Here are some deets on Hughes's injury. Also, not to scare you all with another potential injury, but Johnny Damon had a huge wrap around his upper left leg after the game. I asked him what was wrong, and he said he tweaked his left groin during the day game in Cleveland. I asked if he's OK, and he said: "I've got to be. We've got too many guys out."
Anyway, back to Hughes, who was placed on the disabled list with a right obliqueu muscle strain. He said he first felt something when he woke up after his start in Chicago. But he didn't mention it to anybody because he didn't think it was that serious. He felt something during the fourth inning Tuesday night, though, and told a trainer when he exited the game that inning.
In explaining why he waited to say anything, Hughes said: "I honestly didn't think it was a factor at all in anything I did."
By today, though, he felt much worse. He was examined before the game and found to have a right oblique muscle strain. He will be shut down for a few days, until he feels nothing at all. Brian Cashman said he expects Hughes to miss more than the minimum 15 days, as he will have to get built up to start a game and also do a minor league rehab assignment.
Cashman said this isn't a good reason for time off, but that Hughes, who is 0-4 with a 9.00 ERA in six starts, could probably use a break. Said Cashman: “He probably needs a timeout, regardless, and he’s going to get it.”
Cashman said that right-hander Darrell Rasner will take Hughes’s rotation start. Rasner is 4-0 with a 0.87 ERA in five starts at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
“Who’s throwing the best down there is Darrell Rasner,” Cashman said, “and that’s the guy we’re going to tap.”
Comments (102)
Thank God Darrell Rasner is will be here soon....
DOC
I guess Matt Desalvo and Tyler Clippard were busy or are they selling insurance nowadays?
Hey Caspian from the previous thread...
Poor choice of terms when you said "Harden Up."
It brought to mind another young pitching phenom, Mr Rich Harden.
2008 is the 4th Annual "If Rich Harden can stay healthy he'd be an Ace" vigil in Oakland
Eventually they will have to give up
DOC
I note a bit of sarcasm in your post.
DeSalvo is w/ Braves org
Clippard w/ Nationals org
If Rasner can give them 6 innings 3 runs that would be all NY could hope for .Certainly more than the highly touted rook has been giving them oblique strain or not.
Wasn't last May a patch work team ? Especially pitching ?
Hughes needs to grow up and understand that an oblique injury is a major "factor" for a player, ESPECIALLY for a pitcher. That's an injury that can linger if not addressed immediately. Hopefully this is another one of those learning experiences for the young man. Use your head Phil.
Sully...I respect your opinion more than most on this blog, but if I ever catch you comparing Rich Harden to Phil Hughes, I will hunt you down!!! lol Oh god, please noooooooooooo!!!!!
Kat,
Love your blogs. You're also very pretty.
What is your opinion on Phil Hughes?
I think this is just a cover up to the fact that Hughes can't pitch up here. I'm not saying he never could, but I think he needs a bit more seasoning. And how come you don't hear of any veteran pitchers talking to Hughes? You would think they would try to help him out.
Bob
Bob is right, Kat is pretty and a hard working writer. Remember last year, that 3 am game in Detroit? (Great city by the way! If it was 1945!)
Hughes getting blown out of the water was really a shock to me. I thought he would be throwing no hitters.
I thought also we had all of these amazing prospects, a dozen or so. I thought Horne and Melancon and Betances and Brackman would be doing great things.
Instead Hawkins has a 7 ERA and we are at .500 with a US$ 200 million team ...
Got to put it together if we want the Wild Card!
Ruse,
That wasn't Doc who mentioned DeSalvo and Clippard, it was Phucker.
Dru,
Had Hughes won two games in a row, or even one for that matter, then told the Yankees he had an injury we would all be calling him a "gamer, a real old school ballplayer" and stuff like that so I'm not sure the argument washes the other way. Let's face it, the injury is a good thing right now because it gets him out of the rotation and he can go search his parents attic for that 3 MPH he's missing.
Just how pathetic is the team right now? Well, just look at the first post on this thread "thank God Darrell Rasner will be here soon" and you know we're feeling bad around here. If I ever read a post that says "get Igawa in the rotation now!" I'm going to spew a river.
