On the Yankees beat

a cramp is a cramp until proven otherwise ! Use the word hamstring when it's been diagnosed as a "hamstring injury" ...

Oh man. Unbelievable. This news came too late for my column this morning, which was on this very topic:

http://www.rotorob.com/baseball/offseason-lowdown-do-yanks-have-the-arms/

RotoRob

The Yankees are notorious for issuing disinformation on injuries. Anybody remember Mickey Klutts and his infamous "jam-sprain"?

My God, The negativity around the Yankees with concern to health issues is wild. Its amazing the domino affect which will occur with the bloggers and the what ifs.

Do players with the common cold go on the DL?

I can hear Bob Shepard's voice on Opening Day? And now pitching for the NY Yankees, Carl Pavano. The crowd instead of cheering just goes silent. There will be hurtles all year. So, we must get use to someone filling in for the regulars. And don't we have a stocked AAA club to come in for support.

Don't like to see injuries, but, hey, we'll take it.

Hey...if he's going to get hurt, let it be in the beginning of the season and not his arm.

Jim,

I agree, that this it the right time for an injury. I'm hopeful that it isn't a hamstring injury with how important legs are to pitching and those things tend to linger.

It goes back to a point I've been trying to make for weeks/months now. The Yankee pitching staff is fragile, and given that it is fragile giving away Carl Pavano just because we as fans don't like him is not a good idea. With the age of Mussina and Andy, the multiple shoulder problems Wang has had in his minor league career and two years ago with the Yankees, this team needs all the pitchers it can get its hands on. Karstens, Rasner, all the kids, maybe even Clemens, will be needed during this season.

Larry,

There is a great phrase that I heard a while back, "Depth is a wonderful thing to have until you need to use it."

It's great that the Yankees have 8 or 9 guys who could start (Mussina, Wang, Andy, Pavano, Igawa, Hughes, Karstens, Rasner, Olendorf, Clippard....whatever) but the problem arises when the team has to count on those last few guys to make big starts.

Chip:
You're so right. I'm making the over/under on how many starters we use this year at 13.

Larry M:
I hear you but it's not so much negativity as it is fanatical Yankee bloggers who love to obsess about every tiny question. I know I do. I happen to think we're going to score close to 1,000 runs and win about 100 games. But in the meantime, if Mo Rivera sneezes, I come down with flu-like symptoms.

Larry:
Loved your mention of Bob Sheppard. I understand he's not too well but he's a national treasure. When he's replaced by some young guy who acts like a homer/cheerleader, it will diminish the Yankee legacy.

The great Papelbon scam

Anybody else think it was fishy the way the Red Sox publicly and aggressively let it be known (the day after the 06 season ended) that Papelbon would be moved to the rotation??? Never, in my 36 years as a fan, have I seen an organization send out a press release about its rotation FIVE MONTHS before spring training. At the time, I raised serious questions about it and the way the media bit on it.

Something was off the whole time. Either...

A) the Red Sox are media pigs who couldn't stand seeing eight other MLB clubs get all the post-season attention, or ...

B) they were pulling everyone's leg, or...

C) they are complete morons for making the move, publicly announcing it, and making a big ol' deal about it, or...

D) All of the above

Bottom line: The fans and the media spent five months discussing papelbon's move the the rotation and...it never happened and, perhaps, it never was meant to.

Joke's on all of you who bit on it.

American League Preview - Baseball America picks The Yankees to win the Al East.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/major...res/263519.html

Good News that Baseball America and Jim Callis picks the Redsox to win the World Series this year... Thanks to Baseball America picking The Redsox and jinxing them..

Chip: Yes depth is a good thing but with Karstens/Rasner, I feel comfortable with the backend (4&5) as the replacement. For a month I could live with those two guys. We can score the runs. The real problem is wang having to get up to strength.

Zander: yes, Bob Shepherd is a treasure and a professional.

I love the Yanks and want them to win 162 games and 11 playoff games but I have learned its a long season and wins will fall around 97-104. There will be injuries and players will substitute for our starters and specialists like MO. We may have the opportunity in the meantine to watch a developing story as Wang, Cano and Melky have been for the last two years. Last season with Matsui and Shefffield out of the lineup it reminded me of the 90's with a new hero every night and not your garden variety type either.

This could just be the break that Karstens needs. Hopefully, he'll get his chance and start the year 3-0 with a 1.50 ERA and they won't be able to take him out of the rotation. Then when Wang comes back, somebody else will HAVE to go.

hahaha. yeah, karstens and his 85 mph fastball. like he has a prayer. he will be shredded up even at aaa this year

Ouch. Wang cramps really hurt.

Karstens proved he can pitch in MLB last year and he has looked good so far. I think he'll be a fine fill in if Wang is out for any amount of time.
Colter Bean looks a lot like Sid Fernandez doesn't he?

Jim A:
More like Sidney Ponson

Jim A;
Like I said in another post, I like Bean, but he should have a frickin salad once in awhile. He is not a "high energy guy", like Nieves.

I'M A HIGH ENERGY GUY

I'm a high energy guy. I drink a $hitload of coffee and I pace around the room a lot when the Yanks are on TV. Can I beat out Nieves ?

The energizer bunny has a lot of energy too. Let's give the rabbit a chance.

Joe:
Yeah, let's make it a race between Phelps, Phillips and the Bunny. Torre will go for Andy.

