Baseball Toaster: Bronx Banter : Aches and Pains

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How About That! by Stephen Borelli
The Crowd Sounds Happy by Nicholas Dawidoff
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Clemente by David Maraniss
The Soul of Baseball by Joe Posnanaski
Glenn Stout and Richard A. Johnson:
Yankee Century: Part 1 Part 2
Red Sox Century: 1 2 3 4
The Dodgers: 120 Years of Dodgers Baseball

Players

Major Leauge Roster:

Infielders:
J. Giambi BR BP E MLB
R. Cano BR BP E MLB
D. Jeter BR BP E MLB
A. Rodriguez BR BP E MLB
W. Betemit BR BP E MLB mi
C. Ransom BR BP E MLB mi
J. Miranda BR BC mi

Outfielders:
B. Abreu BR BP E MLB
J. Damon BR BP E MLB
X. Nady BR BP E MLB
H. Matsui BR BP E MLB mi
B. Gardner BR E MLB mi
M. Cabrera BR BP E MLB mi

Catchers:
I. Rodriguez BR BP E MLB
J. Molina BR BP E MLB
C. Moeller BR BP E MLB mi
F. Cervelli BR BC mi

Starting Pitchers:
M. Mussina BR BP BC E
A. Pettitte (L) BR BP BC E
P. Hughes BR BP BC E mi
C. Pavano BR BP BC E mi
A. Aceves BR E mi

Relief Pitchers:
M. Rivera BR BP BC E
J. Chamberlain BR BP BC E
D. Marte (L) BR BP BC E
J. Veras BR BP BC E mi
E. Ramirez BR BP BC E mi
B. Bruney BR BP BC E mi
D. Giese BR BP BC E mi
C. Britton BR BP BC E mi
P. Coke (L) BR BC E mi
D. Rasner BR BP BC E mi
S. Ponson BR BP BC E mi
D. Robertson BR BC E mi
H. Sanchez BC mi

15-day DL:
C. Wang BR BP BC E
60-day DL:
J. Posada BR BP E MLB
J. Albaladejo BR BP BC E mi
A. Brackman BC

Coaches:
J. Girardi (Mgr) BR BP BC
R. Thomson (Bench) BC
Kevin Long (Hit) BR
D. Eiland (Pitch) BR BP BC
B. Meacham (3B) BR BP BC
T. Peña (1B) BR BP BC
M. Harkey (Pen) BR BP BC

40-man Roster:
AAA
S. Duncan BR BP E MLB mi
J. Christian BR BP E MLB mi
I. Kennedy BR BP BC E mi
C. Wright (L) BR BP BC E mi
J. Marquez BR BC mi

Designated for Assignment:
B. Traber (L) BR BP BC E mi

Select Minor Leaguers:

AAA Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees:
B. Castro BR mi DL
C. Basak BR BP BC E MLB mi
E. Duncan BC mi
N. Green BR mi
B. Broussard BR mi
M. Carson BC mi
C. Stewart BR BP E MLB mi
J. Brown BC mi DL
K. Igawa (L) BR BP BC E JB mi
M. Melancon BC mi
J.B. Cox BC mi
S. Strickland BR BC mi
S. Jackson BC mi
E. Milton BR BC mi DL
V. Zambrano BR BC mi DL

AA Trenton Thunder:
K. Russo BR mi
R. Peña BC mi DL
C. Malec BC mi
M. Vechionacci BC mi DL
A. Jackson BC mi
C. Curtis BC mi
E. Gonzalez BR mi
P.J. Pilittere BC mi
J. Jones BC mi
G. Kontos BC mi
J. Nuñez BC mi
B. Smith BC mi DL
A. Claggett BC mi
O. Perez BR BC mi
M. Gardner BC mi
K. Whelan BC mi
W. Arias (L) BC mi

A Tampa Yankees:
E. Nuñez BC mi
C.J. Henry BC mi DL
T. Battle BC mi
K. Anson BC mi
J. Gil BC mi
A. Horne BC mi DL
Z. McAllister BC mi
W. De La Rosa (L) BC mi
C. Garcia BC mi

