Gary Sheffield can play with a torn ligament

[SuperAngels]

Tuesday, March 9, 2004

Right fielder will not need surgery

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Associated Press

 

TAMPA, Fla. -- Yankees right fielder Gary Sheffield can play with a torn ligament in his right thumb and will be back in New York's lineup for spring training games later this week.

 

Sheffield, who reinjured the thumb last weekend, was examined Tuesday in New York by hand specialist Dr. Melvin Rosenwasser.

 

? We're not out of the woods on this, don't get me wrong. But today's news was certainly more encouraging. ?

? Yankees GM Brian Cashman

 

"Gary Sheffield obviously is one tough cookie," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "He played through it before without a problem, apparently."

 

Sheffield, who was to return to Tampa on Tuesday, originally hurt the thumb last July while playing for the Atlanta Braves, but he never had an MRI exam and the torn ligament went undetected. He hit .327 after the injury with 17 homers and 62 RBI in 69 games.

 

He aggravated the injury Saturday when trying to get to a fly ball by Toronto's Orlando Hudson that landed for a triple. The Yankees initially thought it was just a bruise, but the team worried after an MRI exam and X-ray revealed the tear.

 

"We're not out of the woods on this, don't get me wrong," Cashman said. "But today's news was certainly more encouraging, after the hand specialist in New York saw him, than yesterday's news."

 

Sheffield was at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center at 6:30 a.m. for the exam. An operation to repair a torn thumb ligament typically requires two to three months of recovery time.

 

"You treat the patient and not the injury," Cashman said. "We're going to see how he comes through it over the next two weeks."

 

Last year, shortstop Derek Jeter tore a ligament in his left thumb during the AL Championship Series opener against Boston. He kept on playing, taking numbing medication for the remainder of the Red Sox series, and the thumb healed on its own. Rosenwasser examined Jeter in November.

 

"Some guys say operate, other guys say rehabilitate. I stayed with the rehabilitate guy," Jeter said.

 

Sheffield is among nine Yankees 35 or older -- and that doesn't include pitcher Orlando Hernandez, who reached a preliminary agreement on a contract last weekend and took a physical Monday.

 

For manager Joe Torre, the injuries are all part of the game.

 

"I really don't get bent out of shape over them, because they happen so often," he said. "That's where we have probably an advantage over a lot of other people -- we have some depth, and that's very important."

 

Bernie Williams, 35 like Sheffield, is unlikely to be ready for the March 30 opener following an appendectomy Feb. 26. Kenny Lofton, Travis Lee, Tony Clark, Bubba Crosby and Darren Bragg are among the candidates who could fill the outfield spots.

 

Hideki Matsui could move from left to right if Sheffield's injury is serious. Lofton has only seen time in center, not the corner outfield spots.

 

"I've never done it before. Could I? I can do anything they want me to," he said.

 

Sheffield left the Braves in the offseason to sign a $39 million, three-year contract with the Yankees. He was among players who testified before a federal grand jury that indicted Barry Bonds' personal trainer for illegal distribution of steroids. Sheffield has denied using steroids.

[SorianoFanHFW]

good news, but jeter was playing through a lot of pain. They must be confident he'll be all right. Luckily it is spring training.

[AJBurnett34]

The Doctor said he will be fine and made it clear for him to play. If the doctor says so...

 

That will cut down the producting of Sheffield IMO.

[sheff#1]

dont count on his production being lower because of it he played with the same injury last year and look what he did.. sheff is tough and playd through it last year and put up allstar numbers and look for the same if not better this year with the yanks

[QuickGold]

That will cut down the producting of Sheffield IMO.

I'm not too sure. After injuring it last year, he went on a tear....he'll be more than productive IMO.