BOSTON -- Mark Teixeira is not fan of Vicente Padilla. The feeling is mutual. Padilla left no doubt about that today, when he returned fire and trashed Teixeira in an interview with NESN.com.
Padilla said Teixeira threatened to hit him with a bat while they were teammates on the Rangers, and that he also had issues with Latin players. Padilla dismissed Teixeira's longstanding accusation that he's a headhunter.
"In this sport, as competitive ball players, we get pretty fired up," Padilla told the site. "So I think, maybe, [Teixeira] picked the wrong profession. I think he'd be better off playing a women's sport."
Predictably, Teixeira laughed off Padilla's comments, calling them "funny" and "erroneous."
The feud dates back to 2005 when Teixeira hit two homers off Padilla before getting plunked. Since then, the two have had a few run-ins, the latest on Friday. Teixeira hit a go-ahead triple off Padilla and used his forum after the game to once again call Padilla a head-hunter.
Considering the bad blood, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said he'd consider pulling Teixeira from the game with Padilla on the mound, if they were to face off in a situation where Padilla could throw at Teixeira without hurting his team's chances to win the game.
“He could hurt by the guy," Girardi said. "That’s a decision I’ll have to make.”
All-Star pitcher CC Sabathia (strained groin)threw his bullpen session today with no issues. He's scheduled to throw a bullpen tomorrow and a simulated game on Friday. If all goes well, he could return to the Yankees rotation on July 17 against Toronto.
“I’ve been feeling pretty good,” said Sabathia, who will attend the All-Star Game, though he is injured. “I’m running, doing everything.”
The Yankees tentative rotation to begin the second half: Hiroki Kuroda, Freddy Garcia, Ivan Nova, Phil Hughes and Sabathia
Girardi sat catcher Russell Martin for last night's game because he's struggled badly in the first half. He wanted to give him an extra day to clear his head before the All-Star Break.
"It was a tough half for Russell," Girardi said. "So I gave
him one extra day. I told him to come back from the break and
be the player you're capable of being. Put the first half behind you."
Outfielder Brett Gardner (right elbow strain) has progressed to taking 25 swings off a batting tee and off soft tosses. However, Gardner is still early in his rehab process, especially since his minor-league rehab stint may require more time.
Since Gardner hasn’t played since mid-April, Girardi said the outfielder will need to play in enough games to get back up to speed.
“I know one thing,” said Girardi, who refused to offer a specific timetable. “It’s not like he can play two or three games. He’s going to have to play more because he’s been out so long.”
Twice, Gardner has reached the brink of rejoining the Yankees, going on minor-league rehab assignments only to suffer setbacks.
"I don't know exactly when they have him going. He's got
to do some BP in the cage and then some BP on the field and then they'll give him some at-bats," Girardi said. "It's been that last part that's been the problem."
Joba Chamberlain (right ankle/elbow) remains on track to begin a minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday barring any complications. The beginning of a rehab stint would bring the right-hander to within a month of potentially making his big league return.
Reliever David Aardsma (right elbow) will visit with orthopedic surgeon Lewis Yocum today. Aardsma had neared his return from Tommy John Surgery, pitching in minor-league rehab games for the Yankees. But elbow discomfort has put his rehab on hold.
Reliever Pedro Feliciano (shoulder) is throwing bullpens every third day. The left-hander is trying to return before the end of the season, though he may be a long shot after undergoing shoulder surgery last year.
Catching prospect Austin Romine (back), who has been out since spring training, is nearing a return to action. Romine spent time with the Yankees last season and has consistently been ranked as one of the organization's top catching prospects.