Well, people are already reacting appropriately.

Pete Abe: So in a span of less than a year, Rodriguez tore a quad and now needs a hip operation. Can you draw a line from three years of steroids to these injuries? I have no idea, medical experts will have to determine that.

The ultimate “I’m not saying, I’m just saying”.

Because no one in the history of baseball has ever had a quad injury before unless they’ve done steroids.

Shit, fuck, piss is this year going to be another stop of horrors like the last?

If reporters don’t like you personally, you’re cast in a bad light. If they love you, you walk on water. Mo and Jeter may hate guys like Pete Abe, or they may be legitimately nice guys, who knows. Either way, it’s unprofessional on PA’s part. The Yankees had a chance to be rid off.. the guy who led the team in OPS+ last year? Makes no sense.

When did PA stop beating his wife?

Back to replacements…what about Ray Durham?  Nomaas has been all-over signing him to be the UIF for a while.  He’s never played 3B in his (major league) career, and there isn’t exactly much upside to him.  But he’ll likely be somewhere around league average, and won’t cost players (other than the one that gets DFA’d to make room on the 40).  Probably only a 1-year contract for a few million.  If ARod comes back healthy in May, you have an excellent UIF, and someone you are OK starting for a few weeks at 2nd, 3rd, or short.

In addition to Easley and Bobby Crosby, Fox Sports is flogging the idea of trading for Mark Loretta or Aaron Boone.

Man, the annoying thing is that we all knew that the UIF spot was the weakest part of the Yanks’ bench already. I really wish they had gotten someone like Wiggington or something, but I don’t know if anything like that was even really possible. Still, I wonder if there is any one out there who could be picked up in a trade—like is there some decent, overpriced IFer who could be traded for Matsui, for instance? Like, maybe a guy who isn’t great—because you couldn’t get someone great for Matsui—but would still be a bat off the bench after A Rod is back?

This opens up a spot on the 25 man? But probably means both Berroa and Ransom is in? Unless a move is made. Alex looks like he can fully recover in 8 weeks? If so, I wouldn’t be totally unhappy if the Yankees stand pat.

Wigginton signed for 2 years and real money.

i don’t get the Durham idea, he’s just not a 3Bman.

This opens up a spot on the 25 man?

it doesn’t open a spot on the 40 man unless they put him on the 60 day DL.

i can’t see that they would do that unless they are POSITIVE he will be out for more than 60 days.

A-Rod is so valuable that you can’t risk sidelining him for 9 weeks if there is a chance he’ll be back in 6 or 7.

Arg.  I am reduced to hoping Cody Ransom has a flukey couple of weeks.

Damion Easley, mark it down.

Chone Figgins would really be a good guy to target, since he could probably slide over to CF when A-Rod comes back if MelkBrett aren’t working out.

i don’t get the Durham idea, he’s just not a 3Bman.

I guess that’s what I’m asking.  Just because he’s never played 3rd before doesn’t mean he can’t do it.  I’m sure he could handle most of it, but I don’t know about charging bunts or if he has the arm.  I’m sure Durham wouldn’t be “ideal”, but he wouldn’t cost a player, and likely hits better than anyone else the Yankees could get that fits that description.  Mostly I’m wondering if he just might be the best of a bad situation; if the Yankees had anyone in AA or higher that had some upside I’d be happy giving them a shot, but I don’t think they do.  If the consensus is he can’t handle 3rd then I’ll follow the crowd.

Right, I forgot about Grudz.  RiverAve Blues mentioned him, and I agree: decent option.  Better than Ransom or Berroa.

Because no one in the history of baseball has ever had a quad injury before unless they’ve done steroids.

certainly not Jeter, who had the exact same injury not 1 month earlier.

Abe is officially a hack.

Damion Easley, mark it down.

I just looked him up and I’m not quite sure why you would want him.  He’s played a total of 13 innings at 3B the last 2 years, and doesn’t seem particularly good there.  Other than a decent half-season with the Mets in 2007, it doesn’t look like he’s been a particularly good player since the late 90’s.  And he’s 39. 

