Butch Goring to Fill in for Billy Jaffe

Butch Goring has been hired by MSG Network and approved by the Islanders as the new color commentator on the team’s television broadcasts. Goring suceeds Billy Jaffe, whose four-year run in the job ended when the Islanders would not grant their approval to a contract negotiated between Jaffe’s agent and MSG Network, the employer.

Since joining the network in 2007, Goring has received increased responsibilities in the MSG studio and as a sideline analyst during select Islanders games. No word yet whom MSG Network will hire to take the four-time Stanley Cup winner’s place in the Islanders’ chair on “Hockey Night Live” and on game broadcasts. It does not appear that Denis Potvin, the Islanders’ dynasty captain who is now based out of Ottawa, is in the mix for a regular role.

Two weeks prior to the opening of training camp, the Islanders have yet to announce their plans for radio broadcasts. Last season, the team made a financial-based move to simulcasts. After criticism in the media and from their fan base, there has been some discussion about returning to a traditional radio broadcast. If they do, hopefully invaluable Islanders broadcast mainstay Chris King will have a central role.

Jets Will Wait on Adalius Thomas

One day after saying the ideal scenario would be to sign free-agent LB Adalius Thomas this week so he could play Thursday night in the final pre-season game, New York Jets coach Rex Ryan backed off Monday, indicating that's not likely to happen.

"No, I don't think so," Ryan said. "I was wanting to before, to give him an opportunity to see if he's still the same guy. That would've made the decision really easy. But, really, we need to give these (other) guys a good look."

Here's the deal: As a vested veteran, Thomas' salary (likely $855,000) would be guaranteed if he's on the opening-day roster. The Jets probably wanted to bring him in for the Philadelphia finale, evaluate him, release him and re-sign him after Week 1 -- unless, of course, he looked great against the Eagles. Thomas told Sports Illustrated's Peter King Monday that he's interested in signing with the Jets, but he said GM Mike Tannenbaum doesn't want him until after Week 1.

That contradicts what Ryan said Sunday. It looks like Ryan and Tannenbaum initially had different thoughts on how to approach Thomas. Now it appears as if they're going the Tannenbaum route.

If nothing else, the waiting time will allow the Jets to evaluate other outside linebackers on their roster, namely Jamaal Westerman and Vernon Gholston.

Yes, Gholston. Even though he was moved to defensive end, he's still getting reps at outside linebacker. In fact, he expects to start there against the Eagles. Bryan Thomas and Jason Taylor, along with the other starts, won't play in the game.

Jets Cut Coles...For Now

Just the other day, Laveranues Coles beamed with veteran pride, talking about how some of his position mates could see that "Sizzle Man" still had something left in the gas tank.

Apparently, though, the needle now might stay stuck on empty forever. The wide receiver's third and final stint with the Jets was a short one. He was released Sunday after signing two days before camp began four weeks ago.

Rex Ryan hinted that releasing Coles was a financial decision; his $855,000 salary would be fully guaranteed if he made the opening day roster. But if the Jets signed him after their first game, Coles' salary wouldn't be guaranteed and they could release him without having to pay his entire salary.

That would make more sense fiscally because the expectations were that Coles would be waived once Santonio Holmes serves his four-game suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. So there is a chance Coles will be asked back.

"He did an outstanding job for us,'' Ryan said yesterday. "He's a leader. He came in here and I know he knows the system, he's tougher than nails, a great teammate. So I think that's a real possibility.''

But the move likely means the end of Coles' 10-year career. He said the first day of camp that this would be his last step no matter what, and he reiterated last week that he had no plans to go anywhere else if things didn't work out with the Jets.

"No, no, unless somebody makes me an offer I can't refuse, which I doubt will happen,'' Coles said at the time. "This is it. Once the buck stops here, I'm done. It started here, it's going to end here for me. That's what I'm thankful for."

Coles spent seven of his 10 seasons with the Jets, with 459 receptions, 5,941 yards and 37 touchdowns. He ranks fourth in club history in receptions and fifth in receiving yards and is tied for fifth in touchdown catches.

Coles said the other day that he has plans to stick around with the organization in some form, though he wasn't sure exactly what he'd be doing.

"I'm going to be here in some capacity," he said. "I might not be playing ball here, but I will be around the building working. So that's one of the positive things about it. They've given me an opportunity.

The least I can do is put a stamp on it once it's finally done and say, 'This is it.' "

MLB Investigating Ivan Nova

Major League Baseball is investigating New York Yankees pitcher Ivan Nova and a former minor league teammate for allegedly injecting each other with B-12 shots, a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to The Associated Press.

The person spoke Saturday on condition of anonymity because MLB is not discussing the matter publicly.

The New York Post first reported the investigation, saying that baseball was looking into whether Nova and pitcher Wilkin De La Rosa injected each other last season while they were teammates with Double-A Trenton.

"I didn't use it," Nova told the Post. "No comment. I was surprised."

B-12 is not on baseball's list of banned substances, but the Post said MLB is focused on the issue of whether the players injected each other and wants to make certain the shots were in fact B-12.
The person who spoke to the AP confirmed those details.

Nova is scheduled to start Sunday for the Yankees against the Chicago White Sox.

"We talked to him about it. We are unaware of any investigation at this time," New York manager Joe Girardi said Saturday. "We talked to him yesterday just to say you might be asked about it. I feel like his head will be in the right spot."

The 23-year-old Nova was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last weekend and pitched well in his first major league start Monday at Toronto.

De La Rosa is still at Double-A Trenton, where he has been used primarily as a reliever this year.

Teixeira Leaves Game Saturday with Bruised Right Thumb

Mark Teixeira left U.S. Cellular Field on Saturday night with a thick wrap around his right hand and questions regarding when he would be able to play again.

Teixeira removed himself from Saturday night's New York Yankees win over the Chicago White Sox after the top of the third inning with a sore and swollen right thumb that reduced him, he said, to a one-armed bandit at the plate. "I wasn't going to do the team any good tonight,'' he said. "We'll see how it feels [Sunday].''

From the looks of the wrapping, a heavy Ace bandage over a lighter gauze bandage that gave his entire hand the look of a boxer's fist ready to be inserted into the glove, it doesn't seem likely Teixeira will be able to go Sunday. Joe Girardi said Teixeira suffered a bruise to the fatty part of his thumb alongside the palm. Teixeira described the injury as a bone bruise on the outside of his lower thumb, which is potentially more serious injury.

"I've been lucky, I haven't missed a game all year because of injury,'' said Teixeira, who missed two games in mid-August to attend the birth of his son. Otherwise, he had played in every other game this year, 126 in all. He leads the team in home runs with 28 and is second in RBIs with 91.

"I'm going to come in early and get some treatment and see how it goes,'' he said. "I tried to play through it today but I had nothing. Swinging one-handed just wasn't going to work today.''

Teixeira suffered the injury diving for a ball off the bat of Mark Teahen in the eighth inning of Friday's 9-4 White Sox win. "They don't water the foul ground here and it's real hard,'' he said. "When I dove I braced myself with my right hand and that's when I jammed my thumb.''

Teixeira remained in the game, coming to bat once in the ninth and getting grazed by a pitch. But when he came to the park Saturday, he knew the chances were good he wouldn't be playing.

"I felt it in BP but I thought maybe adrenaline would kick in and I'd be all right for the game,'' he said.

But after fouling out in the first inning, he told Girardi he would remain in the game just to play the field until his next at-bat. In the top of the third, Girardi sent Curtis Granderson up to hit for Teixeira and in the bottom of the inning, reshuffled his outfielders and moved Nick Swisher to first.

Girardi said no tests were scheduled and he hoped his first baseman would be good to go Sunday. "He's day-to-day, but obviously, we'd like him to play [Sunday]. It's possible.''

Pace Out "A Few Weeks," to See Foot Specialist

UPDATE: 12:02PM: Pace will undergo foot surgery on Monday in North Carolina that could sideline him four to six weeks, according to league sources.

