| AL9045 |
03-08-2004 04:18 PM |
Sheffield out 2-to-3 months
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_yl...v=ap&type=lgns
Quote:
Thumbs down: Sheffield could be out two to three months
By RONALD BLUM, AP Sports Writer
March 8, 2004
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- First it was Bernie Williams' appendix. Now it's Gary Sheffield's thumb.
Less than a week into the exhibition season, the New York Yankees already are breaking down.
Sheffield, hurt in a spring training game last weekend, could be sidelined up to three months if doctors determine there is a torn ligament and surgery is needed.
At first, the Yankees thought Saturday's injury was just a bruise. But after an MRI exam Sunday, the team decided to send him to Dr. Melvin Rosenwasser, a hand expert in New York.
``Now I'm officially worried about it,'' general manager Brian Cashman said Monday.
Sheffield's worst-case scenario would be surgery, and best-case scenario would be a return for spring training games, according to Cashman. Sheffield downplayed the injury, describing it as ``nothing major.''
``I could play right now if I had to,'' he said. ``It's just a little sore. I've got all my range and motion and (I'm) doing everything with it. They don't want me to take a chance.''
Last year, shortstop Derek Jeter tore a ligament in his left thumb during the AL championship series opener against Boston. He kept on playing, taking numbing medication for the remainder of the Red Sox series, and the thumb healed on its own. Rosenwasser examined Jeter in November.
``Some guys say operate, other guys say rehabilitate. I stayed with the rehabilitate guy,'' Jeter said.
Sheffield is among nine Yankees 35 or older -- and that doesn't include pitcher Orlando Hernandez, who reached a preliminary agreement on a contract last weekend and took a physical Monday.
For manager Joe Torre, the injuries are all part of the game.
``I really don't get bent out of shape over them, because they happen so often,'' he said. ``That's where we have probably an advantage over a lot of other people -- we have some depth, and that's very important.''
Williams, 35 like Sheffield, is unlikely to be ready for the March 30 opener following an appendectomy on Feb. 26. Kenny Lofton, Travis Lee, Tony Clark, Bubba Crosby and Darren Bragg are among the candidates who could fill the outfield spots.
Hideki Matsui could move from left to right if Sheffield's injury is serious. Lofton has only seen time in center, not the corner outfield spots.
``I've never done it before. Could I? I can do anything they want me to,'' he said.
Sheffield left the Atlanta Braves in the offseason to sign a $39 million, three-year contract with the Yankees. He was among players who testified before a federal grand jury that indicted Barry Bonds' personal trainer for illegal distribution of steroids. Sheffield has denied using steroids.
He was hurt trying to get to a fly ball by Toronto's Orlando Hudson that landed for a triple.
These things are tricky, so we want to make sure that we have a specialist give us an opinion of what exactly is going on with that thumb,'' Cashman said. ``It could be an old injury, or it could be a new one. We'll find out.''
Asked whether he were worried, Yankees owner George Steinbrenner responded: ``Sure I am.'' But he also added: ``I'm sure he's going to be OK.''
Sheffield said he aggravated an injury from last season, when he was hurt July 10 during a headfirst slide in Chicago.
``I stole a base, third base, and I kind of jarred it a little bit,'' he said. ``From that day on my thumb was sore. I've been treating it since that time, and it's just starting to get better, and I banged it up again. It just feels like somebody jammed you with a pitch. The next time you go out in the outfield and come back, it hurts like that. Nothing more. The swelling has gone down a lot.''
Cashman said the Yankees were not aware of the hand injury when they agreed to the deal with Sheffield, who passed a physical.
``There is not an issue here for me on a pre-existing injury,'' Cashmansaid.
Notes
LHP Danny Borrell was optioned to Triple-A Columbus, and RHP Chien-Ming Wang was optioned to Double-A Trenton. ... Results of Hernandez's physical won't be available until Tuesday. ... The Yankees renewed the contract of 3B Mike Lamb at an annual rate of $352,000 in the majors, $243,000 in the minors. Lamb would have been eligible for salary arbitration but didn't have enough service time last year. ... New York lost to a Minnesota split squad 13-2 as Alex Rodriguez went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts, including one with the basesloaded and two outs.
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