Jim...As far as him playing through an oblique strain ( if that was really the case ), I dont want any of the Yanks pitchers to throw with that. It could turn into a very serious injury if you try and play through it. Now if we're talking game 7 of the ALDS, then I want to see the gamers come out. May 1st, dont even chance it. You're correct though, if this is a real injury, the timing was perfect. He now gets to go down and figure out what's wrong with his mechanics. I wish him well, ITS RASNER TIME!!!! Oh, by the way, Im feeling pretty good about the team. The young bullpen arms have come through and Melk is killing the ball. Sure it would be even better if Cano, Phil and Ian were playing up to expectations, but Im still having fun watching the Yanks and dont feel bad at all about the team. The Igawa line was priceless though...lol
You know....wishing for Darrell Rasner is a hell of a lot better than wishing for Chase Wright, which we were doing last year.
The oblique injury could be a major factor in why we have seen such a decrease in velocity. Not that Hughes was a major flamethrower, but 90-91 consistently is not what we saw last year. Plus, his control has been terrible. Hopefully we can get him right and Kennedy can throw a good one tonight
JIM A.
Yes thanks I realize it was Phucker.
Before you all eat each other alive....allow Nudge of all people to add some sanity.
1) Injuries can't be invented. The injury information needs to be clearded through the league and union to prevent scurilous activity (See Charlie Finley).
2) with ther 2 most productive offensive players from last year out and Giambi and Cano on the interstate and 40 % of their rotation MIA.........they are still only 3 GB.
The league is flattening out. Where as for the past few years there were 4 really good teams a four pitiful teams, the league is now in flux so there are more average teams and less really good and really bad ones. This is natural and why I predicted that even though this team was pitching challanged it could still compete.
Now by July some teams my rise to the top and this one may or may not be one of them....but for the time being, its still in the pack thats competing.
Nudge,
I feel good about where the Yanks are right now considering what is going on with them. If there offense is dormant right now, as it was last year with the exception of A-Rod and Posada, then I expect it to wake up just like it did last year, I just hope it's not too late, but they are in better shape than last year.
Also, I'm certain injuries are still made up on every team to stash players. You know things like back pain can never really be proven so I have no doubt teams do this all the time. What was Kaz Matsui's malady earlier this season? anal fissures or something like that? I have no idea what that is but you can't make stuff like that up so it had to be true. Oblique strain though? Hmmmm. Hey, I hope it is the reason his velocity and control have been a problem, at least it will explain something.
Dru is right, the bullpen is hanging in there and hasn't been a major source of trouble as in years past and I can see Edwar Ramirez gaining a little confidence as he pitches more. The kid may weigh 130 lbs, but I like him out there and he has taken a long, scenic road to the majors so I'm rooting for him to stick.
Funny. This story keeps changing, lies keep coming from Girardi, Idiots like Michael Kay are calling for Hughes to be sent down and questioning why he was ever a number one prospect...
Suddenly there is an oblique strain and it answers every question, it solves the need to send him down.
I don't buy it. Hughes looked he was lost out on the mound, mentally. Girardi was asked if Hughes was healthy right before the game and the response was "yes, yes". Then during the game he goes on the DL? Really? Funny. They put him on the DL because of this little twinge that didn't feel like anything - according to Hughes himself - and they also hadn't even sent him for an MRI first.
With the way things are being run by Gestapo Leader Girardi, the only thing you can count on is you are not going to the truth. He had this problem in Florida, he has this problem now.
Girardi is a control freak who going to come apart at the seams.
Hughes miraculously has an injury that he never told anyone about at the perfect time when something needs to be done to get the kid out of the rotation for bit. Right.
I also have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell.
Since when did people get so gullable?
Jim A,
You are right to a point about the injuries. But medical evidence of injury still needs to be supplied. Muscle strains usually need an MRI, not just a testimonial that it hurts and its stiff. 1973 WS Charlie Finley tried to put Jim Andrews on the DL because he made a key error that cost the A's a game. The league over ruled him because he didn't have adequate medical evidence.
Also remember why the bull pen is looking so much better. Its because they have a guy named Joba in it. So moving him out would risk a return to what you saw last year.
I'll take Hughes word on this- players are known not to disclose injuries.
Girardi Gestapo leader? What is this fortress Europe 1941?
ruse,
Girardi was a known control freak in Florida. But Gestapo? A bit of a reach.
OK, I gave it a full month watching Girardi with reporters postgame, and here is my conclusion: it's wasted time.
No point in watching the press try to interview this slippery sourpuss. You get no info, or bad info, while listening to a guy cop an attitude like he's being personally disrespected anytime a question is asked.
No thanks. For this the cosmos provided me with a clicker.
