Access the Yankees beat like never before Don’t miss Greg Joyce’s text messages from The Bronx and beyond — he’s giving Sports+ subscribers the inside buzz on the Yankees. Sign Up Now The countdown is on for Clarke Schmidt’s return, and it could end around this time next year. Schmidt was forced to undergo Tommy John surgery July 11, but according to the Yankees pitcher, the injury could have been worse. “Tommy John, it’s kind of an umbrella term these days,” Schmidt said prior to the Yankees’ 4-2 loss to the Rays on Monday . “Everything that I’ve been informed of, it’s kind of the best case of Tommy John, so around a year [recovery], like 11 to 12 months.” Schmidt said the surgeons did not need