Yankees, Bartolo Colon Hoping For Quick Return From 15-Day DL
NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) — Bartolo Colon was placed on the disabled list Sunday with a strained right hamstring, the latest blow to New York's ailing rotation.
But don't worry, Yankees fans. The Bombers -- and Colon -- feel he'll be back on the mound as soon as the hefty starter is eligible.
"I feel good. I just have a little bit of pain. I'm on the DL right now 15 days, so hopefully I can pitch after that," Colon said through a translator before Sunday's game. "After the 15 days, I'll be back."
Colon pulled up lame while covering first base on a routine grounder in a 4-0 win over the Indians on Saturday. He had an MRI exam after the game and the decision was made to put the resurgent veteran on the disabled list.
"The MRI came back pretty good, so I'm not exactly sure what that means," manager Joe Girardi said. "Our hope is that he'll be back after 15 days."
The 38-year-old Colon is 5-3 with a 3.10 ERA, helping solidify a rotation that has lost Phil Hughes to a shoulder injury for most of the season.
"I knew I was going to go on the DL," Colon said of the moments after his injury. "I feel bad because I know our pitching needs some help, and now I can't do that."
Colon, a two-time All-Star who won 21 games for the Los Angeles Angels in 2005, didn't pitch at all last season because of injuries. He was treated in April 2010 in the Dominican Republic with a procedure designed to regenerate tissue in his shoulder and elbow.
Whether the stem cell treatment, which is being scrutinized by Major League Baseball, is the reason for his sudden turnaround is unclear. But the portly pitcher has been terrific after earning a job in the rotation, going at least eight innings three times.
Colon even tossed a complete-game shutout against Oakland on May 30.
The Yankees brought back outfielder Chris Dickerson from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre just two days after they optioned him. In an unrelated moved, New York also brought up Hector Noesi from Triple-A to replace reliever Amauri Sanit, who has an elbow problem.
How will the Yankees fare without Colon? Sound off in the comments below...
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