Granderson feels better, still worried

TAMPA, Fla. -- Curtis Granderson said he felt better than expected Wednesday but still has some worry about whether his strained right oblique will be ready in time for Opening Day. As a result, a precautionary stint on the disabled list can't be ruled out.

"Slightly [worried] just because of where we are time-wise," Granderson said before last night's 5-3 win over the Blue Jays. "Timing-wise you definitely don't want it now, but at the same time, better now than during the season. Slight concern, definitely."

Granderson's MRI exam Wednesday afternoon showed a strained internal oblique. The injury occurred during Granderson's last batting practice set before Tuesday's game in Sarasota against the Orioles.

"It's similar to what Joba had," Granderson said.

Joba Chamberlain returned Tuesday from an oblique injury, pitching for the first time in 10 days. The Yankees typically take a cautious approach in such situations, meaning they could DL Granderson now so that he wouldn't have to miss 15 days of the regular season.

They're not to that point yet, and Granderson said he didn't feel as sore yesterday as he thought he might. He reached that conclusion after talking to Chamberlain, Greg Golson and Sergio Mitre, who also suffered oblique injuries in the last three weeks.

"Talking to guys who have dealt with it, they said the second day is typically the worst day," Granderson said. "As I got up and was moving around and was able to drive to the field fine, normal movements feel fine, all those signs were very positive."

If Granderson is not available, Brett Gardner will shift from left to center, with Andruw Jones taking Gardner's place in left.

The Yankees got another outfield scare Wednesday night in the sixth inning when Nick Swisher fouled a ball off his left instep. He lined out to end the inning and left in the top of the seventh. Joe Girardi said Swisher was sore but that no X-rays were necessary and that he was going to take him out anyway.

After speaking with general manager Brian Cashman, Granderson said there would be no hurry. "The talks I've had with Cashman is, we just need you ready," Granderson said. "It doesn't matter about Opening Day. As exciting and as important as that is, it's still just one game out of 162 and we want you ready for the long haul."

As for the rash of oblique injuries, Girardi said the team's approach to conditioning "really is not much different than what we did last year. It's the same thing, just for whatever reason, it's happening this year."