Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Concern about Tanaka will cause Yankees To Step up...

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Concern about Tanaka will cause Yankees To Step up...: Concern about Tanaka will cause Yankees To Step up By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 29- Of course there is a concern about Masahiro ...

Concern about Tanaka will cause Yankees To Step up

Concern about Tanaka will cause Yankees To Step up

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 29- Of course there is a concern about Masahiro Tanaka and how long it will take to get the right-hander back in the New York Yankees pitching rotation. The bad news became official in the fifth inning up in the press box when GM Brian Cashman addressed the media.  

Slight tendinitis in the right wrist have put the Yankees $175 million investment on the 15-day disabled list. So the immediate concern was this latest setback to Tanaka would ultimately mean that Tommy John Surgery is not far behind, and that this has been caused by more strain to the right elbow that shut him down last season.

Cashman would only say that it will be a month before he takes the mound again. That is the Yankees hope though the immediate concern is that there is more damage to the elbow. An MRI earlier in the day, according the Yankees medical report, detected the tendinitis, a mild strain in the forearm and no further injury to the elbow.

Tanaka said through an interpreter by the Yankees clubhouse, “I feel I will come back strong.” And the Yankees hope that is the case, though one longtime American League scout was quick to say that this latest injury has all indications leading to more issues with the elbow and it would not be a surprise if Tanaka does not pitch again this season.

The Yankees certainly hope that is not the situation. And if it is, even with relatively good starting pitching the past week, the Manager Joe Girardi said, “People have to step up.” Chase Whitley the right-hander made his season debut Tuesday night and he stepped up allowing 1-run in five innings in the Yankees 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

It was to be one start for Whitley who was called up to give the starters extra rest with the demanding April schedule. Now Whitley will stay in the rotation and be one of the pitchers to step up. 

“Right now he’s on our rotation,” said Girardi. And without Tanaka, who was scheduled to make his next start Wednesday afternoon, the Yankees have sole possession of first place in the AL east and improved to 4-1 on the six-game home stand. They are also playing good baseball, 10-2 since April 17th,   

Tanaka made four starts, thus far, and has compiled a 3-3 mark with an ERA of 3.22 Whitley joins CC Sabathia, Michael Pineda, and Adam Warren in the rotation. By mid June the Yankees expect Ivan Nova to return and fully recovered from Tommy John surgery. And Chris Capuano out with a right quad strain is expected back by the first or second week of May, 

Cashman explained, “Every year you have to deal with adversity. That’s part of a baseball season.” The Yankees will now deal with that and hope Whitley, who was 2-0 with a 2.12 ERA at Triple-A Scranton Wilkes Barre, can continue to one of the arms in the rotation to step it up.

Said Whitley after his first win: “I am not trying to look ahead to anything else. Just pitch when and where they tell me to pitch.” And with no specific timetable as to when or if Tanaka will return, Whitley will now have a set spot in the rotation and fill the void.

In the meantime, Girardi said this latest setback to Tanaka is different from last year. In a way it was because it happened later in the season and that was the elbow that caused much of the concern. The Yankees then were still fighting for a playoff position and now, with April coming to an end, they sit in first place.

But this is April, and as we all know there is plenty more baseball to be played even if the Yankees have won 10 of their last 12 games. 

THE GAME:  The bullpen once again did their job allowing an earned run in 4.01 innings and since April 22 they are 3-0 with four saves, a 0.77 ERA. With Dellin Betences and Andrew Miller not available for the save, Girardi went to Chris Martin who tossed a scoreless ninth inning and notched his first career save.

Prior to Martin, Esmil Rogers threw 2.2 innings of scoreless ball and a hit. A strikeout and ground ball out accounted for two outs and got the Yankees out of a potential jam in the eighth inning.  

“It was a little nerve racking the first pitch but I settled down there,” said Martin, the 28-year old right-hander. “ I feel like everyone is helping this team win. This is a team effort. Hope I can be pitching well and all of us contribute….” 

Brian McCann continued to pace the Yankees with two doubles and drove in three runs. “I feel good, been feeling good all season long,” said McCann. “Hits are starting to fall and I’m finding the barrel.”

Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com  Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso  Twitter @Ring786

#MasahiroTanaka #Yankees #Bronxnews

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Ain’t That a Pitch!

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Ain’t That a Pitch!: Ain’t That a Pitch! Masahiro Tanaka to go on Disabled List By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 29- During the fifth inning, the media ...

Ain’t That a Pitch!

Ain’t That a Pitch!

Masahiro Tanaka to go on Disabled List

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 29- During the fifth inning, the media members at Yankee Stadium were addressed by General Manager Brian Cashman. The GM informed the media that right-hander Masahiro Tanaka will be placed on the 15-day DL. 

He explained that Tanaka arrived at the ballpark at about 2 p.m. and complained that his wrist was bothering him. An MRI was immediately taken that was negative. It was determined that he has slight tendonitis in his right wrist. 

To check on his elbow, a second MRI was taken that was also negative. It was realized that there was a very mild strain in his forearm.

To be careful it was decided to place Tanaka on the disabled list. He will be immediately shut down for 7-10 days. Cashman said the organization was taking a “safe, conservative route.” His elbow appears fine, but it will probably “be a month till he gets back to the rotation” according to Cashman. 

Tanaka was scheduled to pitch on the following day, Wednesday afternoon. He has made four starts, thus far, and has compiled a 3-3 mark with an ERA of 3.22.

Cashman explained, “Every year you have to deal with adversity. That’s part of a baseball season.” 

#MasahiroTanaka #Yankees #Bronxnews

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Yanks Win Again,

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Yanks Win Again,: Yanks Win Again ,  4-1 over Tampa By Howard  Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 28- On Monday night, history repeated itself in a numb...

Yanks Win Again,

Yanks Win Again,

 4-1 over Tampa

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 28- On Monday night, history repeated itself in a number of aspects as the Yankees defeated Tampa, 4-1, to gain their ninth victory in the last 11 games. 

On April 17, Adam Warren and Nathan Karns were the starting pitchers. Karns hurled five innings and warren pitched four. Neither was involved in the decision.

On Monday, 10 days later, both pitchers were again given the starting assignments. Karns pitched 4.2 frames and Warren threw 5.2, but again neither was involved in the decision. Although both retained their identical 1-1 records, Warren was quite pleased by his improvement, “I feel like tonight was the first in which all four pitches were working.”

As on April 17, the Yankees won the game, with the win going to a reliever, Jason Wilson.

The Yankee offense also followed its previous patterns. When the Yanks are the first to score, their record is 9-1, but when their opponent reaches the scoreboard first their mark is 3-7. On Monday, the Yanks scored in the bottom of the fifth on a bases loaded walk to Brett Gardner. The Rays did not score until the next inning titie the score at 1.

Brian McCann’s one out solo home run in the sixth was the 16th homer of the Yankees in the team’s 20thcontest. The Yanks 27th four bagger of the season tied the O’s for the American League lead. Two extra base hits in the same frame, doubles by Carlos Beltran and Stephen drew accounted for their third run. 

The relief corps of the Yankees continued its excellent performances. Four relievers held the Rays scoreless for 3.1 innings, lowering the relief ERA to 1.70.  They lead the majors with 78 strikeouts. Dellin Betances, who pitched the eighth, has not surrendered an earned run in 11.1 innings this season, praised his mates in the bullpen, “We have a great group of guys out there. We all believe in each other. We try to match each other.”

Andrew Miller, the closer, notched his eighth save in eight opportunities to keep the American League lead. His eighth save in the club’s first 20 games is a new Yankee mark which broke the previous mark of seven held by Mariano Rivera. Miller gave credit to his teammates for the win, “It’s a team effort.” 

Chase Whitley will start the second game of the three game series on Tuesday night, his first major league appearance of 2015.

#Yankees #TampaBay #Bronxnews

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Family sees Fordham sweep

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Family sees Fordham sweep: Family sees Fordham sweep Photos by Gary Quintal Fordham softball swept a doubleheader against an Atlantic 10 opponent for the second week...