Jeter hurts hand, is fine

After diving for a Pat Burrell single in yesterday’s 6-4 victory over the Rays, Derek Jeter came up favoring his right hand. Girardi and Captain both said the hand is fine and it will not affect the shortstop’s playing time. However, the “injury” produced the greatest headline in the history of headlines, “Jeter bangs hand.” Minka Kelly must be jealous. Although I guess she’s probably glad he didn’t bang a Neo-Nazi covered in tattoos.

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CC fanned eight batters over 5 1/3 innings during the Yankees’ 6-2 victory over the Tigers on Friday. The ‘pen held strong and A-Rod went yard, but The Coward didn’t play.

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RAB takes a look at the Spring Training winners and losers for the Yankees. Some of the names on there might surprise you. For example, did you ever expect Colin Curtis to be atop the list of anything regarding the offense? For that matter, did you even know the name Colin Curtis before this spring? Two three-run jacks so far in Spring, you know him now.

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Nick The Stick tweaked his swing, which (he hopes) will make fans forget the name Hideki Matsui. An easier way to do that would be to remain a stalwart as the DH and not the DL. If he can keep up the production he has seen in ST during the regular season, there’s no telling how many games the Yanks could win.

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RAB examines the Wily Mo Pena trade, including the Drew Henson era. Drew Henson: just another reminder of why I hate the University of Michigan. Speaking of trades, Joel Sherman reports that the Yanks are almost certain to deal Chad Gaudin or Sergio Mitre prior to the start of the season. With an ample amount of arms in the back end of the rotation, I guess it’s the right move and a good problem to have. I wish they had more problems like that. Mike Axisa of RAB weighs in as to which player is more likely to be dealt, where each guy might end up and why it is the right move.

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The Yanks made it official with Kevin Towers, naming him a special assignment scout. And by “special” I don’t mean special like the Kleinaman boy down the street. More special like, like Special K the cereal. Hey, what do they do with the regular K?…Chamberlain was solid in a three-inning stint against the Phillies scrubs…Mike Vaccaro uses Tex as a lesson to all players who come to New York. Vaccaro seems like the kind of guy who (and I can say this since I’m Italian) covers all his furniture in plastic and is incapable of talking with his hands in his pockets…Mikey V, checking in again, attempts to define Joba Chamberlain…D-Rob stating his case to be the bridge to Mo…Tex’ 8-year/$180 million deal with the Yanks is apparently “comparable” to what Joe Mauer might get with the Twinkies…Rangers manager Ron Washington LOVES drugs, even during his playing days.