Dru and Jim A. are right to to mention the positives -- especially the bullpen, which has far more going for it than Joba and the great Mariano Rivera, but Melky has also been a joy.
Nudge, Girardi specifically said, on camera, that Hughes had been placed on the DL without having an MRI. You can take that for what it's worth considering the shakiness of any info that comes from Girardi, but if there is a rule about hard medical evidence JG doesn't seem to know about it. I'm with Jim A. -- fabricated soft-tissue injuries commonly crop up when a team has reason to get a player out of the spotlight and off the field.
Diane,
We will never know. But some level of medical proof had to have been offered.
Where's HYD when you need him? Remember when this blog was screaming over the winter that trading Hughes would be the worst thing in the world? Now we have our future pinned to the body of a very fragile 21 yr. old. He has consistently proven just two things ... he CAN dominate at times and he ALWAYS seems to get injured.
Granted, we're hurting all over right now but can anyone honestly say that we wouldn't have been better off running out Santana - Wang - Pettite - Chamberlin - Moose this year? I know it's early but I think Yanks made a mistake. Ohlendorf looks like he could be a legit starter at some point.
Yanks would have to go on some run to make playoffs this year ... they simply don't match up well with the other top teams out there.
Hughes at 21 already on DL twice. Johan DL'd ONCE in his 6 yrs. Cameron would've been a very dependable CF replacement for Melky. Cano hitting 150? People comparing hi to Utley (MVP candiate w/11 HR) YEOW
As regulars know, I was in favor of trading for Santana back when that was a possibility. But it's pointless hashing over the past every day. What matters now is the way forward from here.
5 stinkin' hits last night and Melky got 2 of them.
Bases loaded twice Tuesday night and nothing to show for that.
Giambi blow$ and Cano looks lost up there.
Just venting.
Yankee #1: I have no idea why you were calling for me to begin your post as the rest of your post didn't say much of anything about how my mind works. Do I believe Hughes is hurt? Yes, I do. Am I looking to buy a bridge, no, but I might be interested in leasing one. There's a good chance that the Tappan Zee may go to lease through a public-private partnership (PPP). Let's see which one of the big players (investment banks) comes through with that one, but enough about that. PPPs are really going to bring that "and I've got a bridge to sell ya..." joke to a new meaning.
There really isn't much more for me to say that hasn't been said by me or others. You hate to see someone get hurt, but if ever there was a good time for an injury (a non-serious injury), this may be it. Fortunately, none of Hughes' injuries have been to his pitching arm. To those conspiracy theorists, clearly this was being discussed throughout the day as a real possibility for Hughes since Tyler Kepner reported it for the Times BEFORE the start of yesterday's game.
Who besides DRU would be up for the trip to SWB if/when he rehabs there (assuming it's a home game)? Everyone knows if he ends up at Trenton, I'll be there.
RAB has a nice photo of the new stadium:
http://riveraveblues.com/2008/05/01/new-stadium-looking-better-than-the-yanks-2687/
John G,
It's funny how numbers can be skewed. Melky is on top of the world right now, praised by everyone as having kept the Yanks afloat thus far and Giambi has been thrown to the wolves....yet who has more RBI right now?
Obviously I wrote that just to tweak people a little but let's face it, Melky will come down to earth and Giambi will heat up, it will happen. I know Melky has more value because he's a decent defender but to say Giambi is the cause of all the team's problems is ludicrous. Looking for a scapegoat is the norm around here but last night the Yanks played without A-Rod or Posada as they will for at least the next two weeks- that doesn't help!
Man
those pictures of the new stadium are great
DAMN I miss New York!
Glad you enjoyed them Sully.
Jim A: Playing with stats in a bad way are you? RBIs are a function of where you bat in the lineup and how the batters in front of you are performing and getting on base. Giambi has had more RBI opportunities, but how does he compare when you make the stats actually comparable? No need to check...we both know the answer. We'll take the one stat where Giambi is typically good, OBP, and Melky still wins. Melky doesn't slow down the bases or get paid $21 million. But sure, be nice to him, he does kind of waddle like a penguin.
Jim A,
I like Melky, but in no way, shape or form do I believe that he's the best hitter in that lineup that is, if I read your post correctly. I'm just angry that no other than him is picking up the slack for A-Rod and Posada not being in the lineup. For a team with a lot of hitters, they ain't hittin'!