Low-A Charleston RiverDogs:
J. Snyder BC mi
M. Cusick BC mi
B. Suttle BC mi
A. Romine BC mi
J. Montero BC mi
D. Betances BC mi
J. Heredia BC mi
J. Ortiz BC mi
C. Heyer BC mi

Low-A Staten Island Yankees:
D. Adams mi
P. Venditte mi

Rookie Gulf Coast Yankees:
C. Joseph mi
C. Smith mi
K. Higashioka mi

Key:
BR = Baseball-Reference
BP = Baseball Prospectus
BC = Baseball Cube (past mL stats)
mi = MiLB.com (current mL stats)
E = ESPN (current splits, game logs)
MLB = MLB.com hit charts
JB = Japanese Baseball.com

The Recently Departed

2008 Yankees:
R. Sexson BR BP E MLB
M. Ensberg BR BP E MLB CLE mL
A. Gonzalez BR BP E MLB mi WAS
K. Farnsworth BR BP BC E DET
L. Hawkins BR BP BC E HOU
S. Patterson BR BC mi SD

Nady/Marte Trade:
J. Tabata BC mi
J. Karstens BR BP BC E mi
R. Ohlendorf BR BP BC E
D. McCutchen BC mi

2008 Campers/mLers:
C. Woodward BR BP BC E MLB PHI mL
J. Lane BR mi BOS mL
G. Porter BC mi WAS mL
J.D. Closser BR mi SD mL
S. Henn (L) BR BP BC E mi SD
H. Phillips (L) BR BC mi TB mL
S. White BR BC mi

2007 Yankees:
J. Torre (Mgr) BR BP BC LAD
D. Mientkiewicz BR BP BC E MLB PIT
A. Phillips BR BP BC E MLB mi CIN
J. Phelps BR BP BC E MLB STL
M. Cairo BR BP BC E MLB SEA
K. Thompson BR BP BC E MLB mi PIT
B. Sardinha BC mi SEA mL
W. Nieves BR BP BC E MLB WAS
R. Clemens BR BP BC E mi
T. Clippard BR BP BC E mi WAS
L. Vizcaino BR BP BC E COL $7.5m/2yrs
M. DeSalvo BR BP BC E mi ATL mL
M. Myers (L) BR BP BC E LAD mL
R. Villone (L) BR BP BC E mi STL
S. Proctor BR BP BC E LAD
J. Brower BR BP BC E mi CIN mL
C. Bean BR BP BC E mi ATL mL

2007 Campers and mLers:
E. Durazo BR BP BC E MLB mi
A. Cannizaro BR BP BC E MLB mi TB mL
A. Chavez BR BP BC E MLB mi LAD mL
K. Reese BR BP BC E MLB mi
R. Chavez BR BP BC E MLB mi PIT mL
O. Santos BC mi BAL mL
T. Pratt BR BP BC E MLB
T.J. Beam BR BP BC E mi PIT mL
B. Kozlowski (L) BR BP BC E mi Japan

Molina Trade:
J. Kennard BC mi

Abreu Trade
M. Smith (L) BR BP BC E mi PHI
C. Monasterios BC mi PHI
J. Sanchez mi PHI

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Aches and Pains

2007-02-26 22:11

by Cliff Corcoran

Now that everyone's been in camp for a week and games are set to start in a couple of days, the aches and pains are piling up. Steven White's neck strain turned out to be nothing. Brian Bruney experienced a stabbing pain on his left side (or back, depending on the source), but an MRI came back negative and he should be back in action shortly.

More problematically, Humberto Sanchez experienced tightness near his right elbow and stiffness in his right forearm, as well as a throbbing sensation. His MRI revealed some inflammation, but no structural damage. Still, any such discomfort is troubling given Sanchez's history of elbow problems.

