Impatient Yankees Call Up Strawberry From Triple-A

The New York Yankees couldn’t wait for Darryl Strawberry’s bat any longer. The Yankees, expected to promote Strawberry from the minor leagues after the All-Star break, instead purchased his contract from triple-A Columbus on Saturday and plan to start him as the designated hitter today against the Milwaukee Brewers.

“I thought about it last night and I suggested to [General Manager] Bob Watson that we just do it,” Manager Joe Torre said.

“It’s going to be like a carnival the first day he’s around. I didn’t want it to take away from what we’re doing [next] Thursday. We’re playing the Baltimore Orioles. I suggested we do it tomorrow and get it over with.”

Strawberry signed with the Yankees on Thursday, and it was anticipated he would play for the Columbus Clippers for at least a week. But after hitting three home runs in two games for Columbus, the Yankees decided he was ready.

Catcher Jorge Posada was sent down to Columbus to clear a roster spot for Strawberry.

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Roberto Alomar sprained his left ring finger sliding into first base, an injury that could cost him the opportunity to play in his seventh consecutive All-Star game. Alomar, who joined the Orioles as a free agent this season after spending five years with Toronto, was selected by the fans to start at second base in Tuesday’s All-Star game in Philadelphia.

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The pitching-poor Pittsburgh Pirates released left-hander Zane Smith and moved right-handed relievers Jon Lieber and Dan Miceli into the starting rotation.

Miceli (1-4), who had 21 saves as a rookie last season and began the season as their closer, will start today against St. Louis. He has not started a game since his senior year of high school in 1989.