The three new guys
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Nov 20, 2010 
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I’m a geek about the 40-man roster. Even as a kid, I remember getting Baseball Digest delivered my house in the country and reading through the rosters in the back of each issue. I understand that it should be boring, but I like these sort of lists and groupings, and I always thinks it’s interesting when people are added and removed. A team can’t have its 25-man roster until it has its 40-man roster, and I like that.
Yesterday, the Yankees 40-man additions took an obvious back seat to the new pitching coach. But these three are officially worth knowing heading into next season.
Dellin Betances
Starting pitcher
How he got here: Back in 2006, Betances was an eight-round pick with first-round stuff. Injuries have slowed some of his progress, but 2010 reestablished him as one of the elite pitching prospects in the organization.
What’s to like: First time I saw him, I was struck by just how big he is. He’s not a wiry 6-8. He’s pretty thick. He works mostly with a low to mid-90s fastball and big curveball. Baseball America noted that even if he takes a step back, he could slide into the mix as a possible closer candidate down the road.
Up next: He made only three Double-A starts last season, so a return to Trenton is probably in order. A September call-up seems possible, but there are enough pitchers ahead of him that there’s absolutely no need to rush his progress. Keep him and healthy and let that arm carry him.
Brandon Laird
Third baseman
How he got here: He just kept hitting. Even with a big league brother, Laird was only a 27th-round pick and the Yankees drafted two third baseman ahead of him. He certainly didn’t come into the system with a lot of hype, but he hit — and hit for power — leading up to a breaking 2010 season in which he had 25 homers and 102 RBI between Double-A and Triple-A.
What’s to like: Primarily the power. That said, when I saw him in spring training, Laird seemed to play a better third base than I was expecting. He’s been working in the outfield corners, and if he could become a four-corners type of utility player, he could play a role pretty quickly.
Up next: More Triple-A at-bats. Probably more time in the outfield. Depending on the Yankees needs in New York, a big league call-up is certainly not out of the question.
Ryan Pope
Relief pitcher
How he got here: Slow and steady is probably the way to describe it. Pope was a third-round pick in 2007, but he’s never had one of those breakout years that puts him firmly on the prospect map. Even within the Yankees system he’s been overshadowed.
What’s to like: Pretty much everything since the second week of May. After opening the season in the rotation, Pope moved to the Trenton bullpen and finally started to standout from the pack. His first relief outing was two hitless innings with no walks and four strikeouts. He never let an inherited runner score.
Up next: A promotion to Triple-A. Although a move from the rotation to the bullpen is usually seen as a bad thing, it might actually help Pope standout from the large group of young pitchers in the upper levels of the Yankees system. With Jonathan Albaladejo out of the picture, Pope could be the first Triple-A reliever called up next season.
Solid.
Betances should be a defensive end.
Imagine staring down the barrel to look at him ?
Laird apparently has pro-baseball genes.
With Laird, he’s not going to be a .300 hitting 3rd baseman, but, not only does he have doubles and homer power to all fields, but, he’s a stone cold run producer where ever he’s played. If he only gets one hit, you can bet that it will almost always drive in a run, even his outs produce some runs. He certainly helped his cause in the AFL with 7 assists in left field in 25 games. being able to play 3 and maybe 4 spots is huge when going after a big league utility spot. Guys like Rodriguez, Kelleher and Nettles can really clean up his footwork at third base, which is his biggest problem there and at 1st. Lovin’ that power to right and right center though. He also has huge center field power. Not many cheapies when hit hits ‘em.
I was somewhat surprised that they chose Pope over Heyer. Maybe Cashman thinks that The Pope Of Savannah has an in with The Big Pitching Coach In The Sky and will get an extra boost.
GB-
I was thinking that too. He has Ecumenical connections to go with the
arm.
he made a sneak visit to the Vatican just before all this happened.
Ever see the movie “The Pope of Greenwich Village”. An oldie with Mickey Rourke.
For a while it seemed like Pope pitched in every game we saw in Trenton. It was frustrating at times, because he’d look real good, and then not so much. Did see him relieve last season, and he did very well.
The Pope Of GV is a great movie, even with Rourke in it.
