YANKEE NOTES
SEATTLE – Going into last night’s game against the Mariners at Safeco Field, the Bombers were wheezing a bit at the top of the order, where Chuck Knoblauch and Derek Jeter were a combined 5-for-28 (.179).
“We are fine, it’s been up and down,” Joe Torre said of a lineup where Jorge Posada was batting .500 and Paul O’Neill was at .417. “You don’t see Derek Jeter go 0-for-5 very often. I think we are swinging the bat fine.”
Jeter bounced into a double play, reached on an error, struck out, grounded to third and flied to center in Wednesday night’s 12-6 loss to the Angels in Anaheim.
A year ago, Jeter reached base in the first 53 games.
Torre knows that Knoblauch will get on base and Jeter will hit, so he isn’t concerned.
And he is comforted by the play of Posada and Shane Spencer. Posada had four hits Wednesday night and Spencer (.182) has home runs in two of the first three games.
Torre also is hopeful that Ricky Ledee is about to break out of an early slump. Ledee, who was 0-for-8 in the first two games, had a pinch-hit, RBI single Wednesday night.
With the Mariners starting lefties John Halama last night and Jamie Moyer tomorrow, the left-handed hitting Ledee isn’t likely to start in left field. Torre can play Roberto Kelly or Spencer.
Ledee started the first two games in center field, but Bernie Williams returned last night after being a DH in the first three games due to tendinitis in his throwing arm.
Torre will stick with Clay Bellinger at third base instead of the recently promoted Alfonso Soriano. Bellinger went 2-for-3 with three RBIs Wednesday against Angels lefty Scott Schoeneweis.
Soriano, called up when Scott Brosius went on the disabled list, will probably start today when the righty Gil Meche pitches.
The Yankees are still interested in Houston catchers Paul Bako and Mitch Meluskey.
RH Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez (1-0; 1.29) faces Meche (0-0; 0.00) today. RH Roger Clemens (0-0; 0.00) draws Moyer (0-1; 2.84) tomorrow.