The Yankees may have just watched six days vanish that could have counted toward putting Kevin Youkilis on the disabled list. Now they are waiting on the results of an MRI exam today on Youkilis’ back to know if the corner infielder has to be shelved.
Youkilis played in Saturday’s win over the Blue Jays after missing the previous six games due to lower back tightness.
It was the Yankees’ hope that Youkilis was over the back problem. But he wasn’t in the lineup for yesterday’s 3-2 win over Toronto and knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, and manager Joe Girardi is worried.
“It’s a little concerning for me because I have said all along, backs can be tricky,’’ Girardi said. “Sometimes you have no idea why it acts up. It’s concerning.’’
Asked if there was a chance Youkilis’ back troubles could develop into a long-range problem, Girardi crossed his fingers.
“I sure hope that we aren’t where we were when he first did it,’’ Girardi said of Youkilis, who was removed from a game in Toronto on April 20 and missed the following six games. “But the only thing that is going to tell us is time.’’
Helping the Yankees be patient before dumping Youkilis onto a very crowded DL is that Corban Joseph, a second baseman who struggled defensively at third base during spring training, is the only minor league infielder on the 40-man roster.
Infielders Gil Velazquez and David Adams are at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but they aren’t on the 40-man roster. And there isn’t much flexibility to place a player on the 60-day DL. Francisco Cervelli, Curtis Granderson, Ivan Nova and Mark Teixeira are on the 15-day DL and might be ready before their time on the 60 would expire.
* Plans are in the works for Hideki Matsui to sign a one-day contract with the Yankees and ceremoniously retire as a member of the team he spent seven seasons with and became a fan favorite.
The Yankees have a Bobblehead Day planned for on July 28 at Yankee Stadium planned for Matsui, who retired from baseball in December.
* Oakland designated outfielder Casper Wells for assignment yesterday and the Yankees have to at least take a look at the right-handed hitter because of how bad Ben Francisco has played so far.
Wells, 28, appeared in three games for the Athletics this year after being purchased from the Blue Jays. Wells was claimed by the Blue Jays off waivers from Seattle on April 10. He has played for the Tigers and Mariners, also. Wells is a career .261 hitter against lefties and hits .230 versus righties.
When Francisco signed with the Yankees in spring training after asking for and getting his release from the Indians, the club said Francisco could handle lefties. So far this season, however he is hitting .077 (2-flor-26) against lefty pitchers.
* The Yankees beat David Price on Tuesday and Dickey yesterday. According to Elias Sports Bureau, they are the fifth team in history to defeat both reigning Cy Young winners in same month.