Now, all that’s left is to find is a good pitcher named Bishop. I wonder if the Cardinals have one. Bring Jose Cardenal back and hire Claudia Cardinale as a good luck charm and welcome distraction.
GB-
Looks like GF lucked out. Apparently Chad didn’t see last night’s comment.
GB-
Getting the Man on your side sure can’t hurt.
Yeah, they moved Pope from rotation starter to setup and finally to closer.
I wonder if Chad gives a monetary reward for blowing the whistle on bad seeds like GF?
GB-
Did I really get some sleep like I said I would last eve. or am I still dreaming ?
I’ll pinch myself to know.
GB-
depending on how much you like GF, and how desperate for money you are you could find out.
I like GF too much myself to ever do that.
Brandon Laird impressed last spring training but it was a foregone conclusion that he needed time at the AA and AAA levels. Not the case this spring. He’ll get a lot of looks and every chance to be part of the 25-man roster going north. All he has to do is be himself and do what he’s been doing.
He hasn’t gone to the AFL for the warm weather. Working on being muti-positional doesn’t hurt his cause.
Hey…you can’t blame me for trying to supliment my income, just in case my import/export business goes to pot….so to speak.
***supplement***
If Laird has a descent spring and shows that he can play the corners in the outfield then I wouldn’t mind seeing them go north with him and Nunez as big parts of the bench. They could back up every position except CF and catcher and would give the Yanks a chance to see what they have with those two and allow them to get some experience and improve. To me that would be preferable to signing veterans for the bench…..if they need that they can get it during the season.
GB-
Not one bit. But leave Franco out of it.
Always consulting with Mary Jane aren’t you ? She’s been a good friend to you in good times and bad.
I know you appreciate her and what she has to offer.
Blake-
I like your idea. One veteran for the bench would be good though. To keep things in balance.
Jonathon Mayo’s AFL prospect top 20 had Baneulos at# 4 and Kelly at #9. How is that possible?
Blake-
And by the way, if Laird has a “descent” spring he will either need to consult with his bro, or will not be going North but South.
I think you meant to say “decent”.
No doubt that Mary gives my a huge high. Metaphorically speaking, of course.
blake-
Mayo likes some “meat” on his sandwiches. That’s how.
MTU,
Yea maybe a veteran catcher or DH type but they have so much experienced leadership on that team I think they can afford a little youth on the bench. They need to get a better idea of what kind of player Nunuz is going to be in particular.
GB-
She has been known be a good friend to many a Soldier.
Sorry to say, your beloved Mary is well travelled.
You realize that any possible benefits I receive from Mary is strictly medicinal. Excuse me while I light up my medicine.
Blake-
This is true. But a Hinske type would be great as well.
Don’t worry. They’re gonna let Nunez strut his stuff this season and find out.
Nunez will be playing winter ball as an outfielder this year, so, I finally get my wish…player versatility.
Blake-
What about Pena and Golson ? Any place for them on the ML club.
Has Casey Kelly increased his fastball velocity yet? I seem to recall many scouts working under the assumption that he’d add 2-4 MPH for some reason or another.
MTU,
Hey its Saturday morning man….;)
Speaking of velo, how hard does Pope throw (avg/max)?
MTU,
I don’t really see a spot for Pena…..Golsen maybe I guess but we’ll just have to see how the roster shakes out. My guess is that he’s with Scranton.
Blake-
And you’ve only had 1 cup of java. I understand.
Just curious. getting any interesting comments on your new office Photo ? Maybe you haven’t had a chance to put it up yet ?
Please let me know. I would imagine that between screams someone might actually comment.
Blake-
Another nice thing about Mr. Nunez. He has good speed and is a competent baserunner.
If Nunez and Laird go north, Pena goes to Scranton or in a trade. Golson has to be a keeper at least this year. He’s the outfield emergency if anything goes wrong. That’s a lot of defense and speed on the bench and when either Posada, Montero or any of the regulars are on a rest day, a considerable amount of power.
“Jonathon Mayo’s AFL prospect top 20 had Baneulos at# 4 and Kelly at #9. How is that possible?”