The 2 at bats that I saw Giambi last night, he grounded out to, what else, short RF. I guess even TRYING to go the other way is just a bit too much huh? Oh wait, he did hit that sac fly to left center so I'll give him that one.
Cano is just lost. He's just probably a slow starter but look at his body language. Every at bat he's got that "Oh no, not again!" look when he either pops out or strikes out.
As i said, I'm just venting right now. It's too early to panic right now.
I'm just glad that Rasner's here to "save the day".
I hope that he brought his Mighty Mouse shirt with him to wear under the uni.
Giambi
2outs RISP 0-12
RISP 2-22
He just sucks period.
Melky may not be the best hitter in the lineup but he'll bat .280-.290 .Remember he posted the same RBI totals in 2007 as Jeter did-73
Yankee/Gene - I cant dispute that the kid has stumbled out of the box. There is a loooong way to go for young Phil to fullPHIL his potential. Would the Yanks rotation of Santana - Wang - Pettite - Chamberlin - Moose be better than what we have today, no doubt.
Could Mike Cameron ( suspended for the 1st 25 games this year ) have filled in for Melk, no doubt. Even with all that, I was, and still am, a big supporter of not doing the trade. Like Ive stated before, if the Yanks wanted to win this year, it would have been pretty easy.
Trade Phil, Melk, Ian and Marquez for Santana
Sign Mike Cameron to play CF
Sign Kyle Lohse as a 5th starter.
Leave Joba in the pen the entire year.
Lineup
Damon
Jeter
Abreu
Arod
Giambi
Matsui
Posada
Cameron
Cano
Rotation
Santana
Wang
Andy
Moose
Lohse
Pen
Mo
Joba
Farny
Bruney
Ohlendorf
Traber
Record...105-57
Playoffs...unknown
==========================
That would have been a solid lineup for 08, I bet it finishes 1st in the AL during the regular season. How would we fare in the playoffs? Unknown, the Yanks had the best team on paper for the past 7 years and it gave us 0 rings, nobody could have said for sure that it would have given us a ring.
Now the tricky part....09 and beyond.
09 - The following starters are gone....Giambi, Abreu, Cameron, Andy, Moose, Lohse, Bruney. On top of that, Damon and Matsui will be in their last seasons. So not only do you have to fill out your 3-5 starters, you have to find another CF, unless of course you want to resign an aging Cameron for multi years, the only option is to bring up Gardner and start him right away. We have a similar issue in RF, Abreu is gone and would want a multiyear deal. So now you either sign another again star to a multiyear deal, or try and bring up Austin Jackson who hasnt even played at AAA yet. Stopgap? Then we also have to think about the following year when Damon and Matsui are gone..another stopgap? Would the kids be ready? Who knows. Now some more issues, the Yanks would have the highest paid C, SS, 3B, SP and closer in the entire league. 100 Million dollars for just 5 players. So now who's gonna play 1st base? I doubt the Yanks would invest 25M in another player, the Mets or Sox would have scooped him up and outbid us. What are you going to pay your stopgap 3-5 SP's? Who would they be? What kind of money are they looking for? Carlos Silva got 60M over 4 years, CARLOS FREAKIN SILVA!!! You cant move Joba to the rotation because he didnt get his innings up, so now we would be in the same situation as this year...1/2 pen...1/2 starter. Does the above team sound like a team that will sell out a brand spanking new stadium? The Yanks can say all they want about winning this year, no matter what the Yanks record is come August 1st, the stadium will be a sellout until its last day. The Yanks brass knows this, they also know that keeping their long term costs down gives them the ability to sign whoever they want next year...CC, Teix, both. On top of that, you just traded away 2 of our youngest SP's and our youngest position player, so now this old beat up team is just geting older and more expensive. There has to be a cutoff point, this year is that cutoff point.
Go look at the Red Sox and how they have managed their team over the past 5 years. Did they sign any HUGE FA's? Did they bring in a HR king? Their 2 biggest moves were to sign a 26 year old Dice K, and trading for another 26 year old Beckett. They did bring in Lowell who was cooked, well that cooked man was the WS MVP. The only bad moves they have made over that time was bringing in JD Drew and Lugo, it happens. The rest of their moves by holding on to their young talent has them in a position to dominate for years to come. Look at what the Rays are doing with their young studs. IF we made that Santana trade, it would have been great this year. But the following years, maybe even the next 10, we would have positioned ourselves to be an old, expensive team.
