Yankee 21
07-09-2003, 10:34 AM
07/08/2003 9:18 PM ET
Notes: Jeter, Soriano sit
By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com
CLEVELAND -- The Yankees lineup was missing its two sparkplugs on Tuesday, as Alfonso Soriano and Derek Jeter both sat out, one day after being hit by Pedro Martinez in the first inning of Monday's game.
Jeter, who was hit on the right hand, appeared to be in better shape than Soriano, who was drilled in the left hand. Both players said that their hands were sore, though Jeter wanted to play on Tuesday while Soriano said his hand was not well enough to grip a bat.
"Before the game, I thought I could take batting practice or hit in the cage. I couldn't do anything, so we'll see how it feels tomorrow," Soriano said. "I can hold a bat, but there's no power, there's pain. It's better than last night, though."
Jeter said before batting practice that he wanted to play, but the shortstop winced a little and shook his hand in discomfort after his first few swings. He finished the first round of BP by hitting some balls to the opposite field, then met with Joe Torre behind the batting cage.
"He just said we'll wait," Jeter said. "It's going to be sore for a couple of weeks. I could play with it, but he chose to wait one more day."
"He was letting go of the bat his first couple of swings," Torre said. "He didn't fight me too much, which is usually the key. We'll wait and see tomorrow, but he's not that far away."
Jeter said he could have played, but Torre made the call.
"I could pinch-hit him," Torre said. "He's alright, but I didn't want him favoring something. He could play, but from what I saw, I'd rather get one at-bat in a key spot."
Soriano was not available to pinch-hit on Tuesday, though he said he could pinch-run if necessary.
"Running is OK," Soriano said. "I just can't do anything with my hands."
Torre said that he could use Soriano to run, though he would prefer not to.
"I would doubt it, because he likes to slide head-first," Torre said. "That's not to say I wouldn't in a situation where we need to score a run. I'd just encourage feet-first slides."
Neither Torre nor Soriano believed that the injury would land the All-Star second baseman on the disabled list.
"Not with all the X-rays and the fact that it feels better today," Torre said. "If it was something more than that, it would have probably felt worse. That's my medical experience talking."
Soriano, who is scheduled to start the All-Star Game next Tuesday in Chicago, said that his hand should be fine well before then.
"I don't like missing games," Soriano said. "I hope it doesn't take that long. I have another week."
One more day: Bernie Williams will likely rejoin the Yankees on Wednesday in Cleveland, as the center fielder wanted to play one more rehab game with Double-A Trenton on Tuesday to help regain his timing.
"He was just comfortable with one more game," Torre said. "My guess is that he'll be here tomorrow. Physically, he's fine. We're just waiting on his comfort level at the plate."
Williams went 5-for-15 (.333) in his first four games with Trenton with two doubles and three RBIs. He has been out since May 22, five days before he underwent knee surgery on his left knee. In Williams' absence, the Yankees are 25-16.
"We played pretty well the last few weeks without him, but you don't want to think about going the rest of the year without him," Torre said. "He's such a stabilizer, he offers protection for Giambi and he takes walks. We've had trouble filling the cleanup spot since he's been gone. No one else seems to look right there, even though Bernie isn't your 'cleanup hitter.'"
Update from Tampa: Antonio Osuna threw a scoreless inning on Tuesday for the Gulf Coast Yankees, allowing one hit and striking out two batters. Osuna, on the 15-day disabled list with a strained groin, reported no problems, throwing 20 pitches.
"We're hopeful," Torre said when asked if Osuna could be back by the All-Star break. "Everything seems fine. He'll throw another inning or so by Thursday."
Also in Tampa, Nick Johnson took 30 dry swings and 30 swings off a tee. Johnson, on the DL since May 17 with a fractured right hand, said he hoped to return to action by the end of July.
"If I keep going forward, I think so," Johnson said. "I'm starting to get into some more baseball stuff. I swung a little bit more today and let it go a little harder. The main thing is to keep swinging and it will build up strength."
Jose Contreras (strained right shoulder), out with a right shoulder injury since June 10, threw for 10 minutes on flat ground from 75 feet. Right-hander Jon Lieber, on the 60-day DL after last season's Tommy John elbow surgery, has been slowed by an abdominal muscle injury. Lieber had been throwing batting practice sessions since last month.
Yankee Pride: Curtis Pride has been with the Yankees for only a few days, yet he has helped contribute to a pair of wins over the Boston Red Sox in the two games he has played in.
Pride homered in Sunday's 7-1 win, and his ground ball plated the winning run on Monday, when Sox second baseman Todd Walker couldn't handle the ball.
"I never even thought I'd get picked up by the Yankees, but it's been great," said Pride, who is mostly deaf. "I'm proud not only to be a part of the Yankees organization, but to be able to help the team win two games."
Pride's role with the team will primarily be as a bench player, especially when Bernie Williams returns to action this week.
"He's had enough experience," Torre said. "I was very impressed with his presence. It's tough not to root for him. He can give us something off the bench as a pinch-runner."
Whatever role he ends up playing, Pride is thrilled to have the opportunity to put on the pinstripes.
"It's always exciting to put on the uniform and play in a rivalry like Yankees and Red Sox," Pride said. "To be able to contribute with a home run and then to be up for the winning run on Monday, it was unbelievable."
