Pregame notes: “Might as well let them get healthy”
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes, Podcast on Sep 10, 2011 
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Just a few days ago, the mounting injuries in the Yankees clubhouse seemed to be a minor issue. A handful of guys were banged up, but none of the issues seemed serious. If anything, most guys seemed to be getting better.
Today, the feeling was different. Alex Rodriguez’s thumb injury just won’t go away. Nick Swisher isn’t sure how long he’ll be out. Francisco Cervelli was a late scratch (again). Boone Logan is still not available.
“I’m trying to win, just like I was last year,” Joe Girardi said. “If they can play, and be productive, I’m going to play them. If we feel like they’ll play and not be productive, we might as well let them get healthy so they can be productive. That’s what I have to measure.”
One-by-one, these are the issues the Yankees are dealing with.
Alex Rodriguez
This is the same thumb injury that’s bothered him ever since he made the awkward backhanded play in Minneapolis three weeks ago. The Yankees have tried to manage it with occasional days off, but it hasn’t quite gone away, and Rodriguez told Girardi after last night’s game that it was still bothering him.
“I feel like there’s a big difference between being hurt and playing through bumps and bruises,” Rodriguez said. “I can certainly play through bumps and bruises. Even with bumps and bruises, I can do serious damage. But the way I am right now, I don’t think it’s possible.”
Since coming off the disabled list — he injured the thumb the first day back — Rodriguez has hit just .194/.370/.389 with three extra-base hits in 10 games. He went for an additional MRI in New York last week, but Rodriguez thinks it’s actually been getting better, it’s just not fully healed yet.
“We’re trying to get him going, that’s the bottom line,” Girardi said. “If you keep taking these breaks, it’s hard to get going, and that’s the frustrating part.”
Nick Swisher
The test results could have been much worse. Swisher’s MRI revealed no structural damage, but it did show what Swisher described as “a lot of inflammation.” Girardi called it tendonitis, but the bottom line is this: Swisher is day-to-day, but he doesn’t seem to have a long-term issue.
“It’s a bummer because, right now, you want to be in there every day,” Swisher said. “Everyone is tired, everyone is going through their aches and pains, but you definitely want to try and be out there. Right now, we have relax a little bit. We just need to chill for a couple days.”
Swisher doesn’t seem to have a timetable. He’s going to do treatment today, and what he does tomorrow will depend on how he feels. Girardi expects this to be a smaller issue that Rodriguez’s thumb.
“I think Alex’s thumb might be more of a continual problem,” Girardi said. “Swish is probably just a few days rest of some medicine, some treatment. He should be ok. Tendonitis usually clears up. But Alex, we’ll just have to wait.”
Francisco Cervelli
After being run over by Nick Markakis on Thursday, Cervelli has been in the Yankees lineup two days in a row, only to be scratched each time. Girardi said Cervelli has some concussion symptoms, and he was sent for an ImPACT test tonight.
Andruw Jones
There’s no injury here, but the Yankees are cautious because Jones’ has a history of knee problems, and they don’t want to push him too hard when he’s not used to playing every day. Jones has missed only one day so far this month, so Girardi wanted to give him a day off. That’s why he’s not in right field tonight.
Boone Logan
Girardi plans to stay away from Logan again tonight. He’ll also stay away from Luis Ayala, and he has to check with Cory Wade, but Rafael Soriano is available again. Logan hasn’t had more than one day off since August 27, and in that span he’s thrown three days in a row once, and three out of four twice. His velocity has dipped lately, and the Yankees think fatigue and dead arm might be the cause.
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Eduardo Nunez was pretty funny when he saw the lineup posted this afternoon. His reaction was a single word that can’t be printed in this space, and he was laughing about it when reporters asked about his first career start in right field.
“I knew if they needed me, I could play outfield, but I didn’t know I was starting today,” he said. “They didn’t tell me… It’s fun. It’s a new experience. I’ll do the best I can.”
Nunez has played right field only once in his life. It was earlier this season in Baltimore, and he caught the only ball hit to him. He played some left field in spring training, and he’s played both corners during batting practice.
“The way he’s swung the bat (was a factor),” Girardi said. “And I liked his at-bats against Haren the last time we played. And it might be something we have to do… Sometimes you have to look at it, and if we’re fortunate enough to get a lead, we can always make a switch.”
Here’s Nunez. At the end of the group interview someone wished him luck. “I need luck,” Nunez said.
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• Terrific pitching matchup tonight with CC Sabathia and Dan Haren. “Two guys who really know how to use the strike zone,” Girardi said. “They know how to mix their pitches, they know how to throw offspeed behind in the count. When you look at Danny Haren, he’s going to throw a split, a lot of cutters, he’s going to throw curveballs, he’s going to mix his pitches.
• The Yankees have lost three in a row, all by one run. “It could be fatigue,” Girardi said. “That’s the only thing that I could think of. We have not swung the bats very well lately, and maybe we could turn that around tonight.”
• Girardi is hopeful that he’ll have Rodriguez and Swisher back by the end of the road trip. “We’ve got a long way to go this road trip, so I would sure hope so,” he said. “I would hope to have both of them back before that.”