So in conclusion…I support the LONG TERM PLAN…now I know that is a very difficult concept to grasp for most Yankee fans who’s idea of LONG TERM PLAN is making a move at the July trade deadline. Don’t think in months, but years. Next year the Yanks will be in a MUCH better position than they are today. That position will only get better as the young pitchers mature and the young position players come up. Sure Arod, Jeter, Posada and Mo will be getting older, but they will be that veteran presence for the young guys. Is this long term plan a guaranteed methof of success? Nope, nothing is guaranteed, but I support trying a different approach than what we have done since our last WS victory. How about we just try this method once? What do you say guys????
Like a wise man once said....thats all I have to say bout that.
Ruse,
This guy should be batting clean up or 5th and driving the ball, not batting 7th and taking too many pitches. Those stats are pitiful.
John G.
You bring up a valid point.Giambi would rather take a walk the take an outside pitch to leftfield.Pitchers know this he'll pull every ball into the shift aand 9 out of 10 times he'll make an out.
He is incapable of caring this team for a week or two.Duncan is right now is the better player and yet he sits? Even if Duncan hit just .250 he'd contribute far more than Giambi.
Ruse - Im with you 100%, start Duncan and sit Giambi. Once Matsui cools off, or Melky goes into a slump, you can shuffle the deck and get Giambi to DH. I never want to see him at 1B again! I also never want to see him in the lineup against a LHP. The more I see him, the more my hatred grows!!! He may not be the Yanks only issue, but he’s a big fat 25M one that sticks out like a black bean in white rice.
DRU
I think the only reason Giambi plays is his inflated contract.To me he's just taking up roster space.He can't turn on a good fastball he generally hits solo jimmyjacks.He is a bigtime rally killer.
HYD ... not calling you out. Just wanted to hear some Hughes talk ... we made our bed and now we have to lie in it. I'm just frustrated with this season so far ...
Giambi ... could be the worst full time player in baseball right now. Absolutely looks lost at the plate.
Cano ... shocked he didn't carry hot spring into the season. he'll be fine but is he pressing right now?
Jeter ... no HR's so far and he's looking old. some well timed hits have given him a decent RBI total but he's not showing much so far.
Arod ... bad time for an injury
Posada ... crushing blow. expected this possibly in year 3 of his contract but if this is the beginning of the end for him we have HUGE troubles at the C position.
Damon ... does anyone think he should have caught polanco's 1st HR ball and then went all "showmanship" on the 2nd HR ball trying to make it up? I can't wait till this turd is off the team.
Melky ... solid start at the plate but what's with all these throws that are so far off target it's crazy? what happened to this guy's arm in one off season?
Bobby A ... hot start and now back to his bat waving. Is the guy good or not? Just can't figure it out.
Wang ... been awesome
Andy ... might still be effected by the Roger stuff ... too hot and cold right now. Thought he'd be stronger than that
Moose ... heck, doing as well as couldv'e been hoped for
Kids ... utter disaster so far. hope they can turn things around or their confidence might be shaken for a long time
bullpen: Mo great, Joba great, Brunney pleasant surprise (tough break to lose him), Hawkins worthless, Farnsworth - please retire, Ross O - nice surprise
Overall, this team is not good enough to win anything (and I was okay with that this year) thinking that the kids get valuable experience and we're loaded to the gills next year. Now I don't see the team being like that (unless we get both Tex and CC in off season) ... like I said, I'm very frustrated with what I see right now.
Anyone want to talk me off the ledge?
Yankee Fan #1.....good things come to those who wait? lol
I cant think of any cliches to help you through this "trying time" ( sarcasm ). All kidding aside, things could be worse my friend...you could be booing Carlos Delgado at Shea. If that doesnt cheer you up...happy landings!!!
Where’s Say Hey been? Too busy booing his teams stars? I still cant believe they booed Santana in his 1st Shea start…hilarious!!!!
DRU ... very true. But here's a question for all ... if game was on the line, would you rather see Giambi walking to the plate or Delgado??? You can't pinch hit ... it's one or the other.
I vote Giambi only b/c I'd pray he 'd work out a BB somehow.
DRU,
Not a postive subject matter. Santana has more victories and probably more IP than the 2 kids combined. Also the Mets are only .5 GB. Im actually surprised Say Hey hasn't showed up again to rub it in about the kids. Maybe he is the guy that fell off the escalator.
YF1,
Giambi only has 2 more BB than Delgado.
