ニューヨーク・タイムズ紙（電子版）は２日、ニューヨーク・ヤンキースのマイナーに降格となっていた井川慶投手が、週明けとなる４日のシカゴ・ホワイトソックス戦に先発することが濃厚となったと報じた。この日はロジャー・クレメンス投手がメジャー復帰後初登板を迎える予定だったが、足の疲労を理由に先発を見送ることになったため。井川は開幕からの６試合で２勝１敗ながらも防御率７・６３と安定感を欠き、５月４日の登板後、チーム傘下の１Ａタンパへ降格。２試合の登板を経て、現在は３Ａスクラントンに籍を置いているが、先月２９日の試合では５回４失点で敗戦投手となっていた。しかし、左足付け根の違和感を訴えたクレメンスの代役としてチャンスが回ってくると見られる。
また同紙によると、クレメンスはホワイトソックスとの４連戦が終わる７日まで先発しないもよう。
（MAJOR.JP）
Not Even Clemens Is Immune to Injury Streak
A season rife with injuries took another discouraging turn for the Yankees on Saturday when they learned that Roger Clemens would miss his start in Chicago on Monday with a right groin injury.
Clemens was optimistic that he could return next weekend to face the Pittsburgh Pirates at Yankee Stadium. When Clemens called General Manager Brian Cashman during the early part of Saturday’s game, Cashman told him to report to Tampa, Fla., where the Yankees’ medical staff will evaluate him.
“If he was just about money, he would have showed up on Monday,” Cashman said. “He didn’t have to tell anybody anything. But he’s about what’s best for the team, and I respect and appreciate the fact that he understands the importance of the entire situation. Monday was a no-go.”
Cashman and Manager Joe Torre said that the left-hander Kei Igawa, who has spent nearly a month in the minors working on mechanics, is a strong candidate to start in Clemens’s place against the White Sox. Matt DeSalvo could also be recalled for the start now that Doug Mientkiewicz, who left Saturday’s game after a collision at first base in the seventh inning, is on the disabled list.
（以下略）