• Swisher on Nunez taking his spot in right: “He’s an athlete. He can do it.”
ANGELS
Maicer Izturis 3B
Peter Bourjos CF
Howie Kendrick 2B
Torii Hunter DH
Mark Trumbo 1B
Vernon Wells LF
Mike Trout RF
Erick Aybar SS
Jeff Mathis C
Associated Press photos
“I believe I had predicted Weiland would outpitch Hellickson.”
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I believe the Rays now have the lead @ 2 – 1. Stomp the Sux while they are busy lickin their wounds.
Let’s hope no balls are hit to Nunez.
Yanks have to be cautious with Cervelli, he might be out for a long time.
RMS-
That concussion test should tell them everything they need to know.
They should have pulled Cervelli after the 1st collision. They should not have risked it. I hope he comes out of the testing ok. He’s a good kid. And he’s already had I believe 3 concussions.
MTU
I give Cervelli a lot of credit, he is not afraid of contact. Tough kid.
MaineYankee September 10th, 2011 at 8:24 pm
GB7
So you mean you want to send some to your buddies out there?
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Yeah, take the “For Pets Only” labels off and mark them as “truffels”. It won’t hurt them
Besides….where their heads have been, it’ll be a familiar taste.
Middle of the 4th, Rays up 3-1.
No one asked Girardi why Cervelli was starting the game to begin with?
GB7
Time to sit Alex for a week straight. We were fine without him, he returned and frankly we’ve gone kinda stale. Sit him for a week to 10 days and bring him back for sox series rested. At worst we’ll be tied for the division by then if not still comfortably ahead.
GB, MY,
lol
RMS-
Yup.
He’s taken more than his fair share of hits.
Concussion syndrome is cumulative unfortunately.
Hope he passes with flying colors, or maybe better said, that he just passes.
The best way to deal with concussions is to thicken the skull through natural selection for hard-headedness.
For example, ever see a Ram get a concussion ? Of course not. They’re born to knock heads.
It’s either that or reduce the size of the brain within the skull.
No matter how hard a flea hits his head there will never be a concussion.
Although death is sometimes instaneous instead.
There you have it. The only 2 solutions possible.
LGY September 10th, 2011 at 8:32 pm e
No one asked Girardi why Cervelli was starting the game to begin with?
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CC’s starting.
See you all later.
I’m gonna practice thickening my skull by smashing beer cans against it.
Should work.
P.S. I hope I remember to consume the beer first.
If Alex didn’t break his thumb, I don’t understand why it’s taking so long for a strain to heal. I’m no athlete and I’ve never injured my thumb before, but this still seems odd to me.
MTU September 10th, 2011 at 8:44 pm
The best way to deal with concussions is to thicken the skull through natural selection for hard-headedness.
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I think randy and GB7 fit that description.
Laura-
MRI was negative.
Cortisone was administered.
Rememeber GGBG and his thumb problems when batting ?
These things just take time sometimes.
Now I’m really goin’
Later.
why wouldn’t you just throw A-Rod on the DL again? these games are relatively meaningless unless the Red Sox are swept by the Rays. even then it has little effect on the Yankees.
Maine-
As long as you are not the flea you’re fine.
Chad Jennings September 10th, 2011 at 8:44 pm
LGY September 10th, 2011 at 8:32 pm e
No one asked Girardi why Cervelli was starting the game to begin with?
—
CC’s starting.
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Joe said that’s the reason? Because that would confirm a “personal catcher” situation.
And is there something wrong with Dickerson?
Stadium is packed with Yankee fans!!! Let’s go Yankees!!!!!!!!
Weiland now on pace to win the game.
Middle of the 5th, Rays now tied 3-3 on a 2R HR by AGone..
I had to return to say just one more thing.
WCYF-
Be sure to feed those freakin’ rally monkeys the ex-lax.
West Coast Yankee Fan September 10th, 2011 at 8:55 pm
Anyone show up to treat you to a cold one and a dog yet ? Can you take a picture of your sock puppet sitting next to you please ?
2011 Co-MVP just tied it.
The other 2011 Co-MVP scored another run.
That’s the bad news.
The good news is that whenever the Red Sucks win, the Yankees also win.
So those healthy players should stand up,like tex
CC’s starting
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So what?
Martin caught CC’s last start and if that is the actual reason it makes even less sense that Cervelli was in the lineup to begin with yesterday.
None of the best writers thought it was suspicious that Martin was supposed to be on the bench for two straight games?
The Mercury Strikes Back September 10th, 2011 at 8:58 pm
Weiland now on pace to win the game.
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Wrong again. Weiland didn’t last long enough to qualify (Only 4.0 IP) for the win and the score is tied. Aceves comes out of the pen to pitch the bottom of the 5th.
MaineYankee September 10th, 2011 at 8:49 pm
MTU September 10th, 2011 at 8:44 pm
The best way to deal with concussions is to thicken the skull through natural selection for hard-headedness.
———————————————————————————————-
I think randy and GB7 fit that description.
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You just have to keep it going, huh?
That’s alright, Maine. I’m making a list and checking it twice. Think of me as the “Santa CLAWS Of Snark”.
Game Thread # 144