Monday, February 26, 2007 BY LISA KENNELLY Star-Ledger Staff
TAMPA, Fla. -- Reliever Brian Bruney will miss the next four to five days due to sharp pain in his left side.
Bruney received treatment yesterday but said he was still sore and didn't know when he would return to throwing drills.
"It is (significant) but there's not much we can do about it," manager Joe Torre said. "He was pitching in spite of it, and it just wouldn't go away. It's not something that's serious, it's just something that unless you just shut him down it's probably going to hang on."
Bruney was 1-1 with a 0.87 ERA in 19 appearances with the Yankees last season.
Humberto Sanchez threw his full batting practice session yesterday without any problems. The right-hander had his session pushed back a day due to tightness in his right forearm.
"Sanchez was a lot better," said Torre, who went over to Field 2 to watch. "It didn't look like he tried to muscle it today. He was a lot smoother, which gave him a better result."
While on Field 2, Torre also checked out reliever Ron Villone, who re-signed with the team on a minor-league contract at the beginning of spring training.
"(He looks) a whole lot better than he did a year ago at this time," Torre said. "Last year at this time we didn't see the arm strength I saw today."
Torre said Villone was "certainly qualified" to make the team again this season, in order to have another left-hander in the bullpen alongside left-handed specialist Mike Myers.
Joining the crowd of injured pitchers was left-hander Ben Kozlowski, who suffered a left intercostal (rib cage) strain.
He skipped batting practice yesterday and will be shut down for a few days, but the strain doesn't appear to be serious.
"I'm not too concerned about it at all," Kozlowski said.
Johnny Damon missed his second straight day of practice due to personal reasons. He is expected back in camp today.
Starter Kei Igawa is among the pitchers slated to throw in tomorrow's intrasquad game. The others are Villone, Jeff Karstens, Chase Wright, Jeff Kennard, Colter Bean, Steven Jackson, Tyler Clippard, Kevin Whelan and Chris Britton.