Can anybody tell us who Eddie Gaedel was ??

JimA:
You or someone of your "ilk" told me that bloggers were heading home on the subway between 5 and 7 pm NY time. So where IS everybody?

Videos of New Yankees Stadium

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2GS73ByLJA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ai5i370tikU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7hfOjE52jE

Edward Carl "Eddie" Gaedel (June 8, 1925 - June 18, 1961), born in Chicago, Illinois, was an American dwarf who became famous for participating in a Major League Baseball game.

Just 3 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 65 pounds, Gaedel gained immortality in the second game of a doubleheader on Sunday, August 19, 1951. He was secretly signed by the St. Louis Browns and put in uniform (complete with number "1/8" on the back) as a publicity stunt by maverick Browns owner and showman Bill Veeck.

Other notable Yankee killers from the 70's and 80's were Mike Caldwell from the Brewers and Larry Gura from the Royals (for all of you "free agency made the Yankees buy pennants" folks - the Brew Crew and the Royals were the teams to beat from 1977-83 when they actually spent money on players). Gura was a spurned Yankee if I remember correctly.

Edgar Martinez - one of the greatest Yankee killers

Let's not forget about Chuck Finley

It's time for alarmists to take a chill pill. A "cramp" is not an "injury." It's Spring Training, so even a sniffle is enough to "shut down" a projected starter from continuing in an exercise or practice session. Yikes!!!!

When I was a youngster the ultimate "Yankee Killer" was Frank Lary, a righty from Detroit. Although he wound up with a 28-13 lifetime record against them, he went
7-0 against the 1958 Champs which earned him that nickname.

Note to Chad:
If you've watched any ST Games, son, you would have noticed that Karstens has added upper body strength and about "4 yards" to his fastball, now throwing in the 88-91 range. He's definitely a darkhorse candidate for No. 4 starter.

Hopefully, Wang's "tweak" is just that - a cramp, usually the result of dehydration. If he can stretch out and run today, he should be okay.

Wang to start the season on the DL!!! Yankees "hoping" to have him back by late April. I knew this injury was serious! Hopefully this is a sign of things to come for the 2007 Yankees. Damn I HATE the Yankees. Great news!!!

Classy post! Wishing injury on a young star just to hopefully watch a
MLB team fail.
I'll bet you have many friends and admirers who share your feelings...loser!

If "Dr." Jim Baumbach says this "injury" is cause for concern, that's enough for me. Time to trade Pavano and Phillips for Tim Hudson. Promote Karstens to the starting rotation, and put Hughes "on notice", that he may be "called up" at any time. This is not panic. This is the way "The Boss" used to run this "operation". By the by. Nobody in the BBB Fantasy League with half a brain, should draft Wang before the 8th round. This injury can last for months, as Dr. Baumbach informed us.

You do realize that the Yankees and their fans are the most hated in not just baseball but in all sports, right?

There are people who would rather see the Yankees lose than their favorite team to win! 6 years and counting!!!

now lets see what the majority of ya'll say since most defended and demanded Jeff K be put in the rotation. Jeff K , pavano and Other Guy is now the majority of your staff. hopefully the number 5 spot is not used until late april, Clemons is smiling

Same with "Devil" Redsox.. I hope Ortiz's retired never play again. That Sob....

In religion The Red color represents = "Evil" :Satanism"

Luccihino = Lucifer

There is no need to panic. The Yanks will just slug their way to victory early in the season as they did all of last year. Then they will get Wang back and all will be fine. Karstens will hold down the fort as the number 4 starter until then. The rotation will probably be:
Pettitte
Moose
Pavano
Karstens
Igawa

yup, they'll need to slug it out for a while, but I'm okay with it. I'd rather have this type of thing occur in April than September like it did w/ the Red Sox last year.

Zander-
You are indeed a high energy guy. I live in Virginia now so I don't know everyone's schedule but I generally leave work around 5:30, check back in around 8 PM and intermittently over the weekend. Over the summer I'll be pretty infrequent as I will be very busy w/ my kids activities.

Darn it...I forgot to say WAY TO GO BOBBY MURCER! yesterday. I was very happy to read the encouraging news. Keep up the fight, Bobby!

Yankee haters are born losers and can only relate to losing. That's why they come to the Yankees forum and wish harm on our outstanding, winning players. It is a compliment, however, that they realize the only way their own pathetic team can win is by the Yankees losing. Jealousy and envy certainly bring out the worst in people, especially those born losers who don't have a life. We will accept their sad Yankees' obsession as a compliment, though

Lucy : Once again well said !

Dr. Jim B. was absolutely right. He is very familiar with this type of injury, and the Yankee "dis-information" method of operation. All those in the BBB Fantasy League would be wise to be "wary" of this competitor.

Boy, cant wait for opening day. Already in trouble when you have Pavano as your number 3. But hey, Joe was "tickled pink" about his ace like performance the other day-you know 4 1/3 innings, 8 hits 3 runs 2 walks-Man, this guy is dominating. The AL East better look out. WTF? Why couldn't this be Pavano who got hurt?

Alarmist! Wang said he felt fine ,the Yanks are protecting their investment .Going on the DL is a precaution ,not the end of the world .Wang misses 1 start .Big deal .

I hate being right sometimes. Per Cashman, Wang out until at least the end of April.