TORONTO — Monday was dark on the Yankees’ schedule, the first day off after a stretch of 17 straight games that began Aug. 30.
Yet, that didn’t mean people weren’t working. After arriving at the team hotel at 4 a.m., the training staff headed to Rogers Centre for treatment sessions on injured players.
While there is nothing the medical staff can do with Brett Gardner’s left oblique strain, Alex Rodriguez’ left hamstring and right calf require treatment. So does Alfonso Soriano’s sprained right thumb. And the Yankees were awaiting word on what Boone Logan’s visit to Dr. James Andrews brought when his left elbow was checked Monday.
“If I can play, I will play,’’ Rodriguez said after Sunday night’s 9-2 whipping by the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Rodriguez exited the loss in the fifth. He drove a run in with a ground out in the first and singled in the third. “I will get treatment [Monday] and rest.’’
Since suffering the hamstring problem running the bases in Baltimore last Tuesday, Rodriguez has been limited to DH duties and hasn’t been able to run very well. Friday night he didn’t come close to scoring from first with two outs on Robinson Cano’s long double to right-center in Fenway.
Rodriguez said he felt his calf on the single to left Sunday night in the third and running to second when Cano grounded into a double play.
Soriano injured his thumb diving for a ball Thursday night in Baltimore. He went 1-for-4 Friday night against the Red Sox, didn’t play Saturday and went 1-for-2 with a walk Sunday night.
“I will tape it the rest of the year, there is less pain with the tape,’’ said Soriano, who has been treated with ice but hasn’t received a cortisone shot.
Logan, who hasn’t pitched since Sept. 6 because of inflammation in his left elbow, was sent to Andrews Sunday. As of 4:30 p.m. Monday, general manager Brian Cashman hadn’t heard anything from Logan or Andrews.
In Logan’s absence, manager Joe Girardi has been forced to use raw rookie Cesar Cabral in key situations, and he hasn’t delivered.
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The Yankees have informed longtime scout Ron Brand that his contract isn’t being renewed at the end of the season. This is the 73-year-old Brand’s 20th year with the organization.
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David Robertson has been nominated for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award. Robertson and wife Erin in 2011 founded High Socks for Hope, a charitable organization devoted to helping people affected by natural disasters. Derek Jeter won the Clemente Award in 2009.
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Mariano Rivera is one of six players on the ballot for the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award. Fans voted for one player from each division for the award named after the former Players Association leader.
Cleveland’s Nick Swisher, Seattle’s Raul Ibanez, Philadelphia’s Chase Utley, St. Louis’ Carlos Beltran and L.A. Dodgers’ Adrian Gonzalez join Rivera on the ballot.
The ballots will be distributed to major league players Tuesday.