Andy Pettitte could be throwing off a mound before the end of the week. The lefthander took a significant step in his return from a fractured left ankle when he threw off flat ground Tuesday before the Yankees beat the Blue Jays at the Stadium. Joe Girardi said Pettitte threw three sets of 20 pitches and tested himself during the last one.Alex Rodriguez also took a major step in his rehab:
“For two of the sessions, he did not push off much,” Girardi said. “In the last session, he basically did 10 or 12 pitches where it was his normal windup. He actually looked really good.”
... After Tuesday’s session, Girardi said of Pettitte’s next move “our hope is it’s a mound, a bullpen. We’ll have to see how he feels in the next couple days.”
He said that would likely occur Friday or Saturday.
New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez took live batting practice on Tuesday afternoon, the first time he's done so since fracturing his left hand on July 24 against the Seattle Mariners.So despite the two losses to the Jays, not all is bad in Yankeeland.
General manager Brian Cashman said on ESPN NewYork 98.7's "The Michael Kay Show" that if everything goes well, Rodriguez could begin a minor league rehab stint over the weekend. Cashman added that he believes A-Rod can be back earlier than mid-September, but also didn't want to put a firm date on it.
"So far, so good," Rodriguez said. "My legs are coming under me, and I see light at the end of the tunnel. My expectation is to come back at full strength and help this team win."
Standing behind the batting cage in Chicago early Wednesday night, Robin Ventura measured his words before speaking.Ventura make some good points, but I still wouldn't put Jeter at the top, not ahead of guys like Ruth and Gehrig. As of this moment I'd put him 5th behind Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio and Mantle. If he ends up with 4,000+ hits, he'll jump in those rankings, that's for sure.
The first-year White Sox manager is aware of the Yankees’ rich history, having played for the team during his 16 seasons in the big leagues.
So when asked about shortstop Derek Jeter’s recent torrid streak vaulting him into the AL Most Valuable Player discussion, Ventura went a lot further than a single-season award.
“I think he is the greatest Yankee of all time,’’ Ventura told The Post. “That’s because of the position he plays and the era he plays in. Every play he has ever made is on tape. The players before him, nobody ever saw them fail. All we saw of them was them doing good. Every one of Derek’s games has been on television. He has been criticized more than any other player in Yankee history, too. At least among the ones that were good.’’
Think about Ventura’s first sentence: Jeter ahead of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio and Yogi Berra. To some, it’s blasphemy. But Ventura doesn’t talk to shock people.
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“As a manager, I don’t like for him to come up with guys on base, I don’t want him to come up when it’s tied, when they need somebody on base, and I don’t want him coming up late in the game to win it,’’ Ventura said. “He is still that kind of player.’’
The Yankees placed starting pitcher Ivan Nova on the disabled list today, the team announced, when an MRI exam discovered inflammation in his right rotator cuff.This also allows the struggling Joba Chamberlain to stay on the active roster, which I believe is a mistake. David Phelps will also remain in the rotation until Nova returns.
Nova will not play catch for at least five days. After visiting with team physician Christopher Ahmad in New York, Nova will be prescribed medicine and rest.
Placing Nova on the DL also clears a roster spot for ace lefty CC Sabathia, who is expected to be activated for Friday's series opener against the Indians.
Hot on the heels of being voted baseball's MOP -- Most Overrated Player -- in a Sports Illustrated poll back in May, and another by Men's Journal that named him baseball's MHP -- Most Hated Player -- in June comes word that A-Rod has topped another anonymous SI poll: according to the magazine, he is also "baseball's biggest phony", whatever that means. A-Rod "won'' the poll with a whopping 26 percent of the vote.What is there to say about this besides that I really hope A-Rod comes back and tears the cover off the ball.
.... The runner-up in the voting is none other than the Yankees' own Nick Swisher, who garnered 14 percent. Swisher also ran second to A-Rod in the MHP voting. Is Swish poised to make a run at the man at the top?
