Brian Cashman’s No. 1 priority is to upgrade the Yankees’ pitching staff before the Red Sox run away from his last-place club.
Still, the only hurler available hasn’t decided he wants to pitch. And if Roger Clemens does work this season, it might not be for the Yankees if they continue to stumble.
“By the end of May,” agent Randy Hendricks said yesterday via e-mail when asked about Clemens’ timetable for a decision. “There is no particular date in mind but it sure isn’t now.”
According to multiple executives, the 44-year-old Clemens is the only chucker to get.
“Nobody is completely out of it, so nobody is talking about giving up pitching,” the exec said. “Rocket is the only guy out there.”
If the Indians tumble out of playoff contention, they are expected to deal lefty ace C.C. Sabathia since they aren’t expected to sign him.
*
Phil Hughes didn’t look like a nervous wreck last Thursday when he turned in a pedestrian performance against the Blue Jays in his major league debut. However, tonight in Texas against the Rangers the 20-year-old right-hander believes he will be calmer.
“I think I won’t be feeling as much [nerves] as I had in the first one. Along with a couple of adjustments I want to make, I figure it should go well and I’m looking forward to it,” said Hughes, who gave up four runs and seven hits in 41/3 innings of a 6-0 loss.
“Especially in this type of stage, I tend to get a little bit anxious and I rush out instead of really gathering myself and slowing everything down. That’ll be the one thing I really try to focus on tonight.”
*
Johnny Damon saw a chiropractor yesterday in Orlando about his balky back and is slated to be with the team tonight. Damon has two hits in 14 at-bats and is batting .229.
Derek Jeter takes a 17-game hitting streak into tonight. It’s the longest active streak in the AL. Jeter has hit in 20 of the 21 games he has had an official at-bat and 56 of his last 58 regular season games.
*
Joe Torre‘s 75-year-old brother Frank will receive a kidney transplant today in New York from his daughter.