YANKEE NOTES The message from Don Zimmer to Hideki Irabu could not have been any clearer.
“Keep [Ramiro] Mendoza in the bullpen,'” Zimmer said he told Irabu, who was informed yesterday that he will start tomorrow night against the Angels while the Yankees make sure Roger Clemens’ left hamstring is 100 percent healed before activating him from the DL.
“That means [Irabu] is doing the job and we have Mendoza where we want him.”
Zimmer spent yesterday meeting with Irabu and Mendoza to spell out to them the Yankees’ pitching plans. Even if Clemens hadn’t returned home to Texas for a funeral yesterday, Zimmer said the five-time Cy Young winner wouldn’t have pitched tomorrow, the day he is eligible to come off the shelf.
With Zimmer listing Saturday’s starter against the White Sox as “to be announced later,” Clemens is a strong possibility for that slot.
Keeping Irabu in the rotation reverts to the Yankees’ plan in spring training. Prior to Irabu melting down on the final day in Florida, the plan called for him to be the No. 5 starter with the rubber-armed Mendoza in the bullpen. Mendoza was moved into the rotation when Irabu came close to quitting.
“If Irabu can do the job, I think we are a better ball club with Mendoza in the bullpen even though he has pitched outstanding,” Zimmer said. “He hasn’t pitched just good, he has pitched outstanding.”
Irabu earned his way back into the rotation by throwing seven strong innings and beating the Mariners 10-1 Friday night. He is 1-0 with a 5.23 ERA in six games (two starts). *Having guessed wrong once about Joe Torre’s return to the Yankees, Zimmer is finished making predictions about when he will hand the lineup card to Torre and go have repairs made on his balky right knee.
Two weeks ago this coming Friday, Torre was asked if he could target a date. His reply was, “Ask me in two weeks.” And while Torre could return during the series against the White Sox that starts Friday, it’s a stronger possibility Torre will resume his job when the Yankees open a three-game series in Boston Tuesday night. *Because of erroneous information from the Florida state’s attorney’s office, Darryl Strawberry’s arraignment date was reported incorrectly in Monday’s Post. The date is May 26. *Jeff Nelson played catch for the first time since going on the DL with an inflamed right elbow last Monday and reported no problems. *RHP David Cone (4-0, 1.34 ERA) faces LHP Chuck Finley (1-3, 5.92) tonight. RHP Irabu (1-0, 5.23) draws RHP Omar Olivares (3-3, 3.52) tomorrow night.