Several Yanks are MIA
05/31/2006 10:07 PM ET
Notes: Several Yanks are MIA
Sheffield may head to DL, Jeter and Damon sit against Tigers
By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com
DETROIT -- Gary Sheffield returned to New York on Wednesday to visit a hand specialist, as his injured left wrist continues to keep him out of action.
Sheffield said on Tuesday night that he believed he was headed back to the disabled list, as he was unable to even take batting practice before the game.
"I don't know what's going on," Sheffield said. "I felt like it was getting better, but it's in a different spot now. It's right on the wrist, right on the bone. It's really painful.
"I'm trying to get back, especially with [Hideki] Matsui down, and do what I'm accustomed to doing," he added. "When you're not able to do that, it's frustrating."
Joe Torre couldn't estimate how long the Yankees would be without Sheffield, who was examined by team physician Dr. Stuart Hershon and specialist Dr. Charles Melone on Wednesday afternoon. An MRI was taken at a local hospital, but general manager Brian Cashman said the results would not be available until Thursday.
"We'll find out what's going on there," Torre said. "I know he was frustrated yesterday with it."
"It's unfortunate," said Jason Giambi. "He's a big part of our lineup, and he definitely helps us. Hopefully, it won't be that serious."
Sheffield was 6-for-25 since returning from the DL last week, having missed more than two weeks with a bruised left wrist. He was in the lineup on Tuesday, only to be scratched less than an hour before first pitch.
"He swings it so violently," Torre said. "He doesn't go half-speed at all once he starts the bat."
Injury bug: Sheffield wasn't the only one missing from the Yankees' lineup on Wednesday, as Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon were also on the bench.
"We can't feel sorry for ourselves," Torre said. "The Yankees don't garner much sympathy from anybody. We have a job to do, so we have to find a way to do it."
Jeter sat out with a sore right hand, which he suffered during Monday night's game. It marked the first time this year that Jeter was not in the starting lineup, leaving Alex Rodriguez as the only Yankee to start every game.
"It's really not that big a deal," said Jeter, who tried to talk his way into the lineup. "It's not the first time someone is hurt. I can play with it, but [Torre] decided he didn't want me to play."
Jeter went 0-for-5 on Tuesday night, as Torre saw something in those at-bats that made him sit the shortstop.
"Last night, I thought he was very uncomfortable," Torre said. "It looked like he was cheating a little to get the bat going."
Damon missed his second consecutive game, as Torre decided to give the center fielder another day to rest the broken sesamoid bone in his right foot.
"He was willing to be a player, but I said, 'Let's wait one more day, see if we can get through this thing and make it a little more comfortable,'" Torre said. "He'll probably be a gamer tomorrow."
For the second straight night, Damon was replaced in the leadoff spot by Melky Cabrera, who went 4-for-6 with a double, triple and two RBIs on Tuesday.
"He's straight Wally Pipp-ing me," Damon joked in reference to the man Yankee legend Lou Gehrig replaced at first base.
"Other guys have to continue to do the job," said Jeter, who was replaced by Miguel Cairo. "You can't sit around and feel sorry for yourself, because no one else does. You have to pick up the slack."
Mo-town: Mariano Rivera hadn't thrown three innings in a regular-season game since Sept. 6, 1996, when he tossed three innings of two-run ball in a 5-2 win over the Blue Jays at SkyDome, now called the Rogers Centre.
Rivera matched that feat again in the 2003 American League Championship Series, pitching three shutout innings against the Red Sox in Game 7.
But if Rivera was going to throw another three-inning outing this year, it figures that it came against the Tigers, who haven't scored a run against the closer since 2000 -- and that was an unearned run.
Rivera has pitched 19 times against Detroit since he allowed an earned run on July 6, 1999, throwing 22 2/3 innings. In that span, he has allowed one unearned run, striking out 26 batters.
In fact, Rivera has dominated the Tigers throughout his entire career. In 36 games, Rivera is 4-1 with 20 saves and an incredible 0.83 ERA against Detroit.
"I said this for a long time, and I'll say it again," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland after Tuesday's game. "I think there was about a four-year stretch where Mariano Rivera wasn't just the most valuable pitcher in baseball, he was the most valuable player in baseball."
Roster rumblings: Needing another pitcher to bolster the bullpen for Wednesday's game, the Yankees recalled right-hander Darrell Rasner and designated third-string catcher Koyie Hill for assignment.
Rasner, 25, was 4-0 with a 2.56 ERA as a starter for Triple-A Columbus. He was claimed off waivers by the Yankees from the Nationals on Feb. 11.
Rasner started for Columbus on Saturday, but Torre said he could get two or three innings out of him if necessary.
"Whatever role it is, I'm very grateful for this opportunity that I've been given," Rasner said.
Coming up: The Yankees and Tigers close out their four-game set on Thursday, as Chien-Ming Wang (5-2, 4.50) takes on Justin Verlander (7-3, 2.55). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET at Comerica Park.
