Perhaps less work is the answer for Teixeira
Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira reacts while batting against the Mets on Sunday night. (May 23, 20100 Credit: Christopher Pasatieri
Thinking that Mark Teixeira could be working too hard to break out of his latest slump, the Yankees kept their struggling first baseman out of on-field batting practice before last night's game.
Stuck in a 1-for-23 skid entering the game, Teixeira worked only in the indoor hitting cage in the hours before first pitch. He never made an appearance in the clubhouse during the time reporters were allowed in before the game.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi said he is not worried about Teixeira because of his strong track record, but he is concerned about his players' level of frustration during a slump. "Sometimes you just wish you could say, 'OK, I'm going to push a button and that's going to change it,' " he said. "But it just doesn't happen that way."
Vazquez feels OK
Javier Vazquez said there still was some swelling in his bruised right index finger and that it hurt slightly at its tip, but the righthander does not anticipate missing his next start Thursday in Minnesota. "I expect to make it unless it really feels bad," he said, "but at this point now I don't think it will."
Vazquez injured the finger while fouling off a bunt against the Mets Friday night. He tested it by lightly playing catch Saturday and reported no issues. The Yankees moved his bullpen session back a day to Tuesday to give his finger "a little more time," Girardi said. But Girardi doesn't expect any issues.
"It's not TBA," he said. "He is scheduled to make that start. If something happens on Tuesday, we'll have to change it. But right now my plan is for him to make that start."
Granderson rehabs again
Curtis Granderson, on the disabled list since May 2 with a groin injury, played five innings in centerfield Sunday during his second rehab game with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He went 1-for-2 with a walk and is 1-for-6 during his rehab stint. He is expected to return by the end of this week.
Former Padres general manager Kevin Towers, currently a special assistant to general manager Brian Cashman, attended the game.
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