Beltran and Gardner could be done for the season
The injury bug continues to bite back, even as the Yankees attempt to make a desperate stretch run push. Brett Gardner has been suffering from a mild abdominal strain, but according to Joe Girardi there's no timetable for his return. He originally suffered the injury back in Cleveland where he missed one game, but re-aggravated it Friday hustling to second base on double. “He has an abdominal strain,” Girardi said via Chad Jennings. “We’re not sure exactly when we’ll get him back. He does feel better. He’ll see the doctor again tonight and then we’ll try to make some decisions on when he’ll start doing some baseball activities. … I’m not sure when we’ll get him back. It is a concern of mine. We’ll continue to talk to the doctors, measure how he feels and how he’s improving and go from there.” Girardi isn't taking any chances with their left fielder, who has also been the team's most consistent hitter this year. He's having a career season with the power numbers, sporting .269/.342/.442 slash with 16 homers and 52 runs batted in. Not only are they potentially losing his bat, but his solid defense will also be sorely missed.
Carlos Beltran was a late scratch from the lineup last night with another flare up in his right elbow just before taking batting practice. He's had the maximum three cortisone shots so far, and right now if he doesn't feel better in a few days, there's a very good chance his season could be over. “I felt pain,” Beltran said. “Talked to a doctor after, and I have already received three cortisone. So they don’t recommend another one. We talk about, what is the next step? I will probably give myself two or three more days, and if I can’t go out and take a swing like I normally take in a game, I might need to have the surgery.” Either way it's not looking good for Beltran, the well documented elbow injury has basically derailed his entire season, batting just a meek .236/.305/.409 with 15 HR and 49 RBI in his first year in pinstripes. He's going to need the surgery to remove the bone spur, now it's just a matter of when.
No point in sugar-coating things at this point with just 19 games left, the Yankees are on the outside looking in at he postseason. But having Beltran, Gardner and Martin Prado (hamstring) all sidelined isn't helping their chances. For the time being Chris Young, Zelous Wheeler, Ichiro Suzuki and Jacoby Ellsbury will continue to man the outfield till any final decisions are made regarding the two.