Pregame notes: Waiting for word on A-Rod
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Aug 07, 2010 
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Nothing new to report on Alex Rodriguez. Media relations director Jason Zillo said his left shin is iced, elevated and swollen. As soon as an x-ray technician gets to the stadium, Rodriguez will be checked out.
Derek Jeter said he remembered the ball bouncing before it hit Rodriguez’s leg. Lance Berkman, who hit the ball, said he wasn’t sure whether it bounced, but he knew immediately that it was going to hit Rodriguez.
“I just remember hitting it and cringing,” Berkman said. “It was heading right for him. I hit it hard, so I hope he’s not out very long. I just told him as he was coming off the field, sorry about that. I clearly didn’t mean to. It wasn’t like I was trying to hit him in the teeth and missed low.”
Berkman said he’s been hit in the leg and once in the eye during batting practice. He remembered playing for Houston when Andy Pettitte was hit in the knee just a few days before a start in the NLCS. Berkman is also well aware that this sort of accident isn’t likely to make him a fan favorite.
“Berkman’s contributions to the Yankees so far have been not the greatest,” he said, imagining fans’ reactions. “And clearly this is not good.”
The plan for Andy Pettitte is in place.
Monday: He will throw a bullpen in New York. Similar to the one he threw yesterday. Assuming that goes well…
Thursday or Friday: Face hitters in a simulated game in Tampa. Depending on his stamina and how he feels afterward…
Next Monday or Tuesday: Rehab start. “Would we do it Monday in Tampa or wait until Tuesday to possibly do it in Trenton?” Joe Girardi said. “A lot of that, more important, is how he feels coming out of that Thursday.” The Yankees don’t want to send Pettitte to Ohio, so Triple-A is probably out for a rehab start.
Pettitte is hopeful that he’ll feel great when he faces hitters in Tampa and will need only one rehab start. He was able to run today with no problem. At this point it’s mostly about building strength and stamina.
• The Yankees don’t have a date planned for Pettitte to rejoin the rotation. They aren’t sure yet whether he’ll need one or two rehab starts. They are not going to line him up with Dustin Moseley. “When Andy is ready, Andy will pitch,” Girardi said. “If we have to give guys an extra day’s rest, that’s fine.”
• For the first time, Girardi acknowledged what has become fairly clear: He plans to stick with Francisco Cervelli catching A.J. Burnett and Javier Vazquez, while Jorge Posada catches the other three starters. “We’ve had a rotation here with our rotation and playing Jorge,” Girardi said. “It’s been successful and it’s pretty much what I’m going to stick to.”
• Last time Posada caught Vazquez was May 1. Posada caught Burnett on Monday, but otherwise had not caught him since June 21.
• Girardi on Cervelli’s offensive struggles: “In the beginning, he was extremely hot and we didn’t expect him to stay that hot. Offensively he’s holding his own. He’s doing OK.”
• On Granderson’s struggles: “I’m not alarmed that his at-bats aren’t great, I’m not seeing that. He seems to be a somewhat streaky and right now he’s not in one of those streaks when he’s getting a lot of hits. We need to get him on one of those streaks again.”
• When he hit Rodriguez, Berkman was taking BP right-handed. He said he takes swings from both sides before every game, regardless of whether the team is facing a lefty or righty.
Associated Press photo of Pettitte with Posada
arencibia 4-4 for the jays today…2 hrs..
“# Eroc August 7th, 2010 at 3:20 pm
“at least the Rays are getting spanked…seems like both the Rays and Yanks are not playing good baseball”
Which is opening up doors for the Sox. I’d much rather face Tampa in the postseason than BOS
Plenty of head-to-head left for them to get back in this.
”
I agree. And Arencibia is having an amazing debut for the Jays
Should mean Andy’s arm is fresh for an October run.
Sounds good to this Yankee fan.
Berkman is also well aware that this sort of accident isn’t likely to make him a fan favorite.
“Berkman’s contributions to the Yankees so far have been not the greatest,” he said, imagining fans’ reactions. “And clearly this is not good.”
————-
Good to see Berkman knows the deal
Sounds good on Andy.
Glad to see that Andy’s on his way back.
A win today will go a long way. Not really, but you know what I mean.
Just catching up on posts. Seems like some beantown trolls in town too.
Anyway, Berkman hasn’t done anything to impress right now, and I find it interesting that the Yankees and Boston were actually considering a trade for Lowell, which is something I had mentioned some time ago. Of course, there had to be a team in the middle, but Lowell could have been a good choice, as he still can play 3B somewhat effectively. But alas, no
deal.
I’m not convinced that Sir Lancelot can turn it around until he loses some weight, and I doubt that’s happening. I wonder if they’d release him if other waiver options became available. Kinda hard to do to a former All-Star, but I’d do it if I could get someone else – like Dunn.
BTW, hey GB. Always good to see you making new friends.
Arencibia makes me wonder just how far is Montero’s glove behind his bat, and will he be able to catch in the Bronx next year. Consider Cervelli basically went from AA to Major but was always seen as a good defensive catcher in the minor.
Girardi needs to open his eyes because Cervelli is not playing well and hasn’t been for a good while while his defense has been iffy to say the least.
# Cashmoney August 7th, 2010 at 3:40 pm
Arencibia makes me wonder just how far is Montero’s glove behind his bat, and will he be able to catch in the Bronx next year. Consider Cervelli basically went from AA to Major but was always seen as a good defensive catcher in the minor.