Noted foot doctor Robert Anderson will perform the surgery on Pace, who was injured Friday night. The Jets will not want to make any final determinations on Pace's availability until after the surgery. The preliminary prognosis of Pace's injury is that he will miss four to six weeks.
 ____________________________________________________

The Jets vaunted defense took another blow on Friday night when starting left outside linebacker Calvin Pace left the game against the Redskins with an apparent foot injury. The Jets won't know the full extent of his injury until after Pace receives his MRI on Monday.

After the game, Pace was in the locker room, his right foot heavily wrapped and encased in a walking boot. Based on the preliminary prognosis, Pace figures to miss the season opener, Sept. 13 against the Baltimore Ravens.

Pace is scheduled to fly to North Carolina to meet with the noted foot specialist, Dr. Robert Anderson, to determine how much time he might miss, according to two league sources.

Until Anderson examines Pace and his foot injury, the Jets are hesitant to put a timetable on their linebacker's absence.

Jets coach Rex Ryan had said Pace could miss a few weeks, and a New York Daily News report said Pace would six weeks with a broken foot.

But the Jets want to wait to see what Anderson determines before making any definitive declarations on Pace's absence.

Pace is the Jets' best pass-rusher. In 2009, he recorded eight sacks in 12 regular season games -- he missed the first four games of the season after being suspended for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing substance policy. (Pace said he used an over-the-counter dietary supplement, unaware that it contained a substance that violated the policy.)

"It's a big loss, there's no doubt," Ryan said. "But we're fortunate. We have a lot of depth at that position."

With Pace out, Ryan said Jason Taylor -- signed as a free agent this offseason to be a situational player -- will take Pace's place in the starting lineup.

"Jason Taylor, his M.O. is gonna change from 75 percent of the plays to 100 percent until Calvin gets back," Ryan said.

Taylor, the former Miami Dolphin and Washington Redskin, was once one of the NFL's elite pass-rushers -- in fact, he's the NFL's active leader with 127½ career sacks. But Taylor turns 36 on Tuesday and hasn't done much in the Jets' first three preseason games.

Nevertheless, Taylor said he's growing more and more comfortable in the Jets' defensive scheme, and sounded up for this challenge.

"As a player, you wanna play," Taylor said. "Whatever the case is, whatever the team needs you to do, you go do. Does it take a toll on you? Sure, it takes a little bit of a toll. It's a very physical game. But you can take care of yourself throughout the week and have plenty of gas in the tank come Sunday.

"I've been doing it for a long time. It won't be my first rodeo."

The Jets survived Pace's absence well a year ago -- they went 3-1 in their first four games while Pace was suspended. But this year, it appears the Jets will also begin the season without holdout cornerback Darrelle Revis, the team's best defensive player overall and arguably the best defensive player in the NFL.

Playing without Revis and Pace is a very tall order.

Pace's injury will no doubt renew the speculation that the Jets could sign free-agent linebacker Adalius Thomas. Thomas, the former Baltimore Raven and New England Patriot, played for Rex Ryan when Ryan was the defensive coordinator in Baltimore. Ryan has downplayed the Jets' interest in Thomas in the past, but Thomas does play outside linebacker and would be a natural replacement for Pace.

But in the meantime, it's Taylor's job. There will be many doubters as to whether Taylor can get the job done, but he said he is used to that.

"I've always had that kind of chip on my shoulder throughout my career," Taylor said. "People always said I couldn't do things. They said I couldn't play defensive end at 240 [pounds] and I've been going on 14 years now. So I've got my little box of motivation that I have in the back of my head, and that won't change regardless of the situation. It's incumbent on me now to go out and help this team any way I can."

Jets fans should at least be a 75 on the worried scale. Taylor was signed to be a situational pass rusher, not to be the starting outside linebacker and his age is a huge reason why. And the worst thing is that Taylor has really yet to show up in the preseason.

If he were a no-name free agent, battling for a roster spot, he'd receive a pink slip off his performance Friday night against the Washington Redskins.

In 37 defensive snaps, unofficially, Taylor engaged in actual contact only twice, not counting the play in which he was blindsided by a backup center named Kory Lichtensteiger. Taylor exerted less energy in the game than in one of his old "Dancing with the Stars" episodes.

Maybe the former Miami Dolphin has earned that right, having compiled a career resume that probably will put him in the Hall of Fame, but his old enemy/new team needs him to flick on the switch come Sept. 13 -- opening night. Pace probably won't be ready for the Baltimore Ravens, meaning Taylor goes from situational pass rusher to every-down player.

Most of the attention will focus on how Pace's absence will impact the pass rush, but one NFL personnel executive believes the Taylor-for-Pace change will be felt more in the running game.

"I don't think they'll take too much of a step back in terms of one-on-one pass rushing," the personnel executive said Saturday, speaking on the condition of anonymity. "What really becomes a deficiency for them is the addition of Jason Taylor as a point-of-attack run defender.

"With Jason in the lineup, you'll be exposed in your edge run defense. Calvin Pace can set the edge, push tight ends back and play downhill. You won't see Jason do that stuff. He's more of a lateral player, more of a finesse player."

Taylor and Pace were supposed to be the bookend rushers in the nickel package. Now what? Bryan Thomas is a better run defender than pass rusher, Jamaal Westerman is too green and Shaun Ellis too old. Maybe Vernon Gholston gets a shot. Maybe Ryan places a call to free agent Adalius Thomas, one of his former Ravens.

Ryan's problem will get bigger if he also doesn't have holdout cornerback Darrelle Revis, whose glue-like coverage allows the coaches to take chances with their blitzing. When Pace missed the first four games last season because of a league suspension, the Jets didn't miss a beat because Revis locked down star receivers Andre Johnson, Randy Moss and Marques Colston in three of the games.

No Revis, no lockdown. Antonio Cromartie is a talent, but as he showed Friday night with some sloppy plays, he's no Revis.

So, in a crazy twist, the Jets turn their desperate eyes to Taylor, who prepares for his last tango.

Steinbrenner to Get Monument in Monument Park

George M. Steinbrenner III will join Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio and Miller Huggins as the only former Yankees to have actual stone monuments in Monument Park beyond the center field fence in Yankee Stadium.

The Steinbrenner monument will be unveiled in a ceremony on Sept. 20, prior to that night's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Steinbrenner, the principal owner of the Yankees since 1973, died of a heart attack at 80 on July 13.

"And I think rightfully so, he should be honored,'' Joe Girardi said before last night's game. "I've always liked looking at the statue of him at Gate 2 and I look forward to seeing this. I think its a wonderful idea.''

The Steinbrenner family released a statement earlier today: "We remain profoundly grateful and touched by the many expressions of sympathy and support from so many. We wish to thank everyone for their kind thoughts and prayers, which we continue to hold close. We are especially appreciative that our family's privacy was respected as we grieved the loss of George. We know we will always share George's memory with Yankee fans everywhere, and a monument in his honor to be located in Monument Park will reflect the special connection, appreciation and responsibility that George felt for New York Yankees fans everywhere as they were always uppermost in his mind.''

Just as Girardi said, this is a spectacular idea by the Yankees and it is, in fact, the right thing to do. This man was everything that resembled the Yankees and he made them into what they were from 1973-today. The man was an American icon and resembled many things that Americans are today with his dedication, hard work and determination for greatness.

Sanchez Will Wear Protective Brace on Knee

On orders from Rex Ryan, Mark Sanchez dusted off his old knee brace this week, and there's a chance he will wear it on his surgically repaired left knee for the remainder of the season -- for precautionary reasons.

On the sixth play of last Saturday night's game in Carolina, the New York Jets' quarterback narrowly avoided a potentially devastating blow to the knee from Panthers defensive tackle Derek Landri, who blew past inexperienced left guard Matt Slauson.

"I had him put the brace on after I saw that thing," Ryan said Tuesday. "It was close ... It was like, 'That's enough.' That's the play that got my attention. Absolutely."

Because of an old college injury, Sanchez played last season with a brace on his left knee. After the season, he underwent surgery to strengthen the patella tendon. His hope was to play this season, sans brace, but he sounded resigned to having it again.

"It's just a matter of getting used to it again," said Sanchez, adding, "It's the right thing to do."

