YANKEE NOTES
ANAHEIM – A batting practice in which Jason Giambi sent numerous balls over the right-field fence convinced him and Joe Torre that Giambi’s muscle spasm problem in his back was improved to the point he could DH last night after missing the previous two games.
“I am going to try and DH,” said Giambi, who was listed at first base in the original lineup for the game with the Angels. “It felt a little bit looser. We are going to give it a roll.”
Giambi shifting from first to DH meant Ruben Sierra was deleted from the lineup. Tony Clark replaced Giambi at first for the third straight game.
As for Gary Sheffield’s bruised left ribs, he iced them late Tuesday night and proclaimed himself ready to play. Sheffield remained in Tuesday’s 1-0 loss after crashing into the wall making a catch on Jose Guillen’s foul fly in the sixth Tuesday night. Sheffield grounded out in the ninth and flied out in the 11th.
“It bothered him the last couple of at-bats,” Torre said. “He has bruised ribs.”
“I thought they were going to be sore, but it’s not an issue,” Sheffield said. “It spasmed [Tuesday night] but once I iced it, it was OK.”
Sheffield said he wouldn’t wear a wrap to protect the ribs.
“I don’t like extra stuff on me,” Sheffield said.
*
If Scott Elarton, 28, is released by the Rockies (he was designated for assignment May 15), the Yankees could have an interest in the right-hander who was awful in eight starts for Colorado this season, going 0-6 with a 9.80 ERA. Any team claiming Elarton, a 17-game winner with Houston four years ago, would be responsible for what’s left of his $480,000 contract.
*
Jose Contreras is scheduled to rejoin the Yankees tomorrow night in Texas and start Saturday night against the Rangers. He has continued to work with organizational pitching guru Billy Connors as a member of the Triple-A Columbus. He made two starts for the Clippers.
*
Steve Karsay’s return to the major leagues is a long way off but it seems to finally be moving in the right direction. Karsay, who missed all of last season, worked two innings of a simulated game yesterday in Tampa and will repeat the process Saturday. It was the first time he faced batters since March 2003.
“For the first time facing hitters in a year, I’m extremely pleased with how it went,” Karsay said. “I’ve still got a long ways to go, but it’s a good start.”
Orlando Hernandez had his second bullpen session in three days yesterday. He received a cortisone shot for bursitis in his right shoulder this month.
Hernandez had shoulder surgery last May. He left his first rehabilitation start for Class-A Tampa on April 29 after nine pitches because of shoulder tightness.
*
Torre said he appreciated Roger Clemens’ 7-0 start but never would have agreed to the program Clemens is on with the Astros. Clemens has the option of missing road trips when he isn’t slated to pitch.
“I like to keep everybody together,” Torre said. “We let him go home and meet us but he didn’t miss any games.”
