[新聞] Notes: Rivera wrestles with discomfort

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Notes: Rivera wrestles with discomfort
MRI results reveal mild muscle strain in closer's elbow

NEW YORK -- Mariano Rivera has been dealing with discomfort just above his
right elbow for a couple of weeks, but the issue didn't keep the Yankees
closer off the mound on Thursday.
At his request, Rivera underwent an MRI exam on his elbow on Thursday
morning, which revealed nothing more than a mild muscle strain. With no
structural damage found in Rivera's arm, the closer went back to work, saving
Thursday's 6-4 win against the Tigers.

"For him, it has to be a relief to know that the elbow is in fine shape,"
manager Joe Torre said. "I don't think we'll do anything different with
Mariano other than that. I'm not going to be tempted to use him in the eighth
inning."

"You don't play with that," Rivera said. "When your arm hurts, you want to
know what's going on; I wanted peace of mind."

The MRI caused a scare in the Yankees' clubhouse, as Rivera may be the team's
most irreplaceable player.

"It's major [because] it involves him, but the problem doesn't seem to be
major," Torre said before the game. "We're always concerned when it involves
him. We're going to try to be as safe as we can."

"It's discomfort; it's not pain," Rivera said. "I just wanted to make sure
that everything is OK."

Rivera earned his 32nd save of the season in the first game of Wednesday's
day-night doubleheader, but Torre opted not to use him in the nightcap. Scott
Proctor pitched the ninth instead, blowing the save opportunity in Rivera's
place.

Torre said that Rivera has had issues such as this in the past, though the
veteran closer said he has never felt this particular discomfort before.
Rivera first reported the problem to Torre a couple of weeks ago, so the
manager has tried to limit the closer's appearances while he works through it.

"We have to manage it and see how it feels," Rivera said. "If it doesn't feel
good we may have to shut it off; if it continues feeling like it does now, I
won't have to shut down. ... If it feels like this, there is no way I won't
pitch."

"Maybe down the road here, we can find a block of time to shut him down,"
Torre said. "But right now, there doesn't seem to be any danger in having him
pitch."

Rivera threw two innings to finish the Aug. 20 game in Boston, prompting
Torre to give him the next two games off. Rivera didn't pitch again until
Aug. 27, when he threw two innings to close out the final game against the
Angels. After an off-day on Monday and a rainout on Tuesday, Rivera got the
final three outs in the first game on Wednesday.

"In the big picture, this is something that he's had maintenance done on for
years," Torre said. "The second half of the year, it's always been an issue.
... Even though he's been available, we've been trying to control how much we
use him."

Rivera said that while there is no swelling or inflammation in his arm, the
problem has "restrained me from going as hard as I want to" during the past
two weeks. Despite the problem, Rivera seems confident that he will be ready
to go when his team needs him the most.

"Definitely," Rivera said when asked if he would be ready to pitch in
October. "If I have to take time now to make sure I don't do anything, I will
do that instead of not being OK and pitching."

While the Yankees will avoid using Rivera in two-inning situations for the
next month, what may happen in the postseason is a different story.

"That's in October," Rivera said. "Then you have to do what you have to do."

Giambi sits: Jason Giambi also went for an MRI exam on Thursday, as he is
experiencing soreness in his left wrist. Results on Giambi's MRI were not
available, but Torre didn't appear to be concerned.

"If it was bad," Torre said, "I would have known about it by now."

Giambi played in both games on Wednesday, but Torre sat him on Thursday,
using Johnny Damon as the DH and starting Aaron Guiel at first base.

Giambi, who is hitting .260 with 36 home runs and 106 RBIs this season, told
Torre before the game that he was available if the manager wanted to play him.

"He came in and said he could play, so I had him on the bench if I needed
him," Torre said.

Farnsworth OK: Although Torre said that Kyle Farnsworth would close the
second game of Wednesday's doubleheader, the manager turned to Proctor in the
ninth inning after learning in between games that Farnsworth experienced some
tightness in his back.

"If I gave him the ball, he would have pitched," Torre said. "I decided not
to pitch him because this thing cropped up before the game; I didn't feel
comfortable having him warm up. We need somebody over the long-term, so if I
have to sacrifice one day to get there, that's fine."

This marks the third time this season that Farnsworth has battled a minor
back problem, but the pitcher said that he felt much better and was available
to pitch on Thursday. Farnsworth actually said he could have pitched on
Wednesday night, but that Torre decided to leave him in the bullpen.

"Everything is good; I felt tons better this morning," Farnsworth said. "It's
done that before in the past. I guess I moved the wrong way yesterday or
something; I could have pitched."

Revamping the roster: With rosters expanding to 40 players on Friday, the
Yankees plan to call up three players: catcher Wil Nieves and pitchers T.J.
Beam and Jose Veras.

Andy Phillips, who is on the disabled list, should rejoin the Yankees on
Saturday, and Torre said he expects to add more players early next week when
the season ends for Triple-A Columbus.

Torre also announced that Darrell Rasner, who will start Sunday against the
Twins, would be added to the roster this weekend.

Coming up: The Yankees open a three-game set against the Twins on Friday, as
Cory Lidle takes on Carlos Silva. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET.


Mark Feinsand is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the
approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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