Sunday, March 26, 2006
Notes: Damon's left shoulder hurting
03/14/2006
TAMPA, Fla. -- Johnny Damon may be in Anaheim with Team USA, but the status of his left shoulder was a hot topic around Legends Field on Tuesday.
Damon was shut down from throwing this week to rest his sore left shoulder, limiting him to pinch-hitting duties for the U.S. at the World Baseball Classic. He did pinch-hit in Team USA's game on Monday, which was good news for Yankees manager Joe Torre.
"I don't really know the nature of it," Torre said. "The fact that he hit, that's a good sign for us. Hopefully it's just something that's connected with Spring Training."
Torre had not spoken with Damon as of Tuesday afternoon, as he was waiting to receive an update from the team's medical staff. General manager Brian Cashman, who was in Ft. Lauderdale on Tuesday to attend his grandmother's funeral, spoke with Damon on Monday but said through a team spokesman that he hadn't heard anything further on the matter.
Owner George Steinbrenner, who expressed his concerns about his players getting hurt by participating in the World Baseball Classic, declined to comment on the latest developments.
"Nothing to say," Steinbrenner said. "I've said it all."
Torre wouldn't speculate that Damon's injury was a result of playing in the tournament.
"It's a time of year that they're not used to being competitive," Torre said. "Whether it happened because of that, or the fact that it's just part of getting in shape, I don't know."
Torre noted that Damon, who battled shoulder problems last season, "didn't require any red flags" this spring to take care of his arm. Had that been the case, the team would have tried to prevent the center fielder from participating.
"That's the thing you dread most; the injury," Torre said. "Any manager feels the same way. It's sort of a helpless feeling."
Jason Giambi spoke to Damon at the beginning of the World Baseball Classic, but hasn't talked to him in the past few days. Giambi said that injuries such as Damon's are common in the early stages of spring, as players shake off the rust of the winter.
"You can't simulate games," Giambi said. "That's the hard part; when you first get down here, I don't care how much you train, you're always sore that first week, no matter how great shape you're in."
Back in action: Giambi returned to the Yankees' lineup on Tuesday, his first action since suffering a minor calf injury last Monday.
Giambi went 0-for-2 with an RBI sacrifice fly on Tuesday, driving in one of the Yankees' two runs.
"I felt great up there," Giambi said. "I didn't really miss a beat. I'm excited about where I am. ... My only concern was getting out of the box, since it's my back leg. It worked out great."
Giambi will make the trip to Kissimmee on Wednesday, though Torre hadn't decided whether he would use Giambi as the DH or at first base. Although the game is being played in the Astros' home park, Houston requested a DH be used in order to give Jeff Bagwell some at-bats.
Second helping: Tanyon Sturtze took the mound for the second time this spring, allowing one run in one inning against the Cardinals.
Sturtze, who threw a scoreless frame in his debut on Sunday, is a couple of weeks behind the rest of the pitching staff, but is expected to be ready for Opening Day.
"He was messed up mechanically," said Torre, adding that Sturtze had no physical problems. "He was flying open. Once he started, he started fighting himself. It's something he's going to have to deal with."
Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/
TAMPA, Fla. -- Johnny Damon may be in Anaheim with Team USA, but the status of his left shoulder was a hot topic around Legends Field on Tuesday.
Damon was shut down from throwing this week to rest his sore left shoulder, limiting him to pinch-hitting duties for the U.S. at the World Baseball Classic. He did pinch-hit in Team USA's game on Monday, which was good news for Yankees manager Joe Torre.
"I don't really know the nature of it," Torre said. "The fact that he hit, that's a good sign for us. Hopefully it's just something that's connected with Spring Training."
Torre had not spoken with Damon as of Tuesday afternoon, as he was waiting to receive an update from the team's medical staff. General manager Brian Cashman, who was in Ft. Lauderdale on Tuesday to attend his grandmother's funeral, spoke with Damon on Monday but said through a team spokesman that he hadn't heard anything further on the matter.
Owner George Steinbrenner, who expressed his concerns about his players getting hurt by participating in the World Baseball Classic, declined to comment on the latest developments.
"Nothing to say," Steinbrenner said. "I've said it all."
Torre wouldn't speculate that Damon's injury was a result of playing in the tournament.
"It's a time of year that they're not used to being competitive," Torre said. "Whether it happened because of that, or the fact that it's just part of getting in shape, I don't know."
Torre noted that Damon, who battled shoulder problems last season, "didn't require any red flags" this spring to take care of his arm. Had that been the case, the team would have tried to prevent the center fielder from participating.
"That's the thing you dread most; the injury," Torre said. "Any manager feels the same way. It's sort of a helpless feeling."
Jason Giambi spoke to Damon at the beginning of the World Baseball Classic, but hasn't talked to him in the past few days. Giambi said that injuries such as Damon's are common in the early stages of spring, as players shake off the rust of the winter.
"You can't simulate games," Giambi said. "That's the hard part; when you first get down here, I don't care how much you train, you're always sore that first week, no matter how great shape you're in."
Back in action: Giambi returned to the Yankees' lineup on Tuesday, his first action since suffering a minor calf injury last Monday.
Giambi went 0-for-2 with an RBI sacrifice fly on Tuesday, driving in one of the Yankees' two runs.
"I felt great up there," Giambi said. "I didn't really miss a beat. I'm excited about where I am. ... My only concern was getting out of the box, since it's my back leg. It worked out great."
Giambi will make the trip to Kissimmee on Wednesday, though Torre hadn't decided whether he would use Giambi as the DH or at first base. Although the game is being played in the Astros' home park, Houston requested a DH be used in order to give Jeff Bagwell some at-bats.
Second helping: Tanyon Sturtze took the mound for the second time this spring, allowing one run in one inning against the Cardinals.
Sturtze, who threw a scoreless frame in his debut on Sunday, is a couple of weeks behind the rest of the pitching staff, but is expected to be ready for Opening Day.
"He was messed up mechanically," said Torre, adding that Sturtze had no physical problems. "He was flying open. Once he started, he started fighting himself. It's something he's going to have to deal with."
Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/
