YANKEE NOTES
When Baltimore’s Todd Williams nailed Gary Sheffield on the right thumb with a pitch in the fourth inning yesterday, plate umpire Adam Dowdy originally ruled it a foul ball.
Sheffield was writhing in pain to the left of the plate while Joe Torre argued the call with Dowdy. Eventually, Sheffield was awarded his base after the umpires convened.
“I’m just glad they all talked about it,” Torre said after the Yanks’ 13-8 victory over Baltimore. “[Dowdy] called it quick and sort of got stuck in a box.
“When all the umpires got together, I guess it was the reasonable decision.”
Sheffield’s thumb was twitching after the incident and was sprayed by a trainer on the field to soothe the injury.
“It’s fine,” Sheffield said.
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In the second, Tony Womack was picked off second base by Bruce Chen, although replays showed third baseman Melvin Mora tagged Womack with an empty glove while the ball was in his throwing hand.
The umpires convened after Torre protested, but they didn’t reverse the call.
“They asked everybody else, and nobody saw it,” Torre said. “Or nobody saw it the way our guys did.”
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Carl Pavano met with team physician Stuart Hershon yesterday morning. Torre held out hope the Yankee righty could make his start on Saturday.
“He could be ready,” Torre said.
Pavano, who complained of shoulder pain, is scheduled to undergo an MRI today.
“We’ll probably have more of an idea [this] evening,” Torre said. “We’ll have something on the off day, if not.”
It’s undetermined whether Tanyon Sturtze will make another start this weekend, even if Pavano can’t go.
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Righty reliever Felix Rodriguez (torn meniscus in left knee) threw long toss, jogged and did quad-strengthening exercises in Tampa yesterday. He plans to throw batting practice on Tuesday. Torre said he might be ready soon after the All-Star break.
Jaret Wright (shoulder strain) threw from 90 feet for 10 minutes and is to have his first side session on Tuesday . . . Rey Sanchez (cervical sprain, vertigo) underwent treatment, and Kevin Brown (strained lower back) did conditioning.
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The ceremonial first pitch was thrown out by a military father-son tandem: Lt. General Ray Odierno and Capt. Anthony Odierno, who were stationed in Iraq.
The elder Odierno served as commander of the Fourth Infantry Division, whose members were responsible for the capture of Saddam Hussein.
The younger Odierno lost his left arm in combat while serving as a platoon commander with the First Cavalry in Iraq last year.