Girardi slams Blue Jays' training facility after sending Tanaka back to New York

Injured right-hander Masahiro Tanaka was sent back to New York on Saturday to continue his rehab program, and manager Joe Girardi suggests it's due to inferior training facilities at Rogers Centre.

The team announced Tanaka would return to New York two days ahead of the Yankees, who wrap up a three-game series in Toronto on Sunday. Tanaka has been rehabbing his partially torn elbow ligament in anticipation of returning to a major-league mound this season. 

One day after admitting the rookie preferred to work out at Yankee Stadium as he deals with general arm soreness, Girardi sounded off on reporters who questioned why he would travel north of the border in the first place.

From the Canadian Press, via Sportsnet:

"The facilities are better there and that’s why we sent him back," said Girardi. "I know you get upset but, I mean, I told you why we did it. We’re not hiding anything."

When a reporter insisted that they weren’t upset, but that they thought it was an unusual move, Girardi became more animated.

"Has anyone seen the weight room? It’s about as big as this area we’re in right now, this little room," said Girardi, gesturing to the crowded visitors’ dugout. "It doesn’t have a SwimEx. It doesn’t have all the modalities. I mean, I told you, I’m concerned about him. I am concerned about him.

"We just felt it was more productive for him to be there."

Tanaka is scheduled to play catch for the next several days with a mound session targeted for Thursday.