Brett Gardner and David Robertson inched one step closer to coming off the disabled list on Monday, working out at the Yankees' Minor League complex in Tampa, Fla.Good news for the Yanks. Unfortunately for them, they don't play the A's everyday so they're going to need these guys if they plan on continuing their move up in the standings.
Gardner took dry swings to test his strained right elbow and Robertson played catch without feeling any discomfort from a strained left oblique, which is encouraging news for a Yankees club that is looking forward to their respective returns.
"Everything went well, so they'll move on to whatever they have to do tomorrow," manager Joe Girardi said.
The Yankees have ruled out the idea of Robertson rejoining them on this road trip, making his earliest possible return date June 5 at Yankee Stadium against the Rays. Robertson hasn't pitched since May 11.
Girardi said that Gardner, who hasn't appeared in a big league game since April 17, will need to play in a few Minor League rehab games before the Yankees can seriously consider activating him.
Gardner's best-case scenario would be 10 days away, but the Yankees figure to be cautious because any further setback could mean they would be without the speedster until the All-Star break.
There was a time last week when it appeared David Robertson had a chance to come off the disabled list next weekend against the Tigers.Not the best news, and yes I know it's two days old (sorry), but at least they're on a little winning streak now thanks to the A's horrible hitting. Also, Soriano has begun to settle into the closer's role, which is obviously a huge boost for this team and makes this delayed return much easier to deal with.
However, with the right-handed reliever reporting to the Yankees’ minor league complex in Tampa on Thursday to start a throwing program that will be followed by minor league rehab games, Detroit isn’t a destination for Robertson.
“Not at all,’’ general manager Brian Cashman said.
Robertson hasn’t pitched since May 11 due to a left rib cage problem.
Looking to add depth to the organization's pitching, the Yankees have signed former Mets right-hander John Maine to a minor league contract, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman confirmed.As the Yankees have already proven this year, you can't have enough pitching. That said, I wouldn't expect much from Maine.
Maine, who hasn't pitched in the major leagues since 2010, is expected to be insurance if he can come close to the form that saw him win as many as 15 games with the Mets five years ago.
Since 2008, Maine has struggled with shoulder injuries. Last year, after posting a 7.43 ERA in 45 innings with the Colorado Rockies' Triple-A team, he left the organization in June. This spring, Maine was in camp with the Boston Red Sox.
"He's interested in trying to get back to the big leagues, so we will see," Cashman said Friday.
Maine, 31, will go to work for the Yankees in Tampa, Fla., at extended spring training. The Yankees have been a haven for such reclamation projects. Some pitchers have made it all the way back, like Bartolo Colon last year, and some have not, like former Cubs phenom Mark Prior.
The Yankees also recently looked at Armando Galarraga, formerly of the Detroit Tigers. Galarraga, who came up one out short of a perfect game two years ago with Detroit, ended up signing with the Houston Astros.
Rumors are flying in Major League Baseball and New York banking circles that the family that has owned Major League Baseball's premiere franchise since Cleveland shipbuilder George Steinbrenner purchased the club for $8.8 million in 1973 is exploring the possibility of selling the Yankees.Besides Levin's denials in the article, Hal Steinbrenner also responded to the rumors:
Multiple baseball and finance sources told the Daily News they are hearing that the team the Steinbrenner family has led to seven World Series titles could be put on the block in the wake of the record sale price of $2.175 billion the Los Angeles Dodgers went for in April.
"There has been chatter all around the banking and financial industries in the city for a couple of weeks now," one high-level baseball source told The News.
Yankee president Randy Levine adamantly denied the rumors: "I can say to you there is absolutely, positively nothing to this. The Steinbrenners are not selling the team." And managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner, George's younger son, weighed in with his own denial Thursday morning, saying in a statement: "I just read the Daily News story. It is complete fiction. Me and my family have no intention to sell the Yankees and expect it to be in the family for years to come."
However, according to the sources, who requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the situation, the recent sale of the Dodgers to a group that includes NBA legend Magic Johnson is just one reason why the Steinbrenner family may be looking to sell the team, which experts estimate could be worth up to a stunning $3 billion.
Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner said on Thursday that his family has no intention of selling the storied franchise, responding to a published report in the New York Daily News.Honestly, at this point I don't really care what happens, especially if they are sold to an owner who is ready to spend money.
"I just learned of the Daily News story. It is pure fiction," Steinbrenner said in a statement. "The Yankees are not for sale. I expect that the Yankees will be in my family for many years to come."
No date has been set for Rivera’s knee surgery, and the righthander remains on blood-thinning medication for the clot in his leg, discovered after he tore his right ACL on May 3. Rivera said the last time he was examined, the clot was still present. Once the problem is resolved, he will require a few days off the blood thinners before he can have the surgery. But the treatment to eliminate the clot could take as long as three months.
“We’re trying to work the clot first,” Rivera said. “In the meantime, we’re strengthening it.”
Rivera has been doing range-of-motion and strengthening exercises in hopes it will make his post-surgery rehab shorter. On Tuesday, there was little sign of a limp as he walked in the clubhouse.
“I can’t even imagine what that place (Yankee Stadium) would have sounded like over there,” Burnett said before his Pirates lost to the Mets on Tuesday. “And there was maybe like two words that came out of the crowd here.”Burnett also sounded optimistic about the Yankees chances going forward, saying he's "sure they’ll do fine once they put it together”. Amazingly, that's a hell of a lot more optimistic than I am.
