ST. LOUIS — Mark Teixeira was describing the soreness in his surgically repaired right wrist Tuesday afternoon, hours before a Yankees-Cardinals game he wouldn’t start for the second straight day.
Always the optimist, Teixeira said not playing Monday and a talk with his doctor had him feeling better about the situation.
“I am not worried … I talked to my surgeon again [Tuesday] and — I talked to him twice a day, actually — and he … is 99 percent sure this is inflammation and overuse and completely expected,’’ said Teixeira, who started 30 of the first 31 games since coming off the disabled list (adductor strain) on April 20. “He was surprised I didn’t have more flare-ups. It’s been pretty good all season.’’
As for taking a look at the wrist, Teixeira indicated an ultrasound test would be the avenue Dr. Keith Raskin would take Thursday.
Looking back, Teixeira said the smart move may have been to mention the wrist was bothering him last Thursday in Chicago after Wednesday’s marathon against the Cubs in which he went 1-for-6. Yet, the mentality of an athlete doesn’t always allow that.
“[Raskin] said listen to your body, and we don’t really do that,’’ said Teixeira, who’s had three hits in the last 21 at-bats. “You play until it hurts so bad you can’t play anymore. He said the next time it flares up and you keep pushing through it, instead of taking two days off or three days off, take one versus the two or three. We will see how it goes. There may be a day here or there in the rest of the season.’’
Having not played Monday or Tuesday and Thursday being dark on the Yankees’ schedule, it might be wise to sit Teixeira Wednesday, but manager Joe Girardi wasn’t automatically thinking that way.
“It’s something he will go through for a while. We will reevaluate him [Wednesday],’’ said Girardi, who started Kelly Johnson at first base for the second straight game Tuesday night. “It could make sense to give him Wednesday off, too, and Thursday as well but we will see how it goes.’’
Following Monday’s 6-4 victory Teixeira wasn’t as upbeat as he was Tuesday even though he said there was room for improvement.
“It’s a little better, I think a day of rest helped but still not where I wanted to be,’’ said Teixeira who leads the Yankees in homers (nine) and was tied for the RBI lead (25) with Yangervis Solarte going into Tuesday night’s action despite playing in just 35 of the 50 games.
Teixeira’s workout program Tuesday didn’t consist of swinging a bat, and he said he wasn’t sure when he would do that.
“I would love to play [Wednesday], but we will see how it feels,’’ Teixeira said. “Every morning you wake up you hope it feels better.’’
When Teixeira was out, Girardi used Johnson at first and that is the preference now, but Girardi hinted he could play backup shortstop Brendan Ryan at first against a lefty pitcher. Ryan, who never had played first base until this season, made a sensational grab in the 10th inning Monday and turned it into a 3-6 double play.
Having been player who loved to play and not give in to injuries, Girardi understands there are times the manager has to withhold a player from the lineup for his own good.
“I talk about being proactive and protecting players from themselves,’’ Girardi said. “It’s something you have to think about because a lot of the times when they are going good they don’t want to come out and that leads to something where they feel something.’’