Mark Teixeira may need surgery after all.
Credit: Getty Images
Eight days ago, manager Joe Girardi was hopeful Mark Teixeira’s stay on the disabled list would be a short one.
A day after receiving a cortisone shot in his ailing right wrist, the switch-hitting first baseman visited doctors and Girardi did not sound as optimistic as the team awaits the findings.
“I’m concerned,” Girardi said. “I’ve said before that it’s tricky. What he had is a tricky injury, so I’m concerned.”
Last week Teixeira was examined by the team’s hand specialist, Dr. Melvin Rosenwasser, and so far has done nothing in terms of baseball activities since being lifted in the fourth inning of a 6-2 loss on June 15 at Anaheim.
The injury initially happened March 5 when he was hitting off a tee preparing for the World Baseball Classic. Upon returning May 31, Teixeira hit three home runs and drove in 12 runs, but hit just .151 in 15 games before the wrist became inflamed.
Surgery could be a possibility, as the situation may turn out similar to the fate of Toronto’s Jose Bautista. Bautista injured his wrist July 16, 2012 fouling off a pitch from David Robertson, and tried to return but lasted only two games before undergoing season-ending surgery.
Levine on the record
For the second time in three weeks, a key member of the Yankee hierarchy offered his thoughts on various situations surrounding the team.
Twenty-two days after managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner addressed things, team president Randy Levine spoke with media and hit on many of the same topics.
Speaking after a press conference to officially announce the ACC’s partnership with the Pinstripe Bowl, Levine said that he was amazed at how the Yankees have done through all of their injuries.
He also said that though Steinbrenner’s mandate of a $189 million payroll in the future to avoid paying taxes is important, the goal of getting better to fill any needs takes priority.
“We’re the Yankees,” he said. “We’re always active. We’re always trying to get better.”
That also includes adding players with contacts for next year and beyond.
“I think Hal’s been incredibly clear that 189 [million dollars] is a goal and something that we’re going to look to see if we can accomplish but the overriding goal is to constantly provide Yankee fans a championship.”
Levine also addressed the pending investigation of Alex Rodriguez and the latest PED allegations, though he did not mention that Rodriguez has disappointed him like Steinbrenner.
“It doesn’t weigh on our mind because that’s something that’s in the hands of the commissioner’s office,” Levine said. “They’re investigating. I’m sure they’ll do a very thorough job. It’s out of [our] control.”
Levine also added that they working on the assumption that Rodriguez will not be suspended until the Yankees hear otherwise.
Nova could get another start
After pitching well in his return to the starting rotation on Sunday, Ivan Nova said he thought he earned another start.
It seems the Yankees may agree. Without actually stating a date for Nova’s next start, Girardi hinted it could happen.
If that took place, it would not come at the expense of anybody, including Phil Hughes. It would be something similar to what the Mets did because of a doubleheader in Atlanta and the promotion of Zach Wheeler, though that situation reverted back to five because Jon Niese landed on the DL.
“We’re just going to go day by day,” Girardi said. “It’s possible he could get another start. I’m not taking anyone out of the rotation but we’re in a long stretch of 20 games. It’s possible we might put him in there to give the guys an extra day that way.”
Nova threw a bullpen session Tuesday.
Rangers lose most of off-day
The plan was for Texas play a day game in St. Louis and then have a relaxing Sunday night and Monday in New York. They lost Sunday night when ESPN decided to use that as a Sunday night game and then lost most of Monday when the game was delayed until 11:15 p.m. Eastern time and ended well after 1 a.m.
The Rangers made it to Newark Airport at 6 a.m., avoided some rush hour traffic and arrived to their Manhattan hotel an hour later.
“They’ve proven time and time again they’re not too concerned about the quality of our off-days,” Texas designated hitter Lance Berkman said.
Follow Yankees beat writer Larry Fleisher on Twitter @LarryFleisher.