Agreed, Delgado is an absolute train wreck right now. Both teams will be in the market for a 1B next year. Due to Santana's huge money deal, I bet we get Teix over the Muts. I think it comes down to one or the other money wise. Both teams will go after Teix hard this offseason, but the Yanks have a little more wiggle room than the Muts due to Santana. They went all in this year, that team is getting older FAST. Next year Delgado, Perez, Pedro, Alou, El Dueque will all be gone. They traded away some nice prospects like Gomez and Humber to get Johan, they will run into the same situation we would have had. Their only 2 SP back next year are Johan and Maine. They also have 0 pitching prospects ready to fill spots. On top of that they need a LF, Beltran and Church will be on the wrong side of 30, they still wont have a C and also will need to get a new 2B. Talk about holes to fill next year, they are in big trouble if they dont win a WS this year.
But who cares about the Muts, I wish them well! ( not sarcasm )
Giambi has a better track record of recording big hits, so you're going to take Giambi, but that's not a great choice to have to make, is it?
If you believe in this being a transition year, then you should be ecstatic about what's going on in the minors right now. It looks like just putting on a River Dogs Jersey makes you a good hitter these days and there has been solid pitching up and down the organization. Cox has joined Trenton and so far has not hit a bump at all. It won't be all that long before he gets himself called to SWB. The guy we're calling up to start on Sunday is actually the guy that could've been ranked 5th for minor league pitching call ups behind Horne, Marquez, Karstens & Igawa. Horne will be pitching for SWB again in ~2 weeks and Marquez has found himself after a rough start. Igawa seems to be striking out everyone and may finally be getting used to pitching in America. Throw in the fact that Giese has filled in during Horne's injury without missing a beat and we've got things to be happy about, but you need to embrace the phrase "transition year". This isn't even mentioning the success that Dan McCutchen is having at Trenton with Chase Wright performing pretty well himself. With Sean Henn most likely gone, you have to assume that the Yanks will give Traber another shot soon; probably his last. He's been getting all the lefty/lefty situations at SWB since his demotion and has performed well. Heath Phillips has performed well for SWB since the beginning of the year sporting an ERA just over 2. So, there is hope and there are lots of options. Austin Jackson is starting to find his swing and could find himself called up to SWB if Gardner gets called to the Yanks. AJack (he prefers AJack to AJax per one of his recent interviews) is really lighting up the hits on LH pitching (that's a good thing for this Yankee team), but hasn't shown any power yet, which makes the possible SWB promotion slim. I haven't even talked about Dave Robertson or Steven Jackson. That was a tough choice for the organization deciding who to promote to SWB, because both are pitching so well! I think they're auditioning Robertson as a long man and I hope he succeeds there because it's not the ideal place for Ohlendorf, though he's done fairly well there. Our closer at SWB, Veras, is a monster right now.
So, Yankee #1, hopefully you can back yourself off of the edge and embrace that as an organization, the Yanks are doing great. The amazing depth will make future injuries much less painful.
HYD - thanks for the updates! Any news on the hitters...E. Duncan, Montero, Miranda, Gardner, Laird, Tabata?
here's a good link ... gives everyone's stats in the organization as well as what level they're at:
http://www.yankeesprospects.com/index.php
DRU,
You have to watch the team a bit before you make all those proclamations. They are the same type that made the Yanks pass on Santana. Yanks have far more replacing to do and also have no prospects to accomplish that with. Unless you coun the same overhype the team gives about their players.
Yanks need 4 SP, 2 OF, 1B and now since Mariano and Jeter and Jorge and A-Rod are on the wrong side of 30 C, SS, 3B. Same argument you make for the Mets problems.
Beltrans and Churchs number are fine so thats not a concern. Castillo is signed for 4 years so thats not a concern. Scheider is signed for the next 2 years so thats not a concern.
Mets need 1B LF and SP. LF they have a prospect that is expected to arrive by years end. They have $51M coming off in salary. If you think they are tapped out then you'll be surprised come November. Additionally they are starting $71M less than the Yanks .
So in conclusion the Mets have more money to spend to fill less holes.
E. Duncan: He's hitting well this year and has been his best with regular ABs (which he wasn't always getting when Shelley was at SWB)
Montero: He's a MONSTER (any chance Monstero becomes his nickname?). I think he's gotten at least 1 hit in all but 2 games this season and many have been XBH. He just needs to work on his defense some more.
Miranda: He's been hitting well, but he got hurt the other day, not sure the severity of his injury, but initial reports were that it wasn't too bad.
