I big Masahiro Tanaka fan, Emma from Rick’s Caberet NYC, had this to say about Tanaka’s return on Saturday:
“I’m worried how he will pitch after being away so long, so I’m bringing some of my fellow Rick’s Cabaret Girls to the game to root for him!”
She had some questions for Yankees management, though. “Why are you rushing him back? What does it accomplish–you’re not making the playoffs this year.”
She added, “I think he should have had the Tommy John surgery and had a year to recover. But I wish him and the team the best!”
I’m sure they’re hoping Tanaka’s performance won’t be a bust!
They hope to accelerate the eventual TJ Surgery, not wanting him to have it next year which would mean the first 3 years of what could be a 4 year deal would be unhealthy years
I think they also must have insurance on Tanaka and they usually only kick in if a players misses almost all of a season and not parts of 2 seasons
Things to watch for are if Tanaka throws the same ratio of splits and sliders. If not Sunday could be ugly as his fastball is very hittable