Joba to the DL

Cervelli, Teix, Youk, A-Rod, Jeter, Granderson, Pineda, Cesar Cabral, Nova,

…now add Joba. He goes on the 15-day DL with an oblique strain.

No replacement yet.

Gee, I’m wondering if I missed someone. The way things are, I may have.

A M*A*S*H* unit.

And from the LOHUD blog:

Michael Pineda pitched in extended spring training today and was at 93, up to 95 mph. Cashman sounds encouraged.

Chien-Ming Wang is not a candidate to replace Chamberlain.

Corban Joseph has been optioned to Triple-A to make room for Chris Nelson.

The minors today.

If Hughes or Nova don’t pick it up, the Yanks may have options. Wang went 5 1/3 scoreless for AAA yesterday, Nuno continues to impress, and Pineda should be pitching again soon.

AAA: Vidal Nuno gave up 1 R on 3 H in 5 2/3 as SWB won 5-1. He’s 2-0, 1.54 on the young season. You may remember that he won best rookie in camp. In 2011 he was 9-4, 1.95 (Ind/Low A and Short season). Last year, A+/AA, 10-6, 2.54. He’s coming out of nowhere.  2b Corban Joseph and RF Thomas Neal each had 2 H, rbi.

AA: Trenton won 10-6. Zach Nuding, ND, 1 R in 6 IP. 1B Kyle Roller 3 H, HR 2 RBI. DH Neil Medchill 2 H 2 RBI and SS Ali Castillo 2 H, 3 RBI. 3 H, RBI for LF Ramon Flores. Solo HR 2B Jose Pirela.

High A: Tampa lost 8-3. Corey Black, 7 r, 4 er in 4 2/3.

Low A: Charleston lost both games of a DH.

Gm 1: 10-2. , Gm 2: 1-0. They only got 3 hits in each game. Game 2: Rafael De Paula 10 K in 5 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 3 walks. De Paula, Taylor Garrison and Alex Smith (L) gave up just 3 h in 9 IP and struck out 16 in the loss.

 

Thinking pitching

Michael Pineda, who the Yanks traded Jesus Montero for and who showed up overweight last year, hurt his shoulder, needed surgery, and who missed all of 2012, so far looks ok in spring training, according to reports.

For one thing, Pineda, 6’7″, showed up at camp at 260 lbs.—-20 pounds less than last year. He’s been doing well as far as his workouts go and so far, the staff is happy with his progress.

Shoulder injuries are difficult to judge. The Yanks don’t expect any help from Pineda until at least June. He’s still just 24 years old with just one season of major league ball under his belt. In that season, Pineda was 9-10, 3.74, ERA+ 101 at the age of 22. He made the All-Star team, finished 5th in ROY voting and struck out 173 in 171 IP.

He had two different seasons that year. After games of the 4th of July, he was 8-5, 2.58. He went 2-5, 5.35 from that point to the end of the year. Whether it was batters adjusting, the 22 yr. old running out of gas or a combination of both, it’s not surprising.

But if he can join the Yanks in mid-season and be anything like his early 2011 self, he’d give the Yanks a big jolt. Of course, where they slot him could be problematic, being that the Yanks have CC, Kuroda, Pettitte, Hughes and Nova or Phelps at the #5 with the other as a long man in the bullpen.

But things work themselves out. You never know about injuries, and as the saying goes, “You never have enough pitching.”

Speaking of not having enough pitching, guess who threw for Billy Connors and in Connors words, looked good? None other than 2006/2007 ace Chien Ming Wang. Now as for the Yanks actually signing Wang, bringing him back to NY and him actually succeeding, well, I’ll believe that when I see it. From the time he made his MLB debut with the Yanks to the time he got hurt in Houston while scoring a run, Wang was 54-20, 3.79, ERA+ 117 in 95 starts and two relief appearances—in other words, divide by three. You’d have 32 starts a year (the average for a full year) and 18-7, 3.79. He led the majors in wins in 2006 with 19 and was the CYA runner-up. He won 19 again in 2007.