Gardner: Nothing's changed. He's still hitting and has shown more power this year than last year. He could be a 10 - 15 HR guy, but that might be optimistic.
Tabata: Horrible. Not much more I can say. He's batting ~.200 and he recently was suspended a game and benched the 2 following (and counting). He had a hissy fit after a strikeout Saturday and should be sent to Tampa. Edwar Gonzalez should take his place; he's old for Tampa and having a good year.
Laird: He'd be the exception that proves the rule (you put on a River Dogs jersey and you hit). He's batting .244 and leads the team in Ks. 24 Gs, 90 ABs, 22 Hs, and 25Ks. 6 2Bs and 2 HRs are not enough to make up for those 25Ks.
Hey gang - I see Nudge is here trying to add to Yankee fan angst. Nothing wrong with that. We all have our roles to play in this little drama.
I don't agree with the idea of some mystery injury. After all the speculation there was no way the Yankees were going to sell "strained oblique" for Hughes any more than the Indians were able to sell that Joe Borowski had a strained triceps.
Am I saying he's a bust or should be traded for Barry Zito? Absolutely not. The kid is 21. Second youngest player in baseball behind Justin Upton. This is the first time he has ever failed at anything baseball related. It stands to reason his confidence would be shaken and he would start questioning himself on the mound. Roger Clemens is a fool, but he did say one thing that makes a lot of sense. He would say that on the mound there is a fine line between thinking and overthinking and when you cross that line it's very tough to be effective. So Hughes takes a deep breath, throws a start or two at Trip A to remember what brought him here, and he'll be back.
By the way, Nudge - interesting logic that the Yankees have to replace Jeter, Posada, Alex, and Mo (because they are on the wrong side of 30) and have no prospects with which to do it. Whereas the Mets are farting sunshine. If being over 30 means you have to be replaced then the Mets need a 2b, closer, two starters (to replace Pedro and El Duque) not to mention the free agents (Alou, Delgado, Perez, Heilman). And since the Yankees a)make more money than the Mets and b) are dumping more in contracts than the Mets - they have more money to spend than the Mets.
Chip,
Yeah very interesting. That was DRU's logic BTW. Sorry to have to explain the subtleties of language to you. It always warms my heart when you try to take a swipe right out of the box and then go on to totaly get the point wrong....but hey....we all have our roles to fill, right?
Chip,
No need to apologize once you go back and actually read everything that transpired. We are all used to the Kings procalmations. BTW anybody else notice the king is naked?
Nudge,
I like Dru and his posts - but the one you're talking about was longer than the Magna Carta so you'll have to excuse me for not searching through it for all the detailed points.
I also find it amusing that you believe Fernando Martinez is not overhyped and will slide in perfectly (at 20) to Alou's spot in LF but every Yankee prospect is worthless, didn't realize your scouting department was that vast.
Nudge,
The problem here is you lack credibility. See there are some of us, ruse, dru, jim, diane, myself - who will come on here to talk when the Yankees are doing well and take our hits when they are doing poorly.
Yankees struggle, a couple of guys go on the DL, a top prospect gets a mystery ailment after struggling, and you're here like a vulture on a fresh kill - Yankees put together a winning streak. Hold their own during the toughest stretch of their schedule and all of a sudden you're harder to find than a sober Irishman on St. Patty's Day.
Chip,
I didn't say he wasn't. Just that the Mets don't have NO prospects and that they have less holes they HAVE to fill and plenty of funds available. I am actually excitedly anticipating the battle for Tex between the two teams.
Also wasn't it the Mets that didn't have the prospects to get Santana? Their GM must be a magician. You guys don't have one of those do you?
Chip,
And again you make your proclamation without knowing the facts. Take a little time to get the story straight....read what I write....think about it....then you won't be making these bombastic attacks that aren't groundedd in reality.
I have cut and pasted all my prior posts of this morning here to make it easier for you to get the story straight. Tell me then where the "Vulture circling" is? See its YOU that has no credibility. So your projecting again.
Before you all eat each other alive....allow Nudge of all people to add some sanity.
1) Injuries can't be invented. The injury information needs to be clearded through the league and union to prevent scurilous activity (See Charlie Finley).
2) with ther 2 most productive offensive players from last year out and Giambi and Cano on the interstate and 40 % of their rotation MIA.........they are still only 3 GB.