Speaking of injury histories, Carl "Heavy Legs" Pavano was hit on the left instep by an Alberto Gonzalez line drive during batting practice on Saturday. His MRI revealed a bone bruise. Pavano threw 27 pitches in his BP session after getting hit with the comebacker and Joe Torre considers the injury a non-issue. The proof will be in the pitching as Pavano's scheduled to throw a bullpen session today, then another on Thursday to put him on pace to start the Yankees' fourth exhibition game on Sunday.

Finally, as Alex has already reported below, Bobby Abreu will miss at least half of the Yankees' exhibition schedule after having strained his right oblique muscle during batting practice yesterday. Apparently Abreu felt a tweak in his right side, but kept hitting, resulting in a worse injury than if he had cut his BP session short. Abreu will be unable to hit or throw while recuperating, but should be ready for Opening Day, though the pace of healing on oblique injuries is often hard to predict. Still, even this injury should prove to be ultimately insignificant. Rather, it's Sanchez that bears the closest watching right now.

For those wondering, Cashman and Torre have both ruled out the possibility of Bernie Williams coming to camp given the playing time made available by Abreu's injury. As well they should, Melky and the Kevins will fill in just fine. Oh, and Johnny Damon took a couple of personal days away from camp. He's back now. Nothing to see there.

Today the Yankees will play their intrasquad game. Last year this turned into a pivotal event in the season as Jorge Posada creamed a Mike Mussina changeup, then taught Moose how to better disguise the pitch, leading to a 7-1, 2.42 ERA start for Mussina. Today's intrasquad hurlers are less prominent, with only Kei Igawa appearing from the projected rotation.

Comments

2007-02-27 02:17:44

1. Ryan Armbrust

"Melky and the Kevins" sounds like a band from a bad 80's movie made up of a hip alien visitor and the two nerds who found him in their backyard.

2007-02-27 04:47:01

2. Yu-Hsing Chen

Yeah we shoulda soooo traded Melky for Mike Gonzalez!!!

2007-02-27 04:53:34

3. mikeplugh

Can't wait to see Iggy in action.

2007-02-27 05:12:46

4. Raf

Didn't Rondell White have an oblique strain (among other issues)? Hard to believe that he was actually a Yankee, it seems so long ago.

2007-02-27 05:34:54

5. Sliced Bread

4 Ron DL White.

3 Me either.

2 Sarcasm on!

1 And remember the big tall bully character who administered the "double flag pole wedgie" on the Kevins was named "Brian Bruney" (played by Tim Robbins if I recall correctly).

2007-02-27 05:38:33

6. Knuckles

We're fortunate that this Abreu injury happened so early in the Spring, giving him plenty of time to rest up and try and get ready for Opening Day. And of all the people this could have happened to, Abreu's probably one of the more favorable choices, for a numberr of reasons:
1) He's a veteran with his job locked up
2) Abreu's a professional hitter, and his batting eye is not going to suffer even if his swing shows up a little later, unlike someone like Cano
3) Maybe gives Melky some more A-squad playing time heading into the season

I'm off to Tampa in a couple of days- looks like I'll be seeing Moose and Pettitte pitch. One of the games we're attending is an 'away' game at the Devil Rays in St. Pete- anyone been to their spring training base?

2007-02-27 06:17:15

7. rbj

Oh boy oh boy oh boy, intrasqud game! (Can you tell I'm really starved for baseball.)

2007-02-27 06:33:02

8. Shaun P

4 There was a point in time when Rondell White would have been a great addition to the Yanks. 2002 was not it, sadly.

6 I drove by whatever they now call Al Lang field a few years ago; it looked like a decent place to watch a game. I think its been slightly remodeled since then though. IIRC, the Yanks held Spring Training there back in the 30s.

2007-02-27 06:46:09

9. YankeeInMichigan

7 I'm so starved for baseball that I actually enjoyed listening to a rebroadcast of ALDS Game 3 on a Detroit radio station last week.

2007-02-27 07:24:09

10. Yankee Fan In Boston

3 i second that emotion.

