Notes: Abreu unfazed by rivalry
Slugger embraces Yanks-Sox excitement with big Game 1
By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com
BOSTON -- Playing in your first Yankees-Red Sox game at Fenway
Park can be a nerve-wracking experience for a player, but Bobby
Abreu's introduction to the rivalry was about as solid as they
come.
Abreu went 4-for-5 with a walk in the first game of Friday's
doubleheader, helping New York to a 12-4 victory over Boston.
"He put us in a position to do some damage," Joe Torre said. "He
had big, key hits; he kept some innings going. He responded real
well for his first trip here with a Yankee uniform on."
"It was good," Abreu said. "The big thing is that we won the game.
I tried to concentrate on myself and do my job in there."
Abreu singled in the first inning, walked in the third and singled
in the fifth. In the seventh, he singled and scored a run, then he
doubled in the eighth. He struck out in his final at-bat, missing
out on a sixth turn on base.
"I just tried to make contact, and whatever happened, happened,"
Abreu said. "It's a game. To me, it was just a game that I prepared
myself for. For me, it's like the same."
Since joining the Yankees on Aug. 1, Abreu is hitting .394 with one
home run, six RBIs, 10 runs scored, six stolen bases and a whopping
.481 on-base percentage.
Torre spoke with Abreu and the other new Yankees before the Sox series,
giving them a feel for what to expect during the five-game series
at Fenway Park.
"When you come here with other teams, it doesn't matter; when you
come here with the Yankees, it's crazy," Torre said. "I didn't make
a point of making that the issue, but you have to understand what
you have to deal with here."
"He talked about the games, how they're very exciting," Abreu said.
"Don't try to do too much and just stay in the game."
Jason Giambi, who went 2-for-4 with three RBIs hitting behind Abreu
on Friday afternoon, wasn't surprised that his new teammate had
success in this atmosphere.
"Philly's no picnic; that's a tough ballpark, tough fans. And like
New York, if you're not doing well, they'll get on you," Giambi said.
"I figured he would be all right. He takes great at-bats; it doesn't
matter where he's playing."
Andy not so dandy: The Yankees placed Andy Phillips on the 15-day
disabled list with a strained left rib muscle before the doubleheader,
recalling right-hander T.J. Beam from Triple-A Columbus to take his
place on the roster.
Phillips suffered the injury during his only at-bat on Thursday,
feeling the strain on his first swing. He remained in the game, but
was bothered by the injury for the rest of the day.
"I felt like I overswung a little bit," Phillips said. "I just felt
it in my rib cage; it's more sore than anything."
Torre said that the injury was "significant enough to require some
work for the next four or five days when he won't be able to do
anything."
"I don't want two weeks to turn into six," Phillips said. "At this
point, that would be the worst thing that could happen."
Beam gives the Yankees a 13-man pitching staff, but with Octavio
Dotel unavailable to go on Friday and Ron Villone having pitched
in each of the past three days, New York needed the extra arm.
Nick Green, Sal Fasano and Bernie Williams were the only players
on the bench during the first game of the doubleheader.
"You can't do it in the National League, but with the DH, it's not
a concern," Torre said. "We don't pinch-hit much anyway."
Trying to pitch in: Dotel's first two outings as a member of the
Yankees haven't been too impressive, as he has allowed three runs
(two earned) on four hits and a walk in one combined inning.
Dotel is returning from Tommy John elbow surgery, so Torre believes
it may take some time for him to find his groove.
"Once he gets comfortable, he can give us a big lift," the manager
said. "He has experience as a closer and as a setup man, so he
gives us another option.
"I don't know how long it will take, how many outings it will be
before he feels comfortable, but I think with Proctor and Farnsworth,
he can give us the opportunity to not use all three guys in one day,"
Torre added. "We can keep guys fresh."
Not so great expectations: Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui continue
to rehab their respective left wrist injuries, but neither player has
been cleared to take batting practice yet, so Torre isn't expecting
much from either of them this season.
"I don't think either one of them will be ready Sept. 1; that's an
important date, because the Minor Leagues are going to be out of
games," Torre said. "When they get ready to start playing games,
I don't know where they'd do it, besides having some simulated situation.
"If they join us and contribute, it would certainly be a bonus for
us. But for us to plan on it would be unfair to them."
Torre may be able to use one or both of them off the bench if they
return without playing in any rehab games, and he wouldn't rule out
adding them to the postseason roster, assuming the Yankees get that far.
"I don't think you can ever write them off, but I don't think you can
plan on how regular they're going to be as far as being able to
contribute," Torre said. "Sheff and Matsui will be able to condition
themselves to do whatever the ballclub needs them to do."
Quotable: "It's been done already. The fans and myself have to move on.
We can't continue to remember that love affair we had for four years.
It is what it is now." -- Johnny Damon, after being asked why he didn't
acknowledge the fans during the first game on Friday.
Coming up: The Yankees and Red Sox continue their five-game series on
Saturday, as Randy Johnson and Josh Beckett square off in a nationally
televised game. First pitch is scheduled for 1:25 p.m. ET.
--
╪
║ 等妳將我反白之後， love
╰═══…………………═══╮
Ｅｐｉｃ 看見最真實的我。 ║
╪
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 140.121.140.121