Ryan said they will re-evaluate after Friday night's game against the Washington Redskins, but he added, "I feel much better about him just having that thing on."

It made for a light moment Monday in practice, when Sanchez stepped into the huddle. Slauson sheepishly recounted the conversation, which started when center Nick Mangold noticed the brace.

According to Slauson, the exchange went something like this:

Mangold to Sanchez: "Oh, you're wearing the big brace again?"

Sanchez: "Yeah, it's because of the shot I took during the game."

Pause.

Slauson: "Sorry."

Another pause.

Mangold: "Awk-ward!"

They were able to laugh it off, but the close call underscores a key issue: After releasing perennial Pro Bowl left guard Alan Faneca, the Jets don't have an experienced option at the position.

Slauson has been working with the first unit since the start of camp, and he will start Friday night, but he still doesn't have the job locked up, according to Ryan. The coach said rookie Vladimir Ducasse still has a shot.

"[Slauson] has been ahead the whole way, but the kid is coming," Ryan said. "If we can eliminate the little mistakes [Ducasse] had in the game and make it a physical contest, I think he could close the gap even more. It's still a contest in my opinion."

In reality, Slauson probably has the job sewn up -- too late to turn back -- but Ryan probably couldn't bring himself to anoint him after seeing his franchise quarterback almost leveled.

"I saw Slauson get beat like a drum," said Ryan, alluding to the play that could've been a disaster. "He just got beat clean by an old-school pass-rush move where the guy lined up wide, gave him a little head fake, came off the ball and swam him."

Slauson felt bad about it, but the former sixth-round pick from Nebraska believes he's improving each week. But he understands that it's still an open competition.

"I expect it to be that way all season," he said. "Vlad will be nipping at my heels all year."

A year ago, the Jets had a veteran offensive line with rare continuity. Now they're trying to break in a relative novice, threatening the unit's chemistry. It's fair to wonder if the left-guard leak (if it remains a leak) gets into Sanchez's head.

"You have to trust your guys," Sanchez said. "You can't even think about it like that."

Nova to Start, Vazquez to 'Pen for Time Being

It appears that Ivan Nova's guest appearance in the New York Yankees rotation on Monday was actually an audition for a regular spot on the pitching staff.

He passed.

Manager Joe Girardi announced Nova will replace the struggling Javier Vazquez for Sunday's start against the White Sox in Chicago, and perhaps longer than that.

"We liked what we saw out there," Girardi said before Tuesday night's Yankees-Blue Jays game. "I saw toughness. I saw resiliency. I liked his presence out there. And we think his stuff is even better than he showed."

It was a 180-degree turn from Monday night, when Girardi dismissed with a wave of his hand the question of whether the 24-year-old had earned another start. "It's way too early to think about that," he said.

Barely 12 hours later, Girardi had not only thought about it, but done it.

Called up from Triple-A Scranton on Sunday, Nova threw 5 1/3 innings of six hit, two-run ball in the Yankees' 3-2 loss Monday night, including one of Jose Bautista's two home runs. But Girardi and pitching coach Dave Eiland were especially impressed by the first inning, in which Nova was faced with a bases-loaded, none-out jam and the dangerous Vernon Wells at bat. Nova got Wells to pop out to short left on a 2-0 pitch, and Brett Gardner turned it into a key double play when Fred Lewis foolishly tried to score from third.

"He could have caved right there but he didn't," Girardi said of Nova. "He continued to make pitches."

The Yankees were also impressed by Nova's standing up to Bautista in the sixth inning, when the Jays slugger took a few steps toward the mound after a high, tight fastball flew past Bautista to the backstop, triggering an incident that cleared the benches but did not erupt into a brawl.

"That kid showed me something, standing up to the top home-run hitter in the game," one Yankee said. "He's the kind of kid who can help us a lot."

Clearly, the Yankees no longer felt that way about Vazquez, the 34-year-old right-hander who has struggled on and off all season and lately has suffered an alarming drop in velocity that no one seems able to explain.

Vazquez (9-9, 5.05 ERA) hasn't made it through the fifth inning in any of his last three starts, and was yanked just three innings into his last outing, against the Seattle Mariners on Saturday, after surrendering three home runs -- two to Ichiro Suzuki and one to Russell Branyan. Vazquez was told before Tuesday night's game that he would not be starting Sunday, although Girardi indicated his banishment to the bullpen could be permanent.

"I can't tell you right now," Girardi said when asked if Vazquez would remain in the 'pen. "I want to see where we are after Sunday, and we'll continue to evaluate how everyone's doing and how everyone's feeling."

Vazquez said he was disappointed but not surprised by the move.

"I haven't been doing my job, so I understand it," he said. "I'm feeling good but I'm just not throwing the ball well. That's why I'm a little frustrated."

With the Yankees in a dogfight for control of the AL East -- they are tied with the Tampa Bay Rays heading into Tuesday night -- their rotation now consists of CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and, with Andy Pettitte on the DL, three pitchers who were not full-time major league starters last year: Phil Hughes, Dustin Moseley and Nova.

Asked this afternoon if he could foresee Nova possibly starting a game for the Yankees in the postseason, Girardi said, "I think that's getting too far head."

Which is precisely what he had said Monday night about the possibility of Nova getting another start this weekend.

Jets Sign Mangold to New Seven Year Deal

The New York Jets and All-Pro center Nick Mangold have agreed on a new seven-year deal worth a maximum of $55 million, a league source told ESPNNewYork.com Monday. The new contract could be signed as early as Tuesday.

Mangold decided to participate in training camp while awaiting a new deal, unlike cornerback Darrelle Revis, who did not join the team in Cortland, N.Y., on Aug. 1 and whose negotiations became frayed.

When Jets coach Rex Ryan was asked Monday if there was any word on any other contract negotiations, he sounded skeptical.

"That'd be news to me," Ryan said.

Earlier on Monday, Mangold said he had discussed the contract situation with Revis, who will make roughly $1 million if he plays this season under his current deal. But he didn't think it was ultimately fruitful on anything but a personal level.

"We talked," Mangold said. "I would say being in the same situation I didn't feel that we should be taking advice from each other."

Mangold declined to talk about the negotiations, based on advice he got from his agents, but he did talk about his decision to come to camp after considering a holdout as early as minicamp.

"[Holding out] didn't fit my personality," Mangold said. "It's not me, it's not who I am, and it's not what I do."

Mangold ultimately decided he needed to be in camp for the starting left guard battle, and his teammates respected him for it.

"He treated it like a professional," said fellow lineman Brandon Moore. "He could've easily made a stink about it, did some things here even when he was here. You wouldn't have known. A lot of guys didn't even know it was an issue. I think that's a testament of how professional he is, able to put that aside, and just come to work."

In theory, since he wasn't talking about football, Mangold said he'd be happy to play center long-term for the Jets, which is something Ryan can get behind.

"He's a tremendous player obviously and that would be a huge thing for our franchise," Ryan said.

Ryan has referred to Mangold as the best center in the NFL.

"He can handle nose tackles, and that's where it starts now with all these 3-4 teams I think," Ryan said. "It could be every team in our division playing a 3-4 and you better have a center who can match up with these nose tackles."

Jets Close to Deal With Mangold

With the Darrelle Revis holdout dominating headlines for three weeks, the New York Jets quietly have been negotiating a long-term extension for All-Pro center Nick Mangold. The two sides are close to a new deal that likely will make Mangold the highest-paid center in the league, league sources told ESPN.com.

Mangold, reached Sunday night at his home in New Jersey, declined to comment, saying he wanted to speak with his agent Monday before discussing it publicly. But a source close to Mangold said, "It should be done any day now."

A Jets spokesman would not confirm the deal.

Mangold, a first-round pick in 2006, was entering the final year of his rookie contract. Because of an escalator, he was due to make $3.3 million. In the spring and leading into training camp, Mangold expressed his displeasure with his contract, saying the two sides had barely spoken to each other.

At one point, Mangold hinted he might not show up for training camp. Ultimately, he decided to report because he wanted to "be there for my teammates and the coaches, and we'll see how it all plays out."

