Apr
14
Teixeira expects to play tonight
ByLast Wednesday in Baltimore, Mark Teixeira made a great diving stop on a scorched ground ball and jammed his wrist in the process. He has missed the last three days with what the team is calling tendinitis but sounds to me like a mild sprain. While Nick Swisher has filled in admirably at first, the Yanks got some good news on Teixeira yesterday. His MRI came back negative, and according to Bryan Hoch, Teixeira is planning on playing tonight. As Nick Swisher has done nothing but hit, Teixeira’s return should push either Hideki Matsui or Xavier Nady to the bench. However, if Brett Gardner or Melky Cabrera don’t show signs of offensive life, the Yanks may begin to consider Swisher for center.
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The Mason Williams Watch
Thanks for explaining what actually happened to his wrist, all I’ve heard is that he “randomly” injured it, leaving me to grandiose visions of another Pavano-esque buttocks injury.
There will never be another Pavano-esque buttocks injury. It’s one of a kind.
me too. this is the first time i heard that he hurt it during a game.
this has me a little less concerned.
I wonder if Sw-er would be willing to play center? Maybe he will because he seems to enjoy just being in pinstripes.
Heh, after opening the season on a tear and even pitching and recording a strikeout, Swish probably feels like he can do anything, maybe he’d be good on playing CF after all.
(He still is probably well below average there, though. Mike Cameron and Marlon Byrd are looking better and better to me.)
Speaking of which, the White Sox lost DeWayne Wise for 4-6 weeks with a separated shoulder. Let’s call ‘em up and see what they’ll give us for Melky.
Mike Cameron looks really good right now.
Speaking of which, the White Sox lost DeWayne Wise for 4-6 weeks with a separated shoulder. Let’s call ‘em up and see what they’ll give us for Melky.
Melky for Betemit.
Kidding.
id do that… betemit does more for our team in 2009 than melky will
melky is a cost controlled CFer for another few years, but he had 3 seasons to prove hes worth keeping, and he didnt do it
I’m not completely positive if Betemit > Melky, but I’m positive that Betemit > Ransom
I’d make that deal in a cocaine heartbeat.
Yeah, I guess you guys are right. But, could we really fool Kenny Williams twice in this short a span?
if it gaurantees him an everyday starting job, im betting he would
(though i think hes earned his spot in the lineup already)
I love the idea of having Swisher in CF. He’s fun to watch and adds life into the team. Keep getting him those ABs.
I think that Swisher should play every position on the last game on the season. When is the last time that happened?
it’s hard figure out if this is a good move or not, b/c it’s hard to tell exactly how good Gardner is out there defensively.
he looked great last year, and the numbers bore that out. he’s looked fairly ordinary this year, and the numbers bear that out.
neither sample is big enough to draw meaningful conclusions from. but the scouting reports on Gardner’s defense have always been mixed.
at some point, you have to do a cost-benefit analysis and decide if the runs Swisher would give back on defense are offset by the difference in Nady’s bat over Gardner’s.
too early to tell, but it’s certainly possible.
Agreed, Swisher is valuable in RF because he isn’t a butcher over there. In CF, his offense prowess is somewhat negated by his poor range. I think if Swish keeps hitting, we should put him in RF. Then Nady can play RF/LF/DH and push Swish to first base if Tex needs a day off. He’ll still get 3 or so games a week. Of course, this is hoping that Gardner becomes at least respectable with the bat so that his defense/offense combo is a net gain for us.
FWIW, UZR so far says he’s unfathomablly horrible.
Swisher don’t really have the range to play CF though, I’d be willing to do Damon there before I do Swisher.
I think they should just flip around Melky / GB and try to stick with the hot bat for awhile, at least until it’s getting closer to the deadline.
You would hate his guts if he was batting .200
Back on topic. The lineup is so much better more formidable with Tex in it.Nady or Matusi to the bench, hmm its like picking between getting kicked in the nuts or slapped.
nadys hit the ball decent so far… comparing his season to matsui’s isnt fair
and i’ll hate Arod if he hits .200…
Melky was 2-4 yesterday, which is a small sign of life.
But if the CF hitting drought continues:
I might put Damon in CF one or two days a week, and Swisher in CF one or two days a week, and then fill in with Melky/Gardner as needed.
Nady has a six game hitting streak and is now hitting .280, even though his OPS is only .748, so I think he’ll stay in the lineup.
Meh, I still want to give Gardner some more time to get comfortable and get straightened out before we start burying him and giving all his starts away.
Damon in CF is still a bad idea, IMO. He’s in LF and we’re already spelling him aggressively, I don’t want him charged with covering more ground.
+1.
Damon should only play CF in an extreme emergency.
But Swisher should play it a non-emergency? Why does that make sense?
because swisher is better defensively out there, and younger
because hes younger, hes less likely to get taxed or injured, unlike the 35 year old damon
Because Swisher is young and doesn’t have an injury history.
Damon is older and has had barking knees and shoulders in recent years.
Swisher in CF is less risky than Damon in CF, I’d say.
I’m merely suggesting playing Damon there (and only if Gardner/Melky continue to fail) once or twice a week. LF in the Stadium is quite large. I’m not sure that CF poses that much more of an injury risk for such short internals.
