PITTSBURGH -- Gary Sanchez, who hasn't played in nearly two weeks and is on the disabled list with a strained right biceps, has just three hits so far this season.
Yet the Yankees catcher, who broke out with a bang as a rookie last season (20 homers in 53 games), has generated more jersey sales than any other American League player, according to MLB.
Asked on Friday what's next for Sanchez, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said: "Continue to just throw further. Get up to 90 feet. [Friday] was an off-day for throwing, and he'll move up to 90 feet [Saturday]."
Girardi said he is "not exactly sure" of a timetable for Sanchez.
"He's got to get to 120 feet before we get to that point," Girardi said. "But we said four weeks, and everything is scheduled to be four weeks. We're about two weeks in."
A long wait
Before Friday's game at PNC Park, the Yankees and Pirates had not met since July 10, 2008. The teams had faced each other only 12 times since the classic 1960 World Series. Girardi was asked if he remembered the occasion, also played at PNC Park. It was the makeup of a June game postponed in progress before it became official.
Girardi, who was in his first season after replacing Joe Torre, said he recalled the rainout even more.
"We got rained out in the middle of a game," Girardi said. "I think we were leading, and [pitcher] Mike Mussina had a hit, and it got scratched because we didn't play five innings, and he was quite upset. Yes, I do remember. I think I remember Mike Mussina being mad, more than anything."
Mussina was 9-for-52 (.173) at the plate during his 18-year career.
Bob Cohn