Yankees pregame: Teixeira still iffy on playoff opener
Posted by: Brian Heyman - Posted in Misc on Sep 22, 2012 
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Brian Heyman here for Chad today. So Mark Teixeira fielded grounders, did light jogging and took outdoor batting practice for the first time since aggravating his calf strain in Baltimore.
“Everything felt fine,” Teixeira said. “I obviously wasn’t pushing it really out there. But it was a good workout.”
Tomorrow he plans to ramp up the activity a bit more and then head for Tampa in the afternoon. He still has no timetable for a return.
“I’m just going to take it day by day,” Teixeira said. “That’s the plan this time around.”
If he’s still having problems when the first game of the playoffs gets here — the Yankees’ magic number for at least drawing a wild card is down to seven — Teixeira isn’t sure if he will be in there anyway.
“I have no idea,” Teixeira said. “It’s a decision we’ll all have to make together.”
He has concerns, like having to make a quick move to dive for a ball, having to have quick acceleration out of the box and having to push it on the basepaths.
“I want to be comfortable that I can do those things and not blow out again, because then we’re right back to square one,” Teixeira said. “The first game of the playoffs, we’re down one run and I need to beat out a double or beat out an infield hit and I blow out and I’m out for the rest of the playoffs, we’ve accomplished nothing. I just need to be able to play.”
But he says he’s improving.
“Sometimes walking up or down stairs, where I’m not being careful, it still feels a little tight, a little sore,” Teixeira said. “But overall it’s getting better. It’s progressing a little bit better each day.”
Curtis Granders0n, whose strikeout total is up to 182 and whose average is down to .232 (albeit with 39 homers and 94 RBI), is out of the lineup. “Just a day (off),” Joe Girardi said.
Girardi said he probably won’t have Rafael Soriano available for this game after he saves both ends of Wednesday’s doubleheader and blew the save last night. Soriano was experiencing what he felt was normal soreness last night. “I’m pretty sure that would go away,” Girardi said.
Girardi said he wasn’t sure if David Robertson will be available, either, after having appeared three straight days.
Ivan Nova will start today, coming off a good outing in his return to the rotation.
“We want to get him on a roll,” Girardi said.
Brett Gardner still hasn’t been activated.
The Yankees bring a one-game lead into this game.
“It’s playoff baseball in the month of September,” Girardi said. “… I think the guys are handling it very well and having fun.”
Joba setting up, Phelps closing it out.
How about Nova goes 8 and Eppley closes it out as the Yanks cruise to a 7-2 win?
Tar, what say you about UNC -14.5 vs. East Carolina? Easy win or might little step-cousin pose a threat?
with tex at 1st in game 1, it could be the 1st time all year we have our complete team on the field all year.
Nick
I now nothing of E Carolina so hard for me to advise. But 14.5 points seems like a lot of points to give. Having said that under a new system in the first 3 games UNC has scored like 40 points a game. They are all about running as many plays as possible, and racking up the points. I should also point out that I am the worst better ever, so I am reluctant to advise one I consider a friend.
It’s a perfect day for football here. And I have tickets, but unfortunately am unable to go. Oh well I will have to settle for Yankee Baseball.
Thanks, Tar. The little half point hook is annoying, but I’m not going to take ot straight up anyway, just in a teaser with the California Golden Bears, who are getting 16 points visiting U$C. I don’t know much about East Carolina either; I think they’re some kind of Pirates.
” I think they’re some kind of Pirates.”
Yeah but they are Purple Pirates, so not very intimitaditing.
I would think it comes to down to can UNC ‘s defenses hold the Pirates down. Because I am pretty sure Carolina is going to score a good amount.
Gardner won’t be on the field, so it won’t be the opening day lineup even with a healthy Tex.
Also, if he can hit, why wouldn’t you carry him on the roster as strictly a DH? Switch-hitter with pop has to be better than the alternative and with built in off-days none of the older guys will be DH’ing. I’d take Tex’s bat over a Chavez, Jones or Ibanez at this point.
The line has moved to -15, I guess the public didn’t care about that hook. OK, I’ll tease it with the over as well, sounds like points will be easy to come by today.
Tar,
They say Phelps is out until probably Monday after his start. I am setting up and you are closing. Either that or Eppley and Joba.
Hey austin, mick, nick, Tar, et. al.!
This is for the game thread, since it isn’t up yet.
GO IVAN!!!
GO YANKS!!!
GO JAYS!!!
DON’T GO O’S!!!
Here in spirit. Going to a birthday party.
Looking forward to another Y’s win.
mick and nick – I count on you to keep things in line.
That is one ugly lineup from 6-9. I’m fondly remembering the circular lineups.
“They say Phelps is out until probably Monday after his start.”
Thanks Mac. I thought I saw him warming up last night, so I thought he was ready. Probably just a side session.
Gonna probably see Freddy at some point today.
Don’t count on me here