YANKEE NOTES
Bernie Williams’ ailing left knee was enough for Joe Torre to keep him out of the defensive lineup and limit him to just DH yesterday.
“[The] knee is barking,” Torre said. “It’s affecting him somewhat, so I figure half the pain is better than no pain.
“It’s not something that’s really keeping him from hitting. It’s just something that when we’re losing, it hurts him a little more than when we win.”
Williams, who had started 41 of the previous 42 games in center, has been bothered by the knee for weeks. After going 0-3 with a walk yesterday, he was unavailable for comment, though when he was briefly asked before the game about his knee, he said, “It’s OK.”
Torre isn’t sure if Williams will return to center in Boston, saying, “We’ll see how he feels. I could do the same thing.”
Yesterday Torre gave Hideki Matsui his first appearance of the season in center field. Matsui played center field regularly in Japan and played it sparingly in spring training. He handled it fine yesterday, making four putouts.
“I had no problems,” he said. “But I don’t think I’ll be playing there regularly.”
* Jose Contreras threw 12/3 scoreless innings for Double-A Trenton yesterday, allowing one hit while striking out three and walking two. More importantly, Contreras, who was removed after reaching 35 pitches, felt none of the shoulder soreness that plagued him in his last start at Columbus.
“Physically, I felt great,” Contreras said. “I didn’t feel any aches or bothers. I’m ready.”
The Yankees seem to think so, too. Gordon Blakely, the Yankees’ senior vice president of baseball operations, told the Associated Press that Contreras will likely be recalled tomorrow and join the Yankees in Boston.
When Contreras does return, Torre envisions him being flexible enough to throw “long, middle [or] short” out of the bullpen. Contreras’s role may also increase with the status of Steve Karsay (right shoulder bursitis), who may be out for the season. Karsay will meet with Dr. James Andrews today in Tampa to get the results of his latest MRI.