Injury Update

Matsui to have knee drained

Torre doesn't expect slugger to miss any time in ALDS

Hideki Matsui left the Yankees to have his troublesome right knee drained in preparation for the postseason, the team announced on Saturday. Matsui, 33, prepared to head back to New York during the Yankees' 11-10 victory over the Orioles at Camden Yards and will miss the club's regular-season finale on Sunday. Yankees manager Joe Torre said that the procedure is not expected to change Matsui's status for the American League Division Series, which will begin for the Yankees next Thursday at Cleveland. "It's nothing that is serious, but there was enough fluid in there to want to drain it," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. Torre had said recently that he intends to use Matsui as a designated hitter throughout the playoffs, citing Johnny Damon's fresher legs in left field. The knee issue had been a long-standing concern for Matsui, who batted just .185 in 81 September at-bats. The Japanese icon completed his fifth Major League season batting .285 with 25 home runs and 102 RBIs in 142 games for New York.

Matchup Probables

Matchup Probables


Game 1: Chein Ming Wang (19-7) vs. C.C Sabathia (19-7)
Game 2: Andy Pettitte (15-9) vs. Fausto Carmona (19-8)
Game 3: Jake Westbrook(6-9) vs. Roger Clemens (6-6)
(if necessary) Game 4: Paul Byrd (15-8) vs. Mike Mussina (12-10)
(if necessary) Game 5: ????????? vs. ??????????????????

Bombers schedule ready

Yankees' ALDS schedule set

Bombers will open postseason run on Thursday in Cleveland

The Yankees will open the American League Division Series on Thursday in Cleveland, a result of the Red Sox's selection of a longer scheduling option following their clinching of home-field advantage during the playoffs. Boston selected to play the eight-day Division Series 'B' after their victory over the Twins and the Indians' loss at Kansas City. The option leaves the Yankees to play Games 1 and 2 at Cleveland on Thursday and Friday before returning to New York for Game 3. "It's not my decision, so I'm not going to be pulling for one thing or the other," Yankees manager Joe Torre said after New York's 11-10 victory over the Orioles on Saturday. The selection has ramifications on the Yankees' projected pitching rotation for the ALDS. Right-hander Chien-Ming Wang and left-hander Andy Pettitte will pitch New York's first two games as expected, and the Yankees continue to hope that right-hander Roger Clemens will be healthy enough to start Game 3 at Yankee Stadium. Without an extra off-day, though, the Yankees cannot follow through on their idea to bring back both Wang and Pettitte to pitch in Games 4 and 5. Instead, a fourth starter -- possibly right-hander Mike Mussina -- will enter the equation for a possible Game 4, while Wang or Pettitte could come back to pitch a potential Game 5. This is the first time Major League Baseball gave the team with the best record in the American League a chance to pick which schedule they wanted to play. The NL team with the best record will have that opportunity next year. For now, the Yankees have an opponent, a destination and a date. Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter said that the important piece in any five-game series will be getting off to a good beginning. "You've got to play well when you start the series," Jeter said. "That's pretty much it."

POSTSEASON BLOG

Cleavland Indians vs. New York Yankees
Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Chicago Cubs vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Phillies vs. Colorado or San Diego

2007 MLB POSTSEASON SCHEDULE

Series Date Network NLDS A Game 1 Wed., Oct. 3 TBS NLDS B Game 1 Wed., Oct. 3 TBS Angels at Red Sox Wed., Oct. 3 TBS NLDS A Game 2 Thurs., Oct. 4 TBS NLDS B Game 2 Thurs., Oct. 4 TBS Yankees at Indians Thurs., Oct. 4 TBS Yankees at Indians Fri., Oct. 5 TBS Angels at Red Sox Fri., Oct. 5 TBS NLDS A Game 3 Sat., Oct. 6 TBS NLDS B Game 3 Sat., Oct. 6 TBS Indians at Yankees Sun., Oct. 7 TBS/TNT Red Sox at Angels Sun., Oct. 7 TBS/TNT NLDS A Game 4 Sun., Oct. 7 TBS/TNT NLDS B Game 4 Sun., Oct. 7 TBS/TNT Indians at Yankees Mon., Oct. 8 TBS Red Sox at Angels Mon., Oct. 8 TBS NLDS A Game 5 Tues., Oct. 9 TBS NLDS B Game 5 Tues., Oct. 9 TBS Angels at Red Sox Wed., Oct. 10 TBS Yankees at Indians Wed., Oct. 10 TBS
Series	Date	Network
NLCS Game 1	Thurs., Oct. 11	TBS
NLCS Game 2	Fri., Oct. 12	TBS
ALCS Game 1	Fri., Oct. 12	FOX
ALCS Game 2	Sat., Oct. 13	FOX
NLCS Game 3	Sun., Oct. 14	TBS
ALCS Game 3	Mon., Oct. 15	FOX
NLCS Game 4	Mon., Oct. 15	TBS
ALCS Game 4	Tues., Oct. 16	FOX
NLCS Game 5	Wed., Oct. 17	TBS
ALCS Game 5	Thurs., Oct. 18	FOX
NLCS Game 6	Fri., Oct. 19	TBS
ALCS Game 6	Sat., Oct. 20	FOX
NLCS Game 7	Sat., Oct. 20	TBS
ALCS Game 7	Sun., Oct. 21	FOX
Series	Date	Network
WS Game 1 (AL host)	Wed., Oct. 24	FOX
WS Game 2 (AL host)	Thurs., Oct. 25	FOX
WS Game 3 (NL host)	Sat., Oct. 27	FOX
WS Game 4 (NL host)	Sun., Oct. 28	FOX
WS Game 5 (NL host)	Mon., Oct. 29	FOX
WS Game 6 (AL host)	Wed., Oct. 31	FOX
WS Game 7 (AL host)	Thurs., Nov. 1	FOX

I will have EXCLUSIVE Coverage starting Wednsday!!