Mark Feinsand is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Notes: Several Yanks are MIA
Sheffield may head to DL, Jeter and Damon sit against Tigers
By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com
DETROIT -- Gary Sheffield returned to New York on Wednesday to visit a hand specialist, as his injured left wrist continues to keep him out of action.
Sheffield said on Tuesday night that he believed he was headed back to the disabled list, as he was unable to even take batting practice before the game.
"I don't know what's going on," Sheffield said. "I felt like it was getting better, but it's in a different spot now. It's right on the wrist, right on the bone. It's really painful.
"I'm trying to get back, especially with [Hideki] Matsui down, and do what I'm accustomed to doing," he added. "When you're not able to do that, it's frustrating."
Joe Torre couldn't estimate how long the Yankees would be without Sheffield, who was examined by team physician Dr. Stuart Hershon and specialist Dr. Charles Melone on Wednesday afternoon. An MRI was taken at a local hospital, but general manager Brian Cashman said the results would not be available until Thursday.
"We'll find out what's going on there," Torre said. "I know he was frustrated yesterday with it."
"It's unfortunate," said Jason Giambi. "He's a big part of our lineup, and he definitely helps us. Hopefully, it won't be that serious."
Sheffield was 6-for-25 since returning from the DL last week, having missed more than two weeks with a bruised left wrist. He was in the lineup on Tuesday, only to be scratched less than an hour before first pitch.
"He swings it so violently," Torre said. "He doesn't go half-speed at all once he starts the bat."
Injury bug: Sheffield wasn't the only one missing from the Yankees' lineup on Wednesday, as Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon were also on the bench.
"We can't feel sorry for ourselves," Torre said. "The Yankees don't garner much sympathy from anybody. We have a job to do, so we have to find a way to do it."
Jeter sat out with a sore right hand, which he suffered during Monday night's game. It marked the first time this year that Jeter was not in the starting lineup, leaving Alex Rodriguez as the only Yankee to start every game.
"It's really not that big a deal," said Jeter, who tried to talk his way into the lineup. "It's not the first time someone is hurt. I can play with it, but [Torre] decided he didn't want me to play."
Jeter went 0-for-5 on Tuesday night, as Torre saw something in those at-bats that made him sit the shortstop.
"Last night, I thought he was very uncomfortable," Torre said. "It looked like he was cheating a little to get the bat going."
Damon missed his second consecutive game, as Torre decided to give the center fielder another day to rest the broken sesamoid bone in his right foot.
"He was willing to be a player, but I said, 'Let's wait one more day, see if we can get through this thing and make it a little more comfortable,'" Torre said. "He'll probably be a gamer tomorrow."
For the second straight night, Damon was replaced in the leadoff spot by Melky Cabrera, who went 4-for-6 with a double, triple and two RBIs on Tuesday.
"He's straight Wally Pipp-ing me," Damon joked in reference to the man Yankee legend Lou Gehrig replaced at first base.
"Other guys have to continue to do the job," said Jeter, who was replaced by Miguel Cairo. "You can't sit around and feel sorry for yourself, because no one else does. You have to pick up the slack."
Mo-town: Mariano Rivera hadn't thrown three innings in a regular-season game since Sept. 6, 1996, when he tossed three innings of two-run ball in a 5-2 win over the Blue Jays at SkyDome, now called the Rogers Centre.
Rivera matched that feat again in the 2003 American League Championship Series, pitching three shutout innings against the Red Sox in Game 7.
But if Rivera was going to throw another three-inning outing this year, it figures that it came against the Tigers, who haven't scored a run against the closer since 2000 -- and that was an unearned run.
Rivera has pitched 19 times against Detroit since he allowed an earned run on July 6, 1999, throwing 22 2/3 innings. In that span, he has allowed one unearned run, striking out 26 batters.
In fact, Rivera has dominated the Tigers throughout his entire career. In 36 games, Rivera is 4-1 with 20 saves and an incredible 0.83 ERA against Detroit.
"I said this for a long time, and I'll say it again," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland after Tuesday's game. "I think there was about a four-year stretch where Mariano Rivera wasn't just the most valuable pitcher in baseball, he was the most valuable player in baseball."
Roster rumblings: Needing another pitcher to bolster the bullpen for Wednesday's game, the Yankees recalled right-hander Darrell Rasner and designated third-string catcher Koyie Hill for assignment.
Rasner, 25, was 4-0 with a 2.56 ERA as a starter for Triple-A Columbus. He was claimed off waivers by the Yankees from the Nationals on Feb. 11.
Rasner started for Columbus on Saturday, but Torre said he could get two or three innings out of him if necessary.
"Whatever role it is, I'm very grateful for this opportunity that I've been given," Rasner said.
Coming up: The Yankees and Tigers close out their four-game set on Thursday, as Chien-Ming Wang (5-2, 4.50) takes on Justin Verlander (7-3, 2.55). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET at Comerica Park.
Mark Feinsand is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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