Luvofthegame
09-05-2006, 10:26 PM
By PETER ABRAHAM
THE JOURNAL NEWS
9/5/06
KANSAS CITY — Mariano Rivera will be only a spectator as the Yankees face the Kansas City Royals this week.
The closer hasn't pitched since Thursday because of a sore right elbow and Joe Torre doesn't plan to use him until this weekend, if then.
"I feel better," Rivera said before last night's 12-5 victory. "I feel real good."
But with the Yankees in firm command of the American League East, there is no sense taking any chances with Rivera.
"We're going to try and push it as long as we can," manager Joe Torre said. "It's progressing and it's feeling better. But the longer we can keep him down, the better it will be."
Rivera played catch during batting practice and said afterward he felt fine. He said he would need to throw in the bullpen at least once before he comes into a game.
He is not scheduled to throw today.
"There is no rush, they don't need me," Rivera said. "It's nice to get a rest."
Mussina ready: Mike Mussina will be activated off the disabled list today and pitch for the first time since he strained a right groin muscle on Aug. 20 against Boston.
"I feel fine," said Mussina, who has thrown in the bullpen three times in the last 12 days. "I'm ready to get out there and pitch."
Mussina (13-5, 3.61) will get five or six more starts before the postseason, sufficient time to prepare himself.
"I think the rest is going to help," he said. "The injury wasn't an arm thing. At my age, having a couple of weeks off isn't bad."
The plan is to hold Mussina to 85-90 pitches.
The injury caused discomfort, but Mussina said he would have been able to pitch if the Yankees needed him. Their big lead in the standings allowed the right-hander to proceed cautiously.
Mussina strained the same muscle in June. To guard against further problems, he will pitch with a wrap around the area and continue to receive treatment.
"We'll stay on it the rest of this season and I'll do some exercises in the offseason and next spring," he said.
The Yankees hold a $17 million option on Mussina for 2007. There is little chance that will get picked up. But Mussina hopes an extension can be negotiated after the season.
"I'd like to stay, I've said that all along," he said. "I'm hoping I don't get to free agency."
Villone struggling: Ron Villone gave up two runs in 2/3 of an inning. In his last nine appearances, the lefty has allowed 17 earned runs on 16 hits and 12 walks. His ERA has gone from 2.23 to 3.94. "He's in a little bit of a rut," manager Joe Torre said. "He's lost his groove. But I'm not worried about it. I don't think mentally it'll bother him. He has enough in the bank confidence-wise."
Around the horn: Jorge Posada now has 192 homers, matching Tino Martinez for 12th place in team history. He is 11 of his last 27, raising his batting average to .278. ... Hideki Matsui took batting practice with the Staten Island Yankees. He will join Class AA Trenton tomorrow and play at least three games with the Thunder, who are in the Eastern League playoffs. "I don't think we'll see him until we get home," Torre said.
THE JOURNAL NEWS
9/5/06
KANSAS CITY — Mariano Rivera will be only a spectator as the Yankees face the Kansas City Royals this week.
The closer hasn't pitched since Thursday because of a sore right elbow and Joe Torre doesn't plan to use him until this weekend, if then.
"I feel better," Rivera said before last night's 12-5 victory. "I feel real good."
But with the Yankees in firm command of the American League East, there is no sense taking any chances with Rivera.
"We're going to try and push it as long as we can," manager Joe Torre said. "It's progressing and it's feeling better. But the longer we can keep him down, the better it will be."
Rivera played catch during batting practice and said afterward he felt fine. He said he would need to throw in the bullpen at least once before he comes into a game.
He is not scheduled to throw today.
"There is no rush, they don't need me," Rivera said. "It's nice to get a rest."
Mussina ready: Mike Mussina will be activated off the disabled list today and pitch for the first time since he strained a right groin muscle on Aug. 20 against Boston.
"I feel fine," said Mussina, who has thrown in the bullpen three times in the last 12 days. "I'm ready to get out there and pitch."
Mussina (13-5, 3.61) will get five or six more starts before the postseason, sufficient time to prepare himself.
"I think the rest is going to help," he said. "The injury wasn't an arm thing. At my age, having a couple of weeks off isn't bad."
The plan is to hold Mussina to 85-90 pitches.
The injury caused discomfort, but Mussina said he would have been able to pitch if the Yankees needed him. Their big lead in the standings allowed the right-hander to proceed cautiously.
Mussina strained the same muscle in June. To guard against further problems, he will pitch with a wrap around the area and continue to receive treatment.
"We'll stay on it the rest of this season and I'll do some exercises in the offseason and next spring," he said.
The Yankees hold a $17 million option on Mussina for 2007. There is little chance that will get picked up. But Mussina hopes an extension can be negotiated after the season.
"I'd like to stay, I've said that all along," he said. "I'm hoping I don't get to free agency."
Villone struggling: Ron Villone gave up two runs in 2/3 of an inning. In his last nine appearances, the lefty has allowed 17 earned runs on 16 hits and 12 walks. His ERA has gone from 2.23 to 3.94. "He's in a little bit of a rut," manager Joe Torre said. "He's lost his groove. But I'm not worried about it. I don't think mentally it'll bother him. He has enough in the bank confidence-wise."
Around the horn: Jorge Posada now has 192 homers, matching Tino Martinez for 12th place in team history. He is 11 of his last 27, raising his batting average to .278. ... Hideki Matsui took batting practice with the Staten Island Yankees. He will join Class AA Trenton tomorrow and play at least three games with the Thunder, who are in the Eastern League playoffs. "I don't think we'll see him until we get home," Torre said.