Written by George A. King III at New York Post.com
There is a chance Mark Teixeira won’t return until Friday at the earliest from a bruised left instep.
“I don’t know,’’ manager Joe Girardi said when asked if he expected the slumping first baseman would be available for the four-game series against the Orioles that ends Thursday. “I wouldn’t expect to have him [Tuesday]. He is a little better, but he is still pretty sore. It’s really day by day and it’s hard to tell.’’
Teixeira, who is in a horrific 2-for-24 (.083) slump, fouled a ball off his foot Saturday. He remained in the game and X-rays and a CT scan were negative. He missed Sunday night’s game.
“It’s just really sore. I woke up [Sunday] and it felt better and it’s gotten better today [Monday]. I knew something was wrong last year. That’s as worse a pain as I’ve ever been in on a baseball field. There’s a big difference, so I don’t think we’re going to be in that same situation,’’ said Teixeira, who suffered a fractured right shin bone late last season. “I was in a lot of pain last year, which is why we did multiple tests back and forth, back and forth. It’s gotten better both days.”
Teixeira, who has been playing with a torn cartilage in the right knee, said the injury felt like a sprain.
“All the fluid just went right into the ankle, it’s all wrapped up now and I’ll ice it all day and just to try to get that fluid out of there,” Teixeira said. “It hit right below the ankle, just on the edge of the pad.”
Teixeira, who is batting .186 with seven homers, 20 RBIs and.568 OPS, was asked if he could return Tuesday.
“I hope,” he said. “My goal every day is to go and say, ‘Can I play today?’ [Monday] is a no go, but hopefully [Wednesday]. I want to be back as soon as possible.”
Rob Refsnyder started Sunday night at first and was in the lineup at the position Monday night when he went 1-for-3 in the Yankees’ 2-1 win over the Orioles.
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