Posada likely headed to DL

by anaconda on Apr 8, 2008 8:50 PM EDT in News Comment 19 comments

As if today's lackluster performance wasn't bad enough, Pete Abe reports that Jorge Posada could be headed to the DL due to his nagging sore right shoulder.

He is scheduled to have an MRI in KC tomorrow.

It could be worse for Yankee fans. Wil Nieves could still be the primary backup catcher instead of Jose Molina.

[Note by anaconda, 04/08/08 10:41 PM EDT ]

Yikes. Derek Jeter could be joining Posada on the DL.

Chad Jennings reports that Alberto Gonzalez was pulled out of the game for Scranton tonight and just might be headed to KC to take Jeter's spot on the roster.

No matter how you look at it - today could not have gone much worse for our beloved Bronx Bombers.

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Personally

I'd play Arod at SS and Ensberg at 3B.
I considered writing a post about trading some of these excess bullpen arms for a player- Brandon Inge? Phillies' lefty starter Josh Outman (AA)?

I didn't write it because I didn't know who to target- or if I even thought it was necessary. If Posada hits the DL, I'd like a trade, but I think we have the personnel to cover for Jeter short-term.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Apr 8, 2008 11:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Who are the excess bullpen arms that the Yankees have to trade? After Joba and Mariano, that bullpen is pretty thin. Aren't the Yankees looking for bullpen help, rather than trading away bullpen arms? Unless we're talking about some really good young pitchers in the minors, do the Yankees have the "arms" to trade for someone like Inge?

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Apr 8, 2008 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Are you serious?

We have a glut of awesome potential bullpen arms in Scranton and Trenton. It's our greatest asset right now. If only we didn't have to give Farnsworth and Hawkins roster spots....

I wouldn't mind seeing Inge on the bench. Is Detroit still looking to unload him? And would he be willing to be backup catcher for us (he wasn't very gung-ho to go back behind the plate for Detroit)?

"If you lived in my grandfather's house...and you wanted to eat, you had to be a Yankees fan." --Joe Biden

by SenorSwanky on Apr 8, 2008 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Inge

The market for Inge (and Crede for that matter) never really developed. Inge is owed 19 million over the next 3 years, and the word on the street is that the Tiger's don't want to eat too much of that salary. For a 31 year old player with only one above average offensive year in his career (109 OPS+ in 2004), I think that price might be too steep.

As for our pen, Ohlendorf allowed 2 runs today, but is a rookie with a ton of potential. Albaladejo and Britton have had successful seasons with other teams, and are currently waiting for their turn in AAA (Jonny A pitched brilliantly in his September call up last season, while Britton was a major player in Baltimore in 2006 at 23, 53.2IP 1.17WHIP and 2.4 K/BB).

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Apr 9, 2008 12:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The right thing to do

is dictated by the players' conditions. I don't think we'll get frank reports, so it's hard to know what to do.

If these guys are going to be ok in a couple of weeks it's not time to panic. But if we're looking at a year largely without either or both, wel that will be bad.

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)

by Cbeck3 on Apr 8, 2008 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If it's a long-term

injury to Jeter, I would THINK about moving Arod to short. But for 4-5 games, we'd be opening a huge can of worms moving Arod. Because frankly, your best case scenario is that Arod just plays adequately. If he excels, then you've got a quarterback controversy, so to speak. If he sucks, then it could get in his head and upset his batting.

I always feel pressure. What I don't have is fear. -- El Duque

by LateInningRelief on Apr 9, 2008 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He could also

get creamed at second base trying to turn a double play by a Shelley Duncan-type.

I'd leave him right where he is.

"Just when they think they got all the answers, I change the questions."
-- Roddy Piper

by matthaggs on Apr 9, 2008 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Me too

I don't think it's wise to trade arms this early into the campaign unless their names are Pavano, Igawa and possibly Farnsworth. I also wouldn't call what we have as excess. We've got enough arms, but we also have alittle wear on the tires. Mussina, Pettitte, Mo, could all get hurt in the cold, or just getting out of bed. We need to keep the arms right where they are.