General manager Mike Tannenbaum, in a stalemate with the Revis camp, turned his attention toward Mangold, one of the team's core veterans. Details of the contract weren't immediately available, but the benchmark is believed to be Jason Brown of the St. Louis Rams. In 2009, Brown signed a five-year, $37.5 million deal that included $20 million in guarantees, making him the highest-paid center.

Mangold's deal was complicated by the 30 percent rule in the CBA, but the two sides evidently found common ground and worked around the restrictions. The 30 percent rule states that, in an uncapped year, a player's salary in an extension can't increase by more than 30 percent of his previous year's salary.

This is a significant move for the Jets, who have locked up the two centerpieces on their vaunted offensive line. In July, left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson signed a six-year, $60 million extension. Ferguson, too, was a first-round pick in 2006, Tannenbaum's first year as the GM.

In the spring, the Jets' chances of re-signing their so-called "Core Four" appeared bleak. Now it's two down, two to go -- Revis and linebacker David Harris. Harris, an emerging defensive star entering the final year of his rookie contract, is seeking around $9 million per year.

The Mangold deal should intensify the pressure on Revis, who has rejected long- and short-term proposals. Revis, signed through 2012, is due to make $1 million this season, which would bring him to $16 million over his first four years. He's seeking about $16.5 million per year, which would surpass the Oakland Raiders' Nnamdi Asomugha as the highest-paid corner.

Revis has told friends he won't report until he receives a new deal. The negotiations turned contentious at the start of camp, with the two sides trading barbs through the media. Finally, they released a joint statement, claiming that negotiations would be kept confidential.

A-Rod Placed on 15-Day DL

Siding with the most cautious approach, the New York Yankees have placed third baseman Alex Rodriguez on the 15-day disabled list because of his strained left calf.

"We are going to play it extremely safe," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said after the Yankees' 9-5 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Saturday.

Rodriguez had been out of the starting lineup four of the past five games because of the injury, but before Saturday's victory Girardi said the disabled list was not an option.

However, after the win, general manager Brian Cashman and Girardi decided not to risk the calf becoming a bigger problem than it already is. Rodriguez now won't return until the first week of September, at the earliest.

If he hadn't played on Friday, the Yankees could have put A-Rod on the DL retroactive to Monday.

When Girardi announced the decision, he said he had not spoken to Rodriguez about it. Rodriguez did not talk with the media on Saturday. On Friday, Rodriguez said he felt "stiffness" in the calf when he swung, but he didn't think it had worsened.

In place of Rodriguez, the Yankees have recalled Triple-A starting pitcher Ivan Nova from Scranton. Nova will start Monday in Toronto. All the other Yankees starters will be moved back one day.

The Yankees are bringing up Nova, who, if effective, they hope can limit the innings of their starters.

Phil Hughes is on an innings count. He has pitched 140 2/3 innings this season. He believes his innings limit is around 175 for the regular season, but the Yankees have never revealed the exact number to him or the media. In the postseason, Hughes will have no innings limit. Girardi said that Nova's impact on Hughes' innings count is getting "a little too far ahead."

With Nova up, Girardi said he will look to split up Javier Vazquez and A.J. Burnett, who have both struggled recently. For most of the season, the two have not pitched back-to-back.

"That is something I will look at," Girardi said.

Girardi said he is not inclined to go with a six-man rotation. If Nova pitches well, he could either alleviate Hughes' innings or replace Dustin Moseley in the rotation. Mosely has been starting in place of the injured Andy Pettitte.

"It might be something we have to look at," Girardi said of a six-man rotation. "Sitting here right now, it is not what I'm assuming we are going to do."

On Saturday, Eduardo Nunez, starting at third in place of Rodriguez, nailed his career first hit, a go-ahead RBI single in the seventh. Nunez, one of the Yankees' top prospects, had been mostly a shortstop in his minor league career, but the Yankees had him play multiple positions at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season so he could serve as a utilityman in the majors. He and Ramiro Pena will play third in Rodriguez's absence.

Oddly, despite the fact that A-Rod is second in the American League in RBIs with 97, the Yankees are 11-0 without Rodriguez in the lineup. They have also averaged 8.2 runs without A-Rod compared to five runs with him.

Pettitte Out Until September

New York Yankees starting pitcher Andy Pettitte will not be ready to return to the mound until the first week of September at the earliest, and more likely the middle of the month, which could compromise his ability to be at his best for the postseason.

"I think if you get into the third week of September, and we haven't gotten him back, you'd be somewhat concerned," manager Joe Girardi said before Wednesday night's Yankees-Tigers game at Yankee Stadium.

Pettitte's rehab of the left groin muscle he strained July 18 was shut down for a week by the Yankees training staff Tuesday after an MRI showed that the injury still had not healed.

"To say I'm frustrated, that's an understatement," Pettitte said. "I'm trying to stay as positive as I can, but I want to pitch. I just want to get back and I want to pitch and I want to be healthy."

Pettitte felt pain during a bullpen session Tuesday when, after playing catch in the outfield and then throwing with diminished intensity first off a half mound and then a full mound in the bullpen, he tried to cut loose as if pitching in an actual game.

"When I tried to go, to throw like I was trying to get a batter out, it would grab me," he said. "I felt actually like I was being a weenie out there, like I could pitch through this."

But Pettitte was overruled by pitching coach Dave Eiland and team physician Dr. Chris Ahmad, who sent him to Columbia Presbyterian for the MRI.

"Doc said, 'Let's do it so you can know if you're healed and you can just push through it,'" Pettitte said. "It's a good thing we got it because it told me I could hurt myself if I tried to push through it."

Being Pettitte, he blamed himself for pushing too hard in attempting to come back sooner than expected. "It's my downfall, the anticipation and expectations I have," he said. "I literally felt I was gonna be ready to pitch against Boston maybe, or in Kansas City on the weekend, no doubt about it. Obviously, that was last week and I'm sitting here and I'm not gonna be ready to get back on the mound for another week. A lot of stuff is going through my head as we get to the end of the season here."

Some of that "stuff" included the frightening prospect that after posting the best start of his career, 11-2 with a 2.88 ERA, Pettitte might not be able to pitch again this season.

"Of course that crosses your mind," he said. "I'm sure age has a lot to do with it. I got a lot of wear and tear on my body since 10 years ago or nine years ago the last time I did this. I'm sure that has a lot to do with this also."

Pettitte went on the disabled list July 20, two days after leaving a start against the Tampa Bay Rays in the third inning after suffering the injury on a pitch. At the time, the Yankees projected Pettitte would be out four to five weeks. Pettitte insisted his absence would be closer to three. Now, it turns out both sides were wrong.

"It's going to end up, right now, at least seven weeks, and that's longer than we anticipated," Girardi said.

And that is the best-case scenario, which assumes that the prescribed week of rest -- during which Pettitte will still be allowed to play catch -- is followed by a normal rehab progression, meaning long toss followed by a bullpen session followed by a simulated game and then at least one rehab start.

Even Girardi seemed to think that blueprint overly optimistic. "The last thing you would want is for him to come back and say, you know what, I feel like I can only give you 60 pitches," Girardi said.

"That's not really going to help us. My thought process is he might have to make two [rehab starts]."
Pettitte is notoriously impatient when coming back from injury, but seemed resigned Wednesday to having to curtail his activity if he hopes to come back in time to be effective in October.

"Mentally, I'm just gonna try to stay as positive as I can, and whatever it is, it is," he said. "I'm gonna go with it and prepare as good as I can and I'm gonna just give it everything I got to get ready and help us get to the playoffs, hopefully."

Jets No Longer Have Safety Net With Dearth

On the same day Rex Ryan expressed concern about long snapper Tanner Purdum, the Jets lost a potential safety net at the position when James Dearth signed a free-agent contract Saturday with the Washington Redskins.

Uh, oh.

Dearth was the New York Jets' long snapper from 2001 to 2009 -- and a good one -- but he's 34 and is entitled to about $800,000 in salary (the veterans' minimum for a player with his experience). The Jets chose not to re-sign Dearth, an unrestricted free agent, opting for Purdum.

