CLEVELAND — Alex Rodriguez said his right knee is improving. Nevertheless, there is a chance the knee problem might keep him from participating in Tuesday’s All-Star Game in Phoenix.
“It’s getting better,” said Rodriguez, who originally tweaked the knee scampering back to third base on June 19 in Chicago and hasn’t been running well since.
Tuesday night, Rodriguez appeared to have more life in the legs than he had in several games. Monday night, he labored to chase a foul pop down the left-field line.
Last night, he had two singles in four at-bats and made a diving stop in the Yankees’ 5-3 loss to the Indians.
Afterward, he was seen moving through the clubhouse with a ice pack strapped to the joint.
If Rodriguez removes himself from the All-Star Game — he was voted in as the starter at third base — he said he still probably will attend.
Rodriguez might have company on the sidelines. Mariano Rivera is nursing a sore right triceps muscle and was unavailable for a third straight game last night.
Derek Jeter, who played in his third straight game after missing three weeks with a strained right calf muscle, is evaluated every day. Because there is a good chance he won’t get a day off in the next four as he chases 3,000 hits, there is a chance he might view the three days off as better than playing Tuesday night. He was voted in as the AL shortstop.
Jeter went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk and has 2,997 hits.
As for Rodriguez he hasn’t homered since June 11, a stretch of 81 at-bats. He has 13 for the season.
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If Jeter’s 3,000th hit winds up in the seats, the fan who grabs it will be sitting on a bundle of money, according to a person in the memorabilia industry.
“Because it’s Jeter and who he is, that ball could be worth $300,000 to $400,000,” the person said. “That’s because it’s Jeter.”
Of course, the hit would have to be a homer, double or an infield single that is thrown away and into the stands.
The odds of Jeter’s 3,000th hit being a homer are 10-1, according to Bodog.
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The Yankees weren’t counting on left-handed reliever Pedro Feliciano to make it back from a serious shoulder problem that surfaced in spring training. Yesterday, Feliciano shut down a workout and is through for the season.
Feliciano is suffering from a left rotator cuff strain. He attempted to work through the problem but now could be facing surgery. He signed a two-year deal worth $8 million in the offseason to be the lefty specialist.
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Rafael Soriano long tossed yesterday in Tampa and is scheduled to throw a bullpen session today. When he can throw all his pitches in a bullpen, the right-handed reliever who is out with right elbow inflammation will progress to batting practice and then be upgraded to a rehab assignment.
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Infielder Eric Chavez was diagnosed with a kidney stone that passed and he was sent from New York to Tampa to continue working out.
GM Brian Cashman hoped Chavez would have been ready to return from a fractured foot by July 5 but back and abdominal discomfort have clouded the third baseman/third baseman’s return date.
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Left-handed reliever Damaso Marte (left shoulder labrum inflammation) threw a bullpen session in Tampa.
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Catcher Jesus Montero, the Yankees’ top position player prospect, was put on the Triple-A disabled list last night with a back problem.
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The Yankees optioned right-hander Lance Pendleton to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to make room on the roster for Phil Hughes last night.
Right-hander Kanekoa Texeira was released to clear room on the 40-man roster.