Ivan Nova will likely miss his next start after feeling tightness near his right shoulder in the sixth inning of Tuesday night's loss to the White Sox.Feinsand also mentioned that Joe Girardi did not rule out a trip to the DL for Nova. If that happens, David Phelps would remain in the rotation.
Nova is being sent back to New York Wednesday to be examined by Yankees team physician Dr. Chris Ahmad.
Former Cy Young Award winner Bartolo Colon of the Oakland Athletics was suspended for 50 games Wednesday after testing positive for testosterone.Seriously, what the **** is wrong with these guys?
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"I apologize to the fans, to my teammates and to the Oakland A's," Colon said in a statement released by the players' association. "I accept responsibility for my actions and I will serve my suspension as required by the joint drug program."
He will miss the final 40 games of the regular season and the first 10 games of the postseason if Oakland advances that far. Any remainder of the suspension would be served in a future season, if Colon signs another major league contract.
"It's a shock," Oakland reliever Grant Balfour said. "He's a guy that we're definitely relying on right now. I guess you could say it's bad timing any time, but especially now."
Oakland, which hasn't made the playoffs since 2006, began Wednesday a half-game out in the AL wild-card race. The A's were preparing for an afternoon series finale with the Minnesota Twins at the Coliseum when they got the news from the clubhouse TVs. A closed-door team meeting was quickly called.
"The Oakland Athletics are disappointed to learn of today's suspension," the team said in a statement.
The 39-year-old Colon is 10-9 with a 3.43 ERA in 24 starts this season, his first with the A's, and has a 171-122 record in 15 big league seasons. He was due to start Thursday in Tampa.
Word going around is, Nick Swisher, the Yankees' eternally upbeat rightfield power supply, may seek a "Jayson Werth contract" when he hits free agency at the end of the year.Heyman goes on to explain the stats, and yes, they are pretty close. That said, the Yankees, or any team, would be absolutely crazy to give Swisher that kind of deal and I'm almost 100% sure they won't come close.
To baseball fans, that is well-known to mean $126 million over seven years. In other words, it's a lot more money than most folks have guessed so far for Swish.
Second-hand or not, some Yankees people have heard that's the figure Swisher is thinking about and may at least shoot for, and one other source who's spoken to Swisher said that, indeed, Swisher has shown real interest in Werth's deal. It's believed the two sides have had no extension talks yet, as it is team policy to wait for free agency, except in rare cases.
While the $126-million figure is two to three times more than most of the estimates for Swisher, free agency brings some surprises. The Werth deal, for instance.
Swisher initially gave the usual player-speak answer, "I haven't thought about it,'' when asked if he sees the Werth deal as a fair comp for him. I tried to lighten the mood by asking if he had ever "heard'' of the Werth contract, and Swisher characteristically responded by laughing uproariously. We both know, of course, that any corner outfielder who's a very good player having a very good year (but is a bit short of being a cornerstone player) has to have thought long and hard about the Werth deal.
Eventually, he did say about Werth's Nationals contract, "It's a great deal for him.'' And then Swisher did challenge me to look at the record.
"Check it out,'' Swisher implored me. "See what it says.''
So I did. And statistically speaking, it's pretty darned close between the two corner outfielders.
1. Executive No. 1. Werth is better because he can play center field as well as right field and has a better postseason track record than Swisher (that's one area where Werth has outdone Swisher).I highlight the 2nd executive's comments because those, to me, are all that matter. Just because one guy gets a crazy deal doesn't mean anyone else, or the original players, is worth it or deserves it. Also, the $45 or $60 million deals are much reasonable and realistic. That is what Swisher needs to realize heading into free agency, or at the very least the Yankees have to realize it. Executive number 4 was also pretty accurate in his assessment of the situation.
2. Executive No. 2. It doesn't matter how they match up because 'the Werth deal is insane.'' That exec said he could see Swisher getting $45 million for three years, or $60 million for four, which is well short of Werth and more along the lines of the usual projections.
3. Executive No. 3. Swisher's case isn't crazy considering the Werth contract. (That exec may well have studied the numbers.)
4. Executive No. 4. Laughter. That exec apparently felt the idea iof Swisher being a $126-million player was quite amusing.
