A-Rod wraps up his rehab
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on May 19, 2008 
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
Fresh news from Tampa, via the AP:
Alex Rodriguez is set to rejoin the slumping New York Yankees on Tuesday night after finishing his rehabilitation of a strained right quadriceps.
“I’m excited to get back into Yankee Stadium and playing baseball. It’s where I belong,†Rodriguez said after going 2 for 6 in an extended spring training game Monday.
Rodriguez, sidelined since April 28, doubled and singled in six at-bats against Philadelphia minor league right-hander Reginal Simon. He also reached on error, struck out and flied out twice, making him 3 for 10 with a homer in two extended spring training games.
New York, last in the AL East at 20-24, has struggled without the three-time AL MVP. The Yankees are hopeful Rodriguez will provide a spark.
“We’ll see,†Rodriguez said. “No predictions.â€
Rodriguez fielded three grounders – including two he had to charge in on – during five innings at third base.
“I wanted to go left, I wanted to go right defensively. I wanted to come forward on some slow rollers, and I got every one of them,†Rodriguez said. “I’m happy about that. I got a chance to slide a few times, and swing the bat well.â€
This is sort of like that scene in Lord of the Rings when it turns out Gandalf isn’t dead . . .
or I could be a geek!
A-Rod is the spark that gets us to ONE HUNDRED WINS this year !!!!
So no need for another mri. How can they be sure it is 100% healed. OR was it pretty close last time.
Arod did the right thing no predictions just play.
he is sorely missed just play like he can and he will be a welcome site…..
adios Ensberg…please DFA him and keep Gonzalez so the ycan spell Cano and have some speed….
Shouldnt they make sure its completely healed before activating him? Why would they do an mri last week and not his week. Dont want the injury to comeback later on.
The team needs something to help pick them up. A-Rod in the lineup changes the whole thing. Watch though, Girardi will continue playing his musical chairs lineups and keep the Yankees from getting into any kind of groove.
Girardi,
I cant see him changing the top of the lineup much.
damon
jeter
abreu
arod
matsui
If that still doesnt work. Than musical chairs it is.
OT but two things really bugged me from last night’s comments:
1 is the stupid ace issue people insist on bringing up which I have already vented about
2 is that some people said Joe Torre must be laughing his head off in LA at how poorly the Yankees are doing. That is ridiculous. Joe may still have bad feelings toward Randy Levine or even George given how things were handled at the end, I don’t know. But what I do know is that Joe Torre is not a Yankee hater, he will never take pleasure in his beloved team and dear friends’ misery. To assume such pettiness about Joe Torre who has given so much to our team and our great city is a major disrespect.
The story in the Daily News says he had a play where he could have went 1st to 3rd but didn’t. When asked about it afterward, he said he was told to only go station to station.
He may be coming back but they were still being careful with him today.
Any word on the posada rehab plan yet?
“Watch though, Girardi will continue playing his musical chairs lineups and keep the Yankees from getting into any kind of groove.”
Yeah, the musical chairs lineup has everything to do with their poor hitting.
They better be sure that A-Rod is fully healed unlike last time.
“Any word on the posada rehab plan yet?”
Dan,
In Pete’s previous post his notebook contained info regarding Posada’s rehab.
They said last week after the MRI that he would not need another one so they saw enough progress to tell him to do what needed to be done and that is the end of it.
Raymagnetic, how can you be so sure that Girardi moving around the lineup doesn’t negatively affect the batters? Abreu is different without A-Rod on the team. Changing their lineup position can change their attitude at the plate.
How about him just for a week trying it out with the same lineup? There is a reason why managers don’t normally move things around so much, other than laziness.
The “musical chair” was obviously due to the injuries and the lack of righties. If that seriously was the reason that players are not hitting I’m sure someone would have talked to Girardi about it by now. I bet by now they have dissected every possible explanation ad nauseum in that clubhouse, that would have come up and would have been easily addressed. Unfortunately for them and for us, it’s not that simple.
The doctor cleared Alex last Tuesday and said he could start rehabbing this past weekend.
So looking for ward to Alex coming back tomorrow.
Girardi on the dl,
I had a problem with the continuous changes to the lineup till i heard that the 98 team had just a frequent changes as this one. The bottom line is players need to step up and hit. No matter where they are. We are dead last this year hitting with runners in scoring position. Giamb,Damon,Cano,Abreu and even my boy Jeter(more walks)need to pick it up.
