TANAKA COULD ONLY HAVE 1 REHAB START LEFT

Good news if you're following the Masahiro Tanaka saga. The way it appears right now, according to Wally Matthews of ESPN, is Tanaka could in fact be back pretty soon.  Matthews writes:

"Masahiro Tanaka could be one more rehab start away from returning to the major leagues, New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi said on Tuesday. Tanaka, on the disabled list since July 9 with a torn ulnar collateral ligament, threw a three-inning simulated game against four teammates at Yankee Stadium before Tuesday night's game against the Rays. Afterward, Girardi said Tanaka might need just one more start -- either another simulated game or perhaps an instructional league start in against minor leaguers in Tampa -- before making a big-league start for the Yankees."

The Star Ledger's Brendan Kuty suggests maybe Tanak could get 2 more starts in the regular season once he returns:

"Say he throws a bullpen session in Friday and has another simulated start in five days, which would be Sunday.

Add another five days' rest and he could face Toronto at home Sept. 19. And even if the Yankees squeeze an extra day of rest for their Japanese starter, whom they tried pitching on six days' rest as much as possible this season, he'd still be on track to start that series.

Then, provided all goes well, Tanaka could start again Sept. 25 or, if they want to give him an extra day's rest, Sept. 26. Both games are against the Orioles."

Nice! And notice I wrote "Tanak" up there. Not a mispelling... I'll use that nickname from time to time. Don't panic.

Anyway...Tanak's a friggin' machine.  Very exciting.

Carry on.



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