As votes of confidences go, this was a particularly weak one.Watching Joba pitch these days is just depressing and it's clear that he's rusty. At this point, I don't see any other valid option besides sending him down. With the lead in the division down to just four games the Yankees can't afford to be blowing any more games because of Joba.
"I don't anticipate us making any changes tonight," said manager Joe Girardi, under questioning that, when boiled down to its essence, amounted pretty much to this: What are you going to do with Joba Chamberlain?
OK, so maybe not Monday night, not in the immediate aftershock of the New York Yankees' 9-6 loss to the Chicago White Sox in the first game of a three-game series.
But maybe it will be Tuesday. Or Wednesday. Or by the end of the week, when, barring a setback, it is expected that CC Sabathia will be reactivated from the disabled list in time to pitch on Friday in Cleveland.
But some day soon, the announcement will come that the return of Joba Chamberlain has been put on hold, and that the 26-year-old right-hander who already is beginning to look and sound as shopworn as Derek Lowe, will be heading back down to the minors in an effort to regain his touch.
In fact, the only thing that seems to be keeping him on the Yankees' roster right now is necessity -- that and a spare roster spot with Sabathia on the DL at least until Thursday.
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Since he returned on Aug. 1, he has been consistently hittable and increasingly disappointing. He has made seven appearances and allowed runs in five of them and allowed an inherited runner to score in a sixth. He has surrendered 15 hits in 6 2/3 innings and allowed seven earned runs. His ERA is 9.45.
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Obviously, the Yankees didn't allow him to take enough time to get back. They saw his velocity and they saw that he was pain-free and decided he was major league ready. The results so far tell you another story. Their recklessness in this regard is especially shocking when you recall the Joba Rules, in which they treated their 21-year-old phenom as if he were made of porcelain.
Now, he is 26, his best days may well be behind him, and the Yankees need another right-hander in their bullpen.
"I'm not concerned about him long-term," Girardi said. "But short-term, yeah, I am. We've got to try to get him right."
If Joba Chamberlain is ever going to get himself right, it's not going to be on a major league mound getting smacked around by a first-place team.
Girardi must know this, and by his lukewarm vote of confidence Monday night, he seemed to be letting all of us know it, too.
New York Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda was arrested early Monday morning for driving under the influence, reports the New York Post‘s Dan Mangan.I still can't understand how these athletes don't have the common sense to call a damn cab. Yes, I know, he's "ONLY" making $528,475 this year, but that should be more than enough to be able to afford cabs.
Pineda, who is out for the season after having shoulder surgery in April, ”had a fixed gaze and his eyes were bloodshot, watery and glassy” when he was stopped in Tampa, Fla., according to the arresting officer’s report. His blood-alcohol level was .128 and .125 in two tests, Mangan reports. He also reports Pineda was charged with DUI and released on bond.
Pedro Feliciano hasn't thrown a pitch for the Yankees since signing a two-year, $8 million contract, but there is hope that may be about to change.The more arms, the better, and adding Feliciano to the pen in September could be a nice boost to the team. If anything, it will give others more of an opportunity to rest up for the playoffs.
Feliciano pitched a scoreless inning on Saturday for the Gulf Coast Yankees, the lefty reliever's third outing for the club, and manager Joe Girardi is hopeful that Feliciano will be able to see time at the big league level in September.
"I think that's why he's going through what he's going through," Girardi said. "If we didn't think he could help us, we wouldn't put him through this."
Feliciano has been sidelined since having a torn capsule in his pitching shoulder repaired. Feliciano made 344 relief appearances from 2007-10, marking an all-time record for appearances over a four-year stretch, and Yankees general manager Brian Cashman later remarked that the hurler had been "abused" by the Mets. His contract includes a $4.5 million club option for 2013, which the Yankees are likely to decline.
The Yankees received encouraging news on Sunday regarding Alex Rodriguez and Andy Pettitte, who are both progressing toward September returns from the disabled list.Hoch also reported that Mark Teixeira expects to return to the lineup tonight in Chicago, saying on Sunday "That's the goal. I could probably push it today, but we don't want any setbacks. We don't want anything to get inflamed again. So we're going to take it easy today."
