Red Sox @ Yankees 8/19

Still no Mark Teixeira with a sore wrist

Yankees take a 1-0 lead early on a Curtis Granderson double

Yankees win 4-1

Hero? NO It Hiroki!

The Yankees will finish their three game weekend series with the Boston Red Sox tonight at Yankees Stadium. This also is game 17 in a 20 games in 20 days stretch that has been grueling on the bullpen and on the players. A much needed day off is in the cards for Thursday but until then we need to finish this strong. On the mound for the Yankees will be Hiroki "My Hiro" Kuroda and will be facing off against Mr. Fried Chicken himself Josh Beckett, blister and blood pressure withstanding.The game will be televised at 8:05 pm ET on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball.

Lineups

Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher 1B
Robinson Cano 2B
Curtis Granderson CF
Eric Chavez 3B
Raul Ibanez LF
Russell Martin C
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Casey McGhee DH

Go Yankees!!

Look Around The NL West Disabled Lists

My post about the Yankees 2012 Disabled list, seen HERE, got me thinking on how this injury riddled season stacks up against everyone else. Now granted that post took me a very long time to do and I do not plan on doing one that detailed for every team but rather I am going to look at all the teams CURRENT disabled lists and compare them.

Today we're going to start with the NL West Here is an up to date look at the standings.

These are the disabled list and salaries of every team in the NL West.

Arizona Diamondbacks

5 Players Currently On DL

$5.04 Million On DL of $74,284,833

6.8% of Total Payroll

Takashi Saito - 1.75 Million

Willie Bloomquist - 1.1 Million

Josh Collmenter - 486 K

Henry Blanco - 1.2 Million

Daniel Hudson - 504 K

Colorado Rockies

9 Players Currently On DL

$31.51 Million On DL of $78,069,571

40.4% of Total Payroll

Edgmer Escalona - 400 K

Todd Helton - 4.9 Million

Jonathan Sanchez - 5.6 Million

Christian Friedrich - 400 K

Jason Giambi - 1 Million

Juan Nicasio - 480 K

Troy Tulowitzki - 8.25 Million

Jhoulys Chacin - 482 K

Jorge De La Rosa - 10 Million

Los Angeles Dodgers

9 Players Currently On DL

$21.73 Million On DL of $95,143,575

22.8% of Total Payroll

Jerry Hairston Jr - 3.75 Million

Scott Elbert - 486 K

Dee Gordon - 485 K

Todd Coffey - 1.3 Million

Ted Lilly - 10.5 Million

Justin Sellers - 481 K

Matt Guerrier - 3.75 Million

Blake Hawksworth - 495 K

Rubby De La Rosa - 483 K

San Diego Padres

12 Players Currently On DL

 $22.69 Million On DL of $55,244,700

41.1% of Total Payroll

Huston Street - 7.5 Million

Joe Thatcher - 700 K

Andrew Cashner - 496 K

Anthony Bass - 485 K

James Darnell - 400 K

Jason Bartlett - 5.5 Million

Tim Stauffer - 3.2 Million

Joe Weiland - 400 K

Cory Luebke - 500 K

Micah Owings - 1 Million

Kyle Blanks - 492 K

Dustin Moseley - 2.0125 Million

San Francisco Giants

6 Players Currently On DL

$24.5 Million On DL of  $117,620,683

20.83% of Total Payroll

Brad Penny - 400 K

Shane Loux - 400 K

Aubrey Huff - 10 Million

Brian Wilson - 8.5 Million

Freddy Sanchez - 6 Million

Eric Surkamp - 480 K

Is there any correlation between the injuries and the standings? I do not know so you be the judge. Leave me a comment in the comment box because I am always down for baseball debate and banter.

Feliciano Throws Another Scoreless Inning In Rehab

Damn Baby! You Know I Have $8 Million bucks right?

Pedro Feliciano took one step closer to becoming a Yankee, for real this time, today in his latest rehab assignment. In his third rehab appearance for the GCL Yankees Pedro struck out a batter in a scoreless inning. No word on the velocity or the pitch count but if the velocity was way down we would have heard about it by now. All signs look for Feliciano coming back to the Yankees when rosters expand this September as a 3rd left handed pitcher in the bullpen.

Yankees Send Romine, Heathcott & Adams To The AFL

The Yankees announced today that they will be sending Austin Romine, Slade Heathcott, and David Adams to the Arizona Fall League this coming offseason. This does not come as a surprise, not to me anyway, for many reasons. The main reason being that all of these guys have been injured for significant time not only this season but last season as well.