But since the injury, Wang has gone 7-12, 6.39, ERA+ just 65 in 25 starts and 8 relief appearances. Roughly one season of work since the summer of 2008. Last year he was 2-3, 6.68, in five starts and five relief appearances, ERA + 60, for Washington. It’s sad how his career has unfolded since that injury.

But he’ll still be just 33 on Opening Day. He probably can come cheap (which, it seems, the Yanks are looking for these days). The Yanks squeezed out a 12-8, 3.62 from Freddy Garcia for $1.5 MM in 2011. They got just 7-6, 5.20 from Freddy (now trying to latch on with SD) in 2012 for $4 MM. Not as cost-effective. But for the money, Freddy was a good bargain in 2011.

Likewise Bartolo Colon. Colon went 8-10, 4.00, ERA+ 107 for the Yanks in 2011, but his success is questioned since he was nabbed using a PED in 2012 and is also implicated in the Biogenesis stuff going on now. He was 10-9, 3.43 for the A’s before the suspension last year. Regardless, 8-10, 4.00 wasn’t bad for just $900K in 2011.

So the Yanks will watch Wang as he pitches for the Taiwanese team in the World Baseball Classic. Maybe they can get a Colon/Garcia bargain out of him for a year. Maybe. It’s worth a look, and “You never have enough pitching.”

Meanwhile, sometimes I see people down on Phil Hughes. Yes, Hughes ERA isn’t the greatest, but how many teams can boast of a #4 starter who hasn’t turned 27 yet (Hughes will in June) but who can still boast of an 18 win season (2010) and a 16 win season (2012)? Granted Hughes’ ERA’s in those years were pedestrian (4.19 and 4.23, ERA+ numbers of 103 and 99—average) but still, 18 and 16 wins are 18 and 16 wins. He tied Kuroda for the team lead in wins last year (while leading the team in losses). Yes, those 35 HR given up drove you nuts, but think of what I wrote. How many teams would like to have a #4 starter who is just entering his prime, not 27 yet and who already has won 16 or more twice?

A-Rod surgery Ok, but Yanks lose out on Morse

A-Rod’s surgery went ok, but a big bat the Yanks could have used—Michael Morse—went to Seattle.

Morse had no place in Washington after their recent moves. Morse could DH (which the Yanks are looking for) as well as play 1B and corner OF vs. lefties (which is also a Yanks’ need—a righty bat in the OF vs. lefties and a backup for Teix).

Morse hit .291-18-62 last year, OPS+ 112 and he went .303-31-95, OPS+ 147 in 2011 for the Nats.

Instead he goes to Seattle in a 3-team deal, the A’s and Nats also involved.

Morse is a free agent after 2013. So you had to watch what you gave up. The M’s now have added Jason Bay (hoping for a comeback), Kendrys Morales and Jason Bay to go with the developing Montero as they look to improve their offense. Apparently Justin Smoak (who they got for Cliff Lee) is out of their plans (as he should be after posting a .217-19-51 OPS+ 87 mark last year). … and to think that Seattle took Smoak instead of a package deal for Montero (who they got for Pineda a year later) for Lee. They might still have Pineda today. Of course, the Yanks don’t expect Pineda until mid-summer and hope he’s the same after his shoulder surgery. It’s funny how the dominoes fell.

Speaking of surgery, A-Rod had his hip surgery today and all reports are that it went as expected. If everything goes well, he may rejoin the Yanks shortly after the All-Star break.

WS Game 3. Giants one win away.

In 1966, the L.A. Dodgers scored two runs in the third inning of Game 1. They were the only runs they scored in the entire series, as the Orioles shut them out in Games 2, 3 and 4.

No team was shut out in consecutive games… until last night.

The S.F. Giants shut out Detroit again, 2-0, to take a commanding 3 games to nothing lead in the World Series, and have Matt Cain on the mound tonight.

Both runs scored in the second. Hunter Pence walked, stole second on a K and advanced to third on a WP. Gregor Blanco tripled in a run and after another strikeout, Brandon Crawford singled in Blanco.