A-Rod and Pettitte had X-rays performed on their fractured left hand and fractured left fibula, respectively, and team doctors told the players that their injuries are healing as expected.
"Everything is as scheduled," said Rodriguez, who was hit by a Felix Hernandez pitch on July 24 in Seattle. "We talked about four to six weeks at the beginning, and I think Tuesday is the four-week mark. We're right on schedule."
Rodriguez said that he will spend the next few days strengthening and expects to be re-evaluated during Thursday's off-day between series at Chicago and Cleveland. He has been keeping his arm in shape, throwing both baseballs and footballs often.
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Pettitte returned from that Seattle trip having been told that he pushed himself too hard, hoping to accelerate his recovery from a June 27 broken ankle, but that swelling has subsided and doctors are closer to permitting him to resume pitching on a mound.
"Everything looks good -- it's healing up," Pettitte said. "Obviously, like I told you all before, I'm excited when they tell me, 'OK you can go on the mound and see how it feels.'
"But I've got to get on flat ground. I'll do that on this road trip, and hopefully after this road trip, it'll all be good. I'm hoping maybe right when we get back from this road trip, I might be able to get back on a mound."
CC Sabathia will throw his first bullpen session since going on the disabled list today and said he believes he will return Friday in Cleveland.Girardi also said in the article that he doesn't have a date set for CC's return and is waiting to see how his bullpen goes, but assuming all goes well we'll see Sabathia on Friday or Saturday.
While manager Joe Girardi would certainly welcome the Yankees’ staff ace back to the rotation the first day Sabathia is eligible, he is waiting to see how the big left-hander does during workouts .
“I will do a bullpen [session today], be off [tomorrow], play catch Monday, another bullpen Tuesday and pitch Friday,’’ Sabathia said following a flat-ground throwing program yesterday afternoon. “I feel good.’’
Major League Baseball owners have agreed to test two different advanced replay systems live during games starting next week, and if they prove accurate they could precede an overhaul of the system for the 2013 season, sources told Yahoo! Sports.Purists may have an issue with more replay being added to the game, and according to the article, even some high-ranking executives "remain dubious on replay," including Bud Selig himself who recently said "nobody is anxious to increase instant replay".
MLB will analyze a radar-based system and a camera-based system, both similar to the one used in tennis for down-the-line fair-or-foul calls. Yankee Stadium and Citi Field will be the guinea-pig parks for the systems, which have been installed recently.
The use of the systems will be strictly in the background and for analysis. Because the number of questionable plays during games is likely to be limited, MLB plans to do extra testing on non-game days. Before implementing the technology in its 30 ballparks, the league wants to ensure its accuracy is up to standard.
Because of Armando Galarraga's blown perfect game in 2010 and seemingly nightly missed calls, the outcry for replay has grown loud enough that it forced MLB to at least consider a wide-ranging proposal presented at the owners' meetings this week in Denver. While they have balked at the cost of instituting replay – estimates range from $30 million to $40 million for infrastructure and equipment, plus the salaries for 15 extra umpires if indeed MLB uses one in a replay booth – owners did give the go-ahead to assess the new systems.
General manager Brian Cashman, who admitted the wrist is bothering Teixeira, indicated the first baseman may not play Friday night when the Yankees open a three-game series with the Red Sox.No need to play with any kind of injury at this point, especially not against a 4th place team.
“He might get a rest, but no tests are scheduled,” the GM said. “It’s definitely not as bad as before, but it’s still bothering him. ... He’s icing it for maintenance purposes.”
"My positive test was the result of my use of a substance I should not have used ... I am deeply sorry for my mistake."Thanks for stating the obvious, you cheater. Anyone who watched him as a Yankee should have known something was a little fishy by his numbers this year.
The Yankees have signed two Nicaraguan lefthanders, including Corby McCoy, one of the top pitchers from the country for this year's July 2 class.The Yanks have been making a lot of international signings lately. Recenly they also signed Venezuelan catcher Luis Torrens ($1.3 million), Venezuelan outfielder Alexander Palma ($800,000) and Dominican shortstop Yancarlos Baez ($650,000).
