New York Yankees News: The Injury Bug

by Lord Duggan on Jul 10, 2011 6:00 AM EDT in New York Yankees News

Mood Music - Clair de Lune from the 1940 Fantasia

Everybody is hurt. There is a risk that you take when you field a veteran team, a risk that the New York Yankees have largely avoided the past few years. Whether it is due to an excellent medical staff, a conscientious group of guys, or just dumb luck, the Yankees have managed to avoid the huge injury losses that can derail a season a la the 2011 Twins or the 2010 (and possibly 2011) Red Sox. The last really huge injury that I can think of was Chien-Ming Wang.

But now, Alex Rodriguez has a meniscus tear, the same injury that CC Sabathia had corrected during the offseason. Quoth the Hefty Lefty:

"It was tough, but it was different for me. I cover first maybe once every other game. He's out there, diving for balls, trying to drive balls, running the bases. I can only imagine how different it is. But it's painful."

Also, an ailing left quad has left Nick Swisher out of the lineup for the last few days, but he hopes to return soon. Add Swisher's name to the aforementioned A-Rod, Rafael Soriano, Joba Chamberlain, Bartolo Colon, Derek Jeter, Eric Chavez, Phil Hughes, etc. who have had issues staying on the field.

No one is going to feel sorry for us, nor should they, but the backups, bench players, and AAA guys had all better be ready to jump into a pennant race.

Tweet Comment 8 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

x

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on Jul 10, 2011 8:45 AM EDT reply actions

Ya know,

it’s getting beyond stupid trying to figure out why he hasn’t seen any Major League action.
What the hell is going on with our front office? The recent additions of has beens to the pitching staff and the non callups of Montero and Chato are baffling moves.
They got some splainin’ to do to us fans.

I bet it's good to be playing again, huh?

by david d on Jul 10, 2011 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions

to be kind of sort of fair

Chato isn’t very good in the field, so they may see him as a DH primarily since Tex is Tex, and even in his 3 hoofed state, ARDO is still an excellent 3B. Nunez is better then him as well defensively and obviously more then adequate hitting the pill.

Montero is a good catcher, but while Russel Martin stinks at the plate right now, he’s probably the best defensive catcher they’ve had since I’ve been watching the Yankees.

At this point there’s no glaring hole where they could fit since they’d basically be 2010 Pissant’ing with their corner IF/C/DH rotation

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on Jul 10, 2011 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Yet with all these injuries

The Yankees are a game out. They’ve done a nice job battling so far and hopefully they keep it up.

A-Rod needs to get the surgery. Yes, it’s upsetting to me that the 30 HR and 100 RBI streak will likely come to an end if he opts to go under the knife, but if he can’t have that explosion that he needs to hit home runs then he’s not getting there anyways (at least not the 30 HR part). Right now, what we’ve seen from A-Rod over the last two weeks is what we’re going to get. Every once in a while if he’s in a good count, he may be able to guess on a pitch and cheat a little bit and get a hold of one. But otherwise he’ll be a singles hitter. He’s hitting cleanup because he’s a consistent 30+ home run threat every year and is a threat to go deep every time he steps up to the plate. And right now, that isn’t the case. Get the surgery and then be the hitter you are supposed to be when you come back.

Oh, and some guy named Jesus Montero is in the minor leagues. He may be a nice bat to have in the lineup regardless of A-Rod’s decision.

CALL UP JESUS MONTERO!

by nyyrocks29 on Jul 10, 2011 10:13 AM EDT reply actions

I disagree

He needs to wait till the end of the season if the Yankees plan on making the post season. 100% or not, this lineup is affected by his presence and I think our ability to score will drop markedly. He can DH against lefties and play third in the games against righties and get a day off once a week in between, He doesn’t really risk any further injury by playing. On the other hand, if it means we’ll actually get to see Montero get called up…

I bet it's good to be playing again, huh?

by david d on Jul 10, 2011 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions

probably not

We may see Laird or Vazquez, but I doubt we see Jesus. They’re not moving Martin to 3B.

When Montero comes up, he needs to be a catcher. And while Martin is the starting catcher on this team, Montero isn’t seeing the majors until his cup of coffee in September unless he is traded.

CALL UP JESUS MONTERO!

by nyyrocks29 on Jul 10, 2011 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions

For what he's doing right now

Nunez will hit just as well as A-Rod, probably better. He’s probably the only hitter on the team aside from Cano that can turn around a 95+mph fastball with no problem.

A-Rod’s not A-Rod right now. But if he gets the surgery and comes back at the end of August, he might just be A-Rod again.

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on Jul 10, 2011 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions

and as for A-Rod

I know that he doesn’t risk further injury by playing. So it comes down to what Alex and the Yankees think will help the team more.

An A-Rod who is at 60% offensively with his biggest strength as a hitter (his power) completely diminished for the rest of the year, or an A-Rod who is at 100% offensively, with time to rest his knee, shoulder and his hips to come back for August and September and be the threat he’s always been in his career.

Alex Rodriguez is a cleanup hitter, and again the reason he hits in that spot is because of how big a HR threat he is at all times. And right now he’s a singles hitter. Thats not what I want come playoff time.

CALL UP JESUS MONTERO!

by nyyrocks29 on Jul 10, 2011 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions