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.

Well, now it is an issue:

March 12, 2008 -- The Yankees and Rays exploded into a mini-brawl today at Progress Energy Park, with a total of four players and coaches ejected.

It was a follow-up to Saturday's episode, in which Tampa Bay's Elliot Johnson crashed into Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli at the plate, breaking Cervelli's wrist. Afterward, Joe Girardi was upset about the play, and he and Tampa Bay coach Don Zimmer made conflicting comments about whether it was an acceptable play in an exhibition game.

There was a question whether there might be a carryover today, and there was.

In the bottom of the first inning, Yankees pitcher Heath Phillips hit Rays batter Evan Longoria with a pitch, and Phillips was immediately ejected by home plate umpire Chad Fairchild.

In the top of the second, Shelley Duncan attempted to leg out a double, and sure enough, there was a play at second base. Duncan slid high into Akinori Iwamura, cleats up, and was called out. But following the slide, Tampa Bay right fielder Jonny Gomes raced in and shoved Duncan.

That set things off, and there was a huge scrum on the infield with both teams, with Zimmer actually walking onto the field eventually. There appeared to be some pushing and shoving before the teams walked off. As they walked off, someone on Tampa Bay was yelling at the Yankees' side, though it's unclear who that was or who specifically his target was.

Girardi and Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon met with the umpires between the mound and home. Play eventually resumed, but Duncan and Gomes were ejected, along with Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long and third base coach Bobby Meachem.

The next question is whether there will be fines and/or suspensions.

Ironically, before the game Zimmer told The Post, "There's no hard feelings between Joe Girardi and I."

Yankees-Rays Revisited

The Yankees take on the Rays again in a Spring Training game. It will be interesting to see what, if any, retaliation comes from the Yankees. There has not been a lot of chatter from any Yankees player; only the manager.

"I don't see why anything would carry over. Why would it carry over?" Derek Jeter said. "I think it makes for a good story but . . . we're in spring training. I don't see the reason why something should carry over."

Added Jorge Posada, "Spring training game, guys. Spring training game. Happens. It's a freak accident. Move on. Be able to move on."

Said Shelley Duncan, "Everything I said, we're still going to go out there and we're going to play the game hard. Just like I said before. They showed us what is acceptable. We're just going to go play the game."

The issue doesn't sound as though it's pervading the Yankees clubhouse much. Jeter insisted, "I haven't heard a person talk about it till now," and Posada said there was no feeling in the clubhouse of wanting to take care of something.

"It's not even an issue," Duncan said.

The collision at home vs. the Rays with Francisco Cervelli on Saturday is still making news. (Article Here) There doesn't seem to a lot of chatter coming from the Yankee side other than Joe Girardi. The Press and Girardi seem to think that because Elliot Johnson has little chance of making the Rays, he should have slid.

Don Zimmer (ex-Yankee bench coach, friend of Joe Girardi, and adviser for the Rays) has a different opinion:

"If I slide into him and break a leg, nothing is said. Instead of breaking my leg I bowl him over and it's not the right play? Well, to me it's the right play, spring training or no spring training. Play the game the right way.

"To me, our kid played it the way he thought it was right, and I think it was right. I'm surprised they made such a big thing out if it. I was dumbfounded. Of all people, I mean Girardi's a tough guy, a tough catcher. I don't know what spring training has got anything to do with it."

Zimmer said Girardi was wrong to criticize Johnson's play.

"This guy's my friend," Zimmer said. "He's his own man. I'm my own man. I think he was out of line.

"Whether he likes that or not, that's the way I feel."

I like Joe Girardi, but this is one situation in which he is way off. The Rays are coming upon a season in which they are predicted to be competitive; possibly for the first time in their organization's history. They are pumped! They are excited! They are letting the league know not to take them for granted. On the other hand, the Yankees no longer have Joe Torre. There is some loss of respect for the way that issue was handled. The Yankees are getting older. The free agents signed during the winter were: Yankees. The Yankees failed for the first time since '96 to win the Division.

Go Yankees, but grow up Joe Girardi. Yankees don't cry!

#1. Ross Ohlendorf, RHP
Position: P Full Name: Curtis Ross Ohlendorf
Born: August 8, 1982 Austin,Texas
Height: 6-4 Weight: 235 Bats: R Throws: R
College: Princeton University

Don't be too critical of this pick early. Remember, this ranking is based on the players we think we have a major impact on the 2008 Yankees and not including the young prospects listed above. Ross Ohlendorf was the key player obtained by the Yankees in the Randy Johnson deal to Arizona.

He began his Yankee career as a starter in AAA and was hit hard. After a shift to the bullpen, Ross found his niche. Despite only six games with the Yankees at the end of 2007, Joe Torre added Ohlendorf to the playoff roster.

Ross Ohlendorf was a 4th round draft pick out of Princeton by the Diamondbacks in 2004. At Princeton, as a freshman pitcher, he was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Year. Ohlendorf, a second-team All-Ivy selection, was 3rd in the League with a 3.02 ERA. He finished with a 6-2 record. Once moved to the bullpen his fastball velocity picked up a notch or two and now hits 94-95 on the gun. He backs up his fastball with an average curveball and a below average changeup. Ross Ohlendort also sports a recently added splitter. Ohlendorf is competing against pitchers such as Brian Bruney, Chris Britton, Jose Veras, Jonathan Albaladejo, Sean Henn and Edwar Ramirez.

Ohlendorf may not be the marquee player found on most prospect lists, but we believe that the Yankee bullpen is a vital cog for making another run at a World Series. This has been true the past 3 or 4 years as the bullpen struggles to get to the ninth and Mariano Rivera. Younger and more effective arms such as Ohlendor can make this happen.

#2. Austin Jackson, OF
Position: OF Full Name: Austin J. Jackson
Born: February 1, 1987 Denton,Texas
Height: 6-1 Weight: 185 Bats: R Throws: R
High School: Ryan (Denton,TX)

Austin Jackson was an 8th round draft pick out of Denton (TX) high school in 2005 passing on a basketball scholarship at Georgia Tech. Austin had

a great 2007 moving to the #2 overall prospect of the New York Yankees by Baseball America. He was also rated the #2 overall propect in the

Hawaiian Winter Baseball League. Jackson is probably the best pure athlete in the Yankee farm system today.

Jackson is a 4 tool player with power being the question mark. The Yankees have been working with Austin and making swing changes during the 2007 campaign. He seems to project 20-25 home runs per year at this point. He has significant opposite-field power, which should keep his line drive rate and batting average up. Jackson does take walks but has a tendency to strike out too much. Jackson plays the outfield extremely well; center field is most likely his best fit.

Austin Jackson should start the season in AA Trenton before moving to AAA. 2009 looks like the most realistic date for the emergence of Austin Jackson in Yankee Stadium. However, an injury among the aging Yankee outfielders could get Austin a callup during the 2008 season. And if he does get the call, he may never go back.