielder Bobby Kielty to their minor-league camp and waived right-hander Fernando Nieve on Tuesday, leaving 25 players in the major league camp.

Outfielders Marlon Anderson and Jeremy Reed earned the final bench spot's, and right-handers Darren O'Day and Bobby Parnell secured spots in the bullpen. Outfielder Nick Evans will remain with the team until April 11 when fifth-starter Livan Hernandez is called up for his first start. After that, Evans, who is batting .274 with three home runs and 12 RBI, will head to Class AAA Buffalo. Also, the Mets released veteran infielder Jose Valentin, pitcher Tony Armas Jr. and second baseman Junior Spivey from the minor-league camp.

Dessens pitched three innings in the spring, giving up four hits and two walks. Kielty batted .296 with one home run and 10 RBI in 24 games. Nieve posted a 3.00 ERA in six innings, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks. Valentin, 39, had just been reassigned on Friday. He played for the Mets in 2006 and part of 2007, but spent all of last season in the minor leagues and could be nearing retirement after 16 seasons in the majors.

He batted .267 with one home run and three RBI in 17 games this spring. Armas, 30, appeared in three games for the Mets last year before having season-ending sports hernia surgery on Aug. 17. He spent the majority of last season with Class AAA New Orleans and finished 5-7 with a 2.54 ERA in 17 starts. 1 Fred's Bait and Tackle 'The Friendly Bait Shop" 2001 Route 35 South 732-721-4747 In his final spring-training tuneup Tuesday night, Brett Myers allowed one run in four innings and flashed his poker face when asked if he would be the Phillies' starter for their season opener.

"He didn't tell you?" manager Charlie Manuel said. "I didn't think he could keep a secret." It's a secret no longer. Myers, the Phillies' Opening-Day starter for the past two seasons, will start the nationally televised opener Sunday night at Citizens Bank Park. He'll be followed in the rotation by Jamie Moyer (April 7), Joe Blanton (April 8) and Cole Hamels (April 10). Myers will start April 11 before Chan Ho Park starts April 12.

Last season, Myers went 10-13 with a 4.55 ERA. But he was 3-9 with a 5.84 ERA before the All-Star break and spent three weeks in the minors, then went 7-4 with a 3.06 ERA in his final 13 starts. He will be a free agent after this season. "Brett can have any type of year that Brett wants to have," pitching coach Rich Dubee said. "He's that talented.

If he takes the same mindset out there every five days, there's no reason Brett can't have a big season." Hamels initially was scheduled to start the opener, but was slowed two weeks ago by elbow tightness. TIGERS RELEASE SHEFF: Gary Sheffield's next home run will be his 500th in the major leagues. The question is: What uniform will he be wearing when he hits it? The Detroit Tigers released the nine-time All-Star on Tuesday, leaving him without a team as he closes in on becoming the 25th player to reach the milestone. The World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies, however, quickly called the slugger to see if there was a fit. Sheffield left Tigers camp as the rest of his former teammates were reporting for an afternoon game against the Washington The 40-year-old Sheffield hit .178 in 18 spring training games this year.

The designated hitter had eight hits, including five home runs, in 45 at-bats. Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said the team talked to Sheffield and his agent. Raul Ibanez, Shane Victo-rino and Jayson Werth start in the outfield, and the Phillies aren't sure whether Sheffield would agree to be a backup. BUEHRLE GETS THE NOD: Mark Buehrle got a nice treat after throwing six solid Innings Tuesday another Opening-Day start.

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen made the announcement after Buehrle gave up two runs, one earned, and five hits in a 4-1 loss to Colorado. He struck out four and walked two. Monday's game against the Kansas City Royals will be the left-hander's seventh opening-day start, tying him with Billy Pierce for most in franchise history. BURRISS AT KEYSTONE FOR GIANTS: Emmanuel Burriss will open the season as the starting second baseman for the San Francisco Giants as the team moved closer to finalizing its 25-man roster. The Giants optioned Kevin Frandsen to Class AAA Fresno on Tuesday, giving the job to Burriss after a strong competition in spring training.

WINFIELD JOINS ESPN: Hall of Famer Dave Winfield has joined ESPN as a Baseball Tonight analyst. Winfield will mainly work Sundays and select Mondays with host Karl Ra-vech and analysts Peter Gammons and John Kruk throughout the season. Winfield will make his first appearance Sunday before the opening game between Atlanta and Philadelphia. He played 22 seasons for six teams and was a 12-time All-Star and seven-time Gold Glove winner. He had 3,110 hits and 465 home runs and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001.

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