Figgins sure.  He looks like he’s decent defensively at 3B, and has a ton of versatility.  Not sure what the Angels would want in return though…

He’s been a hack for a while.

Figgins would be nice, but I’m wary of the pricetag.  This is a stop-gap situation.

If the consensus is he can’t handle 3rd then I’ll follow the crowd.

As I recall, Durham has decent range but not much of an arm.

Abraham has a poll up. Robinson Cano as an option at 3B? Ok.. and the 2B will be?

I guess in that situation they could go with Grudzelanik or Durham then at 2B. Cano is young and has all of ST to take some grounders at 3B. Seems far fetched.

Figgins would be nice, but I’m wary of the pricetag.  This is a stop-gap situation.

Figgins fortunately would be more than a stop-gap, as he would be the super-sub a lot here have been wanting.  Unlike say Ransom who if there were no injuries would play in only 40-50 games, Figgins would still get into 100+ games.  But yeah, what’s the price going to be?

Try Swisher out.

I know, totally wild, but maybe he can handle it, and get regular plate appearances?

Figgins would remain pretty valuable after A-Rod comes back though.

he plays every position including CF and can put up above average OBP.  he’s the perfect bench player.

but yes, the pricetag would probably be unappealing.  don’t disagree.

I just looked him up and I’m not quite sure why you would want him.

if Easley isn’t good enough to be the UIFer, i admit i am a little confused as to who you guys wanted Cashman to sign.  all of the players being discussed come with major warts.  that’s why they are bench players.

people are getting upset for passing on all sorts of guys with OPS+ in the 70’s/80’s.  why not just go with Ransom?

these guys suck.  that’s why they learned multiple positions, to keep drawing a major league salary. 

people are looking at the drop off from A-Rod to Ransom and getting upset at Cashman, but that’s not the right comparison.  the comparison is the drop-off from scrub X to Ransom….and there isn’t much drop off at all.

the Mets spent $2M on Alex Cora.  he’s a career .245/.313/.348 hitter who lucked into a bunch of HBP’s last year.

everyone would probably feel better if Alex Cora was on the bench, but i can’t imagine the difference b/w he and Ransom is more than half a win, if that.

Mike:

Yeah, I think we’re saying similar things.  Figgins would cost more because he’s more than just a stop-gap.  I’m not sure I want to pay for more than a stop-gap.  But I would like to have a guy like Figgins on the roster.

...

As for playing guys out of position:

1) Cano: I really don’t want to mess with his head, or his work at 2B (I want to see good defender Robbie again, please).
2) Teixiera: (been suggested elsewhere): likely to be awful - bad enough defensively to cancel out a lot of the hitting, and plus the replacement at 1B is likely to also suck defensively.  Ouch.
3) Swisher: what?  Has he *ever* played 3B? 

I think you leave everyone in their proper positions and play a stopgap.

By the way: the season has already started, and we see why the “they have plenty of offense, why worry about the #9 hitter” stuff is dumb.  Always look for upgrades.  Always.

Damnit.  HASN’T started yet.  Not already started.  Sigh.  Tired.

people are getting upset for passing on all sorts of guys with OPS+ in the 70’s/80’s.  why not just go with Ransom?

Timing killed us as you said. I’d taken Nomar or Marte in a heartbeat.

2) Teixiera: (been suggested elsewhere): likely to be awful - bad enough defensively to cancel out a lot of the hitting, and plus the replacement at 1B is likely to also suck defensively.  Ouch.

For argument’s sake, Swisher would be the backup, who is decent defensively at 1B.

Reporters listing options are hilarious. Joel Sherman basically listed every 3B in the league, as if teams are lining to send the Yankees a 3B.

I was very happy last year when Arod came back to sign with the Yanks, now I regret that contract.

If you could cancel Arod’s contract, would yo do it?

if Easley isn’t good enough to be the UIFer, i admit i am a little confused as to who you guys wanted Cashman to sign.  all of the players being discussed come with major warts.  that’s why they are bench players.

