Chapman aims to be back for A’s series
The Yankees may get their closer back on the West Coast. Aroldis Chapman said before Tuesday’s 5-4 loss to the Red Sox through his translator that he could possibly return once the team travels from Anaheim to Oakland to begin a fourgame series with the A’s on June 15.
Chapman has been on the disabled list retroactive to May 13 with inflammation in his rotator cuff.
The Yankees had expected him to be out about a month when his DL stint began, so this return would fall in line with the initial timetable.
On Friday, Chapman will head to Tampa to pitch in a simulated game. Following that, he will throw a couple innings on a minorleague rehab assignment for Double-A Trenton. “Everything’s good,” Chapman said when asked about how he felt.
WORD ON BIRD
Greg Bird (ankle) went 1-for-4 with a double for Class A Tampa on Tuesday night. The plan is for him to take Wednesday off and then perhaps join Triple-A Scranton on Thursday, according to Brian Cashman. But those plans are weather permitting, the GM said.
Bird has been on the disabled list since May 2 due to a bone bruise in his right ankle. He had gone 6-for-60 at the plate with the Yankees before going on the shelf.
Bird has hit .353 in six minor-league rehab games at Class A Tampa. He has been alternating between first base and DH. He finally played his first nine-inning game on Monday
“I can’t say it’s no issue,” Cashman replied when asked if Bird’s bone bruise was still problem, noting that it’s a tricky injury and capable of coming back in the future. “But I don’t think he’s feeling it because we weren’t going to launch him until he felt nothing. So it might still show up on imaging, but according to his communication, it’s no longer evident in any way, shape or form.”
ELLSBURY STILL TBD
Jacoby Ellsbury (concussion) saw the neurologist on Monday, and remains out indefinitely. Ellsbury is still feeling symptoms of the head injury, which he suffered on May 24.
“He’ll continue to take things slow,” Joe Girardi said. “He’s not ready to go. He’s still suffering the effects. He did have an MRI on his neck and that all came back normal. There’s no structural damage there.”
GLUE GUY
CC Sabathia, who will start on Wednesday, is 4-0 with a 1.48 ERA in his last four outings. “I’ve always felt that CC was the glue of the team,” Joe Girardi said. “He always has the ability to pull a clubhouse together. I’m not just talking about pulling pitchers together. I’m talking about pulling everybody together. He has that personality.”
REMY BLASTS TRANSLATORS
NESN announcer and former Red Sox star Jerry Remy has a problem with Masahiro Tanaka’s use of a translator on mound visits.
“I forgot with Tanaka they take out a translator. I don’t think that should be legal,” Remy said in the fourth inning of the Yankees vs. Red Sox broadcast on Tuesday night.
The visit, which was no longer than an average one, featured Tanaka’s translator Shingo Horie and pitching coach Larry Rothschild.
“Learn baseball language. You know, learn,” Remy attempted to explain when follow broadcaster Dave O’Brien slightly challenged the thought.
O’Brien responded by saying telling Remy he believes translators are “concerned about nuance being lost in some of these conversations.”