Sweeny: Teixeira Talk Dominates On Busy, Sobering Day At Yankees Camp

By Sweeny Murti
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On a busy day at Yankees camp, Joe Girardi reacted to the sobering news that Mark Teixeira will miss 8-10 weeks due to a right wrist strain.

The news came just 10 days after Curtis Granderson's broken forearm:

Brian Cashman joined Mike Francesa earlier Wednesday to discuss the situation.  The GM discouraged anyone from thinking that a big move was possible at this point, despite the now gaping holes in an already depleted lineup.

Kevin Youkilis might be asked to shift from third base to first base.  He told me Wednesday he would have no problem doing so, and that he thinks that other players will just have to step up and fill the void while another big bat is on the mend.  Youkilis spoke to me only a short time after the Teixeira news broke, so even he wasn't fully aware yet of how bad the injury was.

On the bright side… Derek Jeter is getting closer to appearing in an exhibition game.  It could certainly happen within a few days.  Jeter said the last thing he really needs to do is run the bases at full speed, and once he does that the other in-game things he can slowly adjust to.  Whether he plays Mar 10, 11 or 12 isn't really important.  April 1 is the only date Jeter has circled on his calendar.

Meanwhile, Jeter offered his take on the rash of injuries hitting the Yankees this spring.  Jeter made his comments after hearing that Teixeira was injured, but before we all learned the severity of it:

Mariano Rivera will likely pitch in his first exhibition game on March 9.  That would not make this much different than any other spring, actually.

Phil Hughes should be on schedule to get into a game around March 16.  That will leave him enough time to make four spring starts and build up close to 100 pitches in time for the regular season.

Curtis Granderson doesn't think his power stroke will be affected too much when he returns in May.  He explains here:

Meanwhile, Granderson didn't seem at all unhappy to be staying in center field upon his return.  While there appears to be ample time during rehab games to get Granderson acclimated to a new outfield spot, Joe Girardi has decided that Granderson will stay in center and Brett Gardner in left.

Here is Granderson discussing the subject with reporters Wednesday:

And that is a day in the life of the New York Yankees. Imagine what happens when the games begin to count.

Sweeny Murti

@YankeesWFAN

Will the Yankees be able to weather this storm? Be heard in the comments...

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