Day Off

The Yankees have off today and tomorrow the evaluations and judgements begin to pick up steam. Joe Girardi is going to put out a lineup on Tuesday that is an approximation of what he thinks the opening day lineup will be. Things can obviously change between now and then, but several questions should be answered. With only three weeks left until the games begin to count, LoHud takes a look at the 10 questions that need to be answered before April 4th.

Two more pitchers were sent down to the minors today, right handers Ivan Nova and Hector Noesi, and there are now 52 players in big league camp - notes from the minor league complex.

Some of the winners and losers so far this spring:

Joba Chamberlain has looked the worst out of the fifth starter hopefuls, he has six walks in three and 2/3 total innings, a ridiculous total. He's had issues with his control in the big leagues, it is the one thing that has held him back from being consistently successful. The evaluations haven't begun yet, but they start this week and unless Chamberlain reigns in his command he definitely won't have a spot in the rotation, let alone a late inning spot in the bullpen. In his next few starts the team really needs to see some improvement.

Alfredo Aceves has looked the best out of the fifth starter hopefuls and if the season were beginning tomorrow I don't see how he's not the guy. He hasn't walked one batter and has allowed only one run in 10 innings. He throwing a lot of strikes and getting good movement on his pitches.

Nick Johnson has shown some serious power, belting three home runs and collecting five RBI, since returning from a tweaked back. He credits hitting coach Kevin Long for adjusting the way he moves his back foot in order to allow him to get his legs into his swing. Even before the adjustment, Johnson had the chance to surpass his career high of homers (23) playing as a lefty in Yankee Stadium. The team loves his ability to get on base and it's already been decided that he will bat second.

Robinson Cano is batting a scorching .474 thus far, with two walks and no strikeouts. He leads the team in hits with 9 and is proving that he needs to move up in the lineup. Don't be surprised if he opens the season batting fifth.

Curtis Granderson has started six games in center and one game in left. Brett Gardner has started six games in left and two in center. Very telling up until this point. Gardner hasn't been hitting well, but he has four walks compared to two strikeouts, which is what you want to see. Granderson is batting .318 with three walks and three strikeouts, he also has a triple.

Amaury Sanit has looked great pitching out of the pen, he has two wins in three appearances and hasn't allowed a run. He has given up three hits and struck out two in two and 2/3 innings. Other guys who have impressed out of the pen include RHP Mark Melancon, LHP Royce Ring, RHP Jason Hirsch and LHP Boone Logan. Hirsch in particular has looked fantastic, throwing three and 2/3 perfect innings and striking out five, with his only blemish being a HBP.

Here's a full list of sortable spring statistics.