TAMPA — Add David Robertson to the list of Yankees players with a physical problem.
Mariano Rivera’s setup man was scheduled to pitch in Tuesday night’s 2-0 loss to the Braves at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Yet, the right-hander never left the bullpen because he couldn’t get loose.
“Warming up in the bullpen, his shoulder, as I understand it, had trouble loosening up,” general manager Brian Cashman said. “So Hark [bullpen coach Mike Harkey] just said, ‘Shut it down.’ My understanding is he’s not worried about it. No tests scheduled, stuff like that. So that one now is a low-level concern. Precautionary, take it to the showers, we’ll see you tomorrow.”
PHOTOS: YANKEES SPRING TRAINING
* After breaking his right fibula and dislocating his right ankle Monday in a skydiving accident, Cashman was discharged from Broward Health Medical Center and went straight to George M. Steinbrenner Field.
As he sat on the couch in manager Joe Girardi’s office, his surgically repaired leg propped up on a chair, Cashman looked as upbeat as he had Monday.
He described himself as feeling “surprisingly good. I’m not moving very well, but I have no pain, which is strange.”
“I think if I had pain, it would be tough to operate,” Cashman said. “But I don’t have pain, so it’s just getting from Point A to Point B.”
Cashman said he will be on crutches for at least eight weeks, and his doctors told him he wouldn’t need any more procedures. He has eight screws and a plate in the leg.
Cashman said he would go skydiving again, though he then smiled and said that doesn’t necessarily mean he will try it again. As for how the late George Steinbrenner would have reacted to this news, Cashman said, “He would’ve told me that he did this in his military days and never got hurt.”
When asked whether The Boss would have allowed his general manager to skydive in the first place, Cashman responded, “If it was to raise awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project? Absolutely.”
* Mariano Rivera will get his first taste of the exhibition season Wednesday against the Dominican Republic team at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
“Could be,’’ Girardi said about Rivera making his debut today. “It won’t be Thursday, so it will probably be [today]. There is a chance.’’
It’s more than a chance because if Rivera doesn’t work, he wouldn’t get to pitch until Saturday. The Yankees are in Jupiter on Thursday and Friday and Rivera isn’t scheduled to make the trip to Florida’s East Coast.
* Sunday is March 10, the date Cashman loosely predicted Derek Jeter would play in a game.
Nevertheless, Girardi isn’t committing to that.
“I have been told it’s day-by-day,’’ he said. “He is doing well and progressing the way we want. So we will see how he is. We should know in the next few days if that is a real possibility.’’
Jeter said Sunday he needed to increase the speed with which he has been running the bases, and yesterday he appeared to do that in baserunning drills.
“I listen to what our people say, and when they say he is ready, I will put him in there,’’ Girardi said.
* Kevin Youkilis has not played since Saturday, but Girardi said it wasn’t because of a physical problem. Youkilis missed time earlier in camp with an oblique muscle injury.
“He will play [today] and Friday,’’ he said of Alex Rodriguez’s replacement at third base.
* CC Sabathia is the most expensive simulated game pitcher in baseball history.
On a back field at George M. Steinbrenner Field the Yankees’ ace threw a second simulated game. It will not be the last time Sabathia will participate in that controlled environment.
In order to keep the Blue Jays, an AL East favorite, from seeing Sabathia this Sunday, Girardi and pitching coach Larry Rothschild have a simulated game lined up that day.
“I want to face them the less times as possible,’’ Sabathia said of pitching against the Blue Jays in games that don’t count. “The pitcher always has the advantage if the team hasn’t seen him.’’
Sabathia has progressed to the point where he can concentrate on pitching actions instead of worrying about his surgically repaired left elbow.
“I can worry about normal pitching stuff,’’ said Sabathia, who threw 33 pitches in two innings. “The fastball location was pretty good, and I am on schedule to start the season.’’
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Phil Hughes is taking it slow on the advice of the Yankees’ medical staff.
“It’s better to get it right now than have it be an ongoing thing,’’ said Hughes, who didn’t throw after two days of playing catch. “I would rather make 31 or 32 starts than this be an issue. I got the message loud and clear to get this right now.’’
That doesn’t mean Hughes isn’t ruling out making a start in the first trip through the rotation. The latest he could do that would be April 6 in Detroit.
“As long as I don’t have any setbacks,’’ Hughes said when asked if he could work during the opening week.
Hughes said if he is on the mound by March 14, there will be enough time for him to avoid opening the season on the disabled list.
“Long toss from 60 to 90 feet,’’ Hughes said of today’s program. “The intensity was increased [Monday], and we will continue to amp it up every day.’’
Hughes can play catch and long toss but the biggest test will be getting on the mound.
“That’s when we will be able to judge,’’ Hughes said.
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While taking batting practice on Sunday at Fort Myers, Yankees non-roster invitee Adonis Garcia fractured his wrist. He is scheduled for surgery today in St. Petersburg with Dr. Douglas Carlan.
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The Yankees optioned infielder David Adams to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
On Sunday, the Yankees reassigned seven players to minor league camp: infielders Greg Bird, Cito Culver and Rob Segedin, outfielder Tyler Austin, catchers Francisco Arcia, Kyle Higashioka and the highly touted Gary Sanchez
The Yankees now have 66 players in major league camp.