It may be time to start getting a contingency plan together
for the starting rotation because the Yankees may be without Masahiro Tanaka
for a very long time. The 25 year old rookie and Cy Young candidate is still
feeling lingering pain in his elbow after shutting down his throwing and
receiving a PPR injection. The Yankees are currently treading water with their
rotation at this point and patching holes as they find them but it may be time
to acquire a real candidate because every day that goes by with pain in
Tanaka’s elbow is every day that we are closer to a probably Tommy John
surgery.
I don’t claim to be a doctor and I did not stay at a Holiday
Inn Express last night, or ever in case you were wondering, so I realize that
three doctors plus Dr. James Andrews recommended rest and rehab for Tanaka but
all four doctors also failed to rule out Tommy John surgery. All four in fact
said that Tommy John would be needed eventually and all four doctors stated
that the real telling factor would be about three weeks after the injection and
the rest program when he would be reevaluated. No doctor is going to release a
client to start even a throwing program while there is still pain in the elbow.
Best case scenario is three weeks was not enough of a layoff
for Tanaka and he needs three more before starting his throwing program and
rehab, that pushes his date back until sometime in December. I know the Yankees
are riding a great streak right now but it’s against teams they should be
dominating and September may be too late for New York. The Yankees need someone
now if that’s the case and not only for this season but next season as well if
the surgery is necessary.
I love the veteran presence that Shane Greene seems to
emanate every time the rookie steps onto the mound just like the next guy. I
have my doubts on Chase Whitley and him having enough gas to make the rest of
the season in the rotation just like the next guy. I will also have my doubts about
CC Sabathia in 2015 if he makes it all the way back just like the next guy. I
don’t want to have to worry about Masahiro Tanaka or his replacement as well, I
have enough on my dish.
Cashman needs to acquire someone big with team control like
a David Price has. I know Price is likely a pipe dream to Yankee fans but someone
the next tier down from his pedestal would be fine with me at this point. I got
enough to worry about, don’t make me worry about Tanaka too.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)