Sheffield could be out two to three months because of thumb
By Ronald Blum, Associated Press, 3/8/2004 14:40
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Yankees slugger Gary Sheffield could be sidelined up to three months because of an injured right thumb.
Sheffield was hurt in a spring training game Saturday against Toronto. At first, the Yankees thought the injury was just a bruise. But after an MRI exam Sunday, the team decided to send him to Dr. Melvin Rosenwasser, a hand expert in New York.
''Now I'm officially worried about it,'' general manager Brian Cashman said.
Cashman said the worst-case scenario would be that Sheffield needs surgery, meaning he would be out two to three months. There are no signs of a break, Cashman said, but he would not say whether there was ligament damage.
The best-case scenario, Cashman said, would be that the right fielder could return for spring training games.
The Yankees open the season with two games against Tampa Bay in Tokyo on March 30-31.
''These things are tricky, so we want to make sure that we have a specialist give us an opinion of what exactly is going on with that thumb,'' Cashman said. ''It could be an old injury, or it could be a new one. We'll find out.''
Sheffield left the Atlanta Braves in the offseason to sign a $39 million, three-year contract with the Yankees. He was among players who testified before a federal grand jury that indicted Barry Bonds' personal trainer for illegal distribution of steroids. Sheffield has denied using steroids.
He was hurt trying to get to a fly ball by Orlando Hudson that landed for a triple. Sheffield downplayed the injury, describing it as ''nothing major.''
''I could play right now if I had to,'' he said. ''It's just a little sore. I've got all my range and motion and (I'm) doing everything with it. They don't want me to take a chance.''
Asked whether he were worried, Yankees owner George Steinbrenner responded: ''Sure I am.'' But he also added: ''I'm sure he's going to be OK.''
New York already is without center fielder Bernie Williams, who had an appendectomy and will probably miss the season-opening series in Tokyo.
Sheffield said he aggravated an injury from last season, when he was hurt July 10 during a headfirst slide in Chicago.
''I stole a base, third base, and I kind of jarred it a little bit,'' he said. ''From that day on my thumb was sore. I've been treating it since that time, and it's just starting to get better, and I banged it up again. It just feels like somebody jammed you with a pitch. The next time you go out in the outfield and come back, it hurts like that. Nothing more. The swelling has gone down a lot.''
Cashman said the Yankees were not aware of the hand injury when they agreed to the deal with Sheffield, who passed a physical.
''There is not an issue here for me on a pre-existing injury,'' Cashman said. Notes: LHP Danny Borrell was optioned to Triple-A Columbus, and RHP Chien-Ming Wang was optioned to Double-A Trenton.
wil.
By Ronald Blum, Associated Press, 3/8/2004 14:40
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Yankees slugger Gary Sheffield could be sidelined up to three months because of an injured right thumb.
Sheffield was hurt in a spring training game Saturday against Toronto. At first, the Yankees thought the injury was just a bruise. But after an MRI exam Sunday, the team decided to send him to Dr. Melvin Rosenwasser, a hand expert in New York.
''Now I'm officially worried about it,'' general manager Brian Cashman said.
Cashman said the worst-case scenario would be that Sheffield needs surgery, meaning he would be out two to three months. There are no signs of a break, Cashman said, but he would not say whether there was ligament damage.
The best-case scenario, Cashman said, would be that the right fielder could return for spring training games.
The Yankees open the season with two games against Tampa Bay in Tokyo on March 30-31.
''These things are tricky, so we want to make sure that we have a specialist give us an opinion of what exactly is going on with that thumb,'' Cashman said. ''It could be an old injury, or it could be a new one. We'll find out.''
Sheffield left the Atlanta Braves in the offseason to sign a $39 million, three-year contract with the Yankees. He was among players who testified before a federal grand jury that indicted Barry Bonds' personal trainer for illegal distribution of steroids. Sheffield has denied using steroids.
He was hurt trying to get to a fly ball by Orlando Hudson that landed for a triple. Sheffield downplayed the injury, describing it as ''nothing major.''
''I could play right now if I had to,'' he said. ''It's just a little sore. I've got all my range and motion and (I'm) doing everything with it. They don't want me to take a chance.''
Asked whether he were worried, Yankees owner George Steinbrenner responded: ''Sure I am.'' But he also added: ''I'm sure he's going to be OK.''
New York already is without center fielder Bernie Williams, who had an appendectomy and will probably miss the season-opening series in Tokyo.
Sheffield said he aggravated an injury from last season, when he was hurt July 10 during a headfirst slide in Chicago.
''I stole a base, third base, and I kind of jarred it a little bit,'' he said. ''From that day on my thumb was sore. I've been treating it since that time, and it's just starting to get better, and I banged it up again. It just feels like somebody jammed you with a pitch. The next time you go out in the outfield and come back, it hurts like that. Nothing more. The swelling has gone down a lot.''
Cashman said the Yankees were not aware of the hand injury when they agreed to the deal with Sheffield, who passed a physical.
''There is not an issue here for me on a pre-existing injury,'' Cashman said. Notes: LHP Danny Borrell was optioned to Triple-A Columbus, and RHP Chien-Ming Wang was optioned to Double-A Trenton.
wil.