Why is it unreasonable to think that Damon would be at least as adept in CF as Swisher? By playing them both (btw, I have no problem with sticking with Gardner) it could minimize the chance that either would get exposed.
I don’t think that adeptness is the problem…I think the issue is the increased toll on Damon’s body, which could take his bat out of the lineup (or weaken it, at least) and exacerbate the problem.
That’s I’m suggesting such a limited in role in CF, and if it’s further limited to smaller parks, the risk should be attenuated.
It’s less about the size of CF vs. LF than the frequency of balls hit to CF vs. LF.
Damon’s a better fit in LF because he deals with fewer chances and thus, has fewer plays to make per game that he can get injured on. CF increases his exposure.
FWIW, i don’t think it’s a bad idea, Rich.
i’d like to see Damon (OR Swisher) play CF 1-2 a week.
As Nick Swisher has done nothing but hit, Teixeira’s return should push either Hideki Matsui or Xavier Nady to the bench. However, if Brett Gardner or Melky Cabrera don’t show signs of offensive life, the Yanks may begin to consider Swisher for center.
Or, in the spirit of Swish showing some positional flexibility and taking one for the team:
Tell Xavier Nady he’s playing 3B after all. It’s 3B or the bench, X-Man!
I’ve had to watch Cody Ransom over there so far this season. Don’t make me watch Nady allow every groundball through his legs
I wasn’t really being serious.
I was the one pounding the drum all March long that Nady’s days at 3B are long gone. If he could hack it there, he would have been there a month ago acclimating himself.
CENTEFIELD……anyone except Gardner or Melki
And while were at it… yes X-Man at 3rd!
i still cant tell if your just a red sox fan trying to get under our skin or not
It was a joke.
Nady can’t play 3B. That ship has sailed. The chance of seeing Swisher in CF is remote but existent. The chance of Nady playing 3B is nil.
ok then, what about Swish at 3B?
Throws left-handed.
How’s Swisher’s arm in center?
Just like it is on the mound–untouchable.
IETC
>>> gardner’s arm
He can strike you out from center field.
I know we recently saw a run score as Gardner three-hopped a throw to the plate, but keep in mind that plays like that are rare; in fact, he should have been hitting a cutoff man anyway. There’s not a lot of point to a strong arm on a CFer…range and taking good routes are far more important. I don’t know that Gardner actually takes very good routes out there.
The same as it is in right.
You just made it too easy!
Actually after the 3 bounces it rolled for a while!
It doesn’t matter what kind of an arm Swish has, as long as he can play the position.
I don’t know why Girardi doesn’t try Pena at third
I think Girardi will try Pena at third tonight. He can’t do any worse than Ransom at this point. See what happens. I just don’t want a mass line-up change like we had all last year. It’s been seven games, let’s not get crazy. Bottom line is Swisher needs to be in this lineup right now, plug and play options work. Tex is out, he plays 1B. Tex is in, he plays RF and let Nady DH. Done.
I think Girardi will try Pena at third tonight.
I hope so, but i’ve been thinking that for a few games now.
I think what happens is Pena shows signs of life and puts a few hits together. Tomorrow or Thursday, Ransom is optioned down and we bring up a long man.
odds of that:
slim to none
Lessee…a kid who’s never played above AA and hasn’t played in a few days gets “a few hits” off of Matt Garza and the TB bullpen, causing the Yankees to make him the starting 3B and go without a backup infielder at all.
K.
Well Ransom has been in AAA for the better part of a decade and he’s shown us 0. I’ll take my chances with Pena. Like I said, it doesn’t get much worse than Ransom’s numbers right now anyway.
I hope so, but i’ve been thinking that for a few games now.
which means you were expecting Girardi to bench someone after what, 4 games?
yes, Ransom isn’t very good. but i don’t think it’s fair to start using 12 AB samples either.
DH Swish tonight. Play Damon, Gardner, and Nady in the OF.
- I’m not used to seeing position players put large ice packs on throwing shoulders. I’d hate to see Swish make a max effort throw from the OF and strain something.
Swisher pitched 1 inning last night and threw with minimal effort hitting 75-80 MPH. I don’t think he needs to DH tonight.
Yeah, sure, why not.
A half-day of rest never hurt anyone.
I doubt Swisher plays tonight. I mean, I’d love it if he did, but the risk is just too much.
OT: My leg hurts and I’m kinda freaking out it’s DVT. Please reassure me that as a skinny 23 year old, it’s probably not DVT.
Risk of what, hitting more dingers?
It’s not DVT.
Hurting his arm, shoulder, whatever.
I will settle for him as the DH tonight, but you don’t take his bat out of the lineup. He’s seeing the ball and stroking it right now. Who’s going to DH, Hideki “slow grounder to the right side” Matsui? Maybe he needs a day off.
DVT at the age of 23 would be highly unlikely.
Speaking of buttocks, this lady on this erection pill ad has the see through again. Last time I came here it was dark. I don’t know what’s up with that. OK now there is a see through ad in the middle and darkened ad on the right. I had to explain to my family why I am looking at a site where some chick in a gstring is getting ready to mount a guy with a penis patch.
Your answer should have been, “Because I am a man.”
how about Swish in the 3B?
He’s a lefty.
No dice.
i am blown away by how many times i have seen this pointed out over the last 3 days. and i’m not picking on Rafael, my father asked the same thing.