Mayo has some nice things to say about Baneulos in the linked article below.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/articl.....Id=rss_nyy
GB-
Golson definitely is an excellent speed/ defensive replacement guy.
No doubt about that.
Pope is about 93-94 MPH with an occasional 95, good change, decent curve.
Since RandyL is already crapping on Rothschild and indirectly Cashman again, I’ll be rooting for him even moreso now as the new Yankee pitching coach.
GB-
How’s Pope’s C and C ? Does he throw a lot of strikes ?
crawdaddy-
yeah , my record is so bad with my baseball opinions.
i’ll try to dumb them down for you.
MTU,
Several have asked who the super talented photographer was….I told them he was a professional from Hollywood and that I have to protect his identity from the paparazzi.
“crawdaddy-
yeah , my record is so bad with my baseball opinions.”
You’re a blog legend in your own mind.
You have 12 pitchers
position roster at 13.
My guess only:
C Posada
C Montero
C Cervelli
1B Teixeira
2B Cano
SS Jeter
3B Rodriguez
LF Gardner
CF Granderson
RF Swisher
UT Nunez
UT Laird
UT OF Golson
Blake-
It’s certainly way different from what they’d get to say in TN, right ?
Thanks for the feedback and for making up that story.
edit: “see” not “say”. Duh.
“Pope is about 93-94 MPH with an occasional 95, good change, decent curve.”
Thank you.
GB7,
I have a feeling that another veteran bench player is going to sneak on the 25 man roster between now and Opening Day.
The Pope Of Savannah has real good control of his flock, not susceptible to homers and gets grounders. Strikeouts have been picking up and of course, has a higher calling.
Only change that I can see is maybe a left handed, multi-positional bat.
GB-
Thank you and your minions for their opinions.
It would be good to have a LH bat off the bench.
One thing about those players is that only Teixeira and maybe Granderson could be considered a pull hitter. The rest hit the ball everywhere.
GB7,
How bout Ankiel? Can play all outfield positions….has some pop and.you could bring him in to scare opposing hitters.
crawdaddy-
who cares if you like me or you don’t. no one does.
i gave baseball reasons why i don’t like the hiring of rothschild.
if you don’t have any reasons why you like him or any stats to offer, you’re going into territory that makes this blog unreadable.
i decided this summer to not waste my time with non baseball talk with people who just want to come on here to argue for the sake of arguing.
keep to baseball or argue with yourself.
I’m not so sure about the LH bat because they had trouble with lefty pitching this season so a RH bat might be in order too. I’m not so sure Laird is ready to be a big league RH bat off the bench on April 1st.
GB-
Pulling the ball into the Right field stands would be just fine by me.
I’m stunned that the Yankees added Ryan Pope to the 40 man roster. Aren’t there more worthy candidates? I’d hate to lose a top prospect in the Rule 5 draft because we chose to keep Pope…I don’t think he’s a real prospect. Maybe someone can enlighten me.
What top prospect are you worrying about losing because of Pope?
Id say Pope is to give them another call up option for the pen.
It wouldn’t hurt to have an infusion of youth and speed on the 2011 team. At some point the Yankees will need to find out if Eduardo Nunez has the full skillset to be the future SS and they might as well start the process in 2011 with as much as can be fit in for him.
Greg Golson is another that will be watched closely. With his speed and ability to play all 3 OF positions, maybe some work with Kevin Long will make his bat show value also.
Ramiro Pena may be hard pressed to make the team out of ST. Nunez can play SS, 2nd base, and 3rd.
Laird can be used at the 2 corner IF and OF positions. Graig Nettles and Mick Kelleher will give him all the extra time he needs.
Everything to like about versatility.
Hey, that’s just my ideas on the roster. It’s doubtful that NYYs will go with a young bench, but, I can’t see them adding $3-$4 mil bench players and never thought that Hairston was that useful in part time work. His fielding wasn’t great, little power and less than average bat. They can get better than that with Nunez at a considerably lower cost. Not sure if Hinske would come back for a once a week appearance. Andrew Jones wants too much for a .220 average and defense. Not sure he’d go for limited play either.
