Bombers bits

• Yankees catcher John Ryan Murphy is now going by his full given name, which is printed on the nameplate above his clubhouse locker. Murphy explained that his father's name is also John, so their family and friends always used middle names to differentiate between the two.

It was only when Murphy entered professional baseball that J.R. began to be used. Teammates of the 22-year-old, who played in 16 games for the Yankees last season, are just calling him "Murph."