McCoy, a 16-year-old who signed for $150,000, is 6-foot-3, 170 pounds with an athletic, projectable body. His velocity has been inconsistent, ranging from 85-88 mph for some teams, but more recently he has touched as high as 91. McCoy also throws a breaking ball that's in its nascent stages.
The Yankees also signed 16-year-old Luis Garcia, whose bonus is under $50,000 and will likely be used as one of the exemptions every team gets under its $2.9 million international bonus pool for six players of $50,000 or less. Garcia is a raw, projectable lefty with a 6-foot-4, 185-pounds frame and an 85-88 mph fastball.
Mariano Rivera chose not to talk with reporters after his long-toss session before last night’s 8-2 victory over the Rangers, but his appearance on the field at Yankee Stadium said a lot about how far he already has come in his rehab from surgery to repair his torn right ACL.I, like the Yankees, don't see any kind of comeback this season, but it's still good to know that he's working his way back.
Nevertheless, the Yankees’ stance on the closer’s future for 2012 remains unchanged: “I don’t see it happening, but I don’t ever say never,” manager Joe Girardi said.
Maybe not, but general manager Brian Cashman reiterated yesterday the closer is done for the season.
While Girardi didn’t watch Rivera, pitching coach Larry Rothschild did, and said it went “fine.” The next step in Rivera’s recovery has yet to be decided as he makes his way back from tearing up his right knee chasing a fly ball during batting practice in Kansas City on May 3.
Despite the Yankees’ certainty Rivera’s season is over, Girardi said yesterday was another positive step for the pitcher who looked healthy as he wandered around the Stadium.
“Larry told me he threw well and looked pretty good,” Girardi said. “When you’re a baseball player and you can’t do the things you used to do, as soon as you can you try it.”
I think it’s pretty cool, because I hear a lot of people saying, ‘Derek, I love you.’ I don’t know if that’s for me, or for Jeter. I think it may be for me, so I think that’s kinda cool.”Here's a little more from Lowe, via Brian Lewis:
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“The thing about a sinker is: When I can’t see the sink, it’s good,” Lowe said. “When I can see it, it stinks. Probably, people on TV, the ones that go ‘wheee,’ and that look great, they stay in the same plane. They may look great on TV, but when I throw a ball, and you can’t see the sink, it’s good because it’s going down at the right time. Whereas if I can see it moving, it’s not going to be very good. There’s only one way — hitters are the ultimate telltale. They’ll tell you how good your stuff is. I don’t care how good you think your stuff is, they’re the ultimate answer. If you’re getting positive results, then you’re doing the right thing. If you’re not, you’re not. It’s that simple.”
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“Clearly you don’t throw as hard as you normally do, and when you lose your deception, you’re in for a world of hurt,” Lowe said. “So I had to get back to hiding the ball a little bit better. And so far, so good. I’m not going to do jumping jacks tonight because you pitch one good game. We’re in this for the long haul, and we’ve just got to continue to work.”
“When you lose your deception, you’re in a world of hurt. I had to get back to hiding the ball better,’’ said Lowe, who joked he was throwing the speed limit by the end of the game. “You want to see the type of balls hit that you like, soft ground balls, but not a live batting practice pitcher, which I was. A way overpaid batting practice pitcher, by the way. But it’s over with, and we’ll move on.’’Here's some video of Lowe's outing as well:
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“It was pretty cool ... they said, ‘Hey, go out for the ninth,’ and my pea brain said, ‘Hey, I can manage to pick up a cheap save here.’ ’’
The Yankees made Derek Lowe’s signing official Monday and the veteran right-hander is expected to be added to the bullpen for the series opener against the Rangers in The Bronx.Lowe, who went 8-10 with a 5.52 ERA in 21 starts with the Indians, will be used as a long reliever while David Phelps replaces CC in the rotation.
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Ryota Igarashi was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre to make room for Lowe on the roster.
