On This Date...

On this date in 1926, Babe Ruth pulled a stunt at Mitchell Field in New York, catching a baseball that was dropped from an airplane traveling at 250 feet.

That was probably super awesome. Someone should recreate that moment. Kenny Rogers perhaps?

Or not... he's just the only recent gold-glove pitcher besides Greg Maddux and Mike Mussina I can think of at the moment... and neither of them are as fat as The Gambler.

There's a Moose on the Loose

Mike Mussina was given the boot from the New York Yankees rotation after three horrible starts in a row. Now, he'll be skipped for his next scheduled start, which is Saturday against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

The 38-year-old righty refused to comment on the situation as he retreated from the clubhouse following the Yanks' 5-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox Tuesday night.

"He was disappointed, naturally. This was very difficult for me. We have relied on him every year since he's been here," said manager Joe Torre, who broke the news.

After going 15-7 with a 3.51 ERA last season, he was 8-10 with a 5.53 ERA this year. Over his last three starts... a 17.69 ERA. That's 19 earned runs over 9.2 innings.

Remember when Mussina was the Yankees' top starter? Yeah, that didn't last too long.

Related, the club will call up last year's first-round draft pick, Ian Kennedy from the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees to pitch against the struggling D'Rays. The 22-year-old righty was 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in six minor league starts.

Mike Mussina Returns to Yankees Rotation

After placing their seventh pitcher - prized rookie Phil Hughes - on the disabled list Thursday, the New York Yankees will bring up right-handers Darrell Rasner and Matt DeSalvo to fill the gaping holes in their rotation for the upcoming weekend series against the Seattle Mariners.

This move may make history - becoming the first club in big league history to use 10 starters in its first 30 games.

Rasner is scheduled to make his fourth start Sunday, with DeSalvo making his major league debut in Monday's series finale.

Phil Hughes to Make Early Start For Yankees

Phil Hughes will be making his major league debut a bit earlier than expected. The day after finding themselves swept by the Boston Red Sox, the New York Yankee said they plan on having their top pitching prospect start Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays.

With the the Yankees dropping to four games behind the AL East-leading Sox, the 20-year-old righty has compiled a 2-1 with a 3.94 ERA in three starts with AAA Scranton, pitching six shutout innings last Wednesday at Syracuse where he allowed just two hits, struck out 10 and walked none.

According to Elias, the Yankees haven't started a pitcher this young since Jose Rijo pitched as an 18- and 19-year-old in 1984.

The Disabled Yankees List

The New York Yankees' starting five just got a little bit worse. Carl Pavano has landed back on the disabled list, along with teammate Mike Mussina.

Pavano and Moose were placed on the 15-day DL before Sunday's game at Oakland. Pavano went down with a right forearm strain and Mussina with a left hamstring injury.

Pavano's injury-ridden past had been the target of media spotlight this spring, with many wondering if he could come back and produce after two seasons away from the game. There's your answer, people. He is 1-0 with a 4.76 ERA in two starts this time around.

Moose Injures His Hammy

New York Yankees starter Mike Mussina left Wednesday's game against the Minnesota Twins three batters into the third inning after straining his left hamstring on a 2-1 count to Luis Castillo. He then motioned to the dugout for pitching coach Ron Guidry and manager Joe Torre to visit the mound. Trainers escorted the 38-year-old righty to the clubhouse after a short discussion.

Mussina, beginning his 17th big league season, gave up a walk and a double in the first two innings against the Twins, after allowing eight hits and six runs in just four innings against the Baltimore Orioles last week in his first start of the season.

Sean Henn, who came in to relieve Mussina, will likely start in his place Tuesday against the Cleveland Indians, but the club hasn't put Mussina on the DL just yet.