YANKEE NOTES
The heavy rain that forced last night’s Red Sox-Yankees game to be postponed until Thursday night wasn’t enough to stop Roger Clemens from staying on his rugged work schedule.
While those Yankees who showed up at Yankee Stadium headed home, Clemens, pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre and catcher Mike Figga headed for the bullpen. When it’s time for the Rocket to work, what’s a few million rain drops?
“This works out fine,” Clemens said of him getting to pitch Thursday against the Red Sox on his normal four days of rest. “The work I do now is in line with that.”
Known for his extensive workout programs, Clemens is getting close to resuming his long-distance running program now that his left hamstring will allow it. A five-mile course in Toronto along the water on Friday could be Clemens return. Message therapist Rohan Baichu is Clemens’ likely running partner.
To make sure Clemens stays on his regular work schedule, Joe Torre didn’t make a change in his rotation. Hideki Irabu goes tonight, Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez starts tomorrow and Clemens goes Thursday night. Andy Pettitte faces the Blue Jays Friday.
“This way Clemens gets his regular rest,” Torre said. “There is no sense [pitching him short] if we don’t have to.”
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If Don Zimmer has reached a decision concerning his bothersome right knee, he didn’t tell Torre yesterday. Zimmer, who said Sunday he was going to visit a doctor yesterday about the possibility knee replacement surgery, was at Yankee Stadium yesterday but didn’t discuss his options with the manager.
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While the Yankees didn’t make any roster moves yesterday, they could add Tony Tarasco or Ricky Ledee from Columbus today in order to strengthen a very weak bench.
Promoting Triple-A shortstop D’Angelo Jimenez to take Clay Bellinger’s spot is also an option that would give the Yankees an infielder who could be used as a pinchrunner.
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Irabu (1-2; 5.46 ERA) faces RHP Brian Rose (1-0; 2.00) tonight. Hernandez (4-4; 5.76) opposes RHP Mark Portugal (3-2; 4.02) tomorrow. Clemens (3-0; 4.73) faces RHP Pat Rapp (2-2; 6.21) Thursday night.