“As for our concern, it’s pretty low-level,” Joe Girardi said.To add a little depth to the pitching staff, the Yankees then signed Derek Lowe, who was released by the Indians earlier in the week. Joel Sherman is reporting that he has also agreed to pitch out of the bullpen.
Sabathia had his left arm iced before today’s game, which is not overly unusual for a pitcher. Girardi said pregame that it was a non-issue — “preventative stuff,” he said — and Girardi defended that comment postgame, saying the Yankees really were trying to prevent Sabathia from missing Monday’s scheduled start. The decision to DL him wasn’t made until after today’s game, when Sabathia fought the decision, saying he was healthy enough to pitch Monday.
Major League Baseball today announced the schedule for the 2012 Postseason, which is set to open with the inaugural pair of Wild Card Games on Friday, October 5th. Game One of the 108th World Series is scheduled for Wednesday, October 24th in the ballpark of the National League champions.So there you have it, the 2012 postseason schedule. Let's just hope the Yankees don't blow this and are a part of it.
Changes to the Postseason format include the following:
• Clubs from the same division will be allowed to play one another in either the Wild Card Game or the Division Series.
• Tiebreaker games will be played to determine Division Championships, even if the two tied Clubs are assured of participating in the Postseason. If a Division Championship tiebreaker game is necessary, the head-to-head record between the tied Clubs will determine home-field advantage. If the head-to-head record is tied, then division record will be the next tiebreaker.
• If two Clubs are tied for both Wild Card berths, home-field advantage will be determined by the head-to-head record between the tied Clubs. If the head-to-head record is tied, then division record will be the next tiebreaker.
Following the Wednesday, October 3rd scheduled close to the regular season, any necessary regular season tiebreaker games would be broadcast exclusively by TBS. The new Wild Card Games will launch the Postseason on Friday, October 5th and will be broadcast exclusively by TBS. This marks the second consecutive year that the Postseason will begin on a Friday. Before last year, the Postseason had not begun on a Friday since the 1915 World Series.
Two Division Series will begin on Saturday, October 6th, each involving matchups with two Division Champions squaring off. A full slate of Division Series games — two series openers, each involving a Wild Card Game winner, and a pair of Game Twos — is scheduled for Sunday, October 7th. The Division Series will run from Saturday, October 6th though Friday, October 12th, with two potential Game Fives on both Thursday, October 11th and Friday, October 12th. TBS will air 18 of the 20 Division Series games, while MLB Network will debut its live Postseason game coverage with one telecast on Sunday, October 7th and another on Wednesday, October 10th.
For the 2012 Postseason only, the five-game Division Series will begin with two home games for lower seeds, followed by up to three home games for higher seeds. This one-year change, which eliminates a travel day prior to a decisive Game Five of the Division Series, was necessary because the 2012 regular season schedule was established before the agreement on the new Postseason format was reached. Next year, the Division Series will return to the 2-2-1 format used in previous years.
The American League Championship Series will begin exclusively on TBS on Saturday, October 13th, and Sunday, October 14th will feature Game One of the National League Championship Series exclusively on FOX and Game Two of the ALCS on TBS. A potential Game Seven of the ALCS will be scheduled for Sunday, October 21st, while a potential Game Seven of the NLCS will be set for Monday, October 22nd.
Game One of the 2012 World Series will be scheduled for Wednesday, October 24th. Game Three of the Fall Classic will shift to the city of the American League Champions on Saturday, October 27th. A Game Seven, if necessary, would be played on Thursday, November 1st in the N.L. city. The scheduled off days during the World Series are Friday, October 26th and Tuesday, October 30th. In its 17th season as the official network broadcaster of Major League Baseball, FOX Sports will present exclusive live telecast coverage of the World Series.
With Ivan Nova getting spanked the past two outings and Freddy Garcia failing to provide consistent length, the Yankees’ rotation requires a boost.Cashman doesn't sound too concerned, but he rarely ever does so I wouldn't read too much into that.
That is expected to be supplied by Andy Pettitte, but general manager Brian Cashman can’t predict an exact date when the 40-year-old lefty will come off the disabled list.
