Derek Jeter, who hasn’t played in the last two games after fouling a ball off his right knee, expects to play tonight as the Yanks open their set in Beantown. “I hope so,” he said yesterday. “That’s the plan, but I haven’t done anything. We’ll see when we get there tomorrow.”

Pedro Feliciano and Damaso Marte both suffered setbacks in their rehab, and will most likely not return this year.

The decision could mean that Rocket won’t have to face another trial due to double jeopardy. The judge has set a hearing date for September 2 to determine whether or not Roger can be constitutionally tried a second time.

Judge Walton:

Sadly I have reached a conclusion that to permit this case to go forward with the government having done what it did, Mr. Clemens will not get a fair trial before this jury. So I will declare a mistrial.

Walton also told prosecutors that this was a “first-year law student mistake.” Boom roasted. You can follow along with the NY Post’s coverage of the case or the Washington Post’s, if you prefer.

Call me crazy, but I’m happy for Clemens. Regardless of whether or not he used steroids (he definitely did) he will always be one of my favorites. He always went out there every five days and left everything he had on the mound.

• The Yanks have called up Greg Golson to  replace A-Rod on the roster. You’ll best remember the outfielder from a game last season when he threw out Carl Crawford at third to end a game against the Rays. The speedy outfielder will be activated in time for tonight’s tilt against the Blue Jays.
• The Yanks have signed former Phillies banned-substance user World Series hero to a minor-league deal after the Nationals released him today. The team has been searching for left-handed relief, and Romero could be just the guy to help Boone Logan out with LOOGY situations. There’s a chance JC could pitch tonight in Scranton.
• George King stirs some shit about Cashman not returning to the Yanks. King suggests Cash could end up with the Cubbies. However, I’m not too worried because these same rumors surfaced about Girardi going to the Cubs during the 2010 postseason.
• After missing nearly three months with a strained groin, Mark Prior threw 24 pitches — with a fastball that reached 90 mph — for the GCL Yankees against Atlanta minor leaguers on Wednesday. So also threw yesterday. He tossed 25 pitches during his second batting practice session since going on the DL. Pedro Feliciano resumed a light throwing program and Damaso Marte is continuing to throw off a bullpen mound. Also in that article, the team finalized a contract with 24-year-old Cuban righty Reinier Casanova and assigned him to the GCL Yankees. I’m excited about his arrival because there could be two nicknames for him: you could take the easy route and go with a play on Casanova or get more creative and make a Rainier Wolfcastle reference. I’m looking forward to this, I really am.

Good AJ was indeed in the building tonight, it’s a shame the offense couldn’t get him a win.

As for the offense, seven of the first 15 batters reached — including a bases-loaded situation with no outs in the first and a first-and-second situation with no outs in the second — but, obviously, no one scored. The team finished 0-for-7 with RISP and left eight men on base. Plus, two of the final 21 batters reached base (one walk, one hit).

As a matter of fact, the Cleveland starter, Carlos Carrasco, was at 56 pitches with one out in the third but after a Swisher double play to end the inning he retired the next eight batters on 19 pitches.

To add injury to insult, Jeter left the game after the fifth inning with a sore right calf. He was sent for an MRI and Girardi said his gut feeling is Jeet won’t play tomorrow. Update: the MRI revealed a Grade 1 strain of the calf. The next step will be decided tomorrow. Also, Russell Martin was scratched an hour before first pitch with lower back stiffness. Cervelli started in his place and struck out three times.

At least they won three of four from them. I’ll take it, I guess.

CC will go against Alexi Ogando tomorrow at 7:05 in the opener of a three-game set with the Rangers.

Other injury updates:

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The Yanks split the season series with the Rangers 4-4, with the Yanks scoring 39 runs and allowing 33. For those of you scoring at home, I’m predicting the Yanks in five games.

In case you haven’t heard, the Yanks will go with a four-man rotation in the ALCS and AJ Burnett will be the team’s fourth starter. Burnett didn’t sniff the field in the ALDS but I’m first in line to hop back on the AJ bandwagon, I think he turns in a lights-out performance in whatever game he pitches. I’ve got faith in you buddy, don’t let me down.

The only thing set in stone regarding the rotation is that CC will get the nod in Game 1. Andy and Phil will of course be the second and third starters, but it hasn’t been decided yet who will go in Games 2 and 3. Many of the beatwriters are predicting CC-Philthy-Pettitte-AJ-CC-Philthy-Pettitte against CJ Wilson-Colby Lewis-Lee-Tommy Hunter-Wilson-Lewis-Lee.

Larry Koestler over at Yankeeist has broken down the team numbers. It’s a fantastic read if you get the chance.

Also, Damaso Marte — who last pitched on July 7 — will most likely need surgery on his left shoulder and is obviously out for the rest of the postseason. It’s a shame because he was lights out in the 2009 postseason.

Game 1 is set for Friday night at 8:05 in Texas.

LET’S GO YANKS!!!!

I cannot lie to you… I wrote about three paragraphs and didn’t like anything that I wrote. Not that I think the words stunk, but because the middle relief has me effin’ frustrated!!! Thanks for melting down during the first game at the new Yankee Stadium, guys (Boxscore). So, I’ll keep this short. Damaso Marte obviously cannot pitch in pinstripes (5.40 ERA in 18.1 innings in 2008; 27.00 ERA in 2.0 innings thus far in 2009). Jose Veras is about half-crappy compared to Marte as Veras has a 13.50 ERA in 3.1 innings in 2009. And Phil Coke needs to pitch like he did in 2008 (0.61 ERA/14 K/2 BB/5 Holds in 14.2 innings) because he’s relatively looking like ish right now (9.00 ERA/5 K/3 BB in 4.0 innings). Am I overreacting? YES! Did my heart just skip a beat in anger? MAYBE! Do I follow the five second rule when it comes to food dropping on the floor and not eat a piece of fried chicken skin that has laid on the floor for six seconds? NO!

In all seriousness, how do the Yankees solve this early season problem?

We need more Nick Swisher, perhaps? Or do we start that whole debate all over again about Joba Chamberlain going in the bullpen? What do you all think? Leave your comments and vote in the poll to the right. Personally, another “Mariano Rivera killing it in the middle innings before handing the ball off to John Wetteland in the ninth” type of scenario sounds nice right about now.