The latest on Nick Swisher
Nick Swisher spoke to the media before the game on Monday and discussed his hamstring injury that got him pulled from the game on Sunday. He described it as a minor injury, and he felt a pinch in his first at-bat of the game.
“I took that first swing and kind of felt something bite a little bit,” Swisher said. “Just tried to stretch it out and work through it. It didn't go away. The second at-bat came around and the same thing. I got to first base and just kind of jumped back on a pickoff. I went down to grab my leg and Stevie (Yankees Head Trainer Steve Donahue) and Skip (Joe Girardi) said, 'That's it. We're going to get you out of here.' "
Swisher is having one of the hottest starts of his career hitting .284, with six home runs, 15 extra-base hits and 23 RBIs in just 21 games. Right now, the Yankees want to let it heal, give it a couple of days and there are no plans to put him on the disabled list.
“I feel pretty good,” he said. “Game plan (the) next three days (is to) just kind of chill and me and Stevie get to know each other a little bit better. Then get back after it hopefully the first game in Kansas City.”
The Yankees are going to have Swisher rest for a couple of days before he even swings a bat. He will be receiving treatment on his hamstring, and then once the Kansas City series begins, he may or may not take batting practice depending on how he reacts to the treatment.
In 2007, Swisher had a hamstring injury in the same leg, but he said that injury felt a lot more severe. Even with that, he was only out for a 10-day period.
It could very well be a week before Swisher comes back onto the the field, but he wants to make sure that this injury has healed fully before he does.
“Me and Skip, we've got to get together and get a game plan,” he said. "From what I feel right now, I wouldn't see it being a week.” Swisher would later say, “I just got to do what I've got to do to get back on the field.”
Andy Pettitte's outing in Tampa
Pettitte pitched 5.2 innings and allowed six runs -- five earned -- in an Extended Spring Training start in Clearwater, Fla. on Monday afternoon against the Phillies. Those may not sound like positive numbers for the veteran southpaw, but he got his pitch count up to 96 and struck out nine, while giving no one a free pass today.
He is on the right track and may get one more start before making his debut in a week or two with the Yankees' big club.
Pettitte was originally supposed to make this start today in Portland, Maine with the Trenton Thunder, however, the weather conditions were a deterrent and the reason he made his start today in Tampa.
A concern is that he did give up another 10 hits today, which is probably the reason the Yankees want to see one more start out of Pettitte throwing over 100 pitches. Stamina and control were issues he cited after the game in Trenton, which is quite understandable in being out of the game for a full season. However, he should be with the Yankees after his next scheduled start barring a major setback.
