Results tagged ‘ Lance Berkman ’
Lance Berkman, Thunder Road
From the Trenton Thunder –
The Trenton Thunder, Double A affiliate of the New York Yankees, announced today that five-time Major League All-Star Lance Berkman will complete a rehabilitation assignment at Waterfront Park in Trenton, NJ on Monday, August 30 and Tuesday, August 31 against the Akron Aeros (Cleveland Indians). Both games begin at 7:05 pm.
Berkman has been on the disabled list since August 19 with a sprained right ankle. The 12-year Major League veteran was acquired by the Yankees from the Houston Astros just before the non-waiver trade deadline on July 31. Berkman joined the Houston Astros in 1999 and amassed a .296 batting average, 396 HR and 1094 RBI over parts of 12 seasons with the Astros. In 12 games with the Yankees this season he is batting .179 with 4 RBIs.
A-Rod out of lineup with left leg contusion
Alex Rodriguez was struck in his left leg by a line drive during batting practice Saturday and has been scratched from the Yankees’ lineup against the Red Sox with a contusion near the base of his shin.
With Lance Berkman taking his cuts, Rodriguez was taking ground balls at third base when a hard-hit one-hopper struck the New York slugger below the left knee.
While teammates did not initially believe the injury was serious, Rodriguez seemed stunned by the unexpected blow and staggered into center field, collapsing face-down behind a protective screen.
At one point, Rodriguez was holding his head while writhing in pain. Derek Jeter called for head athletic trainer Gene Monahan from the clubhouse, while Joe Girardi and Reggie Jackson were among those who raced to Rodriguez’s side. Stadium medical personnel also attended.
“I hit it and obviously had a great view of it. I was just [saying], ‘Look out!’” said Berkman, who was batting right-handed. “It was on him. I just remember hitting it and cringing. It was heading right for him. It was hard. I hope he’s not out very long.”
“He’ll be all right,” Jeter said. “He always looks like that when he gets hit.”
After several minutes, Rodriguez was able to limp off the field under his own power with Monahan. Berkman spoke briefly with Rodriguez was helped to the clubhouse.
“I just told him when he was coming off the field, ‘Sorry about that,’” Berkman said. “I clearly didn’t mean to. It wasn’t like I was trying to hit him in the teeth and missed low or something like that. That’s just one of the things about batting practice. I think we’ve all been hit before.”
Yankees director of media relations Jason Zillo said that Rodriguez’s left leg has been placed in ice and elevated, and that it is swollen. Team physician Dr. Chris Ahmad is en route to the Stadium, and Rodriguez will have X-rays once a technician arrives.
Rodriguez had been in New York’s original lineup on Saturday, but he was replaced at third base by Ramiro Pena, who will bat ninth.
As the deadline approaches…
The Yankees already have one deal in the books, another expected to be completed and perhaps something else on the way as Saturday’s 4 p.m. ET non-waivers Trade Deadline approaches.
By the time the clock hits the deadline, Austin Kearns should have passed through customs and have tried on his Yankees gear for the first time. Lance Berkman is also expected to be at Tropicana Field by first pitch and could be in the lineup, as soon as the deal for Minor Leaguers Mark Melancon and Jimmy Paredes is officially finalized.
Berkman’s going to be an interesting fit here. He’s very close with Andy Pettitte and it’s believed that Pettitte helped convince Berkman to approve the deal to the Yankees, although Berkman admitted he’s “nervous” and “apprehensive” about the whole idea of playing home games in a city that isn’t Houston. It’s all he knows, and that’s understandable, but it’s also not exactly what you want to hear.
Then there’s this – Berkman is hitting .245 with 13 home runs and 49 RBIs in 85 games this year, but he’s hitting .188 with one home run and four RBIs in 64 at-bats against left-handed pitching. Kearns’ right-handed bat can help balance that, along with covering for Curtis Granderson’s troubles against lefties. Berkman has also hit .194 away from Minute Maid Park this year, but the Yankees still consider him an upgrade over Colin Curtis.
So, is there anything else to keep on the radar? The New York Daily News noted that the Yankees are still talking to the Cubs about lefty Ted Lilly, but ESPN’s Buster Olney tweets that the Yankees are not pursuing Lilly unless the Cubs want “to put him on a platter and give him away.” (Of course, the Yankees could have had Lilly back in 2007 but decided to go with Kei Igawa instead, but that’s an item for another day.)
Olney also tweets the Yankees may be looking to pick up an infielder before 4 p.m. today. Also, I thought it was interesting that Joe Girardi said Kearns’ name wasn’t even mentioned to him in passing by Brian Cashman until Thursday — and that’s after New York just completed a four-game series in Cleveland. If that’s so, things move quick, huh?
Yankees close to acquiring Berkman from Astros
The Yankees are trying to pick up a new designated hitter for the stretch drive, moving close to acquiring five-time All-Star first baseman Lance Berkman from the Astros, a source told MLB.com on Friday.
Berkman told reporters Friday he had been approached the club about a deal, and he approved a list of four teams he would consider going to. The Yankees were on that list.
In St. Petersburg, Joe Girardi didn’t mention Berkman by name, but talked a little bit about how he has managed the DH role with Nick Johnson out, using it to spell the Yankees’ regulars.
“We’ve used it to rotate our guys and try to keep our guys fresh, but if we have an everyday guy, we have an everyday guy,” Girardi said. “I can’t tell you what’s going to happen, but it has helped giving Alex [Rodriguez] a half-day, and Jeet [Derek Jeter] a half-day, and Tex [Mark Teixeira], and Swish [Nick Swisher]. But if you get an everyday guy that can swing it, that could help our club.
” … I probably wouldn’t share with you my wish list because then other clubs’ demands might go up. However we can improve our club, I’m all for it.”
Bryan Hoch
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