Purdum, 25, who has no NFL experience, was doing nicely until Friday, when he experienced a couple of hiccups in practice.

"That concerned me," Ryan said. "He's been doing a great job. He can really snap the ball. He has to be accurate. That can't be a question because he doesn't have great size (6-3, 270)."

Why not re-sign Dearth?

"The way the game is set up, you try to get younger, cheaper players if you can," Ryan said. "That's the harsh reality of this game."

In the back of their minds, the Jets always felt they could re-sign Dearth if Purdum didn't work out. Dearth isn't a lock to make the Redskins, but as of right now, he's no longer an option.

Mangold Returns to Practice

New York Jets center Nick Mangold, apparently recovering from a hard hit in practice last week, took himself out of Monday night's preseason game against the New York Giants because he said he "didn't feel right."

On Wednesday Mangold said he feels normal again.

"Or, at least, Mangold normal," the All-Pro center said with a smile.

He practiced in full pads on Wednesday and believes he will be ready and available to play against Carolina on Saturday.

"That's my assumption going into it," he said. "I wouldn't see any reason things would change."

Mangold, who did not dress for Monday's game, said he didn't believe he had a concussion from an Aug. 11 training camp hit from Sione Pouha that knocked him out of practice for two days. He and coach Rex Ryan said that Mangold has undergone the regular testing that is part of the NFL's head injury protocol.

Mangold said he had never experienced a similar feeling, which he described as "foggy," since becoming a professional and alerted the Jets coaches to his concerns.

"I don't have the medical definition or anything," Mangold said on Wednesday. "In five years of being in the NFL I've had my share of bumps, bruises and everything in between. This time it just didn't feel right. I was fortunate we took it seriously and had the chance to sit down for it."

"He had a little bit of a headache and I said aw, forget it," Ryan said. "I played doctor on that."

Mangold said he woke up feeling "decent" on Tuesday, and then felt fine by the time he reported for camp at SUNY Cortland later that night.

One of the wittiest players on the roster, Mangold offered another zinger when he asked if he was experiencing any fogginess.

"Just when I talk to you guys," he told reporters.

Mangold added that he thanks Pouha "repeatedly" for the hit, and is hoping to parlay his malaise into a meal.

"I'm actually looking to try to get a dinner out of it," he said. "I figured that would be a good way to mend the fence, make things better."

Mangold reported for camp on time despite being unhappy with his contract situation. He's making $3.3 million entering the final year of his rookie deal, but is seeking a long-term contract extension.

Despite sitting out Monday night, he insisted he didn't think about whether he might have made a mistake by reporting without a new contract.

"It's part of the game," Mangold said. "I've been fortunate that I haven't had any major injuries. I think that's also a function of me trying to play at a high level at all times. If you play not to get hurt, you're bound to get hurt."

Clemens Could Be Dealt

If it looked like the New York Jets were showcasing quarterback Kellen Clemens on Monday night for a possible trade, it's because they were.

With Mark Sanchez and Mark Brunell locked into the first two quarterback jobs, the Jets are willing to deal Clemens before the start of the regular season, according to league sources.

The Jets found no takers when they tried to trade Clemens before the draft, but the recent arrival of Brunell could make him expendable. Clemens may have improved his value around the league with a solid performance against the New York Giants.

If the Jets don't receive a worthwhile offer, they could keep him as the No. 3 quarterback. But make no mistake: They will answer the phone if another team calls with an offer.

Coach Rex Ryan was unusually short when asked Wednesday why Clemens, not Brunell, was the first quarterback off the bench in the preseason opener.

"We knew we were going to go with Brunell [as the permanent No. 2]. I wanted to play Kellen," Ryan said. "We just threw him in there in that situation. He showed himself well."

Clemens completed 7 of 10 passes for 84 yards. He was replaced by Brunell, who was followed by Kevin O'Connell (two interceptions). The Jets also have Erik Ainge, who is not in camp. He was placed on the non-football illness list, but his future with the team is murky.

"I don't think that was any sort of pecking order or indicator," Clemens said after the game. "I was told they were going to give me a shot earlier on in the game, but I haven't been told that has anything to do with where we [the quarterbacks] are ranked as far as 1-2-3. As far as I know, the No. 1 and 2 spots are pretty locked up."

Clemens is due to make $1.1 million this season (non-guaranteed), which is high for a third-string quarterback. That, too, could factor into a decision to trade him.

Jets' Owner Johnson Not Optimistic About Revis Talks

The New York Jets, responding to a new contract proposal made last Friday by Darrelle Revis' agents, painted a bleak picture Monday of the contract stalemate. A grim-faced Woody Johnson said he's not optimistic about their chances of signing the All-Pro cornerback to a new contract before the start of the regular season.

"The answer is no," the Jets' owner said tersely, adding, "My impression is no progress ... no movement whatsoever."

Expanding on that sentiment, Johnson told ESPN's Jeremy Schaap Monday that he doesn't expect Revis to play for the Jets this season.

"My gut feeling is, I would say no," Johnson said.

Revis is entrenched in his position and has told friends he won't play in 2010 for his current $1 million salary, according to league sources. This could blow up on the Jets, who will be hard-pressed to fulfill their Super Bowl mandate without their best player.

Revis' agents, Jon Feinsod and Neil Schwartz, met with general manager Mike Tannenbaum for three hours last Friday at a diner in rural Roscoe, N.Y., about two hours from Cortland. They handed him a three-page document.

"We gave Mike a proposal to show Mr. Johnson," Schwartz told ESPNNewYork.com Monday afternoon. "We're awaiting a response."

Tannenbaum said he made the agents aware of the team's position at the meeting. He said the new proposal included some "technical changes." But he added, "We still have a very fundamental difference of opinion on what the appropriate compensation should be. Until we get that solved, there's really not much to discuss."

Johnson said the proposal contained "nothing new and different, as they say in marketing." But Schwartz disagreed, saying there were new elements.

"This proposal addressed all parties' issues and concerns to be resolved in this matter," he said.

The latest back-and-forth came on a day in which coach Rex Ryan said the team is preparing for the possibility of life without Revis, whose holdout has reached nine days. Revis has accumulated more than $148,000 in fines.

"We're going to prepare like he's not going to be here," Ryan said after the morning practice. "If he comes through the door, that's fine. Somebody will kiss him on the lips, probably. It doesn't matter. We're getting this team ready. The guys that are here, we're getting ready."

It was the first time that Ryan acknowledged the possibility of an extended absence by Revis. The two sides are trying to negotiate a new contract for Revis, who has three years remaining on his current deal, but they appear far apart.

Last Thursday, the agents called Tannenbaum to propose a meeting. They opted for Roscoe because it's roughly the midpoint between Cortland and Rockland County, N.Y., where Schwartz and Feinsod are based. The meeting also included Ari Nissim, the Jets' contract guru, and it lasted three hours.

The group huddled at the Roscoe Diner, a popular stop for college students driving to schools in upstate New York. In fact, the diner's walls are covered with pennants from dozens of colleges. Amid that backdrop, the two sides took what could be a significant step toward reaching a resolution to the contract impasse.

Interestingly, producers of HBO's "Hard Knocks" wanted to film the meeting for the reality show, which debuts Wednesday night, but Revis' agents declined, according to Schwartz.

Schwartz refused to reveal any specifics from their written proposal, but it's said to contain a unique clause that would help bridge the gap in negotiations. The Jets' last offer came on the eve of training camp. They offered a long-term package of more than $100 million, but it included only a small amount of fully guaranteed money -- about $5 million in 2010. Revis was so upset that it sealed his decision to stage a holdout.

Tuesday could be a key date in the stalemate. By rule, if a holdout doesn't report by Aug. 10, he doesn't get credit for 2010 as an accrued season. Basically, that means he loses a year toward free agency. That might cause some players to reconsider their stance, but the Aug. 10 deadline will have no bearing on Revis' thinking, according to sources close to the Jets' star. As one source said, "He's dug in."

