09/18/2006 8:41 PM ET
Notes: Rivera to throw bullpen Tuesday
Villone's struggles continue; Wednesday's starter undecided
By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com
TORONTO -- Mariano Rivera remains scheduled to take the mound on Tuesday
for a bullpen session, and the Yankees are hopeful that their All-Star
closer will return to the mound later this week.
Rivera hasn't pitched in a game since Aug. 31, because of a mild muscle
strain near his right elbow. He got on a mound for the first time on
Saturday, throwing 32 pitches in the bullpen at Yankee Stadium.
"He's getting a little antsy right now," manager Joe Torre said. "He's
been in a lot more playful mood lately than he was for 10 days or so."
Rivera has insisted all along that he wasn't concerned about the injury,
even though it came at a point in the season when he is typically tuning
up for the postseason. Following his bullpen session on Saturday, Rivera
seemed excited about how he felt.
"Even though he's had something similar to this in the past, he's never
really had stop himself from doing anything," Torre said. "The last few
days, his personality is a little more upbeat."
Opposing view: Derek Jeter will surely be toward
the top of the American League MVP voting when all is said and done,
and Blue Jays manager John Gibbons believes that the Yankees shortstop
is deserving of the honor.
"The last time we were in New York, a writer was asking me about Jeter,"
Gibbons said. "I said, 'In a lot of ways he's just like [David] Ortiz --
different type of player -- but in crunch time, he's one of the guys you
hate to see come to the plate because they're always clutch.'"
Jeter entered the week hitting .341 with 13 home runs, 93 RBIs and
107 runs scored, putting himself in the mix with Ortiz, Justin Morneau
and Jermaine Dye in the MVP race.
"I have a tendency to lean towards the teams that win and their top
player," Gibbons said. "I've always liked a guy on a winning team.
A clutch player -- unless there's just some overwhelming, dominant year
out of somebody else."
Tired arm? Ron Villone's struggles continued on
Sunday, as he allowed four runs in one inning, taking the loss against
the Red Sox. Villone has appeared in 66 games this season, posting a
4.50 ERA, but his past seven weeks have been a battle for the
left-hander.
In August, Villone tied Scott Proctor for the AL lead with 17 appearances.
While Proctor put up a 3.27 ERA in the month, Villone's was a whopping
6.04.
This month, Villone has pitched in five games, allowing 12 runs in
3 2/3 innings for a 29.45 ERA. Torre said that the pitcher has no
physical problems, so he'll keep sending him out there, hoping he can
straighten himself out.
"He's still what he is. He's still a guy who will make great pitches,
then make some other pitches," Torre said. "He's always been that way
in his career. Talking to guys who have faced him, that's what makes
him tough to hit. You can't zero in on one spot."
Waiting game: The Yankees haven't announced a starting
pitcher for Wednesday's series finale in Toronto, though Sean Henn appears
to be the likely candidate. Cory Lidle, who is battling a sore right index
finger, is not a possibility for Wednesday's game.
With Chien-Ming Wang, Randy Johnson, Jaret Wright and Mike Mussina each
pitching on Saturday and Sunday, pitching coach Ron Guidry is working to
slot the four hurlers in for the weekend and beyond. Torre said the entire
rotation would be lined up by Tuesday.
Coming up: The Yankees and Blue Jays meet in the middle game of their
three-game series on Tuesday, as Jeff Karstens starts against Shaun Marcum.
First pitch is scheduled for 7:07 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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