Yankees baseball blog

Colon to 15 day DL

The New York Yankees placed Bartolo Colon on the disabled list Sunday with a strained right hamstring, the latest blow to an already ailing starting rotation.

Colon pulled up lame while covering first base on a routine grounder in a 4-0 win over the Indians on Saturday. He had an MRI exam after the game and the decision was made to put the resurgent veteran on the disabled list.

“I feel good. I just have a little bit of pain,” Colon said through a translator before Sunday’s game. “I’m on the DL now, and hopefully I can pitch after that.”

The 38-year-old Colon is 5-3 with a 3.10 ERA, helping solidify a rotation that has lost Phil Hughes to a shoulder injury for most of the season. (continue)

 

Ouch. Soriano out 6-8 weeks

Yankees setup man Rafael Soriano has an inflamed ligament in his right elbow that could keep the former All-Star out up to two months.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman said that Soriano was examined Wednesday by orthopedist Dr. James Andrews in Pensacola, Fla. Andrews recommended that Soriano rest the elbow for about two weeks before beginning a light throwing program.

Cashman said he doesn’t think Soriano will be able to face hitters for at least six weeks.

"He's got a real issue," Cashman said. "It's something we need to take care of. You've got to be careful with it and if it's taken care of properly it will be behind him, we hope, and you move forward." (Post)

Hughes still not right

Phil Hughes walked to the bullpen Monday with the hope that his next time on a mound would be in a rehab game Thursday. He walked out not knowing when he would throw his next pitch.

The righthander suffered what manager Joe Girardi called "a setback," shutting down his bullpen session after roughly a dozen pitches.

"It was just the same as before; it was just dead, nothing coming out," Hughes said. "I didn't bounce back off that long bullpen session like I would have liked. So that's where we're at; a lot of deadness. There was nothing really there after the first 10 or so. We're just going to take a couple days, rest it and then reevaluate it from there." (News)

Feliciano may be done for the year

If Pedro Feliciano needs left shoulder surgery the reliever likely will miss his entire first season with the Yankees.

Dr. James Andrews and Feliciano will decide if the reliever needs a procedure done to repair a tear in a capsule that will require a year of recovery.

Feliciano, who hasn’t pitched in a game since March 9, was diagnosed with a damaged capsule by Yankees doctor Chris Ahmad and will get a second opinion Monday in Pensacola, Fla., from Andrews.

“I think surgery is better but I will wait until I see what he says,’’ Feliciano said. “If he says surgery, we will decide to get surgery.’’

Feliciano, who led the majors in appearances (266) the past three years with the Mets, said this problem is not related to the heavy workload in Queens. Earlier this year Yankees GM Brian Cashman said the Mets “abused’’ Feliciano (Post)

 

Granderson to play opening day

The Yankees have their fingers firmly crossed that Curtis Granderson’s oblique muscle problem is history.

After playing in a minor-league spring training game Wednesday in Tampa, Granderson was cleared to join the Yankees on Wednesday night and will be in the Opening Day lineup Thursday against the Tigers at the Stadium.

“The last few days he has felt great,’’ GM Brian Cashman said of the center fielder. “Hopefully, he is ready to go and help us immediately.’’ (Post)

Iron man Feliciano to DL

 Pedro Feliciano was signed to a two-year deal to help upgrade the Yankees' bullpen.

After leading the majors in appearances for the past three seasons with the Mets, the 34-year-old lefty was expected to be durable and effective against lefties.

Now, he is going to open the season on the disabled list with a muscle problem in the back of the left shoulder.

"He played catch [yesterday] and didn't feel great," manager Joe Girardi said yesterday before a 7-6 loss to the Twins at Hammond Stadium. "It's hard to think he would start [the season]." (Post)

Granderson may miss opener

Two Yankees returned from oblique injuries Tuesday afternoon.

But another player, starting centerfielder Curtis Granderson, was a late scratch with the same malady, one which has become a bit of a spring training scourge for the team.

Granderson was sent in the afternoon to be evaluated by the team's orthopedic surgeon in Tampa, Dr. Allen Miller, and no further tests were scheduled - generally taken as a positive sign.

But there is a degree of concern until the Yankees, with the opener eight days away, get an exact diagnosis.

"I can't sit here and tell you he'll be ready in time [for Opening Day] because we just don't know what we're dealing with yet," GM Brian Cashman said after the Yankees' 6-2 loss here to the Orioles. "It's just too early. I know he's not really concerned from his end, but obliques can be tricky, so we'll just see how he is the next few days." (Newsday)

Cervelli out 4 weeks with fracture

 Francisco Cervelli's rotten spring training luck continues.

Cervelli, who fouled a ball off his left foot during Wednesday's game, will miss a minimum of four weeks with a fracture located just above the toes.

"He's had a rough go in spring training," Joe Girardi said Friday afternoon. "I feel for him. You could see the disappointment when we walked over to tell him."

It is a bad break for Cervelli, who has suffered injuries three of the last four springs, but one from which two of the organization's top prospects stand to benefit.

Unless GM Brian Cashman brings in another catcher, either Jesus Montero or Austin Romine will make the big leagues as Russell Martin's backup. (Newsday)

Andy Pettitte to start Sunday

Andy Pettitte is ready to return to the Yanks and not a moment too soon.

Struggling down the stretch with seven losses in their last eight games before beating the Rays Tuesday night, the Yankees are getting help they sorely need.

Pettitte declared himself set to return to the big club following his second rehab stint for Double-A Trenton. He allowed two runs on six hits in five innings in Trenton's 3-2 10-inning win over the Altoona Curve.

While Joe Girardi has yet to confirm it, all signs point to Pettitte starting Sunday in Baltimore. (News)

Pettitte to test groin today

Before or after addressing whether his future will involve managing the Cubs, Joe Girardi will watch an exercise that will impact the Yankees' present.

Today in a U.S. Cellular Field bullpen, Andy Pettitte will test his cranky left groin with a throwing session that will begin on flat ground and hopefully progress all the way up the pitching mound.

The fact that the Yankees manager will eyeball Pettitte's workout verifies it's more than routine.

The veteran left-hander has been idle since July 18 and hasn't been able to push off the mound as strong as he would like in two mound sessions. (NY Post)