Results tagged ‘ Alex Rodriguez ’
A-Rod could play in rehab game Friday
Alex Rodriguez could serve as a designated hitter in a Minor League rehabilitation game on Friday in Tampa, Fla. and play the field on Saturday if all goes well, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.
Girardi wasn’t sure if Rodriguez would play for Class-A Tampa or in a Gulf Coast League game, but with a quick glance at the Tampa Yankees schedule, they’re on the road with night games at Dunedin both Friday and Saturday. The GCL might be a more flexible option for A-Rod.
It remains likely that Rodriguez will be able to re-join the Yankees on their upcoming road trip, but Girardi said that Aug. 15 in Kansas City – the first day of the trip – looks like it might be a little too soon.
Game 109: Yankees vs. White Sox
CHICAGO — We’re a half-hour from game time, and it has already been quite the news-making day. Phil Hughes will be given at least one more start, CC Sabathia won American League Pitcher of the Month and Major League Baseball said it’ll take Alex Rodriguez‘s involvement in a high-stakes poker game “very seriously.”
Here are the lineups, as the Yankees look to make it six straight and 10 of their last 13. Paul Konerko (sore left calf/knee) remains out for the White Sox …
YANKEES (66-42)
Brett Gardner, LF
Derek Jeter, SS
Curtis Granderson, CF
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nick Swisher, RF
Eric Chavez, 3B
Jorge Posada, DH
Russell Martin, C
Pitching: RH A.J. Burnett (8-9, 4.23 ERA)
WHITE SOX (52-56)
Juan Pierre, LF
Omar Vizquel, 2B
Carlos Quentin, DH
Adam Dunn, 1B
Alexei Ramirez, SS
A.J. Pierzynski, C
Alex Rios, CF
Alejandro De Aza, RF
Brent Morel, 3B
Pitching: RH Gavin Floyd (9-9, 3.96 ERA)
Some links from last night …
* Rain cuts into Hughes’ gem as Yanks roll
* Teixeira’s multi-homer game sets record
* Yankees Notebook, on Banuelos, Soriano and Jeter
– Alden
Game 96: Yankees at Rays
ST. PETERSBURG — Interesting read on the front page of the St. Petersburg Times this morning, on the criticism of Tropicana Field and how it affects attendance.
With CC Sabathia starting on his 31st birthday today, I filed a column on his recent stretch, his chances of winning 300 and the possibility that he’s only reaching his prime right now.
CC (pictured right by The Associated Press) said he hasn’t made a decision yet on whether or not to exercise the opt-out clause in his contract (though the popular belief is that there’s no way he wouldn’t, considering how well he’s pitching, how important he is to the Yankees and how slim the free-agent crop of starters will be this offseason).
Asked if he can see himself finishing his career in New York, he said: “Of course. This is definitely one of the storied franchises in baseball, and to be able to be a part of it and win a championship two years ago was great. Hopefully I can continue to be here.”
Asked if he feels the Yankees need to make a rotation addition before the non-waiver Trade Deadline, CC said: “We’re good. Of course, you can always try to do something, but with the way we pitched this year, I think we can be good enough to make the playoffs.”
Interesting lineup prior to the rematch of CC and James Shields. Curtis Granderson is out, as expected, after getting banged up on Wednesday. And Brett Gardner is leading off, with Derek Jeter batting second, as Joe Girardi hinted at prior to Wednesday’s game. The fact Granderson and Alex Rodriguez are both out made that a pretty easy decision.
Only time will tell if Gardner continues to lead off on a consistent basis moving forward, but Girardi did say he has no problem leading him off against a lefty starter now …
YANKEES (57-38)
Gardner, LF
Jeter, SS
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nick Swisher, RF
Jorge Posada, DH
Russell Martin, C
Eduardo Nunez, 3B
Chris Dickerson, LF
Pitching: LH Sabathia (14-4, 2.64 ERA)
RAYS (51-45)
Ben Zobrist, DH
Sean Rodriguez, 2B
Evan Longoria, 3B
B.J. Upton, CF
Justin Ruggiano, RF
Kelly Shoppach, C
Casey Kotchman, 1B
Elliot Johnson, SS
Sam Fuld, LF
Pitching: RH Shields (8-8, 2.60 ERA)
Some other links from last night …
* Yanks-Rays game story on redemption
* Yankees Notebook, on Granderson, Nova, lineups and roofs
* Preview for Shields and CC
– Alden
Game 95: Yankees at Rays
ST. PETERSBURG — So, on Sunday, Sean Rodriguez shattered a light bulb. On Monday, there was a power outage. And on Tuesday, Curtis Granderson lost a ball in the roof. What’s the next strange occurrence at this quirky Tropicana Field?
