ARLINGTON, Texas — Two weeks ago, Mark Teixeira’s right knee began to swell and the first baseman began to worry it would lead to a blown hamstring. He was already dealing with a broken right little toe that altered his running style and now his knee was filling with fluid.
Unfortunately for Teixeira and the Yankees, the switch-hitter’s concern was valid. Running out a ground ball in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series on Monday night, Teixeira suffered a season-ending right hamstring injury.
“My knee swelled up and we thought it was probably because of the mechanics. I was praying that something like this wouldn’t happen. Unfortunately it did,” Teixeira said yesterday. “I woke up and my right knee was swollen for a couple of days. The doctor said, ‘It’s probably because you’re running on half a foot and you messed up your mechanics.’ Like I said, I was just hoping it wouldn’t mess up my mechanics so much that I pulled a muscle. Unfortunately, it did.”
Teixeira, who said the broken toe and a bruised right thumb are still bothering him, said he’ll be dealing with the hamstring problem for a while.
“They said it would be sore for a couple of weeks. If this was the season we’d probably be aiming for six weeks to come back,” said Teixeira, who explained the injury won’t impact his offseason program since he normally takes a month off.
Teixeira is headed for a second MRI in a week or two. And because he is spending the winter in Connecticut, he will be close to the Yankees’ medical staff.
He has watched Game 5 from the bench and didn’t like it.
“Watching a playoff game from the dugout was something hopefully I’ll never have to do again,” said Teixeira, who has been replaced at first by Berkman and in the No. 3 spot by Robinson Cano.
Since the pain will be with Teixeira for about two weeks, did he considering avoiding an uncomfortable plane ride.
“Not a chance. I would have to be in a hospital to not be here,” Teixeira said.
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Teixeira said he has pleaded for the Yankee Stadium grounds crew to change the surface of the warning track that rims the field.
Lance Berkman lost his footing on that surface during Game 5, fell and was sore yesterday.
“That warning track around our stadium is very dangerous. It’s hard. It’s basically concrete with sand on top. It needs to be fixed,” Teixeira said. “I’ve [dived] a few times and I always come up with scrapes on my arms, my knees. Ask any of the outfielders, when they’re running toward balls in the outfield. It’s not a safe surface. Concrete with sand on top. That’s what it is. If you don’t hit it right, you’re feet are going to slip.”
Teixeira understands the problem couldn’t be corrected on an off day.
“I don’t think it’s an easy thing to do and you can’t do it during the season. Maybe this offseason we’ll be able to fix it and won’t have any problems,” Teixeira said.
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Yankees manager
Joe Girardi and Rangers manager
Ron Washington agree Texas pitchers aren’t giving in to
Alex Rodriguez, who is 3-for-17 (.176) in the series.
“He is very careful about what he wants to hit,” Washington said. “He is willing to pass it to the next guy. You can’t stop Alex. All you can do is contain him and that’s exactly what we have done so far.”
Girardi didn’t see much Rodriguez could hit in Game 5 and isn’t sure the Rangers will change their approach. Rodriguez has drawn four walks.
“I am not sure how they will approach Alex,” Girardi said. “But as far as his at-bats, they are good. But they haven’t given him a whole lot to hit.”
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Just like
CC Sabathia, the Yankees’ Game 5 starter, Rangers lefty
C.J. Wilson said he would be available for relief work. Unlike Sabathia, Wilson didn’t know if it would be tonight due to a blister problem.
“It depends on what’s going on with my finger,” Wilson said.
Prior to becoming a starter this year, 252 of Wilson’s 258 big league appearances were in relief. He has 52 career saves.