Austin Romine obviously missed almost all of this season with a back injury that has now been diagnosed as healed. He could use the extra at bats and seasoning behind the plate. Not to mention that we have a big decision, and gaping hole, at catcher this offseason with Russell Martin being a free agent. We have Francisco Cervelli in the minors available if need be but he does not project to be a starting catcher in the major leagues. Austin Romine is still considered major league ready even with this year almost lost, even with the season lost, not that he does not need seasoning.

David Adams has lost parts of a the past few seasons due to injury but has had an overall terrific and healthy season this year. David now seems to be on the fast track to the majors as a utility infielder player so I see why they would want him in the AFL. He is also learning a new position, third base, since he is blocked by Robinson Cano and Alex Rodriguez is aging. He could use the rep's at third base as well so that would not hurt.

Slade Heathcott has missed parts of the last three seasons due to various shoulder injuries. His "all out" and "balls to the wall" kind of reckless play is really appreciated until you get injured. He was so promising when drafted and maybe he has finally turned the corner with his health.

Others guys that can possibly go, because each team gets to send seven players to the Arizona Fall League, are pitchers Dan Burawa (@GreedyStripes follower on twitter :D ) if his oblique heals in time, Mark Montgomery, Preston Claiborne, Branden Pinder, Zach Nuding, Tommy Kahnle, and Matt Tracy. Interestingly enough though teams are only allowed to send one Single-A player to the AFL and I am shocked it is Heathcott and not, say, Dante Bichette Jr.

Red Sox @ Yankees 8/18/12

UPDATE:

The Grandy Man Can for the 32nd time! 2-1 Red Sox
Yankees lose 4-1

David "Mr. Confidence" Phelps

The rivalry is renewed once again this afternoon as the New York Yankees host the Boston Red Sox in the second game of a three game weekend set. On the mound for the Yankees will be David Phelps who is replacing CC Sabathia or the second consecutive time in his rotation spot. Hopefully, not that David has not pitched great all season long, this will be the last time he has to start to replace CC this season. On the mound for the Red Sox is Jon Lester. The game will be televised at 4:05 pm ET on Fox, which for some reason never bodes well for us.

Lineups

1. Jeter DH
2. Swisher 1B
3. Cano 2B
4. Jones RF
5. McGehee 3B
6. Granderson CF
7. Martin C
8. Nix SS
9. Suzuki LF

Go Yankees!!

The 2012 Yankees & The Disabled List

I made the joke a few days ago that the Yankees had $100 million tied up into players currently on the DL and it got me thinking about just how much the Yankees have lost, games wise and fiscally, to the disabled list this season. Here are your results... look with caution.

All games missed is as of 8/18 and salary as of 2012

David Aardsma - 60 Day DL - Tommy John Surgery - 500 K - 119 Games Missed

Cesar Cabral - 60 Day DL - Elbow Stress Fracture - 480 K - 119 Games Missed

Pedro Feliciano - 60 Day DL- Shoulder Surgery - 4 Mill - 119 Games Missed

Brad Meyers - 60 Day DL - Shoulder Surgery - 480 K - 119 Games Missed

Andy Pettitte - 60 Day DL - Fractured Ankle - 2.5 Mill - 43 Games Missed

Michael Pineda - 60 Day DL - Labrum Tear - 528 K - 119 Games Missed

Mariano Rivera - 60 Day DL - Torn ACL - 15 Mill - 93 Games Missed

CC Sabathia - 15 Day DL - Elbow Tightness - 23 Mill - 15 Games Missed

Alex Rodriguez - 15 Day DL - Broken Hand - 29 Mill - 21 Games Missed

Brett Gardner - 60 Day DL - Elbow Surgery - 2.8 Mill - 108 Games Missed

Austin Romine - 60 Day DL - Back Injury - 482 K - 119 Games Missed

I do not know why MLB.com still shows Austin Romine on the 60 Day DL but they know better then I would I guess...











That is not mentioning all the time that guys not currently on the DL that have missed games like Nick Swisher(8), Mark Teixeira (7), Robinson Cano(2), Eric Chavez(7), Eduardo Nunez(60), Russell Martin (10), David Robertson (28), and Joba Chamberlain(113).

The Yankees currently have $78.71 million tied up in players on the disabled list. That is more payroll then TEN entire teams this season. These players, combined, has missed a staggering 994 games! If you include the guys that have missed time but not on the DL or not currently on the DL that staggering number goes up to 1229 games. That is nearing a 10 seasons worth of games in one season and will be by the time those 60 day DL guys miss the rest of the season.

All that and we are in the discussion for best record in the American League and have a very comfortable lead in the AL East. It must be all that buying of players and championships and less about the scouting and minor leagues. I did not write this for anyone to feel sorry for us but , in fact, I moreso wrote this because of all the people making excuses for teams like the Phillies and the Red Sox. If we can keep our head above water then so can you.