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“We have to let the healing process take its course,’’ said Cashman, who expects to see Pettitte pitching next month in the big leagues. “He had that setback which cost him a week to 10 days, but he is in the middle of the healing process.’’
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“Obviously, it’s healing up but it hasn’t healed up as much as [Dr. Chris Ahmad] thought,’’ Pettitte said referring to the Yankees’ physician.
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Pitching coach Larry Rothschild doesn’t know when Pettitte will be able to throw off a mound and is waiting to find out how much the time off will affect Pettitte.
“We have tried to keep his arm in shape, but I won’t know until he gets through it, how it will impact him until he faces hitters,’’ Rothschild said yesterday. “It’s hard to tell but as long as the bone is healed he should be OK.’’
Experience has taught Brian Cashman to be cautious with these things, but the news continues to be positive regarding Pedro Feliciano , apparently ready to take another significant step in his rehab that could lead to a September call-up.I almost forgot he was even on the team. He'd certainly be a nice addition to the team if healthy, and as we've seen lately the bullpen could use the help.
The lefthander, signed to a two-year $8-million contract (with a club option for 2013) before the 2011 season, has been throwing batting practice sessions for the last two weeks in Tampa and will be set for his first rehab outing "very soon," Cashman said by phone Tuesday.
Indications are that Feliciano, who had rotator-cuff surgery last September, will appear in a Gulf Coast League game Friday. He threw another BP session Tuesday.
"He might become someone who's available to us," Cashman said. "We'll have to see."
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Joba Chamberlain , activated from the disabled list last week, spent a lot of time working out with Feliciano in Tampa .
"I saw him throw in the bullpen and he looked pretty damn good," Chamberlain said before Tuesday night's game here. "He's worked his ---- off. I'm looking forward to seeing him up here."
The New York Yankees' top pitching prospect, Manny Banuelos, will not pitch again this year after throwing in six games all season, the team's vice president of baseball operations Mark Newman told ESPN New York on Monday.And so ends a rocky season for the 21-year-old southpaw. In just six starts earlier this year, Banuelos went 0-2, with a 4.50 ERA. In 24 innings pitched he allowed 12 earned runs on 29 hits, walked 10 and struck out 22.
"He's not going to be back this season," Newman said.
The left-handed Banuelos, rated the Yankees' No. 1 prospect by ESPN's Keith Law prior to the season, has been out of action since the middle of May with what Newman described as a bone bruise in his left elbow.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman previously had stated that he thought Banuelos, 21, would return this season because of the progress the team's doctors had seen.
But Banuelos is being shut down for the rest of the season with the hope that he can play in Winter Ball and then be ready for spring training next year. Newman said doctors don't think that Banuelos will need surgery. The Yankees are unsure how the original injury occurred.
"That's a good question," Newman said.
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"He'll recover from this," Newman said. "That's what our doctors say. We have no doubt about it. At this point, there is no reason to push it. We are trying to be as prepared as we can for next season."
Yankees manager Joe Girardi said the team would consider bringing Brett Gardner back in a limited role once rosters expand in September.Not a bad idea. It can't hurt to have that extra base stealer on the bench, especially, as Girardi pointed out, with the rosters expanded to 40. Only problem is that once the playoff begin, and runs become even more important and harder to come by, that weapon won't be available.
"If there's a way that he can help us, we'll definitely use him, especially in the month of September, when you can expand rosters," Girardi said. "If there are certain things that he can't do and it's during the month of August, then you kind of limit your roster. But with an expanded roster, if he can help us, we'll definitely use him if it doesn't jeopardize him getting back next year." The outfielder recently underwent arthroscopic surgery on inflamed tissue in his right elbow, causing many to believe his season would likely be over. But on Sunday, Gardner said he thinks he can still come back and contribute at some point this season.
Gardner's struggles in his rehab games earlier this season were mostly due to discomfort he felt while swinging the bat, but his value this season could come on the basepaths, where he swiped 49 bases last season. While he hasn't played since April 17, and the few attempts he's made at a comeback ended unsuccessfully, Gardner could be used as a pinch-runner or a defensive replacement off the bench once rosters expand.