Burnett eventually settled down and got the win, allowing just three hits and two walks over seven innings pitched. It was a stark difference for the right-hander, who was known for his puzzling mid-game meltdowns while with the Yankees.
“I guess that’s why CC (Sabathia) is so good, because he could care less,” said Burnett. “He just pitches. Obviously, (Yankees fans) love him because he’s dominant, but I don’t think it would matter either way.
“I maybe went out there and tried to overdo it.”
...
“I had my good times there,” said Burnett. “I don’t regret it at all. I don’t. I regret not performing better.”
Hit in the left wrist by a bad hop in the ninth inning, Jeter was in obvious discomfort on the field — he took his glove off and kept shaking his hand — but he said all the things you’d expect in the clubhouse: He’s fine, it’s no problem and there’s nothing to be worried about.Sorry, but based on this team's (bad) luck so far this year I'd have to assume that this ends up worse than it looks.
“Hopefully it’s not a big deal, and he’ll be okay tomorrow,” Joe Girardi said. “But I’ll have to see.”
Despite a right ankle sprain that had put his next start in jeopardy, right-hander Ivan Nova remains on track to pitch against the Reds Saturday. Nova threw a light bullpen session at Rogers Centre Thursday. He also participated in a few drills to prove he’s capable of moving well enough to field his position. “It feels good,” Nova said. “I don’t think it’s going to be a problem.” ... “Our plans have been for him to start,” said manager Joe Girardi, though he could still bump Nova at the last minute if he has issues while warming up for his start.Luckily for the Yankees Nova is OK. However, at this point relatively early part of the season, it's the hitting and not the pitching that is this team's greatest concern, but you already knew that.
The Yankees announced Thursday afternoon that they have claimed infielder Matt Antonelli off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles, and he will report to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this weekend. The 27-year-old Antonelli was batting .204 with one home run, seven RBI, and 19 walks in 29 games for Baltimore’s Triple-A affiliate in Norfolk. He has seen time all around the diamond this season, playing all four infield positions as well as left field.His only big league experience came in 2008 with San Diego. In 21 games for the San Diego, he hit .193 (11-for-57) with a homer and 3 RBI.
Robertson was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with a strained muscle in his left ribcage. The right-hander was working as the fill-in closer for Rivera, who is likely to be sidelined the rest of the season after tearing a knee ligament on May 3. Robertson finished five games this season and was 0-1 with a 2.51 ERA and one save. He had not pitched since Friday because of discomfort in his ribcage, an injury diagnosed Tuesday as a strained oblique muscle. "We don't think it's too severe, but it's hard to tell," manager Joe Girardi said. "Obliques can be tricky. We expect him not to pick up a baseball for probably seven to 10 days, and then we'll see where we are after that." To fill out the bullpen, New York recalled right-hander Cody Eppley from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.Is anyone else starting to feel like sooner or later everyone is going to end up on the DL?
RHP Ivan Nova, sprained/bruised right ankle and foot, X-Rays negative The 25-year-old took a comebacker to his right ankle in the third inning and rolled the same ankle while making a defensive play in the sixth. After the game, Nova said his ankle was swollen and still in pain, though he didn't want to miss his next start. Of course, he may not have a choice in the matter. "That's a possibility," Girardi said of scrubbing Nova's next outing. "We’ll have to be smart about it and make sure he’s OK." ... RHP David Robertson, left oblique/rib cage soreness, tests scheduled for today Technically, Robertson's injury didn't take place last night, but rather during his last appearance on Friday. Robertson, working in a non-save situation, first felt the soreness during his outing. He iced the area and felt it again the next day. At that point, he notified Girardi, who has made Robertson unavailable since. ... LHP Clay Rapada, head cold, viral infection Rapada finished his relief outing yesterday but had to be helped back into the clubhouse. ... LF Raul Ibanez, hit by pitch on left elbow Girardi believes Ibanez will be sore. But Ibanez didn't seem concerned and said he'd be ready to go. Of course, he too is likely not to play today with the Orioles starting left-hander Wei-Yin Chen. ... 1B Mark Teixeira, bronchial inflammation Even though he began taking new medication to treat his condition last week, Teixeira said it has had no effect so far. He'd be more likely to heal if he were willing to take some time off. But after hitting a critical two-run homer last night, Teixeira said he had no interest in taking days off.These injuries are very frustrating but better to have to deal with them earlier in the season, rather than later on when they can really hurt you. Nothing here seems too serious, which is obviously also a good thing.
Eduardo Nunez's error-filled tenure in the Bronx is over -- for now. After committing two critical errors last night, the Yankees optioned Nunez to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre to make room for backup third baseman Eric Chavez, who was activated from the seven-day disabled list for concussions. "We've asked Nuney to do some things that you usually ask more of veteran player to do, to play third, short, second, left, right," manager Joe Girardi said. "And for the best interest of him and us moving forward, we thought it was probably more important that he goes down and play shortstop six days a week and maybe second a day a week. And getting back to playing every day."Sucks for Nunez, but you can't say he didn't earn the demotion. Hopefully he does the necessary work to improve his glove and is back in the Bronx in the near future. Jayson Nix will replace Nunez on the roster.
