Duncan to be suspended and other news of the day

-- Peter Abraham is reporting that Major League Baseball will announce that Shelley Duncan and Jonny Gomes will be suspended for two to three game due to their altercation the other day during the Yankees-Rays game. He also says that Girardi and Maddon will only be fined.

-- Tyler Kepner wrote a nice profile piece on Shelley Duncan, describing Duncan's life as the son a of a major leaguer, his upbringing in the Oakland A's locker room, his old-school baseball education, and his current pride in being a Yankee. -- Duncan is also a big fans of Mark McGwire, who is also his idol.

-- Some Yankees veterans have spoken to Duncan about his hard-nosed play."A lot of veteran guys have talked to him," Johnny Damon told The Post yesterday. "We are telling him to keep playing hard, but keep the spikes down and the shoulders in (when sliding). This way people see you are playing hard, but no one can question you." -- But his family has his back, and says the slide wasn't dirty.

-- Andy Pettitte felt fine after today's bullpen session. He said he "felt great, really great,”and that he he has "no concerns."

-- Doug Mientkeiwicz still wishes he was a Yankee. He told The Record that he was "crushed" to find out he would not be brought back. He also said he understood the Yankees' decision, "but personally, it hurt. I really wanted to come back. I called Brian Cashman myself, five or six times,'' he said.

-- Phil Allard of NYYFans.com wrote about something many of us may have already suspected: Mike and the Mad Dog are morons. He discusses their stupidity when it comes to Joba Chamberlain and his future role. Check it out.

-- The Beaver County Times had this article about relief pitcher Scott Patterson, and how he's impressed the Yankees coaches so far. "'He’s been great,' first-year Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. 'We’ve brought him in during the middle of some innings and he’s gotten us out of three or four really tough spots. He’s done everything you could ask to rookie to do. He’s impressed me.'" Patterson may have a shot at making this team, his number have been very impressive, and all he does is throw strikes.

-- Bryan Hoch has an article on Yankees pitching prospect Jeff Marquez.

-- George Vecsey is not a fan of Billy Crystal, at least not as a baseball player. He said the at-bat did not "jibe" with the Yankees new image. Bill Madden had similar feelings. I think they both should lighten up. -- Deadspin does come to Crystal's defense.