New York Yankees

If you were a Yankee fan watching this game, chances are you didn’t move for a good two or three innings while C.C. Sabathia put together a great rebound performance after his shaky first start against Boston.

Actually "great" is probably an understatement, since he went 7.2 innings before allowing a single to Kelly Shoppach (who is now forever hated by Yankee fans). Sabathia only struck out five, but was absolutely dominant the whole time he was in the game.

After seven and two-thirds innings of no-hit ball Saturday afternoon in Tampa Bay, C.C. Sabathia was within striking distance of his first career no-hitter.

Just four outs to go.

Update : With two outs in the eighth inning, Sabathia lost his no-hit bid on a base hit to left field by Tampa catcher Kelly Shoppach.

I know some people might blast me for posting this, but I’m not overly superstitious and I know that nothing I do here in New York is going to change anything going on in Tampa.

CC Sabathia is on the mound for the Yankees fifth game of the season today. It is a spot where the Yankees could have gone with their fifth starter, but instead left him, Phil Hughes, down in Tampa to participate in extended spring training.

Well last night’s game was a debacle, but the Yankees have their ace, CC Sabathia (0-0, 8.44 ERA), out there today trying to right the ship against rookie RHP Wade Davis (0-0, no ERA) and the Tampa Bay Rays.

Sabathia was strong in his last start until he fell apart in the sixth inning giving up three runs on two hits and a walk before he was pulled. The Yankees are hoping that his stamina improves today. Here are some Yankee notes:

The New York Yankees have one player, Nick Swisher, who can play at least three positions; right field, first base, and pitcher.

Last night offered an opportunity for him to be used in the last role, after he was successful in his debut almost a year ago against the same Tampa Bay Rays, pitching one full inning of scoreless ball.

In baseball, the umpires are looked upon to make the tough calls. They know many of their decisions will be hated by some and loved by others. So for Joe West, a seasoned ump with 32 years of major league experience, his latest decision should have been a no-brainer.

He should have kept his mouth shut.

Brett Gardner did not start last night in the New York Yankees' fourth game of the season. Brett Gardner did not play in the game.

Apparently Gardner was sore. As best as can be determined, his derriere was sore from sitting on the bench.

It is inexplicable that Gardner, who was declared the starting left fielder, has now been benched in half of the Yankees' first four games.

Someone once said: "Dorothy, you're not in Kansas anymore."

Last night, Javier Vazquez at times looked as though he might have been looking for his ruby slippers.

Javy, you're not in Atlanta anymore.

Many Yankee fans and most of the Yankee brass have trumpeted the return of Vazquez as just what the Yankees needed. They've pointed to the Yankees' lack of a fourth starter in the playoffs last season and proclaimed that Vazquez solves that problem.

The Tampa Bay Rays saw two Javier Vazquez's tonight.

In innings one, two, three, and five, they faced a pitcher whose velocity and command made him difficult to hit. The Rays went down in order in the first, third, and fifth, and couldn't score off Vazquez after putting two men on base to begin the second.

During those four innings, Vazquez fanned five Rays, who simply couldn't hit the ball hard against the right-hander.