MLBPA Pushing For 7-Day DL in New CBA

Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association have already begun preliminary discussions surrounding the renewal of a new collective bargaining agreement to avoid a work stoppage and keep the players on the field for another four seasons. While we haven't heard much out of either camp as far as specifics, you know that both sides will want what the other side doesn't and they will ultimately meet in the middle, but we heard of one thing that the MLPA is going to push for this winter, a 7-Day disabled list.

Currently MLB had a 15-Day DL, a 60-Day DL which removes you from the 40 man roster and a 7-Day concussion disabled list if said player can get approval from MLB's medical director before activation. This is not the first time the Players Union has pushed for a 7-Day DL but there are concerns that teams would exploit the system, specifically with starting pitchers who would not make a start in the next seven days with off days and the use of a sixth starter. While the deal would come with much negotiation it is unclear whether the league is willing to budge on this.

This would have come in handy for the Yankees in recent weeks as they played with a 23 man roster and a two man bench while Alex Rodriguez and Aaron Hicks battled little nagging injuries. You have to think the Yankees would have added one or both of them to a 7-Day DL if they had the chance while a 15-Day DL may have been a bit overkill for both injuries.

There is a 7-Day DL in the minor leagues so it is not out of the realm of possibilities that it would come to the Major Leagues. We have all year to speculate and watch out for this and topics like it so stay tuned to The Greedy Pinstripes because we'll have it here when and if they do.

Could Stephen Drew’s Vestibular Concussion Explain His Woes in 2014/2015?

The end of Stephen Drew’s tenure with the New York Yankees came to an abrupt halt this season when the Yankees second baseman was diagnosed with a vestibular concussion late in September. Drew had a pretty severe concussion in 2013 when he was a member of the World Series Champion Boston Red Sox that took roughly three-and-a-half months to fully heal and recover from according to reports. Could that concussion and the lingering side effects be the reason or explanation for his less than stellar 2014 and 2015 campaigns?

Athletico describes a concussion as such:

A concussion is a serious brain injury and is very difficult to assess and treat as MRIs and CT scans are almost always normal. If not treated properly, these concussions can cause both short- and long-term problems. One treatment that is getting more and more attention is the use of vestibular physical therapy for individuals who have been concussed.

When someone first sustains a concussion, the initial treatment is rest. At that time they should be managed by their physician. Studies show that 80% of those who suffer a concussion have their symptoms go away completely within the first three weeks. Unfortunately, some people have symptoms that last even longer. Common symptoms include headaches, blurry vision, nausea, dizziness, noise and light sensitivity, balance difficulties, difficulty with concentrating, difficulty remembering, difficulty sleeping, and/or emotional symptoms. Oftentimes a concussed person will complain of difficulty with driving, difficulty with reading a computer, difficulty reading books, and difficulty changing gaze focus. One of the most common complaints that vestibular therapists hear is that they just feel “off” or “foggy.”

In a game where everything is analyzed and in a game where a matter of inches can make or break you every single play of every single night battling a head injury has to be difficult. The problem for Drew is, and I am speculating here as I do not have concrete evidence to back up this statement, that he reportedly felt fine and had no lingering effects of a concussion until almost the end of September. For all we know the problem may have been minor enough to adjust to or not even notice in your everyday life but it could have been something that could make or break you when trying to judge a pitch at 100 MPH.

An interesting nugget specifically linked to sports figures with vestibular concussions from medscape:

"Therefore, if this system is compromised in some way following concussion, it makes sense that a reaction time would be slowed. This is an important point, as athletes with this impaired reaction time may be at greater risk for subsequent injury until they are no longer impaired."

The participants in the study had sustained their injuries more than 21 days earlier and completed computerized neurocognitive tests and symptom reports at their initial clinical visits. They also received vestibular screening, which includes clinical interview and exams evaluating vestibular dizziness and vestibulo-spinal and vestibulo-ocular domains.

To be honest we’ll probably never know what happened to Drew and whether it was this concussion or Father Time merely catching up to him and his bat in 2014 and 2015. The article above says that most MRI's CT scans or tests come back normal. If the Yankees feel like they get nip this concussion in the bud then I am all for a bounce back type season on the New York bench in 2016 because at least now we may have a reason for his struggles instead of merely grasping at straws. 

Jose Pirela Sent on a Rehab Assignment

Jose Pirela finally seems close to returning to baseball this season as the Yankees utility player has been sent on a rehab assignment with the Tampa Yankees. Pirela looked well on his way to making the Yankees roster out of spring training before running into the center field wall and suffering a concussion. Pirela has taken a lot longer than expected to recover from the injury and you have to wonder if there will be any long term effects due to the concussion. Either way Pirela seems well on his way to coming back to baseball this season, whether that's taking Gregorio Petit's spot on the roster in the Bronx or starting the season in Scranton and Triple-A, and that's great news either way.

Quick Hit: McCann Activated Today, For Real This Time

Brian McCann is expecting to be activated off the seven day concussion disabled list today, for real this time. I know we posted this yesterday morning but the Yankees way of thinking gave McCann another day, and frankly it made sense. Francisco Cervelli always catches pitcher Shane Greene so with Greene pitching yesterday afternoon the Yankees played the cautious parent once again and gave McCann one more day just to be sure.

McCann is expecting to be activated today and in the lineup in the finale against the Tampa Bay Rays. Unless Joe Girardi pulls a "take a day today, off day tomorrow" approach that will likely make me want to scream.

Brian McCann Added To 7 Day DL, Austin Romine Called Up

Yankees announce Austin Romine called up from Triple A, placed McCann on seven-day concussion DL
— Erik Boland (@eboland11) August 9, 2014

Brian McCann has been added to the 7 day concussion disabled list and the Yankees have called up Austin Romine. This is a bit of a head scratcher as we all expected the call up to be John  Ryan Murphy. Maybe Joe Girardi will have further explanation on this later on. Stay tuned.

Brian McCann W/ A Possible Concussion

Brian McCann was lifted for pinch hitter Francisco Cervelli in the sixth inning after the Yankees took a 9-2 lead. It was thought, and reported by the YES Network, that McCann was being taken out to get a half a day of rest but now McCann may have a concussion. Hopefully the Yankees won't be without McCann for any time, even the seven day DL, because he is a big part of this hot streak by the Yankees. Stay tuned but one thing we do know Joe Girardi will "give him a day" tomorrow.

Quick Hit: Carlos Beltran Expected To Be Activated

Carlos Beltran is expected to return from the seven day concussion DL before tonight's game with the Cincinnati Reds. Beltran fouled a pitch off the batting cage and was struck by the ball in the face while taking batting practice last week and suffered multiple fractures to his face. The Yankees need him back in the middle of that lineup and need him to contribute so let's hope the week off can help his nagging little injuries and help his bat speed get back to where it needs to be.