SEATTLE — Though Joe Girardi said Alex Rodriguez’s return to the Yankees lineup could be Friday night in Toronto, the cleanup hitter would likely have to test his sprained left thumb swinging a bat today to prove to himself he can face major league pitching without worry.
“We talked about that,” the manager said of Rodriguez doing some type of swinging before tonight’s game against the Mariners at Safeco Field. The Yankees are off tomorrow.
VOTE: IS MO AMONG YANKEES BEST?
Asked earlier about Rodriguez returning, Girardi said, “I think Friday is reasonable for Alex.”
Rodriguez hasn’t played since Friday in Anaheim. Since injuring the thumb diving for a ball in Minnesota Aug. 21, Rodriguez has played in nine games and is hitting .258 (8-for-31) with two homers and four RBIs.
*
Francisco Cervelli continued to experience dizziness and headaches yesterday, one day following an MRI exam on his head that came back clean.
Yesterday, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Sept. 9, a day after he suffered the concussion in a home-plate collision Baltimore’s Nick Markakis. Cervelli is eligible to come off the shelf Sept. 24 when there will be five games remaining in the regular season.
Since rosters expanded on Sept. 1, the DL isn’t used like it is during the regular season, but the Yankees believe an injured player should go on it.
“He’s hurt. This accurately depicts his situation,” general manager Brian Cashman said.
Even though the Yankees’ statement said the MRI exam was negative, Cervelli was diagnosed with the third concussion of his career and first since spring training 2010.
Cervelli will not join the team in Toronto this weekend, and it’s not known when he will be cleared to play.
In order to be cleared Cervelli is going to have to pass concussion-related tests under MLB’s new program. MLB will review the results.
“The return-to-play protocol has to be followed before participating in baseball-related activities,” MLB spokesman Pat Courtney said.
With the start of the ALDS 16 days away, Cervelli’s situation raises a red flag and comes at a time when regular catcher Russell Martin missed the previous two games with a thumb injury before returning last night.
If Cervelli can’t make it back, the Yankees would have to choose between neophytes Jesus Montero and Austin Romine to be Martin’s backup. Jorge Posada is not an option and is in danger of being left off the postseason roster.
But if the 21-year-old Montero, who has six big-league innings behind the plate, is the backup he can’t DH and the Yankees have liked what Montero has done in eight games in which he hit .308 (8-for-26) with three homers and six RBIs.
Romine, 22, has 12 big-league innings of experience and made his first start Monday night when he collected his first big league hit.
*
After playing first base Monday night in order to not tax his left elbow, Nick Swisher was back in right field last night. Prior to Monday, Swisher had missed four games due to tendinitis.
*
In order to keep CC Sabathia away from having six days of rest, the Yankees switched their ace and Bartolo Colon in the order for the weekend series in Toronto.
Sabathia, whose last start was Saturday in Anaheim, will start Friday, Colon Saturday and Freddy Garcia Sunday. Sabathia will be making his second bid for 20 wins.
*
When the Yankees were searching for Romine Saturday night they had no trouble finding his agent. That’s because Bill Rose, a minority owner of the Yankees, doubles as Romine’s agent. It’s an odd arrangement but one that is allowed by MLB and the Player’s Association.
Rose put the Yankees in touch with Romine, who made it to Anaheim from Kentucky on Sunday in time to make his major league debut.
*
Derek Jeter started last night’s game on an 11-game hitting streak in which the leadoff hitter was batting .326 (15-for-46). It was Jeter’s 43rd hitting streak of 10 or more games. With 3,074 career hits, Jeter was seven short of Cap Anson who was in 19th place and 36 shy of Dave Winfield, his favorite player growing up, in 18th place.
*
Mark Teixeira’s home run off Felix Hernandez Monday night was Teixeira’s fifth off the Mariners ace. According to Elias Sports Bureau, that’s the most homers by any player off Hernandez. . . . Sabathia is the Yankees’ nominee for the 2011 Roberto Clemente Award. All 30 teams have a player nominated.
*
Dante Bichette, Jr. , the Yankees’ first pick in this past June’s draft, was named the MVP of the Gulf Coast League yesterday. Bichette hit .342 and led the GCL with 47 RBIs. Bichette’s Tampa teammates shortstop Jose Rosario and catcher Isaias Tejeda were also named to the All Star team. Tampa won the GCL title. Carlos Mendoza was named GCL Manager of the Year.