The league is flattening out. Where as for the past few years there were 4 really good teams a four pitiful teams, the league is now in flux so there are more average teams and less really good and really bad ones. This is natural and why I predicted that even though this team was pitching challanged it could still compete.
Now by July some teams my rise to the top and this one may or may not be one of them....but for the time being, its still in the pack thats competing.
Jim A,
You are right to a point about the injuries. But medical evidence of injury still needs to be supplied. Muscle strains usually need an MRI, not just a testimonial that it hurts and its stiff. 1973 WS Charlie Finley tried to put Jim Andrews on the DL because he made a key error that cost the A's a game. The league over ruled him because he didn't have adequate medical evidence.
Also remember why the bull pen is looking so much better. Its because they have a guy named Joba in it. So moving him out would risk a return to what you saw last year.
ruse,
Girardi was a known control freak in Florida. But Gestapo? A bit of a reach.
Diane,
We will never know. But some level of medical proof had to have been offered.
Chip,
Maybe you should be more concerned about the points you're making instead of deriving falicies from mine.
If we assume everyone up for free agency were to leave both teams:
Mets need a first baseman
Yankees need a first baseman
Mets need 3 starters (Pedro, Hernandez, Perez)
Yankees need 2 (Mussina, Andy)
Mets need a left fielder
Yankees need a right fielder
Mets need an 8th inning pitcher (Heilman)
Yankees need a middle reliever (Farnsworth)
Yankees subtract roughly 95 mil (including Pavano)
Mets subtract roughly 50 mil
As for the deal that got Santana to the Mets - There's a pretty good reason every baseball person and pundit believes the Twins screwed up by not taking the Boston offer of Ellsbury or Lester. Carlos Gomez is headed back to Trip A, where Humber is pitching to a 6 ERA and Mulvey is somewhere in Double A actually pitching well.
Bottom line, it wasn't that the Mets made a great offer for Santana, it's that in the end they made the ONLY offer for Santana. Yankees and Red Sox opted to not spend 150 million on him.
As for your prior posts you said it yourself THIS MORNING where were you when the Yankees were pushing to the playoffs last year? You're very good at showing up when the Yankees are struggling and stirring stuff up - hey - more power to you if that's what gets your rocks off.
Chip,
Last time I checked Pedro and El Duque aren't in the rotation. So why do the Mets have to replace them?
Let's refrain from calling anyone "old" or "done" too early. Baseball is cyclical and most of these players will eventually end up around their career averages. That being said Damon and Giambi are are too huge wastes of salary.
As for the pitching I guess I just don't understand why it is so hard to develop. Hitting a baseball is one of the hardest things to do in all of athletics yet pitchers go out there and continually stink up the joint.
Chip,
I will give you an itinerary of my life when you provide one of your first. Till then don't worry about where I am or what Im doing. You wouldn't be able to handle it if I told you! Now your sounding like a child complaining.
Ok, well in that case Nelson Figueroa is only on a 1 year deal too so he has to be replaced anyway.
On that - I've got meetings.
Nudge, always a pleasure - you may be a pain in the arse but I do so enjoy your consistency.
Back for first pitch...
"Chip,
I didn't say he wasn't. Just that the Mets don't have NO prospects"
Lol, what a dope Nudge is!
Thats funny anon.....your so dumb you don't even understand it!
Great job of pointing the Stupid arrow at yourself.
Thanks for making my day.
Lol, Nudge!
I DO understand it :-)
You drunk again?
anon,
please Ive had enough attention for the day. Spread some around to the others. they may get jealous. Beside you're bordering on stalker material now.
If any of you guys are able to, listen to Michael Kay's show now on ESPN1050.
He's not too impressed with Hughes and he's being critical of Giambi not going to LF more. He feels that Girardi should order him to do so.
He's also critical of Girardi's handling of the media.
Lol Nudge,
Stalker material????????
You come on here whenever the Yank's have a problem, so who is the stalker?
You are the one who has come on here drunk in the middle of the day.
You are pathetic!
Btw, did your Mother give birth to any children that lived?
John G,
Do you get his show out in AZ?
Tonight's lineup:
Damon CF
Jeter SS
Bunting Bobby RF
Duncan 1B
(Duncan batting cleanup?)
Matsui DH
Melky CF
Cano't 2B
Ensberg 3B
Moeller C
I get the show on the internet Nudge.
Along with Fatso and Fruitloops on the FAN.
I want to be the "meat" in a Mike and The MadDog sandwich!
They can satisfy that need I have! Yummy!