A week ago, Ryan said Revis would be in the starting lineup even if he didn't show up until the eve of the regular-season opener. But he backed off on that, saying he was talking "facetiously." The original statement probably didn't sit well with the front office, which needs all the leverage it can get.

Revis is seeking to become the highest-paid cornerback in the league, surpassing the Oakland Raiders' Nnamdi Asomugha ($15.1 million average per year).

There are complex rules that restrict the Jets' ability to offer full guarantees in future years, but they can overcame that obstacle by giving a substantial signing bonus. After all, this is an uncapped year.

As a contingency plan, the Jets have tweaked their secondary, moving former San Diego Charger Antonio Cromartie to Revis' spot (left cornerback) and opening up the right-corner position to other candidates.

First-round draft pick Kyle Wilson, projected as the nickelback, is working with the first-team defense. He replaced Dwight Lowery, who, oddly enough, told the coaching staff that Wilson deserved to be in the starter's role.

"Yes, it surprises me, but he sees that [Wilson] needs the work. He needs the reps," Ryan said. "The kid has rare ability."

Let's be realistic here. The Jets defense is arguably the best in the game right now. Yes, Revis is the best player on that best defense, but their cornerback depth is so great that they might actually be able to overcome Revis not playing to start the regular season.

However, with that being said, the Jets need Revis on the field for that first game if they have hopes of winning the Super Bowl this season, like they have been talking about all offseason.

Jeter Passes Ruth on All-Time Hits List

New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter passed Babe Ruth on the all-time hits list with an RBI single in the second inning of a 7-2 win over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday night.

Jeter ripped Josh Beckett's 2-2 fastball to center with one out in the second, driving in Brett Gardner from second base. It was career hit No. 2,874 for Jeter, who passed The Babe for 39th place on the all-time hits list. Jeter finished the night 2-for-5 with three RBIs and now needs two hits to pass Mel Ott (2,876) and six to pass Frankie Frisch (2,880).

Jeter was greeted with a long, loud ovation and chants of "De-rek Je-ter!" after news of the milestone flashed on the Yankees' JumboTron in center field. He acknowledged the crowd of 49,096 with a tip of the cap. Alex Rodriguez retrieved the ball after it was rolled to the Yankees dugout.

"Anytime you're name is alongside one of the all-time greats, it's a special moment," Jeter said.

The Yankees captain also hit a two-run double to right-center during a five-run fifth and snapped an eight-game RBI drought on Sunday night.

Jeter said he wasn't aware that he was approaching Ruth on the career list until it was brought to his attention a few days ago.

"Obviously it means a lot to baseball, but especially to this organization," Jeter said after the Yankees' win, which put them 2½ games up on the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East and seven games ahead of the Red Sox. "Any time you get a chance to pass [Ruth] in anything it's pretty special."

Jeter passed Lou Gehrig for the most hits in franchise history last September. Ruth had 302 hits in six years with the Red Sox and 13 in 28 games with the Boston Braves. Jeter, of course, has collected all of his 2,875 career hits with the Yankees. With 125 more, Jeter will be the first player in franchise history to reach the 3,000-hit plateau.

Mike Westhoff Re-ups with Jets for Another Year

Mike Westhoff, the highly-regarded special teams coordinator of the New York Jets, signed a one-year contract extension through 2011 on Saturday, a league source told ESPNNewYork.com.

Barring a change of heart, Westhoff's plan is to retire after the 2011 season, the source said. He is 62 and has endured at least nine operations on his left leg to combat bone cancer.

Westhoff, hired by the Jets in 2001, stepped down for health-related reasons after the 2007 season. In February 2008, he underwent a 10-hour femur replacement at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He figured his coaching career was over, but he recovered so quickly that he returned to the Jets before the start of the 2008 regular season.

For much of his tenure with the Jets, the popular Westhoff has used a metal cane on the field. But he's moving remarkably well this summer in training camp, with almost no trace of a limp.

Coach Rex Ryan predicted recently that the charismatic, sometimes acerbic Westhoff would emerge as one of the stars on HBO's "Hard Knocks," which is chronicling the Jets' training camp. Ryan jokingly referred to Westhoff as "Old Crusty."

For a quarter-century, Westhoff has been known as a pioneering special teams coach in the NFL. His units are generally ranked among the league leaders.

Girardi Says Yanks Have Catching Rotation

In addition to 27 World Series titles, 40 American League pennants, a $1.5 billion stadium and a $200 million payroll, it turns out the Yankees have something else no other team in baseball has.

Two rotations. One for their pitchers and another for their catchers.

Before Saturday's game against the Red Sox, manager Joe Girardi confirmed what many have suspected all along -- that there is one catcher when three of his starting pitchers go, and another catcher for the remaining two.

This explains why Jorge Posada was not in the lineup for Friday night's series opener, a 6-3 loss to the Red Sox that was essentially decided when a routine pop fly was botched on the infield grass by Francisco Cervelli and Javier Vazquez, setting up three unearned Boston runs.

Posada, who has been troubled recently by soreness caused by a cyst behind his left knee, came to Yankee Stadium feeling fit and ready to play Friday. To his surprise, he soon learned he was not playing; Cervelli was.

"I came ready to play, and I thought I was going to be in there," Posada said. "Then after looking at the lineup, I saw I wasn't in there. I didn't know the decision. But for some reason, I wasn't in there."

Asked to explain the thought process that led him to scratch Posada without consulting his 38-year-old catcher to gauge his fitness, Girardi said, "We've had a rotation here and it's been successful and it's pretty much what I'm going to stick to. Will it change from time to time? Possibly. But [Cervelli's] caught Javy and A.J. [Burnett] mostly, and I've stuck to that rotation because it's been successful."

Pressed to acknowledge that Cervelli would also catch Sunday night's game, with Burnett scheduled to start, Girardi said, "That's something I'll have to look at. But let me make tomorrow's lineup tomorrow and today's lineup today."

Posada said he was aware of the arrangement.

"I really can't be opposed to what's going on," he said. "Cervy and Javy are having a good thing going, so you hate to break up that thing. When things are going right, [Girardi's] going to keep everything the same."

It was a miscommunication between pitcher and catcher that led to Boston's three-run second inning, which turned out to be the difference in the Friday night game that allowed the Red Sox to draw to within five games of the American League East-leading Yankees.

"It's Javy's ball," Posada said. "He called it at the last minute and tried to catch it. It was just confusion."

There is no confusion that when Cervelli replaces Posada in the lineup, the Yankees lose a significant portion of their offense. Posada, one of the best-hitting catchers in the history of baseball and one of just a handful with more than 250 career home runs, is hitting .261 with 12 home runs and 38 RBIs in 249 at-bats; Cervelli is hitting .255 with zero homers and 31 RBIs in 208 at-bats. He has one career home run.

Still, Girardi has seemingly placed the comfort level of two of his starting pitchers, the erratic Burnett and the inconsistent Vazquez, ahead of the strength of his lineup.

With the trade-deadline addition of Lance Berkman as a full-time DH, it looks as if Posada's playing time will be limited to the three days per week on which CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes and Andy Pettitte, currently on the disabled list with a groin injury, are starting. With Sabathia going Saturday, Posada was catching and hitting fifth in a lineup that had to be reshuffled at the last moment due to a pregame injury suffered by Alex Rodriguez.

Posada, who has spent 15 days on the DL after suffering a broken foot May 19 and has missed several games when his knee problem flares up, said it was possible that the cyst would be drained or surgically removed after the season.

But since missing three games in Cleveland last week, he said he has been pain-free.

"The treatment has been working," he said. "I was fine, I could have played [Friday], and with the day off, I felt good, I was ready to play. But that's baseball. I'll just get ready to play today."

A-Rod Hurt in Batting Practice

Alex Rodriguez was scratched from the lineup about 90 minutes before the start of Saturday's Yankees-Red sox game after suffering "a contusion of the lower left leg" after he was hit by a line drive off the bat of Lance Berkman during batting practice.

X-rays on Rodriguez's shin were negative. There was no immediate word on how long he would be sidelined.

"Do I expect him to play tomorrow? I have no idea," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said after a 5-2 win over the Red Sox.

