Gardner believes he'll play again this season
Brett Gardner of the New York Yankees looks on from the bench during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays. (May 10, 2012) Credit: Getty Images
ATLANTA -- One opinion down, one to go.
Brett Gardner saw Dr. James Andrews on Monday and, during a surprise visit to the Yankees' clubhouse Tuesday, said he believes he will play again this season.
"Hopefully soon," he said.
But Gardner also wouldn't share any specifics regarding what Andrews told him, saying instead he would wait until his appointment Thursday in Cincinnati with another orthopedic specialist, Dr. Timothy Kremchek.
"I'd rather not say," said Gardner, who has suffered two setbacks in his recovery from the right elbow strain that put him on the DL on April 18. "If there's something different [Thursday], then we have to open up a whole new can of worms so I just want to wait until I find something out [Thursday]. Let those two guys talk, along with our doctors, and figure out what we're going to do. But hopefully, it's nothing too serious and I'll be back shortly."
Gardner, while not disclosing anything, said nothing Andrews told him suggested he wouldn't be back this season.
"It's been pretty frustrating at times," he said of the setbacks, which have all occurred in rehab games when he swings. "It's been frustrating because everything else besides my elbow and being able to hit, everything else is good."
Robertson ready
David Robertson (strained left oblique) made his second rehab appearance with Triple-A Scranton -- he tossed a scoreless inning with a strikeout -- and Girardi said the reliever will rejoin the team Wednesday here, with the intent to activate him in time for the next series in Washington.
"He's fine, he'll be here [Wednesday]," Girardi said. "If everything's OK, we'll probably activate him on Friday."
Extra bases
Hiroki Kuroda, who took a line drive off his left foot in Friday's victory over the Mets, ran sprints and threw a bullpen session and said he was "ready to go," insofar as making his start here Wednesday night . . . David Aardsma, ahead of schedule in his rehab from Tommy John surgery, will throw a simulated game Friday in Tampa and could be ready for rehab games if all goes well.