2007-02-27 07:30:51

11. Chyll Will

Et tu, Moadel?

Anyone notice the smaller Lasik surgery ads in the papers touting Jason Giambi? Looks as though he has lasers shooting OUT of his eyes and not in.

Hmm, I wonder why he changed that ad...

2007-02-27 07:32:53

12. Chyll Will

3 I've got the notion.

2007-02-27 07:52:03

13. Bama Yankee

12 So I'd like to know where, you got the notion.

2007-02-27 08:08:28

14. rbj

9 Fox Sports Ohio (Cleveland edition) showed the August 31, 2004 game last month. As much as I missed baseball, I wasn't going to sit through that Britney-Spearsesque trainwreck.

2007-02-27 08:36:04

15. C2Coke

14 Did you absolutely "have to" compared the Yankees to what's her name?

2007-02-27 08:45:33

16. Chyll Will

13 Sailing on a ship on the ocean to never-never land with a dream and the wind to carry me (and a bag of psychoalphadiscothetabioaquadulicious M&Ms)

2007-02-27 08:46:57

17. Chyll Will

15 Karinne Garcia?

2007-02-27 09:06:56

18. Cliff Corcoran

16 that's psychoalphadisco*b*eta . . .

2007-02-27 09:11:25

19. Chyll Will

18 Okay, but I don't like beta... (except for Toaster*, of course)

2007-02-27 09:39:58

20. rbj

15C2Coke, for that game, yes. Both showed absolutely no talent, and an utterly painful downward spiral.

2007-02-27 10:36:34

21. Bama Yankee

15 & 20 Plus, IIRC, after that game didn't Javy Vazquez shave his head and Tanyon Sturtze attack the Indian's team bus with an umbrella? All the while, Esteban Loaiza was heard singing "Hit me baby one more time" in the showers...

2007-02-27 10:37:21

22. Shaun P

14 The Yankee games NESN consents to show are ones that I prefer to never see again. I'm sure you all understand why.

Meanwhile, I keep refreshing Pete Abraham's fantastic blog for the updates he's giving on the intrasquad game.

2007-02-27 11:05:24

23. rbj

22 Aha, so that's why I'm getting so many error messages there; too many people hitting it at the same time.

21 LOL.

2007-02-27 11:28:59

24. Yu-Hsing Chen

From the sound of it Iggy did just fine, facing the minimum 6 hitter through 2 inning of work, only letting Brett "white Juan Pierre" Gardner get on in a infield single (and then induced a double play) granted this was against kids. but hey it's a nice start.

2007-02-27 12:11:52

25. Shaun P

19 Hey Chyll, remember your 'bad journalism' list? I've got a name, and I've got an article, that proves what a bad job he do(es):

Murray Chass; read the last couple of paragraphs in http://tinyurl.com/3y9m23.

2007-02-27 12:19:49

26. Zack

Anyone else feel that every day there is a new picture of DM and an headline article about the Red Sox on ESPN? I feel like they aren't even pretending anymore...

2007-02-27 12:54:41

27. YankeeInMichigan

24 Igawa will be on ESPN Monday against Detroit. Our cafeteria generally has ESPN playing non-stop, so I for one will be taking a late lunch that day. (Of course, this year I'll have to maintain a humble profile among the Tiger fans.)

2007-02-27 13:08:30

28. rbj

25 email that link to the fine folks at firejoemorgan.com

They eat that stuff up for breakfast. Lawd o'mighty, I don't want to know how good a player is vs. an average player.

2007-02-27 13:14:57

29. Chyll Will

25 I'm afraid to look, but oh well...

2007-02-27 13:26:34

30. Peter

25 There I was, nodding my head in agreement with most everything he was writing and then BAM! I felt like I was whacked across the head with the ignorance bat by that last bullet point.

2007-02-27 14:02:20

31. Shaun P

30 I too almost felt like I liked Murray (for something other than his stance on baseball's labor history) and then - what?!

