Coke ready for action tonight

Apparently, Phil Coke’s balky back had been worse than we realized. While Coke first said he was unavailable to prior to this week’s series against the Blue Jays, not until today has the Yanks’ lone remaining lefty reliever felt well enough to pitch. Coke told Marc Carig of The Star Ledger that he expects to be available out of the pen tonight. Coke says he back was so tight on Tuesday that he couldn’t stand up straight. He had a catcher yesterday though and should be ready to go if he’s called upon to face Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau in a tight spot this weekend.