River Avenue Blues

Steve, you’re out of the family

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George Steinbrenner’s daughter filed divorce papers this week against husband Steve Swindal, a move that appears to end his chance to take over as head of the New York Yankees.

Jennifer Swindal filed the papers Tuesday in Hillsborough County Circuit Court’s family law department, Yankees spokesman Howard Rubenstein said Wednesday. Rubenstein said the papers cited “irreconcilable differences.”
…
Reached by telephone, Swindal said he didn’t want to comment beyond the statement or address his role with the team.

In honor of every man that’s been screwed over in a divorce, I say he should ask for half of Yankee Stadium in the distribution of assets.

Asked whether he still viewed himself as Steinbrenner’s successor, Swindal replied: “I can’t answer that other than it would be speculation.”

He’s out. Just can’t see it happening.

(hat tip to Pinto, with an honorbale mention to YF vs SF)

Update on JB Cox

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Pete Abraham is reporting that it’s not Tommy John surgery, contrary to what I said earlier. From Pete:

It was not Tommy John surgery as some sites have reported. Brian Cashman said that Cox had a ligament repaired but not replaced, which is what Tommy John surgery is.

This is less invasive surgery and Cox may not necessarily miss the entire season.

Some sites? Who’s he talkin’ bout?

Anyways, anytime a pitcher has the ligament of his pitching elbow tinkered with, it’s not good. Essentially, this delays Cox’s arrival in the Bronx by 2 years. First there’s the initial time missed with the healing and rehab process, then there’s the time he’ll need to refamiliarize himself with the whole act of pitching;Â pitchers who have elbow surgery return to the mound with notoriously bad control. It’s just part of the package.

Then, once he’s actually in game form, the Yanks will probably take it easy and send him to High-A Tampa for a warm up, then bump him up to Double-A Trenton to basically get himself back to where he was at the end of 2006. It’s not until then that he can begin to progress in his development.

Instead of debuting in mid-2007, he’s looking at late-2008 at the earliest.

In happier news, I found the greatest picture in the history of the world:

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Elbow surgery claims another

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First it was Mark Melancon, then it was Christian Garcia, now it’s JB Cox. Now’s your chance to impress, Mr. Beam.

See ya in 2008 JB!

(yes, I have confirmed this with my super secret source. I would tell you who it is, but I’d have to kill you. And I’m too lazy for that.)

Not good news for Karstens?

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Gary Thorne and Buck Martinez are interviewing Gator in the Yanks dugout in regards to the state of the pitching staff. His response began: “Obviously, Wanger is out. Karstens is out…” He then went on to say that they still have Pavano, Mussina, Pettitte, and Igawa, and that they’re looking at Darrell Rasner for the fifth rotation spot. That’s not good news for Karstens, especially after hearing that there’s no real damage to his elbow.

Meanwhile, Phelps just hit a monster ball over the fence in dead center. His performance was immediately followed by an Andy Phillips strikeout. If Phelps isn’t going to make this team, one has to wonder why the Yanks even bothered to take him as a Rule V selection.