Should they get one more win, it would be the second title for San Francisco in three years… and 2010 was the first ever for the city.

In Yankees news, CC had his bone spur surgery and should be OK for spring training (X–fingers crossed). Meanwhile can the GOAT (Greatest of All Time)’s career be over? Reports are that Mariano Rivera, 43 next month, is having second thoughts about coming back after his ACL surgery.

Not only that, Mo’s contact is up. You want to show respect for the great Rivera, but how much would you pay a 43 year old who missed most of 2012 and who is coming off ACL surgery? Surely not the $15MM he made last year, but how much? Especially when you are trying to cut 10% off your budget to get under the cap in 2014? (Granted we are only talking 2013 for Mo here, but…).

Michael Pineda, coming off shoulder surgery, isn’t expected to be with the Yanks until midseason 2013.

 

Game 122. Lineup. Teix back, Pineda busted.

Before posting the lineup, a sad note. Michael Pineda, out all year with the shoulder surgery, was busted for DUI in Tampa.

Teix returns to the lineup tonight.

Yanks 72-49, 5 up in the A.L. East. Best record in the A.L. by 1 1/2 over Texas. 3 games worse than Washington for the best record in the majors. They are one game better than their Pythagorean record. OPS+ 112, ERA+ 113. (100 is average, the higher the better).

BA/HR/RBI   SB/Total Att.   OPS+

Jeter SS .321-10-40  8/11  112     3251 hits, 4 behind Murray.  
Swisher DH .269-18-69  2/5    121
Cano 2B .305-25-68   3/5  140
Teixeira 1B .257-23-78  2/3  118
Granderson CF .241-32-71  8/11  120
Chavez 3B .300-13-31  0/0  135
Ibanez LF .246-15-51  3/3  103
Suzuki RF .272-7-41  19/23  90
(comb. SEA/NYY; as Yank .322-3-13 in 87 AB,
                       just one walk, 5 K, 4/6 SB;  OPS+ 125) 
Stewart C .263-1-12  1/1  71

Garcia RHP 7-5, 4.68  ERA+ 91

It’s up to Pineda and his rehab

Various places, including ESPN and over at Bronx Baseball Daily, have articles on Pineda. In short, it comes down to how hard Pineda works on his rehab. Yes, it could negatively affect his career, but if Pineda goes about things the right way, he can come back and be good. Maybe. It depends on sticking to a regimented rehab plan, and of course, that plan is for the whole body—none of this twenty pounds overweight crap.

If he does that, Pineda could be more fit than ever before and get that shoulder back to where it should be. But he has to work HARD at it. His rehab is just that—HIS rehab. As Curt Schilling (who had the surgery and came back throwing harder) puts it: I would tell you that it is 25 percent about the surgery and 75 percent about the rehab. Schilling’s doctor said that it is about not being lazy and sticking to the rehab meticulously.

Even if he sticks to the rehab religiously, there is no guarantee that Pineda will be what he was before. But the only to get back is to do exactly what Schilling and his doctor state: Work hard at rehab. No slacking. Bust your tail. No “days off.” Only then will we know if the Yanks get back the Pineda they traded for.

            

Plans can go awry

With the Pineda trade giving the major league Yankees nothing for 2012 (and who knows for how much longer), some places and people are bashing Brian Cashman. Which I think is unfair. As they say, the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray.

I hated giving up Montero. But I saw what Cashman was trying to do in the deal. Use Montero—whose bat may be great but whose defense may necessitate him being used primarily at DH—for a young, hard-throwing possible future ace. The DH spot needs to be freed up for the aging Jeter and A-Rod. We’ve seen Girardi use both as DHs against lefties, thus resting them while getting Nunez some playing time. Montero’s development wouldn’t be enhanced by being a part-time DH, and if you are going to have A-rod or Jeter DH against the lefty pitchers, then all you need is a lefty DH (like Ibanez) against the righties. Which Montero is not. In theory, the trade made sense.