I know it’s impossible to keep track of what everyone has proposed/who proposed it.  And I’m sure over the past few months I’ve complained a little they can get better at UIF.  But I just want to go on the record that I’ve generally been OK with Ransom, unless they were lucky enough to get someone that is close to starter material.

I haven’t given too much thought to Durham until today.  But he’s had at least 400PA every year in his career, and 2007 was the first year since 1997 his OPS+ has been below 100, and last year he rebounded making 2007 seem like the outlier.  The only question is if defensively he can handle 3B.  It’s further down the defensive spectrum than 2B, but does he have the arm?  I think if he can play 3B adequately, it makes sense to get him since it doesn’t cost players.

However, if they fail to get Durham (or feel he can’t handle third), and trading for Figgins is cost-prohibitive, I think I’d be OK with Ransom for a month.  Though I wouldn’t be against other ideas either.  I’m not looking for a UIF here, I’m looking at a starter for 3B who would fit as a UIF after ARod returns.

If you could cancel Arod’s contract, would yo do it?

Hell no.

Morgan Ensberg may have also been a passable stopgap. I think he’s on a MiL deal with Tampa.

This Igawa guy seems to be much better then that Chamberlain kid who might need a full year in AAA

PA has Cashman speaking in 10 mins. At least we’ll get the actual info now.

The only question is if defensively he can handle 3B. 

actually,  the question was REALLY if he can handle SHORTSTOP.

because 2 days ago, that was the primarily concern for our utility IFer.  to back up our 35 year old SS. 

can Durham play SS?  i kindof doubt it.

so what would have been the point to signing him as the UIFer?

that’s why Cashman was hot on Nick Punto before he signed for way too much money.

for the record, i can’t think of a worse idea than moving Cano to 3B while he is trying to rebound from last year.

From PA:

Yankees GM Brian Cashman just said Alex Rodriguez has a torn hip labrum and cyst.

More to come.

for the record, i can’t think of a worse idea than moving Cano to 3B while he is trying to rebound from last year.

Agreed.  Last thing Cano needs to worry about now is a new position.

Wait, I thought Swisher was a below-average defensive 1B?

So, if you take your defensively above-average 1B and move him to 3B (where he is probably awful) and replace him with a below-average defensive 1B, you’ve got quite the defensive downgrade.  The flipside is the upgrade from Ransom’s bat to Swisher’s.  Actually, no!  The upgrade is from Ransom’s bat to Nady’s (as Swisher should play over Nady in the OF, so putting Swish at 1B moves Nady from bench to OF).

I dunno if the offensive gap between Ransom and Nady exceeds the defensive dropoffs at 1B + 3B in the Tex to 3rd scenario, and I think there has to be a clear upgrade in order to ask Tex to do that.

so what would have been the point to signing him as the UIFer?

Two days ago I would have agreed with you.  I wasn’t interested in Durham two days ago.  But now we’re looking at a stop-gap STARTER for 3B, who will be there for at least a month, very possibly two.  In that time hopefully some of the backlog of outfielders works itself out, and when ARod comes back Cashman can work some magic and both Ransom (or maybe Berroa) and Durham can be on the roster.  Ransom backs up SS first, and Durham 2B/3B first, plus a pinch-hitter in some cases.  Or if Durham is playing well enough he becomes tradeable to fill another hole.

for the record, i can’t think of a worse idea than moving Cano to 3B while he is trying to rebound from last year.

I think it would be a worse idea to try Cano out at catcher if Posada gets hurt!

Alex Rodriguez has a torn hip labrum

!!!!

I know there are tears and there are TEARS, but dude, but my panickometer just went to DEFCON3.

They’re trying rest and rehab. The cyst was drained. The hope is he’ll keep playing.

If that’s true, stand pat with what they have.  Let Arod sit out two or three weeks and then he’ll have plenty of time to get ready.

If that’s true, stand pat with what they have.  Let Arod sit out two or three weeks and then he’ll have plenty of time to get ready.

That would be the best thing, obviously, but it does expose a 1 of 2 flaws in the roster construction.

Think of it this way..