28 I can't take credit; I followed the link from Jay Jaffe's post at BP Unfiltered. Can't wait to see what the FJM guys do with that one, though.

The worst part of all, as Jay alluded to - Chass has a Hall of Fame vote as a member of the BBNewspaperWAA AND a Veterans Committee vote as a Spink Award winner (2003). Sigh.

2007-02-27 14:37:06

32. dianagramr

Ron Santo is still having a better day that Gary Matthews Jr.

http://tinyurl.com/34kz2p

"A downtown pharmacy was raided by a law enforcement task force on Tuesday, the climax of a large New York state grand jury investigation into Internet drug sales that could expose widespread illicit steroid use by professional athletes and thousands of people across the nation."

"The Times Union has learned that investigators in the year-old case, which has been kept quiet until now, uncovered evidence that testosterone and other performance-enhancing drugs may have been fraudulently prescribed over the Internet to current and former Major League Baseball players ...."

"The customers include Los Angeles Angels center fielder Gary Matthews Jr., according to sources with knowledge of the investigation."

2007-02-27 15:30:45

33. standuptriple

32 Hope the Halos put some "Barry Bonds language" in GM Jr's contract.

2007-02-27 16:26:42

34. thelarmis

31 well, FJM already got a hold of it and Junior over there did a terrific job with it, as expected!

2007-02-27 17:12:12

35. Knuckles

I for one, think it's refreshing that the Chasshole took a break from praising the Red Sox and/or slamming the Yanks to show the rest of the country truly how out of touch he is.

Can I rant a little bit about the Times' baseball coverage again?

When I go to my ESPN Local age for the Yanks each day (apologies to Alex, who also nails the major links), it generally looks like this:

-Post: Yanks article subject A
-Post: Yanks article subject B
-Post: Yanks article subject C
-Post: Yanks column subj A/B/C
-Post: Yanks column subj A/B/C
-Newsday: Yanks article subject A
-Newsday: Yanks article subject B
-Newsday: Yanks article subject C
-Newsday: Yanks column subj A/B/C
-Newsday: Yanks column subj A/B/C
-Daily News: Yanks article subject A
-Daily News: Yanks article subject B
-Daily News: Yanks article subject C
-Daily News: Yanks column subj A/B/C
-Daily News: Yanks column subj A/B/C
-Ledger: Yanks article subject A
-Ledger: Yanks article subject B
-Ledger: Yanks article subject C
-Ledger: Yanks column subj A/B/C
-Ledger: Yanks column subj A/B/C
-Times: RED SOX ARTICLE E
-Times: ANTI YANKS SLANTED ARTICLE K
-Times: IRRELEVANT BASEBALL COLUMN Z

2007-02-27 17:55:00

36. yankz

Our boys are actually playing games! Where they keep score and everything! I am SO PUMPED!

2007-02-27 19:15:26

37. Jeteupthemiddle

If anyone wants to project Kei Igawa's season, feel free to do so at my blog, so I can get a community projection. :)

jeteupthemiddle.blogspot.com

2007-02-27 19:30:35

38. Jim Dean

I'm not sure if anyone caught it, but Cairo played in the OF. And Tea justified it by saying they previously thought of him as an emergency but he's has alot of experiencce out there and they didn't want to use all their players today.

Please, God, it's too early for this.

2007-02-27 20:17:07

39. Raf

33 Given that they were stupid enough to sign him to that contract in the first place, probably not.

2007-02-27 20:43:20

40. BklynBmr

7 9 I'm with ya. A simple boxscore will hold off the beast for me today. Where can I get one? ;-)

35 You nailed it, Knuckles. That's about the order of my daily reading list, with the exception of ESPN. They're dead to me.

For Yanks fans in the SF Bay Area who might have missed it: Giants tickets go on sale to the public this Saturday (March 3rd) at 10AM, but here's a link to their online only VISA promo where you can buy 'em starting at 10AM to midnight on Friday (VISA cards only accepted for this):

http://tinyurl.com/37asxo

Lefty O'Douls, here we come...