Alex Rodriguez went through conditioning drills, swung a bat with one hand and threw across the infield yesterday.
Rodriguez is on the disabled list with a fractured left hand and weeks away from being ready to come off the shelf.
“He is doing conditioning and throwing and doing everything he can to stay in shape,’’ manager Joe Girardi said yesterday. “When it comes time to swing a bat, it shouldn’t be long.’’
Rodriguez could return in mid-September.
Though the Yankees miss Rodriguez’ right-handed presence in the middle of the lineup, Eric Chavez and Jayson Nix were hitting a combined .385 (10-for-26) with three homers and seven RBIs as starters in the nine games Rodriguez has missed.
On Friday, August 3 the Cleveland Indians said farewell to veteran outfielder Johnny Damon, designating him for assignment. Like MLB.com's Jordan Bastian noted in his coverage the veteran outfielder foresaw the end coming, commenting back on July 21 "If we're not in contention I'll be the first one they drop." A week-long losing streak pretty much ended any reasonable playoff hopes the Tribe possessed.And thanks to their acquisition of Shane Victorino, Abreu lost his roster sport with the Dodgers:
... In 64 games he put together just a .222 batting average while garnering four home runs and 19 RBIs.
Two-time All-Star Bobby Abreu has been designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Dodgers to make room on the 25-man roster for newly acquired left fielder Shane Victorino.I enjoyed rooting for all three of these guys so it's kinda sad to see their careers end up like this, but it is what it is.
Abreu was signed as a free agent on May 4 after he was released by the Angels. He batted .251 with two home runs and 17 RBIs in 70 games as a part-time left field and pinch-hitter.
Amid the executive offices at Yankee Stadium, there were no pangs of remorse as the non-waiver trade deadline passed.Typical Cashman here. He's never really be one to say the team wasn't good enough, and I suppose it's good that he's not starting now. Still, don't be surprised if Cash still has a trick or two up his sleeve, especially if the team struggles during this rough August stretch that's ahead of them.
The Yankees’ motivation to add a prime player could be summed up in a few words.
"Only if it fell into our lap," said general manager Brian Cashman, asserting the stance that valuable prospects in the low minors and millions of dollars were not a suitable price for a rental.
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"I believe we’re a championship-caliber club," Cashman said by phone Thursday, on the eve of a three-game home series against the Seattle Mariners. "I also know we’ve got our work cut out. There’s still work to be done, but we deserve to be in the race.
"We just have to play good baseball and be consistent the rest of the way. We want to win the division like everyone else does, with the way the wild card is set up."
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"I think we have enough, collectively between our hitting and our pitching to win in October," said Cashman, whose two late July deals were for offense – acquiring veteran outfielder Ichiro Suzuki and right-handed hitting corner infielder Casey McGehee.
The Phillies were expected to waive Lee this month, when waivers are revocable. Teams routinely place high-profile players on waivers in August to determine other teams' interest...The money owed to Lee is crazy over the remainder of his contract -- he's making $21.5MM this year, and with get $25MM a year from 2013-15, along with a $27.5MM vesting option ($12.5MM buyout) in 2016.
Teams have two business days to claim players off of waivers, which suggests Lee hit the waiver wire yesterday, when the August waiver period opened. If Lee clears waivers, the Phillies might be able to trade him. Lee can block trades to 21 teams including the Diamondbacks. The Yankees, Braves and Marlins are not on his no-trade list, however.
Jack Cust headed a list of three players the Yankees released from their Triple-A roster Wednesday night.For more on these transactions, check out this article by Donnie Collins.
In 98 games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Cust hit .249 though his 81 walks boosted his on-base percentage to .400. The Flemington native's 20 homers and 66 RBI were both team highs.
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Cust was released to make room on the Triple-A roster for outfielder Melky Mesa, who was promoted to Double-A Trenton. The 25-year-old hit .277 with 14 homers and 46 RBI in his 88 games with the Thunder.
The Yankees also released Colin Curtis and Ray Kruml.