Alex is too focused
A-Rod should help, indeed. Cano and Giambi, meanwhile, have to pick it up. Abreu, too.
BTW, Schweber over at The Yankees Republic does an excellent job, as usual, in analyzing the ’08 schedule and explaining what it will take for the Yankees to revive their fortunes.
According to his calculations, A-Rod and Posada accounted for 25% of the Yankees offensive production last year. Which would explain why the Yankees runs scored totals are down about that amount from last year.
http://theyankeesrepublic.blog.....eport.html
All’s not lost just yet.
When Alex comes back, won’t they send down an pitcher, as opposed to DFA-ing Ensberg?
what is the url for the yankees repuvlic blog??
again arod is good for .5 a game in runs over the replacement alone…
If ol’ Hank stays true to form he is gonna open his mouth today or tomorrow, he only seems to do it right before the Moose’s starts….Go Moose
Anybody else surprised that Chacon’s record is still 0-0 after starting 9 games? Among them are a 3.3 IP/5 ER (8 runs total) effort and a 8 IP/0 run effort.
“Watch though, Girardi will continue playing his musical chairs lineups and keep the Yankees from getting into any kind of groove.—
musical chairs is bad? have you ever seen a game of musical chairs where everyone isn’t hustling to stay in the game?
we wish the yankees played with such enthusiasm.
I have a feeling it will be a pitcher who gets sent down when Alex comes back as I think they would want to make sure he doesnt have a recurrence and may not play him every day? thus carry and extra position player.
The interesting move will be when Betemit comes off the DL not sure what that status is at this point in time.
“How about him just for a week trying it out with the same lineup? There is a reason why managers don’t normally move things around so much, other than laziness.”
Well, the 98 Yankees changed lineups 120 times during that year and it certainly didn’t hurt them any.
Can someone who stayed up to watch/listen to the post-game last night tell me what ended up happening with the players? All I heard was Suzyn said the players were all in hiding but the reporters would out-wait them. What ended up happening? Did they all take a back door exit or something?
gayle most likely Betemit goes to 1B his bat is too useful to keep him benched. Just 2 yrs. ago people forget he had a .353 BABIP paired with a 22.5 line drive percentage. People say he’s been bad that is not the case this season w/ his BABIP of .333 and LD % of 32, what’s killing him is the RHB side
Brandon agreed the problem is that what they need IS rh bat and he does not fill the bill
then it’s simple either he swings LH from now on or you trade him, and pray that the team that gets him doesn’t create another power slugger.
Hmm, here’s another to put in the ‘who’d have thunk it’ category:
The Yankees, with a 20-24 record, are (with respect to the AL) 11th in runs (179 runs in 44 games, or 4.07 runs a game) and 12th in staff era (4.48). That’s not the surprising part.
The Indians, with a 22-22 record, are 8th in runs (183 runs in 44 games, or 4.16 runs a game) and 1st in staff era (3.36). I’d have assumed a better record solely off of the run production averaging more than runs being given up.
Randy l -
I love your take on the “musical chairs” lineups. Food for thought.
brandon I am with you not quite sure why you have someone whose numbers are SIGNIFICANTLY better from one side go to the other side just so you have what the percentages tell you is a better match up against the pitcher. The problem is the numbers from the right side have to off set some of that I would think.
Tomorrow is my birthday, and A-Rod will be my present from the Yankees!!!
brandon,
I think you’re missing the point of the babip stat. what you should look at first is the ld%. then add 100-120 to get an expected babip. if the hitters actual babip is less than that expected, then balls that should be hits are becoming outs. if it’s higher, then balls are getting through that probably shouldn’t.
This isn’t a hard and fast deal, as runners speed will probably impact this, where a batter may beat out hits, i.e. ichiro.
This is why people tend to call this ‘luck.’
thanks doreen, in a real game of musical chairs someone loses every time the music stops. maybe if girardi did that and benched or sent down a few players they’d play with a little more enthusiasm.
on another note, here’s something odd.
last year on this date the yankees record was 18-23 which is pretty similar to this year’s 20-24.
the runs given up are about the same(one run difference)
but the offense had scored 42 more runs.
the run differential was +23
this year it’s – 18
so last year the yankees were unlucky to have a losing record .
this year their record is where it deserves to be as far as run differential.
this isn’t good. last year, the team was just unlucky to this point.
this year they really do stink.
