NEW YORK (AP) -The Yankees reinstated reliever Brian Bruney from the 60-day disabled list before their game against the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night.
Bruney, who tore a ligament in his right foot on April 22, arrived in the Bronx fewer than two hours before the game and was still in street clothes about an hour before the start. He was available to pitch.
The right-hander was just relieved to be back in New York, finally.
“I feel good,” Bruney said. “It’s a little later than I wanted to be back, but you gotta take their schedule and do what they want,” he said.
Meanwhile, Girardi pretty much ended speculation that injured right-hander Chien-Ming Wang might return in early September. Wang, injured running the bases in Houston on June 15, got the cast off his right foot on Tuesday and is expected to be on crutches with a boot protecting his leg for another week before being re-evaluated.
“The chances of getting him back on September 1st is zero,” Girardi said. “October 1st is possible.”
Wang, a 19-game winner each of the past two seasons, was 8-2 with a 4.07 ERA. Girardi said he wouldn’t hesitate to throw Wang back into the rotation just as soon as he’s ready to go, pennant race or not.
“I would not hesitate,” Girardi said. “As long as he’s healthy we’ll throw him out there.”
Bruney was added to the 40-man roster, and since the Yankees were below the limit, no player had to be removed. Reliever Chris Britton was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre.
Manager Joe Girardi said Bruney would be worked back in to the bullpen mix slowly at first. If all goes well, Bruney may join Damaso Marte, Jose Veras and Edwar Ramirez as part of the late-inning mix.
“He was a big part of our bullpen before that dreaded day in Chicago,” Girardi said of Bruney.
It’s been a frustrating year for Bruney, who was 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA in nine games for New York before getting hurt. More recently, he struggled in his minor league rehab assignment. In 12 appearances with the GCL Yankees, Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre, he walked 11 batters in 13 2-3 innings, and there have been questions about his velocity.
Bruney seemed certain he’d fare better in the big leagues.
“I struggled a bit with being in the minor leagues,” Bruney said. “Mentally struggled. When you have an ultimate goal of here and you’re down there, it draws on you.”
Bruney waved off questions about his velocity in the minor leagues, saying he’d throw harder in New York.
“I was throwing mid-90s, playing in front of thousands of fans, taking long bus trips. It’s hard to throw 97 in that situation,” he said.
Girardi agreed.
“I want to see him in this setting, instead of pitching down there,” Girardi said. “Sometimes the setting here is a bit different and I want to see if we can get him back to where he was.”
Britton had a 3.38 ERA in five games, and saved the bullpen by pitching 3 2-3 innings on Thursday night in the Yankees’ 12-6 loss to the Angels.
“It was big what he did for us last night, using only one guy for all those innings,” Girardi said. “It’s an unfortunate situation, but we need another arm.”
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