Park's hamstring still a little tight
New York Yankees' relief pitcher Chan Ho Park throws against the Los Angeles Angels in the seventh inning. (April 13, 2010) Credit: AP
ANAHEIM, Calif. - Chan Ho Park isn't feeling any pain or soreness, Joe Girardi said, but the pitcher's right hamstring is still acting up. "He just doesn't feel like he's ready to throw off a mound yet," Girardi said Friday. "He's not quite there."
Park was placed on the disabled list April 16, retroactive to April 14, with a hamstring strain. He played long toss three straight days in Oakland.
"He's going to play long toss on Sunday, then go to Tampa on Monday," Girardi said, adding that Park will play long toss again Monday and throw on flat ground Tuesday. "Then we'll see where we're at," Girardi said.
The minor setback - "It's not sore or painful, just somewhat tight," Girardi said - makes it unlikely that Park will be able to come off the DL on Friday when he's eligible.
Girardi said Park probably will make at least one rehab appearance. "He could do it down there [in Tampa]," he said. "We'd probably like to get him a competitive inning.''
Lefty Boone Logan was called up when Park went on the DL and pitched 11/3 scoreless innings Tuesday in his Yankees debut.
Extra work
Nick Johnson, whose average had dipped to .125 - though he still had a .382 on-base percentage - joined Francisco Cervelli, Robinson Cano and Nick Swisher several hours before the game for extra batting practice. Said Girardi, "I think when you're struggling, a lot of times you don't feel comfortable and you're looking for that comfort zone."
Bowl gets 4-year license
The Yankees announced that the NCAA has approved a four-year license to the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, to be played for the first time Dec. 30, 2010, at the Stadium. It is the first time the NCAA has licensed a bowl on a four-year cycle; typically, it's year by year. The bowl will match the Big East team with the third-best conference record against the Big 12 team with the sixth-best conference record.
