Hideki Matsui had his injured left knee drained on Friday – the second such procedure in 10 days – and the Yankees are keeping their fingers crossed hell return on July 8, when hes eligible for removal from the disabled list.
But GM Brian Cashman also presented a more sobering possibility before Game 3 of the Subway Series today, saying surgery would be a last resort for Matsui.
“You cant rule that out down the line,” Cashman said.
Cashman indicated that Matsui had been running at about 75 percent before the Yankees opted to place him on the DL. The fact the Yankees had a spate of games in NL parks, where the DH is not used, made the decision to place Matsui on the DL an easy one.
“Hopefully its a 15-day thing and we get him healthy,” manager Joe Girardi said.
Moises Alous strained left calf has improved to the point he could come off the disabled list as soon as next weekend in Philadelphia, Mets manager Jerry Manuel said.
Alou, out since June 13 after aggravating the strain, is expected to make a minor league rehab assignment tomorrow or Tuesday, according to Manuel.
Dont expect Phil Hughes back in the Yankees rotation before the end of August, if at all this season.
“[Hughes] will be back this season, but whether hell be back at the major league level, I cant say that,” Cashman said, noting that Hughes will have to earn his way back into the rotation.
Hughes (fractured rib) is expected to begin making rehab starts within the next three weeks, and Girardi said the right-hander could conceivably rejoin the Yankees in 7-8 weeks.
In other injury news, Ian Kennedy (strained lat) was scheduled to start for Single-A Tampa today. Brian Bruney (Lisfranc injury) is expected to throw batting practice on Tuesday and could soon see game action in the minor leagues. Girardi hopes to Bruney back around the All-Star break.
Girardi has flip-flopped Joba Chamberlain and Mike Mussina in the rotation. Mussina will pitch Monday against Texas and Chamberlain will start Tuesday. Girardi cited the fact Mussina threw only 45 pitches in Thursdays rainout at Pittsburgh as the reason for moving him up.
The manager still has not announced a starter for Wednesday. Sidney Ponson and Dan Giese are the candidates.
Manuel gave newly acquired former Yankee Andy Phillips his first start as a Met today, using him in left field instead of Phillips normal spot at first base.
Phillips was claimed off waivers from the Reds on Thursday. Manuel said he wanted to use Phillips against the Yankees this weekend because players usually have extra motivation against their former teams. Phillips downplayed that, however.
“Im just motivated to be back in the major leagues,” he said.
Ross Ohlendorf will work as a starter at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in order to get innings, but the Yankees still envision him as a reliever. Girardi said the goal is to get Ohlendorf more comfortable with his secondary pitches – mainly the sinker and splitter.
Ohlendorfs terrible outing and subsequent demotion to following the first game of Fridays Subway Series twinbill, dented the Bombers chances of acquiring Pirates lefty Damaso Marte – if thats the way they want to go to fill a colossal hole in the bullpen.
According to several sources, the Pirates were interested in Ohlendorf before he dazzled them Wednesday night in Pittsburgh when he worked 1 innings, didnt allow a hit, run or walk and fanned three.
However, the Mets shelling him for six runs and five hits in 1 frames Friday turned Ohlendorf, who has a 6.53 ERA, into a minor leaguer and the Pirates may believe they can do better.
Thanks to Fridays grueling doubleheader, the Mets plan to call up a pitcher to make a spot start Tuesday in the second game of a four-game road series against the Cardinals. .Ñ.Ñ. Manuel said he would have used todays starter, Oliver Perez, as a reliever on Friday night if Pedro Martinez had not been able to last more than a couple of innings. Friday already was Perezs day to throw on the side, so if he had pitched, it would have been on a short pitch-count and wouldnt have affected his start today, Manuel added.
Alex Rodriguez needed one home run going into today game to tie Jimmie Foxx for 14th place on the all-time list. Rodriguez had 533 homers. .Ñ.Ñ. Derek Jeter was riding a 15-game hitting streak, had reached base in 41 straight interleague games and had a 19-game hitting streak against the Mets.