OF - Damon, Swisher, Nady, Matsui, Gardner, Cabrera. 6 players for 3 spots.. you can’t ask for more insurance.
1B - Teixeira, Swisher, Nady in a pinch, Miranda.  Plenty of plan B there.
SP - After the top 5, Hughes, Kennedy, Aceves, Giese, Coke.  Definitely a good plan.
RP - The list is probably 13 or 14 players long, no need to go into it. Plenty of options.
C - If Posada can’t go, it’s a disaster.
2B/3B/SS - If Jeter, Cano, or ARod can’t go.. it’s a disaster.

I know you can’t get legit guys to sit on your bench if they know they can start elsewhere, but those 2 disaster situations are coincidentally involving our 2 best position players.

ESPN said surgery was scheduled.  So which is it?

Rest & rehab worries me, b/c the downside is Posada last year: play a bit, be ineffective (maybe even make things worse), and have surgery anyway.  A lost season.

I wouldn’t trust ESPN at this point.  Abraham says (I assume according to Cashman) that surgery would keep him out for 4 months.  There’s no way that’s acceptable to the Yankees.

per PA, ARod needs surgery but is hoping to play out the season and then get the surgery during the offseason.  Yikes.

Any talk of moving Swisher or Teix to 3B is silly. 3B is a really tough position defensively and it is sompletely different from playing 1B. Plus there is no way the Yanks are going to risk Teix getting hurt learning a new position in the first year of his contract.

PECOTA has Nick Swisher projected at .237/.345/.429, while Wilson Betemit is at .253/.320/.451. Any chance the Yankees can unmake that trade?

What a debacle. 

Even if he does play and stall the surgery until the offseason, I could see this ending up like Rob said: Posada 2008.  Not much prettier is the probability that A-Rod is limited to DH.

What are the chances he can gut this out and play well in the field and the plate?  I’m no doctor but anything torn in the hip doesn’t sound too good.

I guess that’s why the Yanks have stocked up on pitching talent.  They may have to dip into that pool to get a bat…

I guess I’m wondering why this is just coming out now.  There was mentioning that ARod had hip stiffness last season but played through it.  Don’t the players undergo a physical at the end of the season to detect things that might need correcting and rehabbing at a time that allows them to miss the least amount of the season?  What the hell?

Dave Cameron with a pretty good analysis.

This is the same injury that Mike Lowell played through last season. That’s a mix of good news and bad news for Yankee fans. The injury clearly effected Lowell, as he was limited to just 113 games played and was removed from the playoff roster in October. Lowell had been a durable guy up to that point, but the injury was just too much to play through on an everyday basis. So, even if Rodriguez can avoid surgery, it’s quite likely that he’ll spend quite a bit of time on the bench this summer.

However, Lowell also offers some reason for hope - he actually played pretty well when he was on the field. He posted a .344 wOBA and a +13.6 UZR/150, making himself a +3.1 win player while missing 1/3 of the season. While I’m sure it was painful to play through, he still was able to perform at something approximating his normal abilities. It didn’t take away his skills, just his frequency of deploying them.

Of course, Lowell is a sample of one, but Chase Utley played through a less serious but similar condition and performed so well that no one knew he was hurt until he had surgery in the off-season. Considering how well those two were able to perform with versions of this problem, it’s easy to see why the Yankees have decided to skip the surgery for now.

PECOTA has Nick Swisher projected at .237/.345/.429, while Wilson Betemit is at .253/.320/.451. Any chance the Yankees can unmake that trade?

Pretty much every other projection imaginable says otherwise:

Swisher
Betemit

Yeah, one of the most aggravating things is that some “decent” stopgap options were out there not more than two weeks ago, and now they’re pretty much all gone.

I like Grudz, but Ransom probably is the best option (for now).

Hopefully A-Rod can play through the pain.

Why the fuck wasn’t this addressed in, like, November is my only question.

Maybe the tear is recent, or was minor but recently got aggravated.  How they didn’t find the cyst I can’t guess.

If you could cancel Arod’s contract, would yo do it?

Only if they can prove he hurt it playing basketball.