Archive for Injuries
Open Thread: Brett Gardner Update
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(REUTERS/Steve Nesius)
If you’re like me and you’ve had your fill of Raul Ibanez in the outfield, I have good news for you. Brett Gardner swung a bat today for the first time since being placed on the DL with a bone bruise and a strain in his right elbow ten days ago. He took ten dry swings and another 15 off a tee, reporting no pain afterwards. Gardner could be ready to take batting practice as soon as Monday. He’s eligible to come off the DL on Friday, and hopefully we don’t have to wait a minute longer.
Here is your open thread for the night. The Rangers (win) and Knicks (loss) already played, but the Mets are in action tonight and MLB Network will air a game as well. Most of the country will see Bryce Harper’s debut (9pm ET). That’s neat. You folks know what to do with these threads by now, so have it.
Joba continues playing catch, will shed walking boot next week
Posted by: | CommentsVia Chad Jennings and Peter Botte, right-hander Joba Chamberlain visited the doctor yesterday and will lose his walking boot next week. He made 50 throws today and said he’s been playing catch regularly since the ankle injury. “It’s going to take a lot of things to stop me from (getting on mound this year),” said the obviously optimistic right-hander. I’m glad he’s working hard to come back, but the Yankees can’t count on Chamberlain for anything this season. Whatever they get out of him should be a bonus.
For what it’s worth, Jennings says Joba has lost a noticeable amount of weight. He wouldn’t say exactly how many pounds he lost, but he did acknowledge that it’s “more than a couple … obviously I look different.” Here’s a photo from last night’s NY Rangers game so you can see for yourself. Notice the scar on his elbow.
Pineda has anterior labral tear, will have surgery next week
Posted by: | CommentsVia Mark Feinsand, right-hander Michael Pineda has an anterior labral tear and will undergo arthroscopic surgery at Dr. David Altchek’s office next Tuesday. I suppose the good news is that they can use a scope and won’t have to cut him open, plus it’s not the rotator cuff or capsule. We’ll update with more info as we get it, but the Google tells me anywhere from 3-6 months recovery.
Update: On a conference call with reporters, Brian Cashman said Pineda will miss the rest of the season. I don’t think that’s terribly surprising at this point. “We believe this took place on the last pitch of his rehab outing,” said the GM.
Update Part II: Team physician Dr. Ahmad called it a “discrete tear,” which is why they’re going to use a scope and not an incision. The target date for Pineda’s return is one year out from surgery, so May 1st of next season. The doctors are optimistic about his recovery because his rotator cuff is unaffected.
Pineda headed for second opinion following MRI
Posted by: | CommentsVia Marc Carig, Chad Jennings & Bryan Hoch, right-hander Michael Pineda is going to see Dr. David Altchek for a second opinion on his right shoulder following today’s MRI. It’s very important to note that Pineda’s agent requested the second opinion before he even went for the initial test today. The Yankees won’t announce he results of today’s MRI until after the second opinion tomorrow.
Pineda’s MRI pushed back to tomorrow
Posted by: | CommentsVia Marc Carig, right-hander Michael Pineda had his dye-contract MRI and any other tests pushed back to the tomorrow due to some kind of scheduling conflict. Pineda suffered a setback in an Extended Spring Training game this weekend when he felt some weakness in his shoulder. He’s been on the DL all season with shoulder tendinitis. So we wait another day…
Pineda suffers setback in Extended Spring Training
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate (3:05pm): Via Sherman, Pineda was examined in Tampa and they decided to send him back to New York for a dye-contrast MRI to see if the initial examine missed anything.
1:15pm: Via Joel Sherman and Marc Carig, right-hander Michael Pineda felt some weakness in his shoulder during his Extended Spring Training outing today. The Yankees shut him right down and he will go see the team doctor before they determine how to proceed.
Pineda threw one inning today, his first game action since hitting the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis about three weeks ago. An MRI showed no structural damage to his labrum or rotator cuff at the time. He reported no problems while playing catch and throwing bullpen sessions over the last two weeks or so.
Joba resumes workouts in Tampa
Posted by: | CommentsVia the AP, right-hander Joba Chamberlain has resumed workouts at the Yankees’ complex in Tampa. He recently played catch with his right knee bent on a stool, just a month removed from his ankle injury. “It’s a little stiff, but good,” said Joba of the ankle, and he’s expected to shed his walking boot in about two weeks. Remember, he’s also got a new elbow ligament to break in as well. It’s not much, but I have to think it’s at least a moral victory for him.