We’ll find out soon.
Joe Girardi called an audible with his lineup just before batting practice, opting to put Nick Swisher in as the designated hitter and start Andruw Jones in right field. Girardi said it wasn’t physical — “Just changed my mind.” — so he probably just wanted to give Swisher a break from the turf, since he hasn’t had one yet in this second half.
Derek Jeter is back leading off, which is no surprise but is interesting considering how much he has struggled (5-for-26 since that magical 3,000th-hit day) and how well Wednesday’s No. 9 hitter, Brett Gardner (.591 batting average in the second half), is hitting. Girardi talked pregame about the possibility of a top three of Gardner, Jeter and Granderson while Alex Rodriguez is out. As for Jeter dropping to the bottom third of the lineup? I’d think something really drastic would have to take place for that to happen.
The lineup’s below, but I’m curious as to how y’all would order things while A-Rod is out …
YANKEES (56-38)
Jeter, SS
Granderson, CF
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Robinson Cano, 2B
Swisher, DH
Russell Martin, C
Jones, RF
Eduardo Nunez, 3B
Gardner, LF
Pitching: RH Freddy Garcia (7-7, 3.43 ERA)
RAYS (51-44)
Johnny Damon, DH
Robinson Chirinos, C
Casey Kotchman, 1B
Evan Longoria, 3B
Matt Joyce, RF
B.J. Upton, CF
Sam Fuld, LF
Rodriguez, 2B
Reid Brignac, SS
Pitching: LH David Price (9-7, 3.73 ERA)
Some goodies from the game notes …
* The Yankees have had 17 players on the disabled list, the most of any Major League team in 2011 . Their current total of 11 players on the DL matches their total from all of last season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
* The Yanks are 19-9 with a Major League-high 39 homers vs. lefty starters this season.
* New York has gone seven straight games without allowing a homer, which marks its longest stretch since ’08.
* With one more stolen base, Gardner will become the first Yankees player with back-to-back 30-stolen-base seasons since Alfonso Soriano did it in three straight years from 2001-03.
* Opposing batters have hit just .182 with runners in scoring position off Garcia this year.
Some links from last night …
* Yanks lose, but Colon looks good
* Yankees Notebook, on Soriano, Nova, Mo and Garrison
* Yanks expect bounceback effort from Garcia
* HBO special on Jeter to air July 28
(picture above courtesy of The Associated Press)
– Alden
A-Rod’s surgery goes fine; expected back by September
The Yankees announced Monday that Alex Rodriguez has undergone arthroscopic surgery to correct a meniscus tear in his right knee. The team said that the procedure went as expected and there were no complications.
Dr. Lee Kaplan performed the surgery at the University of Miami (Fla.) and will oversee the three-time American League MVP’s initial rehabilitation in Miami. Rodriguez is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks, but could return for the Yankees’ September stretch drive.
A-Rod has slight meniscus tear, surgery possible
A precautionary MRI Friday revealed a slight meniscus tear in the right knee of Alex Rodriguez, who is now faced with the decision of whether or not to undergo surgery.
Manager Joe Girardi said mid-season surgery would likely cost Rodriguez about a month, though the Yankees could choose to play Rodriguez through the injury — as the slugger has done since suffering it nearly three weeks ago — and have him undergo surgery at the end of the year.
Rodriguez first hurt his knee in a June 19 game in Chicago, when he caught the knee as a baserunner at third on a wild pitch in the sixth inning, as he pivoted back to third after thinking of running home. He ended up scoring one pitch later on a Russell Martin sacrifice fly.
Rodriguez has hit .321 since the injury, and his .295 batting average this season is second on the team to Robinson Cano (.297).
But Rodriguez’s power numbers have been down. He has just 13 home runs and 52 RBIs, and is on pace for just more than 24 home runs and 97 RBIs for the season. Only his 23-homer, 84-RBI 1997 campaign with the Mariners would be lower.
Rodriguez, who will not play in Tuesday’s All-Star Game at Phoenix’s Chase Field, has not homered since June 11. His current 85 at-bat stretch without a home run is the longest single-season streak of his career without a long ball.
Girardi said Rodriguez will not play Saturday or Sunday, regardless of what the team chooses to do about his knee.
Jeter, A-Rod tell MLB they’re out of All-Star Game
NEW YORK – The left side of the Yankees’ infield will sit out for the July 12 All-Star Game, as Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez have informed Major League Baseball that they will be unable to participate.
Jeter said that he is concerned about re-injuring his right calf, which cost him three weeks and delayed his pursuit of 3,000 hits. Rodriguez has been bothered since June 19 by a sore right knee and was sent by the team to have a MRI examination on Friday.
