Hidden by the semi-brawl yesterday between the Yankees and Rays was another nice outing by Mike Mussina. His last two starts have given Yankee fans hope for 2008. His first start of Spring Training was not as promising. Mussina was spotting the ball well yesterday and getting the calls. He was also pitching inside; something he has not done much during his career. The 12-6 curve looked good as well. Let's hope "Moose" continues to roll as the Yankees plan to limit innings for Chamberlain, Kennedy, and Hughes. That means Wang, Pettitte, and Mussina must give the Yankees 185+ innings each.

Melky Cabrera and Shelley Duncan will sit the first three games of the 2008 season:

Cabrera, Duncan suspended 3 games each; Gomes 2 games

NEW YORK (AP)—Yankees center fielder Melky Cabrera and first baseman Shelley Duncan were suspended for three games each for their roles in Wednesday’s spring-training fracas between New York and the Tampa Bay Rays.

Tampa outfielder Jonny Gomes was suspended for two games Friday. All three players were fined along with Yankees manager Joe Girardi, third-base coach Bobby Meacham and hitting coach Kevin Long.

The suspensions, unless appealed, will start at the beginning of the regular season.

Bob Watson, baseball’s vice president for discipline, cited Duncan for “violent and reckless actions, which incited the bench-clearing incident,” and penalized Cabrera for “violent and aggressive actions during the incident.” Gomes was suspended for “violent actions, which escalated” the situation.

Benches cleared during the second inning of Wednesday’s game, four days after Girardi complained about Tampa Bay’s aggressive play after a collision at the plate that injured catcher Francisco Cervelli.

Duncan slid into Rays second baseman Akinori Iwamura with spikes raised after hitting a hard grounder off third baseman Evan Longoria’s glove and trying to advance to second base on the play.

Duncan, thrown out by at least 10 feet, was immediately tossed. Gomes was ejected after racing in from right field and barreling into Duncan as other players poured onto the field. No punches appeared to have been thrown as order was restored.