'Sore' Mark Teixeira gets day off
Mark Teixeira looks back to see home plate umpire Greg Gibson call him out as he tries to score on Nick Swisher's fifth inning single. (June 19, 2012) Credit: David Pokress
Joe Girardi said he already had been considering giving Mark Teixeira Wednesday off. Watching the first baseman take a ground shot off his left heel Tuesday night cemented it.
"With what happened last night, it just makes a lot of sense," Girardi said before Wednesday's's 10-5 loss to the Braves. "He's sore. I asked him if he thought he'd be OK by Friday and he said yes."
The Yankees are off Thursday before starting a three-game series tomorrow night at Citi Field.
After Tuesday's game, Teixeira said he felt as if he had dodged a bullet when the shot off Jason Heyward's bat in the sixth inning missed the bone. "I was lucky," he said.
Teixeira pinch hit in the eighth Wednesday and doubled. "I asked [Girardi] late in the game if he needed me to get loose," he said. "Probably wouldn't have been good for me to play all nine, but to play one inning, I could get through it."
He expects to be fine for tomorrow. "The day off will be really good for it," Teixeira said.
GC's Daley progressing
It has been a slow road back for 2000 Garden City High graduate Matt Daley, a former Rockies pitcher signed to a minor-league deal in the offseason. "Things are going well," he said in a text message.
The righthander, who will turn 30 Saturday, underwent surgery to repair his labrum last August. He said he's been throwing bullpen sessions and the hope is he'll be ready for rehab games in July.
Cuban lefty agrees to deal
The Yankees agreed to terms with Cuban lefthander Omar Luis Rodriguez, according to a source. MLB.com first reported that the minor-league deal is worth $4 million to $5 million. Most scouts project the 19-year-old as a starter.
Yankees salute Chipper
Yankees honored Chipper Jones before the game. Former Braves teammate Andruw Jones and Derek Jeter presented Chipper Jones with the third-base bag from Tuesday night's game, recognizing his final game at the Stadium. The 40-year-old Jones, a 19-year veteran, was not in the starting lineup yesterday.
"Just a great baseball player and great teammate," Andruw Jones said.
Bernie to manage World
Bernie Williams will manage the World Team in the 2012 Futures Game July 8 at Kauffman Stadium as part of the All-Star Game festivities. Hall of Fame third baseman George Brett will manage the U.S.
