Mariano Rivera chose not to talk with reporters after his long-toss session before last night’s 8-2 victory over the Rangers, but his appearance on the field at Yankee Stadium said a lot about how far he already has come in his rehab from surgery to repair his torn right ACL.
Nevertheless, the Yankees’ stance on the closer’s future for 2012 remains unchanged: “I don’t see it happening, but I don’t ever say never,” manager Joe Girardi said.
Maybe not, but general manager Brian Cashman reiterated yesterday the closer is done for the season.
While Girardi didn’t watch Rivera, pitching coach Larry Rothschild did, and said it went “fine.” The next step in Rivera’s recovery has yet to be decided as he makes his way back from tearing up his right knee chasing a fly ball during batting practice in Kansas City on May 3.
Despite the Yankees’ certainty Rivera’s season is over, Girardi said yesterday was another positive step for the pitcher who looked healthy as he wandered around the Stadium.
“Larry told me he threw well and looked pretty good,” Girardi said. “When you’re a baseball player and you can’t do the things you used to do, as soon as you can you try it.”
* Eric Chavez homered in his return to the lineup last night after being unavailable the previous three games in Toronto with a sore back. Chavez had complained of the injury after playing four straight games in Detroit and Girardi didn’t want to test him on the artificial turf in Toronto.
Girardi wouldn’t rule out playing Chavez four straight games again, but with the Rangers starting lefties two of the next three games, he won’t have to make that decision anytime soon.
“We expect him to be fine,” Girardi said. “If I need to, I’m gonna [play him four in a row again].”
Chavez said “everything’s good.”
* Girardi batted Ichiro Suzuki ninth last night, but not before discussing it with the veteran.
“He’s been a great player for a long time,” said Girardi, who wanted Nick Swisher at the top of the lineup and Curtis Granderson and Chavez in the middle. “I talked to him about it and he said it was OK.”
Ichiro, who said the talk with Girardi was unnecessary, responded with a sacrifice bunt and a triple. He was also robbed of a hit on a diving play by first baseman Mitch Moreland in the fourth.
* Alex Rodriguez is scheduled for an X-ray on his fractured left hand today.