Notes: Jeter, Soriano sit
By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com
CLEVELAND -- The Yankees lineup was missing its two sparkplugs on Tuesday, as Alfonso Soriano and Derek Jeter both sat out, one day after being hit by Pedro Martinez in the first inning of Monday's game.
Jeter, who was hit on the right hand, appeared to be in better shape than Soriano, who was drilled in the left hand. Both players said that their hands were sore, though Jeter wanted to play on Tuesday while Soriano said his hand was not well enough to grip a bat.
"Before the game, I thought I could take batting practice or hit in the cage. I couldn't do anything, so we'll see how it feels tomorrow," Soriano said. "I can hold a bat, but there's no power, there's pain. It's better than last night, though."
Jeter said before batting practice that he wanted to play, but the shortstop winced a little and shook his hand in discomfort after his first few swings. He finished the first round of BP by hitting some balls to the opposite field, then met with Joe Torre behind the batting cage.
"He just said we'll wait," Jeter said. "It's going to be sore for a couple of weeks. I could play with it, but he chose to wait one more day."
"He was letting go of the bat his first couple of swings," Torre said. "He didn't fight me too much, which is usually the key. We'll wait and see tomorrow, but he's not that far away."
Jeter said he could have played, but Torre made the call.
"I could pinch-hit him," Torre said. "He's alright, but I didn't want him favoring something. He could play, but from what I saw, I'd rather get one at-bat in a key spot."
Soriano was not available to pinch-hit on Tuesday, though he said he could pinch-run if necessary.
"Running is OK," Soriano said. "I just can't do anything with my hands."
Torre said that he could use Soriano to run, though he would prefer not to.
"I would doubt it, because he likes to slide head-first," Torre said. "That's not to say I wouldn't in a situation where we need to score a run. I'd just encourage feet-first slides."
Neither Torre nor Soriano believed that the injury would land the All-Star second baseman on the disabled list.
"Not with all the X-rays and the fact that it feels better today," Torre said. "If it was something more than that, it would have probably felt worse. That's my medical experience talking."
Soriano, who is scheduled to start the All-Star Game next Tuesday in Chicago, said that his hand should be fine well before then.
"I don't like missing games," Soriano said. "I hope it doesn't take that long. I have another week."
One more day: Bernie Williams will likely rejoin the Yankees on Wednesday in Cleveland, as the center fielder wanted to play one more rehab game with Double-A Trenton on Tuesday to help regain his timing.
"He was just comfortable with one more game," Torre said. "My guess is that he'll be here tomorrow. Physically, he's fine. We're just waiting on his comfort level at the plate."
Williams went 5-for-15 (.333) in his first four games with Trenton with two doubles and three RBIs. He has been out since May 22, five days before he underwent knee surgery on his left knee. In Williams' absence, the Yankees are 25-16.
"We played pretty well the last few weeks without him, but you don't want to think about going the rest of the year without him," Torre said. "He's such a stabilizer, he offers protection for Giambi and he takes walks. We've had trouble filling the cleanup spot since he's been gone. No one else seems to look right there, even though Bernie isn't your 'cleanup hitter.'"
Update from Tampa: Antonio Osuna threw a scoreless inning on Tuesday for the Gulf Coast Yankees, allowing one hit and striking out two batters. Osuna, on the 15-day disabled list with a strained groin, reported no problems, throwing 20 pitches.
"We're hopeful," Torre said when asked if Osuna could be back by the All-Star break. "Everything seems fine. He'll throw another inning or so by Thursday."
Also in Tampa, Nick Johnson took 30 dry swings and 30 swings off a tee. Johnson, on the DL since May 17 with a fractured right hand, said he hoped to return to action by the end of July.
"If I keep going forward, I think so," Johnson said. "I'm starting to get into some more baseball stuff. I swung a little bit more today and let it go a little harder. The main thing is to keep swinging and it will build up strength."
Jose Contreras (strained right shoulder), out with a right shoulder injury since June 10, threw for 10 minutes on flat ground from 75 feet. Right-hander Jon Lieber, on the 60-day DL after last season's Tommy John elbow surgery, has been slowed by an abdominal muscle injury. Lieber had been throwing batting practice sessions since last month.
Yankee Pride: Curtis Pride has been with the Yankees for only a few days, yet he has helped contribute to a pair of wins over the Boston Red Sox in the two games he has played in.
Pride homered in Sunday's 7-1 win, and his ground ball plated the winning run on Monday, when Sox second baseman Todd Walker couldn't handle the ball.
"I never even thought I'd get picked up by the Yankees, but it's been great," said Pride, who is mostly deaf. "I'm proud not only to be a part of the Yankees organization, but to be able to help the team win two games."
Pride's role with the team will primarily be as a bench player, especially when Bernie Williams returns to action this week.
"He's had enough experience," Torre said. "I was very impressed with his presence. It's tough not to root for him. He can give us something off the bench as a pinch-runner."
Whatever role he ends up playing, Pride is thrilled to have the opportunity to put on the pinstripes.
"It's always exciting to put on the uniform and play in a rivalry like Yankees and Red Sox," Pride said. "To be able to contribute with a home run and then to be up for the winning run on Monday, it was unbelievable."