DUNEDIN, Fla. — The first black cloud of spring training could flood the Yankees’ bullpen.
David Robertson, the best eighth-inning reliever in baseball, underwent four separate tests on his right foot yesterday and the Yankees have their fingers crossed there is nothing seriously wrong with the mid-foot area which is where the dreaded Lisfranc fractures and sprains occur.
However, the reason for additional tests following an X-ray and MRI exam has to be unsettling.
“The initial tests he took gave us cause for concern,’’ manager Joe Girardi said of Robertson, who was sent for a CAT-Scan and a weight-bearing X-ray. “All tests will be sent up to [Yankees’ physician] Dr. [Chris] Ahmad [yesterday]. I am not going to speculate on what he has. We are not sure what’s going on. I imagine we will have [results] some time [today]. I was concerned when he went today because I saw him walking out.’’
Robertson, who was supposed to pitch an inning against the Blue Jays yesterday, hurt the foot Wednesday night at his St. Petersburg home when he stumbled down the stairs carrying empty boxes.
When he arrived at George M. Steinbrenner Field yesterday morning Robertson was sent for the X-ray and the MRI exam. When those results didn’t satisfy the medical staff, Robertson was sent back for the other two tests.
Robertson was seen at GMS Field in a boot and using crutches.
The test results will be sent to Ahmad. He will share the information with Dr. Justin Greisberg, a foot specialist. Always the optimist, Girardi admitted four tests on one foot in a day isn’t ideal.
“You hope you can clear it up with one test,’’ Girardi said. “I would love to know what’s going on and if we are going to miss him for a substantial period, but I don’t know.’’
A Lisfranc problem is familiar to the Yankees because Chien-Ming Wang suffered a sprain of the ligament in June 2008 and missed the remainder of the season. His loss likely cost the Yankees a postseason appearance.
Naturally, Robertson wanted to avoid hearing about Lisfranc.
“The last thing you want to do is talk about something like [Lisfranc],’’ Robertson said. “Hopefully it’s just a little sprain and I will be back in a week or two.’’
Robertson explained the mishap.
“I just misjudged a step and kind of rolled over it and instead of falling real hard, I just kind of collapsed my whole body and tried to keep it off my foot,’’ Robertson said.
Robertson took over the eighth-inning role last year when Rafael Soriano went on the disabled list and never gave it back. He went 4-0 with a 1.08 ERA in 70 games, held hitters to a .170 batting average, fanned 100 in 66 2/3 innings and was a first-time All Star.
If Robertson is out for an extended time the Yankees can return Soriano to the eighth–inning role, but it cuts deeply into the depth of the bullpen, easily the Yankees’ strongest department.
Girardi refused to divulge alternate plans before knowing the extent of Robertson’s injury.
“I am not so sure that he is going to miss enough time that we won’t have him Opening Day,” Girardi said. “Until we get the test results I am not going to know.”
Any time an athlete suffers an injury away from the field speculation surfaces the explanation may not be the truth.
“I can tell you right now, it’s the truth,’’ Robertson said. “My wife was like, ‘What are you doing down there?’ She saw me laying there, holding my foot. I was like, ‘I fell.’ She was like, ‘Are you serious?’ ’’
Talking before Robertson went for the final two tests, Girardi said: “If you are going to miss him for a substantial amount of time, you are going to be pretty concerned. If he is going to be out a week or 10 days, you’re probably not going to be too concerned about it.’’