Pineda scheduled for two innings in minor league game tomorrow
Posted by: | CommentsVia Erik Boland, manager Joe Girardi said before today’s game that right-hander Michael Pineda is scheduled to throw two innings in an Extended Spring Training game tomorrow. It will be his first game action since landing on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis. Pineda threw a series of bullpen sessions over the last week, and apparently now he’s ready to get back on the mound and into game action. He’ll need a handful of minor league rehab starts before we see him in the big leagues, obviously.
Implications of Brett Gardner’s injury
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(REUTERS/Mike Segar)
The Yankees lost to the Twins for the second time in three days last night, and after the game we learned that Brett Gardner has been placed on the 15-day DL with a bone bruise and a strain in his right elbow. He apparently suffered the injury when he landed awkwardly while making a sliding catch on Tuesday. Gardner may only be the number nine hitter and play the least important defensive position, but he’s an big part of the Yankees and not just because he’s hitting a stout .321/.424/.393 in the early going.
In the super-short-term, the injury means the Yankees will use a 13-man pitching staff — right-hander Cody Eppley was recalled from Triple-A to take Gardner’s spot — and rely on the trio of Andruw Jones, Raul Ibanez, and Eduardo Nunez to fill-in in left field. The Yankees’ bullpen has already thrown 40.2 IP this season — fourth most in the AL — because the starting pitching has been pretty unspectacular and also because they did play some extra innings last week. Eppley figures to help lighten the load this weekend in Boston and early next week in Texas, even if he is only a righty specialist.
There are a number of ways the Yankees could work this offensively with the short bench. If Ibanez or (preferably) Jones plays left, the other can DH. The seldom-used Eric Chavez could also DH, or he could play first/third while Alex Rodriguez/Mark Teixeira gets a day at DH with Ibanez or Jones or Nunez in left. That part of replacing Gardner won’t be a big problem. The bigger issue is that the Yankees now lack a backup center fielder, with the job falling on Nick Swisher‘s shoulders by default. Jones may have been the greatest defensive outfielder in history once upon a time, but he’s an emergency-only option in center right now.
“We’re going to have to sit him down for a while and we’ll try to get him back after 15 days,” said Girardi after last night’s game, making it sound like Gardner could be out longer than the requisite two weeks and one day.
The 13-man pitching staff can’t go on forever, and if Gardner is going to need more than two weeks, the Yankees are going to have to call up an extra outfielder. Chris Dickerson is currently on the Triple-A disabled list, leaving Dewayne Wise and Colin Curtis as the two obvious call-up candidates. Both guys would have to be added to the 40-man roster but that’s not an issue; both Joba Chamberlain and Cesar Cabral could be placed on the 60-day DL. Wise would have to clear waivers to go back to the minors though, Curtis would not. Both would likely be non-factors offensively, but at least Wise is a stellar gloveman and a true center fielder. He’s probably the best fit if Gardner missed extended time.
The easiest thing to do would be to keep Eppley on the roster for the next week or so, giving the Yankees some extra bullpen depth while they play nine straight against the Red Sox, Rangers, and Tigers. Once they’re through that stretch, they can re-evaluate Gardner and determine if they need to make a change to add an outfielder. If not, they might just stick with the expanded pitching staff for the entirety of his DL stint. It’s not ideal, but the Yankees have the right bench pieces to pull it off.
Update: Yankees place Brett Gardner on DL
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate (11:21pm): Via Sweeny Murti, Gardner has a bone bruise and a strain in his right elbow. It happened making that catch Tuesday night. No word on the timetable for his return, but Joe Girardi indicated that he could be back in 15 days during his post-game press conference.
10:44pm: Via Mark Feinsand, the Yankees will place Brett Gardner on the disabled list and recall right-handed reliever Cody Eppley. Gardner was a late scratch tonight due to stiffness in his right elbow, and it’s obviously something more than routine soreness if he’s already on the shelf. If you remember, he made an sliding catch in last night’s game and appeared to land on his arm/wrist awkwardly. He said after the game that he was fine, but you never know.
I hope the Eppley move is just temporary; I’m not a big fan of 13-man pitching staffs. The Yankees don’t have any Triple-A outfielders on the 40-man roster, but they can easily make room for Dewayne Wise — who’s hitting the snot out of the ball so far — or Chris Dickerson by sliding Joba Chamberlain or Cesar Cabral over to the 60-day DL. I suppose it depends on Gardner’s diagnosis and his recovery time.
