Sabathia ready for a start
CC SABATHIA thinks he is ready for his first spring-training start. The New York Yankees lefthander threw 29 pitches broken down into two innings during his first simulated game of spring training yesterday. Sabathia is lined up to possibly pitch on Tuesday.
CC SABATHIA thinks he is ready for his first spring-training start.
The New York Yankees lefthander threw 29 pitches broken down into two innings during his first simulated game of spring training yesterday. Sabathia is lined up to possibly pitch on Tuesday.
The 34-year-old was hobbled by a degenerative cartilage in his right knee that required surgery last season. He didn't pitch after May 10.
"I'm not hurt. I feel good. That's the only way I'm judging myself right now," Sabathia said. "I'm encouraged."
Sabathia was seen bending over a couple times after his outing. When asked why, he said it was "hot."
The six-time All-Star was 3-4 with a career-worst 5.28 ERA in eight starts last year.
Chris Capuano, the top candidate to be the Yankees' fifth starter, will likely be on the disabled list for the first month of the season after straining his right quadriceps while covering first base on a grounder Wednesday against Boston. He received a platelet-rich plasma injection for the injury.
"It's pretty stiff and sore today," he said. "Would love to be ready for the start of the season, but it might be a week or two in."
Noteworthy
* Kansas City Royals lefthander Tim Collins has undergone season-ending Tommy John surgery.
Kansas City said the 25-year-old was operated on a day earlier by Dr. James Andrews, who repaired ligament damage in Collins' left elbow.
Collins made his spring training debut against Texas on March 4 and left after two outs.
"Timmy threw a curveball, and that's when he first started feeling it," manager Ned Yost said at the time. "Then he threw seven or pitches after and it kept getting tighter."
Collins had a MRI that revealed ligament damage.
He topped AL relievers with 93 strikeouts in 2012, but a left flexor strain last April put him on the disabled list for a month. He went 0-3 with a 3.86 ERA in 22 regular-season games and had a 3.18 ERA in four postseason games, including three World Series appearances.
Brian Flynn, Franklin Morales and Brandon Finnegan are the leading lefthanded relief candidates.
* New York Mets reliever Josh Edgin has a stretched left elbow ligament and tendinitis, and the team says he must decide between a conservative rehabilitation attempt or Tommy John surgery that would sideline him for about a year.
"A decision is expected in the next day or two," Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said.
"It's disappointing," Edgin said. "Actually, really disappointing. We're going to have a great year this year, whether it's with me or without me."
Edgin was 1-0 with a 1.32 ERA in 47 appearances last season. He missed two weeks late in the season because of tendinitis and bone spurs in his elbow, and he received a platelet-rich plasma injection.