Help Is On The Way

Zero (n). the arithmetical symbol or 0 or 0, denoting the absence of all magnitude or quantity. The most common figure the Yankees lineup has posted on home and visitor’s scoreboards.

As the rain fell on Target Field last night, one could only hope that the sun would come out tomorrow. Or in this case on Friday. Why wait until then? Well, that’s the day the friendly and exuberant Curtis Granderson is expected to return to the Yankees lineup.

The Yankees centerfielder has been out since May 1 with a groin strain. It’s been one of the numerous injuries that have dented the Yankees run scoring machine this month. Granderson’s return would mean Brett Gardner goes back to left field full time and the anemic bat of Randy Winn gets put back in storage.

Though he was hitting just .225 at the time of the injury, Joe Girardi and company knows just how good a hitter the former Detroit Tiger is, and what a huge asset he is to the lineup. That could be one of the factors that has Girardi mulling a lineup switch that would see Granderson get some time in the number two slot. The first year Yankee has not hitter higher than seventh thus far.

The news is not all good on the injury front though. Al Aceves, out with a back injury, suffered a setback while throwing on flat ground down in Tampa. He’s returned to New York and is expected to undergo some tests.

Update: The NY Daily News has reported that the Yankees have re-signed Chad Gaudin to add to the bullpen mix. Gaudin was recently released by the Oakland A’s.