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A Gem and Some Gloomy News
2008-04-27 16:53
by Alex Belth

Oh, man, Sunday was fun if you enjoy a good, old-fashioned pitcher's duel. Both Chien-Ming Wang (5-0) and C.C. Sabathia (1-4) were dealing. Wang had tremendous stuff, mixing in a sharp, late-breaking slider and a split-finger fastball to go with his sinker. He gave up just four hits and two walks over seven innings, while striking out--dig this--nine batters. Sabathia was a load too, allowing just four hits and a walk over eight innings while striking out eight. The big fella made one mistake--a lovely-sounding solo home run to Melky Cabrera. That was all the scoring, as the Yanks won, 1-0. Joba Chamberlain pitched a perfect eighth, Mariano did the same in the ninth.

A nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Now, for the bad news. As first reported by Tyler Kepner of the New York Times, Jorge Posada is headed to the Disabled List for the first time in his fourteen-year career. According to Pete Abe:

The muscle tear in Posada's shoulder left him unable to throw today and he will be examined by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., later this week.

"It's very disappointing," Posada said. "The biggest disappointment in my career."

Posada seemed almost close to tears as he spoke. "It's not getting any better and we have to find out what really it is," he said. "The MRI showed a strained muscle and I think it's more than that. I want to find out really what it is."

It doesn't come as a surprise that Posada got hurt this year. That's what happens to players--especially catchers--when they get older. We can only hope that the other durable Yankee veterans--Rivera, Rodriguez and Jeter--continue to buck the odds and remain healthy.

I'll say it again...what's up with Girardi and the Yankees being so cryptic about the injuries so far this year?

Comments
2008-04-27 18:27:25
1.   monkeypants
0 Are the Yankees really more cryptic about injuries this year than they have been in the past (like with Sheff or Giambi)?

If Posada is down for more than a couple of weeks, they pretty much have to make a move for another catcher, no? At least for depth?

2008-04-27 18:52:18
2.   Mattpat11
With organizations like the Cubs and Blue Jays handling injuries like they do, the Yankees look flat out transparent.
2008-04-27 19:04:10
3.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
that four-year contract not looking to wise now..Molina and Moeller behind the plate, we can live with that, right?
2008-04-27 19:23:23
4.   unmoderated
3 nope. moeller will not do.

salty is coming up in texas, gerald laird might be out there...

...or we could try and pry another catcher from the angels, looks like they got two fine ones at the moment.

2008-04-27 20:10:08
5.   Mattpat11
In happier news, This was (obviously) Wang's fifth April win this year. In 06 and 07, he had one April win each, and went on two win 18 more games both years.

If he can do that this year, he's in pretty good shape, no?

2008-04-27 20:11:14
6.   Schteeve
This sucks, but I mean, it had to be high on the list of "things that could go wrong" if you sorted it by probabilities. Cano better get his shit together.
2008-04-27 20:11:57
7.   tommyl
5 Until John Kruk predicts he'll win 30 games ;)
2008-04-27 20:26:17
8.   Mattpat11
7 I'll take it. :)
2008-04-27 21:29:49
9.   Zack
Lets be honest people. Jorge's injury has very little to do with whether the contract was a good one or not or even that much to do with being an old catcher. He has torn the labrum before if I am not mistaken, and all in all, it seems mostly like a crappy break that does happen...Hey, look on the bright side, it will keep him fresher for years 2-4 right?
2008-04-27 22:16:42
10.   tommyl
9 Wow, I am impressed with your ability to remain positive. I'm still worried about 2008, not how well Posada will be hitting the second half of 2010. This is a huge blow. I've been under the belief that the single most valuable player the Yankees have had is Posada. He's so far above any possible replacement, and any replacement is so hard to find that losing him is a body blow. Hopefully he just needs more rest and rehab and can come back in a few weeks stronger than ever. If not, well, we just do our best and try to move on.

Also, it seems like Jorgie has been the only one lately to get a hit with RISP. I know that's not true, but just seems like it.

2008-04-27 22:59:52
11.   Yu-Hsing Chen
yikes, losing Jorge for any extended period would be insanely tough.
2008-04-28 05:14:56
12.   Rob Middletown CT
11 It's what I've feared most over the past few years. I'm officially freaking out.
2008-04-28 05:25:01
13.   JL25and3
Moeller probably isn't an option for BUC, because they've already DFA'ed him.

I thought the Yankee front office was always secretive about injuries. The difference is that Torre was pretty straightforward, and it seems like Girardi isn't. New Joe does seem to have a lot of old Buck about him.

Yesterday's post also talked about Girardi's intensity vs. Torre's more laid-back style, and what effect that might have in the long run. Obviously, there's no way to predict that yet. But Torre did always talk about being intense without being tense, and it's not clear whether Girardi has the hang of that.

I'm leaving soon to have rotator cuff surgery...not a big deal, though rehab will suck. And I guess it'll be at least a year before I'm ready to resume my pitching career...

2008-04-28 05:47:41
14.   monkeypants
13 Of course, if Moeller clears wavers they can bring him back up. The real issue is how long Posada will be on the shelf. If we are talking several weeks or more (and especially if he comes back only to DH/1B), then they may have to consider some sort of trade for a more or less real starting catcher.
2008-04-28 06:00:43
15.   rbj
13 So when does Cashman sign you to a new deal.

It's definitely going to be tougher with Molina/Moeller/AAA kid than with Posada. But I'm not going to freak out. The Yankees have survived without Jeter for an extended time, or Giambi, hell, they survived Tony Womack being on the team. Just need some of the other guys to step up.

Girardi looks like he's still in shape. . .

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