This team look dead. With or without A Rod. Players go up to the plate and look scared. Damon looks pathetic. Booby looks pathetic. I know this has been said so may times but how do you motivate someone making 13 million per. They just do not care. Wath a Rays game or a Royals game I do not care and you will see a huge difference. These are players trying to make a name. These guys should be ashamed.
Randy l -
Maybe not more enthusiasm, but certainly with a sense of purpose!
I would have sworn this year’s runs allowed was a lot better than last year. Perception is not reality, I guess.
Randy l – Can’t you throw some other stats in there that would make it more favorable? I’m sure there’s other numbers that can be cooked.
This is easily the most closely monitored rehab in the history of baseball. Just for the record.
i hope he can come back with a big game. it might help pump up the team morale.
also can we get a brawl already? someone beam giambi
Brandon – Where did you get that info on Horne and Deleon? People forget about Deleon but he has a lot of power potential.
I’m glad Arod is back and in response to Pete’s earlier post, it’s way too early to think about the wild card.
Cashman has to start moving pieces on the chess board here to find the mix that gives this team production.
I don’t believe in the sit back and watch these able veterans perform philosophy.
That’s not what happened last season if you recall. They made moves from within the team to shake things up.
I recall Torre last season benching the ineffective Damon and handing Melky CF and that giving the team a lift.
I also recall a kid named Joba coming up and fixing the ineffective bullpen.
We need to make those moves now. The competition in the division is tougher this year.
It’s time to make those kind of bold moves and find this team a 1b somewhere.
I just don’t know where.
After looking through the active rosters of most teams, there is a dearth of 1b out there and the one’s who are great are not available.
The question is, would you rather take your shots with a Ben Broussard (who was DFA’d by the Rangers) or take on a Richie Sexson?
If the Mariners would take Igawa for Sexson straight up would you do it?
The money owed Sexson and Igawa (over the life of his deal) is a wash.
The positive thing is Sexson’s money comes off the payroll this season whereas Igawa is still on the books for 2 more seasons after this.
I’d say on the plus side, he’s RH, he’s a slightly better 1b than Giambi, he comes off the books after the season and maybe a change of scenery can get him hot.
The negative side is his performance right now is in step with Giambi, he’s not a great defender and he might be another former PED user experiencing his decline off the juice.
Still, if it were reported tomorrow we traded Igawa for Sexson, I’d consider it a good effort. I can’t imagine we’re going to get much better than that for Igawa.
Jason it was AP
http://www.puristbleedspinstri.....-this.html
Pictures from this weekend.
As an aside, someone from LoHud’s been leaving really nasty comments on my blog. Dude, if you want to be nasty and call me a sex worker, that’s fine but at least have the cojones to do so with a name.
The batting order is the most overrated thing in all of baseball. The order wouldn’t matter if anyone could hit.
Michael,
Arod doesn’t seem to have a hard time getting motivated….and he is making $27,000,000. I think that is a bad arguement. These guys have too much ego to go up to bat and not give their all.
GLove –
I agree, way, WAY to think about wild card or anything other than winning games.
I really don’t understand what some people expect from Cash. The guy looks awful for a reason, he works his butt off. And don’t think his family life suffers. The results? Almost any other GM in baseball would kill to have his resume.
Think GM is easy? Look at Dave Dombroski in Detroit. This guy put together the Florida Marlins winner. Widely acknowledged as a real pro in the business. Makes a deal over the winter, trading Andrew Miller and Cameron Maybin, two very high end prospects, for two STUDS – D-Train and this guy Cabrera.
Now look at what he has. D-Train on the D-L, and the bigname Miguel Cabrera who can no longer play the field and is hitting .250, last I looked. And now status-post signing a longterm, big money contract using his boss’ (Mike Ilitch) money. And his team is in last place.
So how successful has Dave Dombroski been? Is he suddenly stupid? I don’t think so, he just got humbled by a game that is very humbling. Makes one realize how great/fortunate past Yankee dynasties were.
I find the fact that someone like Ben Broussard, who was so hot not so long ago, has deteriorated so badly.
Igawa for Sexson? You summed it up very nicely. The only positve things for the Yanks in that proposed deal is that Sexson would have only one more year (I’m going on what you said), he’s a little better than Jason at 1st, and just maybe a change of scenery would do him good. I am not optimistic that he is going to find his bat; it’s been lost for too long.
I’d much rather talk to Milwaukee to see if they’re interested in young pitching for either Matt LaPorta or even Prince Fielder if they can’t come to a deal.
raymagnetic,
Thanks for the info. Was there any word on whether or not he’ll be joining the S/WB Yankees? I’m heading up there for the series this weekend.
