TORONTO -- The New York Yankees were still waiting for test
results Tuesday that could explain why slugger Jason Giambi has
been feeling so weak.
A team spokesperson told ESPN that there is no timetable for when Giambi's test results, which might explain why he's been
feeling so weak for months, would be released.
"The evaluation is not yet complete. Further information will
be provided when it's available," said team spokesman Rick
Cerrone, who didn't think anything would be released after Tuesday
night's game against Toronto.
Giambi, sidelined earlier this season because of an intestinal
parasite, played down a report Monday that he was being checked for
a parasite that can cause a potentially fatal condition.
"We're not in a third-world country, so we have medication,"
Giambi said.
Giambi's trainer, Bob Alejo, told the Newark Star-Ledger that
the All-Star first baseman is being tested for a dangerous parasite
called entamoeba histolytica.
According to Alejo's account in the newspaper, the parasite can cause a potentially fatal condition called amebiasis and can embed itself in the intestinal lining, making it undetectable except by specific tests.
Giambi met Tuesday with Dr. Scott Hammer, an infectious disease specialist at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York.
"I want to see what this guy says before we make any
decisions," Giambi said Monday before the Yankees' victory in Toronto. "All these tests have been run, and he's going to look them over."
The first baseman was tested for cancer and for HIV in the past week -- both with negative results -- according to the Star-Ledger.
Giambi, 33, missed six of New York's previous seven
games. He is hitting just .221 with 11 homers and 36 RBI. The 2000
AL MVP, who did not start in eight straight games from June 26 to
July 4 because of the parasite, is in an 0-for-21 slump.
"When I was playing, I was thinking I was just going to gut it
out, but I'm obviously not going in that direction," Giambi said.
"I feel a little bit better than when I first got diagnosed with
it, but it's just not close to the level I want to be at and the
team needs me to be at."
Teammate Kevin Brown has been sidelined since June 9 with a
lower back spasm and an intestinal parasite, but could return
Friday if a bullpen session goes well Wednesday.
"We're just fighting to get back," Giambi said.
Tony Clark started at first base in place of Giambi again on
Tuesday night.
Torre said the team was waiting to
learn more about Giambi's condition before deciding whether he should return to the DL.
There is concern that the slugger might have to sit out the remainder of the season to rest, the Star-Ledger reported.
"We still don't know anything more than we did two days ago,"
Torre said. "We'll be getting more of the tests back tomorrow and
then we'll leave it to the medical people."
Torre said Giambi still feels weak.
"Jason doesn't feel like doing anything. It's not that he
doesn't want to, it's just that he doesn't feel like it," Torre
said.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.