Let’s look past what Montero (.281, 2 HR, OPS+ 94) and Noesi (1-2, 9.49) are doing for Seattle so far. One is so-so so far (although young, just 22, with the ability to improve), the other awful. Pineda has given (and will, for quite some time) the Yankees absolutely nothing, while Jose Campos is still just 19 and at Low A. Campos is doing well (3-0, 1.23) but is years away—if he makes it at all. Maybe, if say Campos is the 2017 Rookie of the Year, the trade will be looked at differently and people may be praising Cashman. But with the win-now mentality of the Yankees and many of their fans, patience in Yankees Universe is rare.

But the need to win now can cause overreactions. We saw plenty of that from the Boss with various win-now moves that he made. Buhner for Phelps, for instance.

We have to remember that there is a future, and that future—without Jeter, Pettitte, A-Rod and Rivera—will be here sooner than one may like. The trade for Pineda was a trade made for that future. The hope was for a good, young rotation that would be inexpensive and help to keep the Yankees payroll under the luxury tax limit.

Cashman can only rely on scouting reports and get a healthy young player with potential. It’s not like he traded for a proven bum. This wasn’t say, trading Montero for Sidney Ponson or something like that. This was about dealing for a youngster with considerable upside.

But Cashman can only swing the deal. He isn’t the player. Cashman isn’t the person who came into camp twenty pounds overweight. He isn’t the person who takes the mound or plays a position. Eventually, it’s the player who has to produce.

Has Cashman made mistakes? Sure. (Igawa) Who hasn’t?

But he had the right idea. Players do get hurt. Would Cashman receive the same criticism for the deal if, say, Pineda had injured himself in a car accident and been lost for the year by that method? People may have criticized him for a bad deal, but there isn’t anything Cashman could have done had that scenario occurred.

There was nothing to indicate that this injury would occur when Cashman made the deal.

Just as there was nothing to indicate that the AAA rotation, which was thought to be a strength just two months ago, would be as bad as it is right now.

Dellin Betances and Manny Banuelos were, and are, two of the top prospects in the Yankees system. One, or both, would have been desired in any major trade. They, along with Pineda, were considered cornerstones for the future rotation. Instead, Pineda will be out a long time, while the currently DL’d Banuelos (0-1, 10.13) and the active Betances (0-2, 8.83) have been extreme disappointments thus far. Even B-level prospect Adam Warren as a 6.10 ERA.

The goal and intent (to have a surplus of good young pitching) of Cashman’s was noble.

In the end, the players themselves have to accept responsibility and perform.

Cashman says he’d do the deal 10 times out of 10 with the information he had at the time. I don’t blame him.

After all, he isn’t Nostradamus.

Pineda needs surgery on shoulder, Out for season

From Meredith Marakovits, YES Network, via Twitter:

Pineda right shoulder anterior labral tear will have arthroscopic surgery Tuesday

More as it comes in.

Update: Pineda will be out all year. Full year recovery. Even at that, if it takes a full year, then training, game action, are we looking at June 2013, if then?

What this means is that Pettitte’s unexpected return is not only welcome… but necessary.

Game 17. A-Rod Dhs, big matchup for Japan.

The 10-6 Yanks are at Texas. It’s a big matchup for Japan: Kuroda vs. Darvish. No lineup surprises. A-Rod DH, Chavez at 3B. Per Sweeny Murti, the lineup:

Jeter SS    .411-4-13  0/1 (SB/total attempts)    Hit counter: 3118
Granderson CF  .281-6-12 0/2
ARod-DH  .250-3-7  2/2   HR: 632
Cano 2B   .254-1-3   1/1 Needs to pick it up
Teixeira 1B .270-3-11 1/1   HR: 317
Swisher RF .266-4-21 0/0 Leads AL in RBI
Ibanez LF  .275-2-9  2/2 HR: 254
Chavez 3B .400-2-2  0/0  (4 for 10)
Martin C .179-1-4  1/1

Kuroda RHP (1-2, 5.00)

No word on Pineda’s MRI yet.

Pineda Update, from WFAN’s Sweeny Murti:

No news on Pineda. Had MRI today but second opinion tomorrow before revealing diagnosis and prognosis.