Jeter said that he had reached a decision after speaking with manager Joe Girardi, general manager Brian Cashman and head athletic trainer Gene Monahan.
“It’s just a situation where, after talking with Joe and Cash and Geno, it’d probably be best not to try to push it,” Jeter said. “It’s most important to be ready for the second half. That’s where my focus has to be.”
Jeter said that he will not travel to Phoenix during the All-Star break. Asdrubal Cabrera of the Indians was a player-elected reserve and could start for the American League in Jeter’s place.
“It’s unfortunate because you guys know how much I enjoy going to All-Star Games,” said Jeter, a 12-time All-Star. “I love playing in All-Star Games, especially getting voted in by the fans. It’s something I would like to do.
“I’m trying to be smart about it. I know I can be stubborn a lot of times when it comes to injuries, but I’m trying to be smart about it.”
The Texas Rangers’ Adrian Beltre could be in line to start for the AL in place of Rodriguez, a 14-time All-Star.
Jeter and Rodriguez are the second and third Yankees players to announce that he will not attend the 82nd Midsummer Classic, following closer Mariano Rivera, who said that a sore right triceps will keep him away this year.
The Yankees had a MLB-high six players selected to the All-Star roster, with second baseman Robinson Cano, outfielder Curtis Granderson and catcher Russell Martin heading for Phoenix. Cano is set to take part in the July 11 State Farm Home Run Derby.
Postgame notes: Colon didn’t skip a beat
That was pretty much what the Yankees expected out of Bartolo Colon, all right — six innings and 80 pitches, keeping the Mets off the scoreboard in a five-hit effort.
By the time Colon’s work was done, his strained left hamstring and any concern the Yankees might have had about it were far off in the rear-view mirror.
“In the beginning when I was warming up in the bullpen I was thinking about it a little bit,” Colon said. “But when the game started I forgot about it.”
Alex Rodriguez gushed praise, saying that Colon is “a dream to have for our staff. He eats up innings, he strikes people out, he gets a lot of ground ball double plays. Any guy that’s 0-2 all the time and throws with that kind of pace is great.”
The Mets lost Jose Reyes to a left hamstring injury, but it’s been a terrific weekend for the other New York shortstop (not Derek Jeter): Eduardo Nunez would be 8-for-8 if not for Justin Turner’s leaping grab in the sixth inning, adding on a Citi Field home run off Tim Byrdak in the ninth inning.
“I feel better when I play every day, because when you play every day, you can say OK tomorrow is a new day,” Nunez said. “It’s my job right now, when Jeter comes back I’ll have to make adjustments.”
As for Jeter, who is currently on the field for the Trenton Thunder and has already made one sharp play in the field, the starting shortstop’s job will be his as soon as Monday. Girardi confirmed as much, sidestepping a reporter’s question if the Yankees were better with Jeter or Nunez at shortstop.
“Nuney has played well, but Derek is our shortstop,” Girardi said. “He’s been our shortstop for a long time, and has been a great player, and he’s still a great player. We’re looking forward to getting him back. My hope is these next two days go well and we get him back and get him going like he can. Derek is the guy that has always been there for us and he’ll continue to be there for us.”
THIS AND THAT: Tonight’s attendance of 42,042 was the largest ever at Citi Field. That’s 22 more than last night … The Yankees are 4-1 vs. the Mets this year … Colon has won four straight starts, pitching to a 1.00 ERA (3 ER/27 IP) since May 30 at Oakland … The Yankees are a MLB-best 24-4 in day games this year … Nick Swisher’s eight-game hitting streak ended today. … Sergio Mitre made his 2011 Yankees debut, allowing two earned runs in the ninth inning.
A-Rod banged up, but feels “just OK” enough to play
Alex Rodriguez has a little bit of seniority on the Yankees’ bench, so when there are opportunities for him to come out early, they’ll often head his way. So it was in the eighth inning on Monday, as Rodriguez left for pinch-runner Ramiro Pena, and Joe Girardi said that he’s trying to get A-Rod off his feet whenever they can.
“[I'm] just OK,” Rodriguez said. “Nothing north of that, that’s for sure.”
Rodriguez said his sore right shoulder is feeling better and that he doesn’t need to come out of the lineup, though the Yankees are considering resting him on Wednesday. He was 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI in New York’s 5-3 win.
“No, I’m fine, I’m definitely ready to play,” Rodriguez said. “We’re thin as it is, and I’m good enough to play. … There’s a lot of guys that are banged up. It’s part of the long summer. I don’t think there’s a guy in Major League Baseball that feels 100 percent, and I’m no exception.”
A-Rod continues his red hot spring
Maybe it’s the popcorn?
Bryan Hoch
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