#EvilEmpire

CC Sabathia To Throw Bullpen Session Today

I Got This Bro!

CC Sabathia threw off flat ground for the first time on Thursday since going to the DL with left elbow tightness. Today, Saturday, he is scheduled to throw a bullpen session off of a full mound. This is a significant step and shows us that the throwing session on Thursday went well. He is still on schedule to come off the DL next Friday against the Cleveland Indians on 8/24.

How Many Runs Should Have Been Earned?

"I don't care what the rules say, no earned runs is stupid."

How did the Red Sox earn 4 runs off of Phil Hughes?

That question comes to mind after hearing numerous people say that it's laughable that Phil Hughes did not technically give up an earned run this evening. Going on to say that the rules are stupid. While I understand that Phil gave up a home run, which is indeed an earned run (no matter what the rules say), that earned run does come with an assumption. That assumption is that Dustin Pedroia would have hit a home run in his next at bat, regardless of when that at bat came. We all know that hitters change their approach depending on the situation (number of outs, men on base, score, etc), but let's assume the batters following that error did the same with their at bat, and find out what the 3rd and 4th innings would have looked like had Hughes not made that error.

3rd Inning
1. Mike Aviles singles on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson.
2. Scott Podsednik reaches on a force attempt, throwing error by pitcher Phil Hughes. Mike Aviles to 3rd. Scott Podsednick hits a ground ball to Phil Hughes. Mike Aviles out at 2B, Scott Podsednik out at 1B. 2 outs.
3. Pedro Ciriaco grounds into a force out, shortstop Jayson Nix to second baseman Robinson Cano first baseman Nick Swisher. 3 outs.

I'm assuming no error by Jayson Nix on his throw to Swisher at 1B, instead of to Cano at 2B. So in that case no runs score.

4th Inning
1. Jacoby Ellsbury walks.
2. Carl Crawford pops out to third baseman Casey McGehee in foul territory. 1 out.
3. Dustin Pedroia homers (10) on a fly ball to left field. Pedro Ciriaco scores. Jacoby Ellsbury scores.
4. Adrian Gonzalez lines out to first baseman Nick Swisher. 2 outs.
5. Cody Ross strikes out swinging. 3 outs.

So after doing a lot of assuming, the most runs I believe you can hang on Phil Hughes in that game are 2. Not 4. And a pitching line of 7IP, 4H, 2ER, 1BB, and 4K is pretty darn good to me. Especially for a guy that came into this season as the 5th starter.

Oh, and that's assuming Phil wouldn't have gone any deeper into the game, seeing as how he would have thrown a lot less pitches through those 7 innings.

In summary, get off Phil's back!

"Thanks, bro."

Red Sox @ Yankees 8/17/12

Update:

Mark Teixeira sits because his wrist that made him sit out a few games is still bothering him. With such a comfortable lead it is a luxury to be able to sit him so if it gets him healthy for playoff time let him sit all weekend and until the off day for all I care. 

Swisher bombs one to put the Yankees up 1-0

The Grandy Man Can!!! 2-0 Yanks

Russell Martin can too!!! 3-0 Yanks

Jeter bomb ties it up at 4!!!

Jayson CLUTCH Nix with a go ahead RBI single. 5-4 Yanks!

Swisher homers from the other side of the plate! 6-4 Yanks!

Yankees win 6-4

The Yankees will host a three game weekend series against the Boston Red Sox starting tonight at Yankees Stadium. The Yankees are fresh off of taking three out of four games against the AL West leading and two time defending American League champion Texas Rangers while the Red Sox barely held off a sweep by the hands of the pesky Baltimore Orioles. On the mound tonight for the Yankees will be Phil Hughes who will need to keep the ball down and in the ball park to stand a chance. Opposing Hughes will be left handed starter Franklin Morales for the Red Sox. The game will be televised at 7:05 pm ET on the YES Network and on MLB Network's Friday Night Baseball.

Lineups

1. Jeter DH
2. Swisher 1B
3. Cano 2B
4. Jones RF
5. McGehee 3B
6. Granderson CF
7. Martin C
8. Nix SS
9. Suzuki LF

Go Yankees!!

MLB To Test Expanded Instant Replay In Yankees Stadium

MLB announced that they have two different sets of instant replay that will be tested out this season. The Yankees will have the luxury of being one of the two lucky teams to have this experimented on in their stadium. The system will only be tested and not actually used in games but it is a step in the right direction regardless.

The current system only covers fair and foul balls and home run calls but with this new system everything would be available to replay to a degree. I am sure you would still not have the strikes and balls being under reviewed but those details will come if this experiment goes well. If it does we could see this implemented as soon as next season league wide which would be fun.