Swisher not sure about playing Sunday
New York Yankees' Nick Swisher watches his two-run double off Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Josh Tomlin in the seventh inning. (July 4, 2011) Credit: AP
Nick Swisher was out of the lineup because of a sore left quadriceps Saturday and isn't sure if he'll be ready to go Sunday in the final game before the All-Star break. "I feel OK," he said. "It's just a little tight. There's no need to push it."
Swisher, who was replaced by Andruw Jones in rightfield Saturday, injured the quadriceps while trying to kick-stop Ben Zobrist's leadoff triple in the first inning of Thursday night's 5-1 loss. He played through the injury but felt tightness Friday.
Asked if he thinks he can play Sunday , Swisher said: "I'll try to play like I always do, and we'll go from there."
Curtis for MVP?
Though Derek Jeter has garnered much of the attention in recent weeks, manager Joe Girardi believes Curtis Granderson is MVP-worthy.
"He's been as big to our lineup as any player this year," he said of the centerfielder, who went 1-for-4 Saturday with his 63rd RBI and major league-leading 78th and 79th runs scored. "Outstanding, righthanders, lefthanders, defensively. He's got [15] stolen bases. He's just done it all for us. I think when you look at MVP candidates, I think you have to look at Curtis Granderson for the first half. The runs that he's scored. The RBIs that he's produced. He has been to me an MVP candidate."
Chavez update
Girardi couldn't give a timetable for Eric Chavez's return. Chavez was Alex Rodriguez's primary backup before landing on the disabled list May 6 with a broken foot.
"He's having some back issues right now, so I can't tell you when we're going to get Chavey back or if we're going to get Chavey back," Girardi said of the infielder, who was moved to the 60-day DL June 8. "You wonder if the back's related to the foot, walking different, trying to run different."
Extra bases
David Robertson, who had allowed one earned run in 201/3 innings in his previous 21 games, gave up the tying run in the eighth on Johnny Damon's triple and Zobrist's single but wound up picking up the win . . . Mariano Rivera is 58-for-59 in career save opportunities against Tampa Bay, including 25 straight since Sept. 7, 2005.
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