Inge so isn't the answer. He's barely a .240 hitter who strikes out 120+ times a year and enjoys a "robust" .305 OBP. That coupled with his gloomy .975 fielding average makes him downright scary. True he can fill some roles (of, 3b, c, 1b) but he's not very good in any of them.

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Apr 9, 2008 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Arod and Jorge

I totally agree with the moving Arod idea. he is by far the best option to play ss and it will give us much more lineup flexibility

Regarding Posada...correct me if Im wrong but I believe this would be the first trip to the DL of his career...pretty impressive for an everyday catcher

"I want to thank the Good Lord for making me a Yankee"

by ISG on Apr 8, 2008 11:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The team will weather this storm

Arod should stay right where he is and Gonzalez should take SS for the next couple weeks. He's a good fielder and has speed. Betemit, on the other hand, has been awful at the plate and shakey on the field. Keep his ass on the bench, please.

We should consider ourselves very lucky to have Molina as a backup. Not the greatest hitter, but he is a good backstop.

Remember, Jeter was out 40 games in '03 and we still made the WS. No worries.

by docgonzo on Apr 9, 2008 12:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This

is bad. But not as bad as Chris Britton, Tyler Clippard, Matt DeSalvo, Colter Bean, Carl Pavano, Kei Igawa, Chase Wright, Ron Villone, Sean Henn, Darrel Rasner, and Jeff Karstens taking the hill for us. Our pitchers are waaaaayyyy better this year. We all know we have to grow with the Three Amigos, which could take 3 years. But I'd rather them go out on the hill and stink up the joint rather than the aforementioned shmos. Our pen still looks tight regardless of O's hiccup this afternoon. Besides those 2 runs he showed good breaking stuff and was able to put away hitters with the tight slider. He will be a very large asset, I agree with others that he shows set-up potential. Him getting 3 inn shows Joe's confidence in him. Even if

Jorge and Jete are out for a month a pop, this team still has talent loaded. And I would expect the players who have started out sluggishly would pick up the slack big time. If Pettite continues to be what we need him to be, Moose performs better than last year, and Wanger progresses accordingly to him entering his physical prime we should be A-OK till this team gets going right around mid-May.

by ProudYankee on Apr 9, 2008 1:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Regarding the schedule

If we can go 13-8 over the next 21 we should be ecstatic. What record do you guys think would be sufficient through this stretch?

by ProudYankee on Apr 9, 2008 1:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'd be happy with a .500 record through April

Considering the nasty Midwest weather, a lot of tough series (BOS twice, CLE, DET, and SEA), three weeks without a day off, and now the injuries to Jeter and Posada - I'd be thrilled to see them at .500 on May 1st.

If they can do that, they should be in good shape the rest of the season.

by anaconda on Apr 9, 2008 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't see why

the team can't be above .500 with Jeter out. The other bats will come around, as bats usually do when they slump at the outset. And given that the pitching - sans IPK's outing - hasn't been too bad, I think they can definitely be hovering near first place once Jeter and Posada come back. Again, Jeter was out 40 games in '03 and we were fine.

by docgonzo on Apr 9, 2008 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re:

In 2003, the starting pitching was much stronger than the current group.

The rotation had four pitchers (Clemens, Pettitte, Wells and a very good Moose) who ate 200+ IP that season and a fifth starter who ate 159 IP (Weaver).

That's a major crutch for a ball club which allows them to overcome key injuries and any weaknesses in the bullpen.

I love watching Hughes and Kennedy develop before our eyes, but the offense isn't going to be able to overcome as many bumps as having four horses in the rotation did in 2003.

by anaconda on Apr 9, 2008 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Panic???

What's with the panic? Boston is struggling. Our pitching is strong. We haven't started hitting (outside of Abreu and Matsui) and it's freaking cold outside. This isn't a time to pull out the Festivus Pole and air our grievances. We are sitting pretty considering.

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Apr 9, 2008 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not panicking at all

My point is simply that they will be in good shape if they hover around .500 for the month.

By then, the weather will warm up, the offense will start to mash, the kids will continue to improve, and the toughest month of the season will be in the past.

And hopefully, the injuries to Posada and Jeter will have healed.

Not panicking at all - just trying to view this stretch realistically.

by anaconda on Apr 9, 2008 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs