David Robertson is hitting the road with the Yankees this week, and while he isn’t ready to be activated yet, he has begun a throwing program that will determine the rest of his season. Prior to Wednesday’s game, Robertson threw from 60 feet, and he will do it again tonight before the Yanks take on the Mariners. If all goes according to plan and the right-hander’s progress continues apace, Robertson would probably be activated when the Yanks take on the Royals in from Sept. 28-30. With Brian Bruney’s frustratingly annoying ineffectiveness, the Yanks’ pen would be considerably strengthened if Robertson can come back this season and play a role during October.
In news tangentially related to the Yankees, the A’s have shut down Brett Tomko for the rest of the season with nerve damage in his right arm. Tomko was just three days removed from his first complete game shut out since 2005 when the A’s made this announcement. He hadn’t thrown 114 pitches in a game since May of 2006. So much for that whole Mitre/Tomko debate we had on Wednesday.