The New York Yankees will have to seriously earn it if they are going to reach the postseason in Derek Jeter‘s last hurrah in 2014. Some of that has to do with the talent on the team and its current roster construction, but most of New York’s problems have come from some truly horrible injury luck.
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As if dealing with a decimated starting rotation wasn’t enough, the Yankees were without outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury for much of the weekend due to a sprained ankle. As for his potential return, it sounds like Ellsbury might still have to be considered day to day as the calendar flips to September.
Wallace Matthews of ESPN New York passed along the following remarks from Ellsbury about his status:
"“Even if I do play tomorrow, it’s not going to be 100 percent,” he said. “But I realize how important these games are and I need to be out there. Obviously, we need a win and I’m willing to go out there not at 100 percent. I do feel I have a high pain tolerance and in the past I have come back from injuries pretty quick. I’m going to try to do everything I can to be out there.”"
Ellsbury has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball of late, batting .467 over the last two weeks of action. If the Yankees have any hope of completing a surge to the postseason, they will need Ellsbury in the lineup down the stretch.
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