PHILADELPHIA – The bullpen boost the Yankees thought they were going to get from Octavio Dotel is going to be delayed.
And while the club doesn’t believe the triceps tendinitis that has invaded Dotel’s right arm is serious, the 30-day clock on Dotel’s minor league rehab assignment has been stopped.
“He won’t throw again until Thursday and that will be on flat ground,” GM Brian Cashman said of Dotel, who was at Citizens Bank Park last night as the Yankees opened a three-game series against the Phillies. “If that goes well, we will start him up again.” And if it doesn’t?
Don’t ask. While the Yankees have been low key about Dotel’s return from Tommy John surgery last June, privately they were hoping to get the 32-year-old back for the final week of this month.
And after the way the bullpen – now housing neophytes Jose Veras, Matt Smith and T.J. Beam – was abused in Washington over the weekend, it was easy to see why the Yankees were looking forward to adding Dotel to the mix.
After Friday’s 12/3-inning stint in which Dotel pushed the speed gun to 94, the righty had designs on joining the Yankees in The Bronx this weekend when they open a ninegame homestand against the Marlins, Braves and Mets.
But Dotel woke up Saturday concerned.
“I was ready to go,” said Dotel, who has made three rehab outings. “You have to worry about it. I am coming off Tommy John surgery. I do worry about it. Saturday, I didn’t sleep very well.” A conversation with Dr. James Andrews, who did the surgery, calmed Dotel’s fears.
“He told me that’s normal and don’t worry about it,” Dotel said.
If Thursday’s throwing session in Trenton goes well, Dotel will remain with the DoubleA Thunder and continue his rehab assignment.
Dotel always looks at the positive.
“I hope it’s tendinitis; if not, I am not going to worry about it,” he said.
When Dotel woke up Saturday and felt discomfort in the arm, he wasn’t happy.
“I was [ticked] off,” Dotel said.
As for the Yankees bullpen, Joe Torre said it was at full strength after he was unable to bring in a reliever Sunday when Chien-Ming Wang gave up a game-winning, two-run homer to Ryan Zimmerman in the ninth.
Mariano Rivera wasn’t available Sunday in Torre’s eyes, Kyle Farnsworth wasn’t completely over back spasms and the manager didn’t want to use Scott Proctor for a fourth game in five.
“We have everybody back; in fact, we might be overstocked,” Torre said.
What’s Torre’s take on Dotel’s setback?
“Whenever he is ready for us, that’s when it will be,” Torre said. “We are closer than ever with him. This tendinitis at this time is no big deal.” Yet, it could be. The Yankees desperately need a front-end starter. And they could use a corner outfielder with pop. One area will be addressed; it’s not likely both will be.
With Dotel close to returning, the bullpen was believed to be getting help. Now, who knows?
Like Rivera, Dotel was sick over what happened to Wang.
“[Sunday’s game] made my stomach hurt,” Dotel said. “It’s been frustrating for me. It has hurt me big time.” The Yankees’ fingers are firmly crossed that Thursday’s game of catch goes smoothly. Then Dotel can go about working his way back to a bullpen that certainly could use him.