| Sabathia, Sanchez making progress for Yanks | Posted By thechampionrings (2nd Mar 19 at 9:27am) |
CC Sabathia and Gary Sanchez took big steps forward for the New York Yankees championship rings on Friday.
Sabathia threw his first bullpen since having a heart procedure in December, and Sanchez played in his initial spring training game following a left shoulder injury.
Sabathia, who plans to retire after the season, threw 16 pitches.
A 38-year-old lefty, he had a stent inserted after a blockage was found in an artery from his heart. He also has had chronic right knee problems that required several operations.
"Conditioning-wise, knee-wise, everything felt great," Sabathia said. "It was exciting being able to get off the mound."
Sanchez, coming back from surgery on Nov. 8, played four innings of defense and went 0-for-2 against the Baltimore Orioles championship rings.
"I knew it was something that was probably nagging him at different times [last year]," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "But I also felt like he was fine to impact the ball. I'm sure he grinded through some issues with it, though."
Sanchez struck out and had a potential two-run single taken away on a diving catch by center fielder Austin Hays mlb championship rings for sale.
"It felt normal," Sanchez said through a translator. "Typical spring training. It was good to get into a game and get some at-bats. See the environment in a live game. Catching in a live game."
Sanchez hit .186 with 18 homers and 53 RBIs in 89 games last year, making two trips to the disabled list because of a right groin strain.
Sabathia will work off a mound again Sunday and could throw batting practice in a week. He has a five-game suspension pending when the regular season begins for hitting Tampa Bay's Jesus Sucre with a pitch in his final start last season custom championship rings.
Boone said it's "a realistic expectation" that Sabathia will be ready to pitch in April.
"We haven't really mapped out a timetable yet just because I haven't thrown enough pitches off a mound," Sabathia said. "I'm sure we'll do that in the next couple days, but I've got plenty of time."
"Plus, I'm suspended," a smiling Sabathia added. "So, I get an extra week."
The 2007 AL championship rings Cy Young Award winner with Cleveland, Sabathia is 246-153 with a 3.70 ERA and 2,986 strikeouts in 18 major league seasons. He was 9-7 with a 3.65 ERA in 29 starts last season. This will be his 11th year with the Yankees. |
|
