Archive for Injuries
Montero leaves game after taking ball to bare hand; x-rays negative
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate (12:27am): The team announced that x-rays were negative, so exhale.
Original Post (10:14pm): Jesus Montero was removed from tonight’s game after getting hit by a ball in his bare hand. The Boone Logan pitch hit Casey Kotchman, then ricocheted into Montero’s right hand. Austin Romine took over behind the plate. I’ll update this post with more as it comes.
MRI shows inflammation in Hughes’ back
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate (6:50pm): Via Mike Ashmore, Phil Hughes went for an MRI on his back this afternoon, and it revealed inflammation from a herniated disc he suffered way back in 2004. He received an epidural, and Brian Cashman said he will “maybe” pitch this weekend.
Original Post (4:45pm): Joe Girardi said after this afternoon’s game that Phil Hughes did not throw a bullpen session today as expected, and he was instead sent for tests on the back that his been keeping him out of action. Girardi wasn’t clear if it was an MRI, but the bottom line is that he went to have it checked out. Backs are tricky, so hopefully this is nothing serious.
Joba throws for first time since elbow surgery
Posted by: | CommentsVia the man himself, Joba Chamberlain played catch today for the first time since having Tommy John surgery in mid-June. Mike Dodd’s classic TJS rehab article says that players typically begin throwing about 16 weeks after surgery, and my unofficial count has Joba at 14 weeks out, so close enough. Dodd’s article is eight years old, remember. Good news obviously, I’m looking forward to seeing Joba back in the rotation bullpen next season.
If you have ESPN Insider, I recommend Keith Law’s recent piece on TJS. He spoke to doctors and players about the operation itself and the rehab process. Very interesting stuff.
Girardi on Cervelli: ‘I’m not sure we’re going to have him’
Posted by: | CommentsVia Erik Boland, Joe Girardi indicated to reporters this afternoon that the team is unlikely to have Frankie Cervelli the rest of the way. “I’m not sure we’re going to have him,” said the skipper. Yesterday we heard that Cervelli had been concussion symptom free for three days, but they were still awaiting the results of an ImPACT test. The Yankees don’t absolutely need a backup catcher in the postseason, but it sure seems like Austin Romine would be the front-runner for that job right now.
Cervelli has been concussion symptom free for three days
Posted by: | CommentsVia Peter Botte and Mark Hale, Frankie Cervelli has been without concussion symptoms for three days now. He and the team are waiting for doctors to evaluate the results of an ImPACT test (more on that here) before making any decisions, so it’s still unclear if he’ll be able to return to the field this year. “I pray every day for that,” said Cervelli, who also confirmed that he’ll be going back to the Great Gazoo helmet.
Frankie’s latest concussion opened up a “who would be the backup catcher in the playoffs?” can of worms, but the Yankees might not even need to carry a clearly defined backup in the postseason. Either way, the important thing is that Cervelli gets healthy and doesn’t rush back.
Hughes’ next start pushed back due to back spasms
Posted by: | CommentsVia Marc Carig, Phil Hughes‘ next start has been pushed back due to back spasms. He was scheduled to pitch Monday against the Twins, but A.J. Burnett will now make that start on five day’s rest. Hughes thinks he’ll be ready to go for Tuesday, but even if he’s not, the Yankees have plenty of pitching options for that day. As always with September injuries, take as much time as you need now so it’s not a problem later.
Still no A-Rod in Yanks lineup
Posted by: | CommentsAlex Rodriguez is not in tonight’s lineup against the Blue Jays, presumably because his sprained left thumb is still bothering him. Either that, or Joe Girardi is putting way too much stock into Alex being 1-for-15 against tonight’s starter, Dustin McGowan. McGowan’s been on the shelf for the last three years with shoulder trouble, the 1-for-15 is irrelevant.
Anyway, Girardi said earlier in the week that the plan was the give Alex a little extra time of in Seattle with the off day, but that he would do regular fielding drills and some sort of swinging to see how the thumb feels. Apparently it doesn’t feel good enough yet. It’s been six days since A-Rod was supposed to be out “three or four days.” Robinson Cano, meanwhile, is in the lineup after getting hit by that pitch on Wednesday night.
X-rays negative after Cano gets hit-by-pitch on foot
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate (2:02am): Well that was quick. Bryan Hoch reports that x-rays were negative. And exhale.
Original Post (1:50am): Via Pete Caldera, Robinson Cano went off with the team trainer to have test performed on his right foot after getting hit by a pitch in the 12th inning of tonight’s game. Robbie stayed in the game after getting plunked, but he didn’t have to play the field long because of Luis Rodriguez’s walk-off homer. The Yankees have every reason to be extra cautious here, Cano is simply important.
Feliciano underwent surgery on rotator cuff
Posted by: | CommentsVia Dan Barbarisi, Pedro Feliciano had surgery on his rotator cuff on September 8th, and he’s got a long rehab ahead of him. The lefty tried to rehab the injury at Dr. James Andrews’ recommendation, but it obviously didn’t work. There’s a legitimate chance that Feliciano will never throw a pitch for the Yankees, other than that one-inning rehab appearance in rookie ball a few weeks ago. Multi-year contracts for relievers, eh? Never a good idea. Maybe they’ll learn one of these days.
News & Notes: Burnett, Rotation, A-Rod
Posted by: | CommentsThe preliminary schedule for the 2012 season was released earlier today, but let’s take a step back to discuss some stuff affecting the Yankees right here, right now…
(Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
Burnett’s New-Old Mechanics
Lost in last night’s win and A.J. Burnett‘s eleven strikeouts is that it looked like he was injured at one point. Burnett was visibly bothered by something in the third inning, when he loaded the bases and allowed the tying run. He was moving his arm around and appeared to be wincing after each pitch, but he stayed in the game after a visit from the trainer. He finished strong, striking out seven of the last dozen men he faced.
After the game, Burnett said there was no injury, he was just uncomfortable with his mechanics. That’s why he reverted back to his old motion mid-game. “I kind of went back to my old delivery in the middle of the game, but kept the things we worked on with that,” said A.J. “I was a little uncomfortable trying to get loose and trying to get the ball out like that, so [Larry Rothschild] was like, ‘Whatever it takes.’ I was more aggressive, and I think the work we put in allowed my hands to stay in the right spot when I went back. It was confidence. Confidence and pitching with conviction.”
Rotation Plans
Within this notebook, George King mentions that the Yankees have flipped Bartolo Colon and CC Sabathia in the rotation. Sabathia will now start on Friday in Toronto, Colon on Saturday. As I wrote two days ago, there’s basically no easy way for the Yankees to line Sabathia up for September 30th, the date of Game One of the ALDS.
Looking at what’s left of the schedule, the Yankees could have CC start one of the doubleheader games on the 21st (normal rest), then throw an abbreviated start (or something like that) on the 25th (three days rest). That would line him up for Game One. They could also have him throw that abbreviated start on three days rest on the 20th, then start him on the 25th (normal rest) and in Game One (normal rest). I’d much prefer the latter. Something has to be done though, unless they plan on running someone else out there to open a five-game series.
A-Rod Could Return Friday
Alex Rodriguez‘s sprained left thumb started giving him trouble again a few days ago, and the team originally said he would need three or four days on the shelf. Yesterday was day number four, but Joe Girardi said before last night’s game that a Friday return “is reasonable for Alex.” The idea is that with Thursday’s off day coming up, they’d give him a few extra days just to be safe since this injury is clearly nagging. A-Rod will do some kind of hitting work before tonight’s game just to test the digit, either batting practice or something else.
Just 6 days 'til pitchers and catchers report.
