|
| |
|
|
 Yanks scratch Darryl Strawberry undergoes tests for colon cancer
Posted: Thursday October 01, 1998 04:15 PM
NEW YORK (CNN/SI) -- New York Yankees outfielder Darryl Strawberry underwent tests for colon cancer at a New York hospital Wednesday, according to Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci. Strawberry, who left Yankee Stadium about four hours before the team's playoff game with the Texas Rangers, said doctors had discovered a spot the size of "a pimple" on his colon. A Yankees source said Strawberry would not play until doctors have determined what the spot is, said Verducci. Strawberry, whose career has been beset by personal problems and injuries, underwent further tests Thursday. Strawberry underwent a test Wednesday, then went to Yankee Stadium to talk to manager Joe Torre and his teammates. He left about four hours before New York beat Texas 3-1 to take a 2-0 lead in the American League division series. Bothered by stomach pain for more than a month, he had a colon exam Thursday at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. "If all goes well, he could join us in Texas for Friday night's game," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "We really won't know anything until tomorrow." Torre did not disclose what Strawberry told him about his medical condition. The Yankees did not detail his condition, either. "Cancer always comes to mind," Torre said. "It's something you're taught to fear." Strawberry, 36, has recently been bothered by stomach cramps. When the Yankees played at Baltimore about 10 days ago, he spoke with his boyhood friend, Orioles outfielder Eric Davis, who battled colon cancer last year. Davis said the first symptom of his illness was severe stomach pain, and that prompted Strawberry to seek medical attention. "We don't want to think it's anything that serious," Yankees DH Chili Davis said during batting practice. "They don't know what's going on yet. "He seemed pretty concerned about it. You could tell by the look on his face. It's something that could prevent him from playing in the postseason. But we don't want to get in a panic mode yet." Strawberry, whose career has been full of comebacks from personal problems and injuries, hit .247 with 24 home runs and 57 RBIs in 101 games this season. The part-time outfielder and DH set an AL record with two pinch-hit grand slams. In September, however, Strawberry hit just .229 with no home runs and only one RBI in 14 games. "He was struggling a bit," Torre said. The former New York Mets star signed with the Yankees in the middle of the 1996 season and helped them win the World Series that year. Strawberry was hoping to make more key contributions in the postseason this fall after a regular season in which the Yankees set an AL record with 114 victories. Strawberry did not play in Game 1 of the division series, which New York won 2-0. Rookie Shane Spencer, whose six home runs made him the AL player of the week in the final week of the regular season, started in left field in Game 2 against Texas and hit a home run off Rangers starter Rick Helling. Under baseball rules, a player cannot be replaced on the roster in the middle of a playoff series. As a precaution, the Yankees will send rookie outfielder Ricky Ledee to the instructional league to get ready in case they need him to take Strawberry's spot for the AL championship series. Torre said Strawberry could not stay at the park for Game 2 because he needed to get ready for Thursday's tests. Before leaving the locker room, Strawberry went around and spoke to his teammates. "I'm sure he buoyed the guys up," Torre said. "But you know we're all concerned and that we'll be thinking about him."
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | |||||||||||||||||||||
Copyright © 1999 CNN/SI. A Time Warner Company. Terms under which this service is provided to you.
| |||||||||||||||||||||