Brandon – Thank you.
There are some pitchers making their way back and moving up the system that can have a significant impact relatively soon: Karstens, Patterson, Robertson, Horne, Cox, Mccutcheon, Melancon, Sanchez, Garcia in order and to name a few.
The position players are still further away but: Gardner, Miranda (I know he reinjured the shoulder), Jackson, Tabata (he has been much better of late – except the last two games or so), Curtis, Carson, Cervelli, then way down in the minors. The best positional prospects are in low A and 2 years away at least.
I firmly beleive this is a rebuilding year. You had to resign Posada and Rivera and then Arod this offseason as a bridge and because the Yankees won’t ever truly rebuild. But, if they can stick to this philosphy in 2-3 years a new foundation for the next dynasty may be apparent.
wsr
Manny Ramirez’s BABIP .365 w/ LD % 24
Edgar Martinez was one of the most dangerous RH in baseball in 2000 his BABIP was .337
Bernie Williams one of the worst baserunner in baseball but grand to our clutch moments his BABIP in his 1999 season was .379 in 2000 it was .319…you telling me alot of luck is involved w/ this stat yet prolific hitters even Jetes and Scott Brosius and Big Fatty(.425 in the 04′ playoffs) have owned that stat category. I’ll give you a better factor in 2000 the Mariners were 2 wins away from getting to the WS Alex Rodrgiuez in that postseason had a BABIP of .478…there is clearly a factor to this.
Brandon:
You just don’t seem to understand how the stat works and how it correlates. You look at a great season, and see a high BABIP, and go ‘Wow, he got that great BABIP out of his great season!’ , You need to look at the reverse. He has a high BABIP, he gets a great season(maybe).
The most important aspect of BABIP is the LD%. Of course Manny’s BABIP is going to be good if he has a LD% of 22+. You add the 100 on to that 22 and you get an expected BABIP of 320, so its expected to be high. Then you factor in a few balls that scoot through the hole, or swinging bunts, or texas leaguers, and you get the higher than normal. Not to mention manny is also putting the ball in play less than other players with his BB, K, and HR rates, which means any extra hit he gets by luck will greatly affect his BABIP.
BABIP just isn’t the kind of stat you use to look at skill, or estimate future performance. Its a good indicator of WHY someone had a good year at the plate. Or why someone had a bad year the plate. But it has no correlation with future success.
And oh my god you proved mine and WSR point by pointing out Bernie:
1999 – .379 – Actual AVG 342
2000 – .319 – Actual AVG 307
These aren’t batting averages. Bernie lost 60 points on his BABIP most likely due to failing to beat out an extra hit or two, or a pop fly caught that dropped before. Good god. Thats why his average was much lower the next year.
Think back to the disaster we looked like this time last yr. Throwing Clippard and Chase Wright out there. With ARod back, Posada on the way, some 2nd half bullpen help from Cox and Melancon and we’ll be alright. Pettitte has his struggles but he’ll finish the yr with a sub 4 ERA.
When Girardi talks about finding a way to win – I keep thinking of the best way this team can inject some energy – his name is Brett Gardner.
“Think back to the disaster we looked like this time last yr. Throwing Clippard and Chase Wright out there.”
No need to think back. Playing the roles of Clippard and Wright in ’08 are Kennedy and Hughes.
Jerk Face I’m sorry man you got to change that handle but I understand that factor that’s why I added LD% to the equation. I get what you mean. P.S. what was the LD % for Bernie’s postseason in 99′ contrast to 00′
Brandon has been posting his nonsense about BABIP on several sites.
keith must be my stalker… I’m glad too see this, internet now has a police man.
brandon, can you please explain to me who decides what is a line drive and how they decide that?
Keith w/ that said I hope you post here more often atleast JF and me had a convo or debate on this instead of this calling out a poster in your own way, but do your thing Keith. I’m not going to take it as an offense, I don’t have all the answers but atleast at my mid 20′s when I ask questions it’s to get info. When I started posing this I started w/ don’t take it too seriously several posts before we’ll leave it at that.
ham fighter LD% is basically batted balls calculated as line drives, so yeh they categorize types of hits in this game.
I’m so hyped for Alex coming back! I think he will bring his winning attitude and remind them all what it takes to be a Yankee. Playoffs here we come!
http://grittyandclutch.blogspo.....o-get.html