Johnny Damon liked the way he felt during batting practice yesterday and later pronounced himself fit to be activated from the disabled list today.
Too bad it’s not his call.
“I’m ready,” Damon said after the Yankees’ 4-3 victory over the Athletics in 12 innings.
Damon said he’s been told by manager Joe Girardi that he won’t play today, but it appears he could be in the lineup as soon as tomorrow night against the Twins.
Damon has been on the disabled list since sustaining a left shoulder injury while crashing into the Yankee Stadium outfield fence trying to make a catch against the Red Sox on July 4. It’s expected he’ll be used strictly as a DH at least for a few games upon returning.
“He hasn’t thrown yet, so eventually we’re going to have to approach that,” Girardi said.
That test could come today, when Damon is expected to play catch in the outfield. But if the Yankees want his bat in the lineup, he’s raring to go.
“I made it pretty clear to them that I’m ready,” Damon said. “Swinging the bat right now is not going to aggravate [the shoulder].”
Among the relieved individuals in the Yankees’ clubhouse after yesterday’s comeback victory was Justin Christian, who entered the game in the ninth inning as a pinch-runner after Jason Giambi‘s leadoff walk. With Jorge Posada at the plate, Christian attempted a steal, but fell down between first and second and was tagged out.
“He had [the steal], too, that’s the shame about it,” Girardi said.
After Posada was retired, however, Robinson Cano kept the game alive with a double against Huston Street and the Yankees tied the game on Wilson Betemit‘s RBI single.
“I got a good jump,” Christian said. “I started leaning a little bit and started slipping as I was leaning.”
Giant coach Tom Coughlin received a standing ovation as he was introduced to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Coughlin threw off the rubber and had some zip, easily hitting Posada’s mitt. Coughlin and his extended family, seated in George Steinbrenner‘s box, stayed all 12 innings.
Former Yankee manager Joe Torre would occasionally lobby to fill a specific need before the trading deadline, whether it be another arm or bat, but Girardi, at least publicly, is keeping mum heading toward July 31.
“We’re always trying to improve our club, that’s the bottom line,” he said. “But I believe we can win with the guys in the room.”