Berkman, who was batting right-handed, ripped a one-hopper down the third-base line that apparently caught Rodriguez on the left shin as he was taking grounders. "Look out!" Berkman shouted as the ball left his bat.

A-Rod said he'd just waved to Fox announcer Joe Buck when he got zinged.

"I never saw it," Rodriguez said. "It'd never happened to me before."

In obvious pain, Rodriguez hobbled around on the infield grass for a few seconds before staggering into short center field, where he rolled around on the grass before turning face down.

Some of Rodriguez' teammates, including Derek Jeter, thought at first that he was joking and yelled some light-hearted insults. Then, when it was obvious the injury was serious, Jeter shouted for trainer Gene Monahan, who hurried out to where Rodriguez lay.

Girardi, conversing with a member of the Red Sox behind the batting cage, also set out to minister to Rodriguez, and a small group of Yankees huddled over the stricken player before he arose and walked slowly off the field under his own power.

"He was in a substantial amount of pain," Girardi said of A-Rod, who is listed as day to day.

Berkman, acquired by the Yankees at the July 31 trading deadline from the Houston Astros, was one of several Yankees who surrounded Rodriguez as he lay on the turf. He offered an apology and Rodriguez nodded in acknowledgement.

"It was not like I was trying to hit him in the teeth and I hit low," Berkman said. "You don't want to hit anybody but you certainly don't want to hit your four-hole hitter. I was like, 'Berkman's contributions to the Yankees so far have not been the greatest.' Obviously, I didn't mean to do it."

As A-Rod walked off the field, Berkman said he told Rodriguez, "Hey man, sorry about that. I wasn't aiming for you, it just happens."

The Yankees said the injury, located at the base of Rodriguez's left shin, was swollen and being treated with ice.

"He'll be all right," Jeter said.

Asked about Rodriguez's reaction to the injury -- he writhed in obvious pain for nearly five minutes before being led off the field -- Jeter said, "He always acts like that when he gets hit."

In Rodriguez's place, Ramiro Peña was plugged into the lineup, playing third base and batting ninth. He went 1-for-3 with two RBIs.

But let's be honest here. This injury was entirely Rodriguez's fault. When you are standing at third base during batting practice, you are taught in little league that you can never turn your back to the ball. A-Rod did just that and he paid the price for it.

I'm not saying he deserved to get hit, because he obviously didn't. But he brought it on himself by not paying attention. If you're going to not pay attention during batting practice, stand behind the field screen.

Yanks Say Javy Has Dead Arm

The New York Yankees believe they know why starter Javier Vazquez had a mysterious drop in the velocity of his fastball Friday.

"He has a little dead arm," pitching coach Dave Eiland told ESPNNewYork.com. "Nothing more than that."

Yankees manager Joe Girardi raised alarms by admitting that Vazquez's velocity was down Friday when he gave up six runs, three earned, in 5 1/3 innings. Girardi said the Yankees would examine why Vazquez couldn't reach 90 mph on his fastball.

At this point, the Yankees don't believe Vazquez has anything seriously wrong. Still, Vazquez thought the Yankees may check him out further.

"I feel fine," Vazquez said Saturday before the Yankees-Red Sox game.

Eiland said the Yankees' course of action for the dead arm will be to cut down on Vazquez's workload between starts. At this point, Eiland said it will not affect when Vazquez starts.

"It is something he has to work through," Eiland said.

Vazquez's velocity is critical to his success, as evidenced by his failure to touch 90 mph early in the season, which coincided with the ugly start of his second stint with the Yankees.

Vazquez, though, has been arguably the team's second-best starter since he was skipped in May against the Red Sox. Not coincidentally, his success came with the return of his fastball.

He entered Friday 8-4 with a 3.29 ERA in his past 90-plus innings. Without being able to push the speed gun into the 90s, Vazquez struggled, giving up the six runs, including two on homers.

A "dead arm" is not that unusual for starters, but because Vazquez's success has been so closely tied with the improvement of his fastball, it is something the Yankees plan on watching closely because he has been such a vital piece of the puzzle these last three months or so. The Yankees will need him to get well soon if they plan on making it deep into the playoffs.

A-Rod Finally Does it, Belts Home Run Number 600

Alex Rodriguez hit his 600th career home run on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium, becoming the youngest player to ever reach that milestone.

Rodriguez hit a two-run homer to straightaway center field in the first inning of a game against the Toronto Blue Jays, off Shaun Marcum. It came on a 2-0 pitch over the middle of the plate with Derek Jeter on first and two out.

At 35 years, 8 days, Rodriguez became the youngest player in history to join the 600 Club, and the seventh player in baseball history to reach the milestone.

He raised a hand slightly in triumph as he rounded first base, then completed his home run trot. He joined an elite club that includes Barry Bonds (762), Henry Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714), Willie Mays (660), Ken Griffey Jr. (630) and Sammy Sosa (609). After Rodriguez, the next-youngest member of the 600 Club is its first -- Ruth, at 36 years, 196 days.

"[I'm] definitely glad it's over and I definitely enjoyed that moment and enjoyed the win," he said after the game, a 5-1 Yankees victory that prevented a Toronto three-game series sweep. "We needed a win today ... we needed to stop the bleeding a little bit. That's a very good team over there."

Of the seven players with 600 homers, Rodriguez's 46 at-bats between No. 599 and No. 600 were the longest. His 600th homer ended a 12-game homerless slump and came exactly three years to the day after his 500th homer.

Entering Thursday's game, Rodriguez was 4-for-17 against Marcum with one career homer off the right-hander.

Rodriguez's 17th homer of the season sailed over the center-field wall and landed in Monument Park. The ball was retrieved by a Yankees security guard and will be returned to Rodriguez.

As he rounded the bases, he was treated to a standing ovation from the crowd at Yankee Stadium. After he touched home plate he was embraced by Jeter, who had scored ahead of him, and by the next batter, Robinson Cano.

All of Rodriguez's teammates -- many of whom had raised their arms in joy when he finally connected -- then came out of the dugout to embrace him. After they had all retreated to the dugout, Rodriguez returned for his own curtain call.

"Congratulations to Alex on this great achievement and on adding another highlight to Yankees history. We are especially proud he accomplished this feat as a Yankee and here before the most loyal fans in baseball," team co-owner Hal Steinbrenner said of the achievement.

Rodriguez had gone 46 at-bats between home runs Nos. 599 and 600 -- 25 more than Willie Mays, who needed 21 at-bats to reach the milestone in 1970.

Asked if he thought the ball would clear the fence, he said he wasn't sure.

"It sure has been awhile, but it definitely felt good to get a big home run and help us win," he said.
"I just wanted to get a base hit," he added. "My teammates wanted me to go out there and relax."

The Yankees immediately informed fans that a special program and T-shirt were available to commemorate A-Rod's achievement. One stand behind home plate sold out within two innings.

A-Rod hit his 599th off Robinson Tejeda of the Kansas City Royals last Thursday at Yankee Stadium. The ball he hit was the 104th specially marked one that had been used for each of his plate appearances since reaching No. 599.

The longest homerless streak of his career came in 1994 and 1995, when he was a young, skinny kid with the Mariners and went 102 at-bats without a home run.

As a Yankee, he had a 72 at-bat homerless streak last year and a 61 at-bat stretch earlier this season.
A-Rod turned 35 last Tuesday, putting his home run pace far ahead of the rest. Ruth had been the youngest to hit 600; the Sultan of Swat did it in fewer games, though -- 2,044 to 2,227 for Rodriguez.

In the three years since he hit No. 500, much has changed for him.

During a tumultuous spring training of 2009, Rodriguez admitted to using steroids while playing for the Texas Rangers from 2001 to '03. He also had major hip surgery that kept him out the first month last year, as the team adjusted to high-profile newcomers CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira without him.

He returned with a fresh outlook that put the team first, helping lead the Yankees to their first World Series championship since 2000 and reversing a trend of personal playoff failures.

Even though he went homerless in his first 41 at-bats this year and has connected at a much slower rate compared with the rest of his career, the 13-time All-Star has been saying that No. 600 is merely a springboard to better things -- mainly helping his team win, but also reaching Bonds' record of 762 home runs.

