On the Yankees beat

Hello everyone. Rod Boone in for Kat today. Typical day here at the Stadium where just when you think there won't be much going on with the Royals in town, boom! First, we'll get the lineup out of the way. You'll notice there is no Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner is instead starting in centerfield.

Cabrera was sent down to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to work on hitting, bunting and baserunning among other things. No timetable was given for his return, but GM Brian Cashman said Gardner isn't here to sit. So he will be playing center pretty much every day. Here's the rest of the lineup.

Damon DH
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
A. Rodriguez 3B
Giambi 1B
Nady LF
Cano 2B
Gardner CF
Molina C
Pettitte P

More notes: Midnight is the deadline to sign picks from June's first-year player draft and the Yankees aren't going to sign Gerrit Cole. GM Brian Cashman just admitted as much and said it had nothing to do with Scott Boras. Apparently, Cole's family thought attending college was the right way to go and Cashman never even got the opportunity to truly make Cole an offer. "Our loss is UCLA's gain," Cashman said. ... Richie Sexson was designated for assignment and the Yankees recalled Cody Ransom. ... Weather permitting, Hideki Matsui is going to play in a rehab game in the Florida State League tonight. ... Carl Pavano is slated to start Sunday for Double-A Trenton. ... Phil Hughes' next rehab start comes Sunday for SWB.

Other than that, nothing to see here.