Are New York Yankees rushing Masahiro Tanaka back?
By Josh Hill
The New York Yankees lost basically all of their pitching staff this season to various injuries and that includes rookie sensation Masahiro Tanaka, who was pitching like the ace New York needed but was bit by the injury bug in the middle of all his success.
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There is now a fear among Yankees fans that the team is rushing the ace back from his elbow injury, something that could set things back even further than they already are.
According to Brendan Kuty of the Star-Ledger, the Yankees aren’t going to be rushing Tanaka back, but also realize that he only way to see if he’s ready to return is to see him in games.
"But as we’ve seen Tanaka’s rehabilitation progress, it’s become clear the Yankees are favoring an approach more proactive than protective.“I think it’s important that we know he is healthy,” manager Joe Girardi said, “and the only way to find out is to get him in games.”"
New York would be wise to take their time with Tanaka, but they can’t let him sit on the DL if he’s healthy enough to pitch. The Bombers are in the playoff hunt, if ever so slightly, and they need all the help they can get to make sure they stay in the hunt as long as possible.
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