Being the home run king comes with a tarnished crown, though.

After Bonds eclipsed Aaron's record with his 756th in 2007 amid accusations of steroid use -- something Bonds vehemently denies -- talk immediately turned to A-Rod, who days earlier had become the fastest to No. 500. He was supposed to be the player who would restore credibility to American sports' most cherished record, but that all changed two years later.

In response to an SI.com report and mounting speculation, A-Rod admitted to using steroids as he hit 156 homers with Texas. He has 255 with the Yankees and 189 with the Seattle Mariners, who picked him No. 1 in the 1993 amateur draft.

Rodriguez is among only three players, along with Reggie Jackson and Darrell Evans, to hit 100 home runs for three different teams.

600 Club

Seven men have hit 600 home runs or more in the major leagues:

Player	HRs
Barry Bonds	762
Henry Aaron	755
Babe Ruth	714
Willie Mays	660
Ken Griffey Jr.	630
Sammy Sosa	609
Alex Rodriguez	600

For one of the most scrutinized players in baseball, there was little fanfare in the run-up to No. 600 -- perhaps it's steroids era fatigue or the fact that Rodriguez became the fourth player to reach the mark in the last 10 years after none in 31 years.

The pursuit of the home run record gets lucrative now. As part of his $275 million, 10-year deal signed after opting out of his contract during the 2007 World Series, Rodriguez can earn up to $30 million more for six milestone homers.

If Rodriguez ties Mays, he will receive a $6 million bonus. He'd get $6 million more each time for matching Ruth, Aaron and Bonds and breaking the record.

Rodriguez hit No. 100 in August 1998 with Seattle, No. 200 in May 2001 and No. 300 in April 2003 with Texas. His 400th home run came on June 8, 2005, against Milwaukee during his second season with the Yankees.

Berkman Requested Trade to Yankees in 2006

It may seem as if the Lance Berkman-to-the-Yankees deal happened overnight, but in fact, Berkman's arrival Saturday was the culmination of a nearly four-year journey.

After the 2006 season, when the Houston Astros went from World Series runners-up the year before to rapidly declining mediocrities, allowing Andy Pettitte to escape via free agency and beginning a purge that would result in the loss of Brad Lidge, Chad Qualls, Chris Burke and Dan Wheeler, Berkman marched into the GM's office and made the following announcement: "Trade me. I want to go to the Yankees."

And yet, sitting in the visitors' dugout at Tropicana Field on Saturday in the batting practice togs of the Yankees, Berkman still could hardly believe his request had finally been filled.

"It's kind of surreal," said Berkman, officially acquired by the Yankees at around 1:30 p.m. for two minor-leaguers, Mark Melancon and Jimmy Paredes, and batting second in the lineup for Saturday's game as the DH. "I never thought in a million years it would happen. I didn't think a set of circumstances would come along that would make this happen, but I'm very happy to be here. I think it's a great situation."

Berkman, a native Texan who had played his entire career as an Astro, said his friendship with Pettitte was a big factor in convincing him that although his heart, and family, may have been in Houston, his career belonged in New York.

"Andy always told me, 'It's a great place to play, a great organization, a place where you have the chance to play in a World Series every year,'" Berkman said. "I always had the sense when he was [in Houston] that he really wanted to be here. I would always give him a hard time and say, 'You're going back to the Yankees. You know you are.'"

Pettitte, of course, did and now Berkman has joined him, even if only for the remaining 60 games of the regular season and whatever happens in October. Once a feared power hitter -- he batted .315, hit 45 homers and drove in 136 runs in 2006 -- Berkman's numbers, at age 34, have plunged, to .245, 13 and 49.

Some of that he attributes to preseason knee surgery, the fourth of his career, which robbed him of spring training. And some of it no doubt has to do with the malaise that comes from a club going nowhere and playing for nothing but its paychecks.

"I think it can be revolutionary, I really do," Berkman said of his first change of address in his 12-year major-league career. "I'm not saying that it will be, but that's one of the reasons I chose here. I was at the point in my career where something had to change. I needed to get into a situation where you're scared again, and this kind of borders on that because you got a lot of expectations to do well.

"Everybody knows if you come up here and do great, people will love you, and if you flop, they'll say, 'This guy's a bum, get him out of here.' So either way, it's stimulating. It's a very different from the environment I was in in Houston. I want to put myself in that situation just to see what I got, what I got left."

How much Berkman has left could have a profound effect on how far the Yankees go this season. Ever since Nick Johnson was sidelined with a wrist injury that required surgery in May, the Yankees have not had an everyday DH. They have used the spot as a dumping ground either for regulars needing a partial day off or bench players needing some playing time.

Starting Saturday, the spot belongs to Berkman, although Joe Girardi said he might also get some time in the outfield and at first base. For now, all the Yankees want is his bat, in the two-hole that has usually belonged to Nick Swisher since Johnson's injury. In his first Yankees at-bat, Berkman flied out softly to shallow right in the first inning against Matt Garza.

As a career-long National League player, Berkman has seen limited duty as a DH but has performed well in the role, batting .378 (17-for-45) with two homers and four RBIs.

"I like it, but of course, I like it from the NL perspective in that you can get a couple of days off," Berkman said. "It's probably going to be different being a full-time DH. It'll take some getting used to, and I'm sure there will be an adjustment period. But I think it will actually be good for my knee. It could be a very good thing."

In Berkman, Girardi sees more than just a switch-hitter with power he can drop into the top of his order. He regards him as an experienced veteran he can trust more than the kid combo of Colin Curtis and Juan Miranda, who have done a good job in the role since being called up from Triple-A but have never experienced the kind of pressure that awaits the Yankees in the final months of the season and the playoffs. Both Curtis and Miranda were optioned to Scranton to make roster space for Berkman and Austin Kearns, another trade-deadline acquisition.

GM Brian Cashman sees the kind of calculated risk that costs the Yankees next to nothing -- the Astros are paying a portion of the $7.5 million still owed Berkman for this year and the $2 million club buyout due to him for 2011 -- and could bring them plenty of dividends.

"I was trying to secure upgrades over players we already had," Cashman said, "and I feel we did that."
Berkman said all he wants is to find his role on the team.

"I don't want to disrupt things, I don't want to make any waves, I just want to fit in," he said. "I'm happy just to be a spoke in the wheel."

A wheel that, at long last, has rolled from Houston to the Bronx.

Jets Sign First Round Pick Wilson

The New York Jets signed their cornerback, but not that cornerback.

All-Pro Darrelle Revis remains embroiled in a contract dispute as the team prepares for training camp Sunday, but the Jets agreed to terms Saturday night on a five-year deal with first-round pick Kyle Wilson, according to a league source. That means all four draft picks are under contract.

Wilson's deal is worth $13 million and includes $7.12 million guaranteed, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

"I'm a millionaire!!!! And headed to camp," Wilson tweeted Saturday night.

The former Boise State star, the 29th overall choice, will have prominent roles this season. He's slated to be the starting nickel back, and he's also a strong candidate to be the No. 1 punt returner. If Revis doesn't show for camp, a distinct possibility, Wilson could see first-team reps with the defense.

Wilson, who had 11 interceptions at Boise State and returned three punts for scores, was slated to go higher on many draft boards, but ended up being the fourth cornerback selected after Florida's Joe Haden (Cleveland, No. 7), Alabama's Kareem Jackson (Houston, No. 20) and Rutgers' Devin McCourty (New England, No. 27).

Wilson's contract compares favorably to that of McCourty, who received $13.2 million with $7.825 million guaranteed. The 28th pick, Miami Dolphins defensive end Jared Odrick, signed for $13 million over five years, including $7.1 million in guarantees.

Wilson was a standout cornerback and wide receiver at Piscataway High School, and chose Boise State over late offers from Rutgers and Iowa. He became a starter in the second half of his freshman season and helped lead Boise State to a Fiesta Bowl victory over TCU to cap his college career.

The Jets report to training camp in Cortland, N.Y., on Sunday, with the first practice scheduled for Monday morning.