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Has Mark Teixeira found his cough culprit?

Doctor's visit reveals nerve damage in vocal cords
06/07/2012 6:00 PM ET
By Lou DiPietro
For the second straight day, Yankees injuries were the big topic during Joe Girardi’s pregame media sessions – and once again, it was encouraging news across the board.

Perhaps the most comforting news (somewhat) came via Mark Teixeira, who finally learned the cause of the lingering cough that has bothered him almost all season.

After a visit to an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist at Columbia Hospital Thursday morning, the Yankees first baseman was diagnosed with nerve damage to one of his vocal cords.

“It was really good news for me,'' Teixeira said. “We think we found the reason for all of this. It kind of puts my mind at ease.''

Teixeira was told that the symptoms could persist for as long as a year, but was given medication that he will take for two weeks before being re-evaluated.

Still, even with his voice not 100 percent and the cough still lingering, the Gold Glover feels he should be able to continue playing through it.

As for players who are on the Disabled List, outfielder Brett Gardner took batting practice on Thursday, and will begin a rehab assignment on Friday at Class-A Charleston. Gardner was originally slated to begin his rehab Thursday in Tampa, but was held out due to inclement weather.

He had reported some lingering stiffness in his elbow after batting practice Wednesday, but Girardi said that wasn’t something the team didn’t expect, and then on Thursday confirmed that Gardner’s rehab re-route was strictly weather related.

As for David Robertson, he threw 25 pitches in batting practice at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, and all seemed well immediately after the session. The team will decide if he should throw another BP session or move to rehab games this weekend, a scenario Girardi first discussed in Wednesday’s media conference.

There was one injury update, however, that the skipper was unaware of: that of Joba Chamberlain, who Tweeted on Thursday that he’s ready to begin throwing off a mound again.

“Update for everyone! Bullpen tomorrow, 1 step closer!! Thank u for all the support!!,” Chamberlain Tweeted on Thursday morning, exactly 12 weeks to the day after he suffered a dislocated ankle in a trampoline mishap.

That status was news to Girardi, who then joked about the media’s knowledge of that before his.

“Let me know how he does,” the skipper quipped.

Follow Lou DiPietro on Twitter: @LouDiPietroYES

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