Mark Teixeira missed his second straight game yesterday, and because there still has been no improvement in his severely inflamed bronchial airways, Yankees manager Joe Girardi may keep the first baseman out of the lineup again today.
“I said, ‘You know, we’ve tried to give you a day off when there’s a scheduled day off and you haven’t gotten better, so we’ll give you a day off and may give you [today] to see if we can knock this bronchial problem out,’ ” Girardi said before yesterday’s 6-5 loss to the Reds at the Stadium. “I said, ‘Watching what you’re going through, I don’t think one day is enough.’ Because it physically has to wear on him and mentally has to wear on him. We’re just trying something different.”
Teixeira has been bothered by the problem throughout the season, which is why he relented after initially turning down the offer for a day — or more — off.
“We’ve tried everything,” Teixeira said. “That’s why rest is the last effort here. I’ve taken more medicine than I’d liked to. I think I’m done with that option. Rest is kind of the final option.”
Teixeira still was audibly affected by the breathing issue as he talked yesterday, and the Yankees are unsure how long it will be before Teixeira returns to normal.
“Let’s try something else and if we can’t get rid of it with two or three days off, then we know rest isn’t necessarily going to help it and we’ll try something else,” Girardi said. “As soon as he starts activity is when the cough comes out. … I don’t think we’re going to know until he goes out and runs around. He just needs rest.”
And if that doesn’t work?
“Then I’ll have to adapt,” said Teixeira, who has been sapped of energy since the condition began and is batting .228 with five home runs. “That’s the issue. I’ve been fighting through it for over a month, so I’ll be able to do it again.”
But Teixeira said he is not worried about the situation, despite the uncertainty.
“They think they kind of know what it is, they just don’t know exactly how long it’s going to take to get out of there and start feeling better,” Teixeira said. “I’ve seen specialists and it may just be a matter of time. There’s nothing to be worried about. All the tests are OK.”
* Left fielder Brett Gardner was scheduled to have his right elbow strain evaluated to determine the next step in his rehab from the injury that has sidelined him for a month.
“It feels close,” Gardner said of picking up a bat. “There’s no way to tell until I swing.”
* Reliever David Robertson continues to wait until he is pain-free before he begins his comeback from the strained left oblique that forced him to the disabled list.