David Robertson is back with the Yankees, but not all the way back, not until Friday when he is officially reinstated to the active roster. But that is just a formality; both Robertson and Joe Girardi said he has passed the final hurdle to return to action when the Yankees travel to Washington, D.C. for a three-game series with the Nationals this weekend.

"I'm glad I'm finally going to be able to come back,'' Robertson said. "I feel like I've been gone forever.'

Girardi said Robertson would be activated on Friday "unless he wakes up and takes a box or something down the stairs.'' (You see, the manager was being funny about the freak foot injury Robertson suffered in spring training).

Robertson, who went on the DL May 14 with a strained left oblique, will resume the set-up role he performed for Mariano Rivera, only now for Rafael Soriano."

"We'll see how it all pans out in the end,'' Robertson said. "Other than that, I'm just glad to be here."

How glad? Earlier in the day, Robertson -- or should I said @drob30 -- tweeted: "I'm finally back!!! Never knew I could miss a group of guys so much. Reunited and it feels so goooood!''

Nice of him to feel that way about the beat writers. We missed him, too.