By MIKE PUMA
June 19, 2008
Hideki Matsui doesn't know the cause of his sore left knee, but manager Joe Girardi said it might be the result of playing the outfield twice in three days last weekend in Houston. Whatever the cause, Matsui was absent from last night's starting lineup against the Padres. But after the Yankees' 8-5 victory, Matsui said he had fluid drained from his knee and is feeling much better. He doesn't expect a trip to the disabled list.
Jason Giambi shifted to Matsui's familiar DH spot and Wilson Betemit took Giambi's place at first base.
"We thought we would just give him a day off and see how he is," Girardi said. "It's just a day to get him feeling better."
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The Yankees signed veteran right-hander Sidney Ponson to a minor-league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Ponson, who pitched briefly for the Yankees in 2006, was recently released by the Rangers for off-field issues.
GM Brian Cashman said Ponson could be a candidate to start one of the split doubleheader games against the Mets next Friday.
Ponson, who was 4-1 with a 3.88 ERA for Texas, has a history of off-field trouble, including arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol. It was reported that Ponson last month drank too much and had to be removed from the bar at the team hotel the night before he pitched.
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With Dan Giese shifted to the starting rotation - at least on a temporary basis - to fill Chien-Ming Wang's spot, Girardi intends to use LaTroy Hawkins as a long reliever, if needed.
"He could give us 50 pitches if we asked," Girardi said.
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A Hard Rock Cafe will open in the new Yankee Stadium. The 7,000-square-foot restaurant will operate year-round in right field when the park makes its debut next season.
