LOS ANGELES — If not for FOX, America would have seen Alex Rodriguez and Joe Torre not shake hands before the Bombers’ 2-1 win last night at Yankee Stadium.
Just yards away from his former home, the former Yankees manager would have chatted with Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, Joba Chamberlain and Reggie Jackson on the field in The Bronx.
Because of FOX, the Yankees-Dodgers series was 3,000 miles away at Dodger Stadium instead.
According to several sources, there was a draft of the 2010 schedule last year that had the Dodgers at Yankee Stadium. It made sense because the Yankees played at Dodger Stadium six years ago.
Nevertheless, FOX wanted Manny Ramirez in Boston last weekend for the first time since leaving the Red Sox over Torre’s initial visit to Yankee Stadium since the messy 2008 divorce.
Because of the Torre angle to the series, some believed the Yankees didn’t want Torre to return. But that’s not true.
“I know for a fact the Yankees wanted to play the Dodgers at home. That is a fact,” a source with knowledge of the scheduling not connected to the Dodgers or Yankees told The Post yesterday. “It was at a time when the Yankees were having trouble selling some of their seats, and they know how big of a weekend it would be.”
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After hours of watching film with Jorge Posada and bench coach Tony Pena, A.J. Burnett said he believes his recent poor stretch of pitching isn’t related to tipping pitches with the position of his glove or where he sets from the stretch.
“We looked at that and no,” said Burnett, who starts tonight against the Dodgers and is 0-4 with a 10.35 ERA in his last four starts. “The only thing is my front side is clearing out so [hitters] can see what I am doing. Instead of lifting, I tend to swing out quick and they can pick the ball up pretty easily.”
Burnett worked on correcting that delivery flaw in the bullpen after his last outing, in which the Diamondbacks spanked him for seven runs and nine hits (three homers) on Monday night in Phoenix.
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Having talked briefly to Joe Torre at the team hotel Thursday, Andy Pettitte wasn’t part of the parade of Yankees to approach the Dodgers skipper during batting practice. Torre was dropping off trainers Gene Monahan and Steve Donohue after having breakfast with them.
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Jennifer Steinbrenner was slated to represent the family for the three games against the Dodgers. . . . Billy Crystal was on the field during batting practice chatting with Torre. . . . The Red Hot Chili Peppers, who performed the National Anthem, shook the half-empty stadium practicing during batting practice.
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A year ago the Yankees gave Gary Sanchez $3 million to sign as a 16-year-old. Their theory was that the catcher was a player with a very high ceiling and that if they didn’t sign him other clubs would.
While it’s very early, Sanchez is rewarding the Yankees by hitting .308 (4-for-13) with a homer and six RBIs in three games for the Gulf Coast League Yankees.
Considering his age, it was a lot of money. Now, as the July 2 signing date for 16 year-old players from Latin America approaches, Sanchez’s bonus is a hot topic.
Agents and families of the players believe Sanchez’s money is the baseline for this year’s class. However, the common feeling among clubs who are active scouting in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela say the talent pool doesn’t include a player like Sanchez and overall lacks the depth of recent years.
“It’s a very down year talent wise,” a baseball official said. “There are teams that are going to overpay to pay the better players who aren’t that good. The prices people are asking for are ridiculous.”
The Yankees aren’t poised to drop $3 million on a player, but that doesn’t mean they are ignoring this year’s class.
There is a belief among scouts in Latin America that the Yankees already have agreed on a deal with Javier Pimental, a shortstop from the Dominican. And they like power-hitting third baseman Elvis Sanchez, who has been working out in Tampa.
In an odd twist of fate, the Yankees could sign players from a baseball academy that former Yankees honcho Steve Swindal is part of. The facility is close to the Yankees’ complex in Boca Chica in the Dominican.
According to scouts, Esteilon Peguero and Vicmal DeLacruz are among the better players in the academy, which is also close to the Mets’ and Phillies’ facilities.
Several teams have linked Roughned Odor, a shortstop from Venezuela, to the Yankees, but they have heard that he is seeking in the $1.8 million area and that is far too rich for the Yankees for the 5-foot-11, 160-pounder, who projects as a possible second baseman due to an average arm.
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As is their routine, the Yankees held an optional hitting workout yesterday afternoon. Following a day off on the road, the Yankees like to hit and the turnout was good.
Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson, Nick Swisher, Posada and Francisco Cervelli were among the early workers.
The infielders also took the advantage to familiarize themselves with the Dodger Stadium infield.
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The Yankees promoted 2007 first-round pick Andrew Brackman to Double-A Trenton yesterday. The 6-foot-10 right-hander was awful last season (2-12, 5.91 ERA) for Low-A Charleston, his first in pro ball after missing the 2008 season thanks to Tommy John surgery. But since returning from an injured finger on his pitching hand early this season, he’s been excellent for High-A Tampa.
In his last 10 starts, Brackman 5-2 with a 3.81 ERA, striking out 51 and walking eight in 52 innings.
— Tim Bontemps