Arencibia is 24. Cervelli is 24. Montero is 20.
@Carl, still the same question thought, will Montero make it to the bronx next year as a catcher . yeah i know he is 20.
Jays hit another home run.
“Girardi needs to open his eyes because Cervelli is not playing well and hasn’t been for a good while while his defense has been iffy to say the least.”
Joe’s not gonna say that publicly though. And it’s not like he has a choice, he is the backup unless Cash wants to make a change.
17-7
Argonauts over the Buccaneers.
Test
Arachnophobia up again.
I don’t see Cervelli losing his backup role anytime soon. He’s earned the right to be in a little funk just as any other major league player. That said, it’ll be interesting to see how Romine finishes his year, as next spring there could be an interesting battle for ‘backup’ catcher.
Girardi’s hands are tied by the personnel he has available to him. Posda, A-Rod and Jeter are backed up by Cervelli and Peña. I just don’t see how you head towards October feeling good about that. I’d look for some waiver action but the chances of another team letting anyone decent go to the Yankees are slim to none n my opinion. Not sure what options are practical at this point.
CC has to hit his spots against Vmart, he owns him.
Baseball can be a strange game, last Sunday, Shields played with the Yankees as they couldn’t hit his changeup and today he threw batting practive at home against the Jays.
DaSaint007 August 7th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
BTW, hey GB. Always good to see you making new friends.
———————————————————————————————————————-
LMAO. Yeah, I’m a regular Dale Carnegie.
How are things your way, Simon? All well, I hope.
Cervelli is the back up catcher.. he’s had 35 Ab’s and started 10 games in the past month. All players slump. I don’t see him losing that role..
“A-Rod being iced, swollen”
taken out of context, this Sherman tweet has comic potential
(only funny if A-Rod’s ok)
“# Crawdaddy August 7th, 2010 at 3:51 pm
Baseball can be a strange game, last Sunday, Shields played with the Yankees as they couldn’t hit his changeup and today he threw batting practive at home against the Jays.
”
he has never been great on the road. Don’t know how you get a nickname ‘Big Game James’ when you can’t shut down guys on the road and always chokes at Fenway and NYS
The main problem with Cervelli being the back up catcher is he’s playing one game too many during the week. Him being the catcher 2 out of 5 games hurts the team.
Shields earned that name during their WS appearance run.
I’m good GB, thanks.
Let me ask you, since you follow the minors more than the rest of us, is it me, or other than Nunez, Montero and Nova, is the talent level at AAA not that great this year?
how can anyone think toronto as a team are not on roids?
homers down across the league but wayyyyy up in toronto?
Unless Posada is hurting more than what is known, turning him into a part-time player/platoon situation makes little sense.
That extra game he is losing to Cervelli each week hurts this team.
Especially since Cervelli’s defense is as bad, or worse, than his offense right now.
If Posada is hurting more than what is publicly known, that’s a different story.
If he’s not, forming a “catching platoon”, while playing a non-contributor like Granderson everyday, is a poor utilization of the personnel Girardi has to work with at this time.
Thanks a lot, Berkman
James Shields isn’t terrible. He’s not “big game” either, but he’s fairly decent.
damn, can Sux get more breaks?
So what is Girardi supposed to do about Cervelli? Shoot him at sunrise?
Cervelli is a backup catcher. Always has been and probably always will be.
This season he’s taken a step back from being a little overexposed.
Funny how there were several on this board who thought Cervelli and his mean stick should be in the lineup everyday while Posada should’ve been the primary DH.
he has never been great on the road. Don’t know how you get a nickname ‘Big Game James’ when you can’t shut down guys on the road and always chokes at Fenway and NYS
——————————————————————————————————-
I guess it’s all in prospective, for a franchise that never won a WS ; how many ‘BIG’ Games can Shield possibly have played in.
Looking for the Yanks to take the next three. No you didn’t hear it here first. But I agree with whoever said it.
GO YANKEES!!!
Posada could be hurt more then we being led to believe.
Joe could be trying to keep him healthy for late August and September.
I hope it isn’t the case.
I doubt Girardi wants to play Cervelli this much… they probably don’t want to risk it with Jorge during the regular season.
“# Cashmoney August 7th, 2010 at 4:00 pm
he has never been great on the road. Don’t know how you get a nickname ‘Big Game James’ when you can’t shut down guys on the road and always chokes at Fenway and NYS
——————————————————————————————————-
I guess it’s all in prospective, for a franchise that never won a WS ; how many ‘BIG’ Games can Shield possibly have played in.
”
Garza would probably deserve the nickname more than Shields
Girardi’s goal right now is to tread water, keep the lead in the standings, and rest his vets for the playoffs. But for that to happen, he needs to maintain the offense and stabilize the pitching.
Wood can help in the pen, as I think his presence has already improved the psychology of Joba. Fear of losing one’s job can do wonders sometimes. Berkman? Jury still out on that, but I’m not sold. I’d still like to see Wiggington or Betemit. We need a 3B with a bat.
The problem isn’t just Cervelli it’s who he is surrounded by. Granderson can’t hit at all and when Jeter or Arod need a day off you also have Pena in the lineup. Gardner hasn’t hit since the all star break. Some days the lineup will be 6 men deep on others it could be 5. Hopefully Berkman or Gardner can get going, they really need it.
54 games remaining and holding the best record in MLB.
let the a-s kissing of the sox commence in the booth.