Anthony Volpe postgame quote makes it clear Yankees have serious injury worry

The second any athlete says they felt a body part "pop" on an injury they've just sustained, that person should be pulled from the game. For whatever reason, the Yankees examined Anthony Volpe after his scary headlong dive, left him in a one-run contest, and let him make the error that ultimately polished off Saturday's loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Yankees allowed fans to feel an inning and a half's worth of injury zen by leaving Volpe in the game, but that bubble was quickly and officially popped after he was left in the on deck circle at the conclusion of the ninth inning.

After the 3-2 loss, Volpe noted that he felt fine swinging a bat, and had already had an X-Ray that checked out clean. Unfortunately, he has yet to have an MRI, and will likely have to be examined Sunday after admitting that he felt a "pop" in his shoulder.

It could've been a temporary dislocation. It could be a scare. It could be a labrum. It could be awful. It's probably awful.

Where do Yankees turn after shortstop Anthony Volpe felt a "pop" on latest injury?

The Yankees were thin in the infield before Jazz Chisholm went down with a high-grade oblique strain. Their preseason third base depth chart was laughable before they sustained any injuries. Now, they may have more glaring holes at both second and short, making Oswaldo Cabrera and his top-of-the-American-League OBP at the position (seriously, he's fluctuating between second and third with Isaac Paredes) look like a comparative strength.

Quite simply, the Yankees are not equipped to deal with any Volpe absence, short- or long-term. DJ LeMahieu is still working his way through rehab. Pablo Reyes is hardly functional. Jorbit Vivas has a lot to prove, and he's already been installed. A LeMahieu-Cabrera-Vivas infield is a far cry from contention. Much like the Gerrit Cole injury in spring, there's no replacing this one. Losing Volpe is losing a piece of your core - yes, even though he's been a roller coaster, at times, to begin the season.

Hopefully, the Yankees get good news between now and Sunday. Otherwise, they'll have to learn a lesson from Volpe: grit your teeth, bear it, and stay in the game.