I’m sure that the choice was Craig Heyer and Ryan Pope. Pope’s advantage is that he can get strikeouts and Heyer is strictly a contact pitcher. Neither gives up homers and Heyer doesn’t walk anybody, but, Pope doesn’t walk many. They’re the same age, both start, relieve and can close. Pope throws a little harder. Not a lot of difference, really.
GB-
If Hinske would return we’d almost be guaranteed another championship.
randy
How do we know that Dusty Baker’s earlier usage patterns didn’t set up Zambrano, Wood, and Prior for declining IP over the last four seasons?
All we very young pitchers during Baker’s tenure. None had strict innings caps similar to the way the Yankees impose them. It’s abuse during those formative years that studies have shown have subsequent deleterious effects.
If you want to say that Rothschild stood by while Baker screwed them up, ok, but I think the manager’s (and a GM’s) impact on usage patterns often trumps a pitching coach’s. It’s not like anyone could have told Billy Martin what to do.
MTU November 20th, 2010 at 10:35 am
GB-
If Hinske would return we’d almost be guaranteed another championship.
———————————————————————————————————————-
he may be versatile, but, as far as I’m concerned, he’s a last resort defender. He mostly adds some left handed power.
GB-
A joke. Lucky charm. You know ? But he definitely has the right kind of power for YS.
What top prospect are you worrying about losing because of Pope?
——————————————————————————
Isn’t Austin Romine Rule 5 eligible? How about Jairo Heredia or DJ Mitchell, Lance Pendleton, Pat Venditte or David Adams?
Part of Zambrano’s problem for his declining innings is due to what’s troubling him in his mind.
God, I hope today/tonight doesn’t turn into the two most boring subjects of the past week. They’ve both been hammered into a pile of horse dung. Nobody’s adding anything new to the subjects because nothing new exists.
“Isn’t Austin Romine Rule 5 eligible? How about Jairo Heredia or DJ Mitchell, Lance Pendleton, Pat Venditte or David Adams?”
Only the following are eligible. Heredia is eligible, but hasn’t pitched above A level. Pendleton is a good candidate to being picked, but at 28 years old next season, the Yankees obviously prefer Pope to him when it comes to being a bullpen option.
Craw-
Maybe Zambrano is getting too much of the Clemens treatment in the locker room.
GB7
What subjects are you talking about?
MTU,
You might be right, but whatever it is, he acts like a nutjob to me.
MTU, on any given day, the Yanks will have a full timer taking a day off and they can hit any body. The bench will be loaded and at most, only one pinch hitter will be needed in an AL game with this line-up. Hinske may well be the guy that Cashman brings in. I was just adding my preferences. I will say that as of today, after adding in Jeter, Rivera, Lee and Pettitte, this is a loaded team. Not many want to join a team to ride the pines. One addition that I would make is getting Kerry Wood to re-up.
GB-
We both know that no team will be able to score against our rotation.
Who needs an offense, or a BP for that matter.
Gotta have a bullpen. Where else would you keep bulls that size?
can Zach Duke be an option for the back of the rotation on this team, one year removed from being a AS & only 27-28 years old
Craw-
Raging Bull. For sure. They need to hit him with the Pinatas before each and every game. Just to weaken him a bit.
GB-
Certainly not in the land of the Lilliputians that’s for sure.
“How do we know that Dusty Baker’s earlier usage patterns didn’t set up Zambrano, Wood, and Prior for declining IP over the last four seasons?”
rich in nj-
we don’t, but we also don’t know what role rothschild had either. that’s really the question i was throwing out there. i don’t know anything about rothschild except what i’ve read last night and today.
with a google search i haven’t come up with anything where he talks about keeping pitchers healthy. maybe it’s out there and i haven’t found it yet.
if i was a yankee gm, the first thing i’d look for in a pitching coach is someone who could keep a pitcher healthy because most likely the better pitchers on the yankees are going to be pitchers who already knows how to pitch like sabathia or lee. keeping them healthy has to be the most important thing.
i don’t see a record of rothschild keeping star pitchers healthy. that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have one. it just means i haven’y seen it yet. i’d be delighted if he does know how to keep sabathia, hughes, lee etc throwing 200 innings every year.
Crawdaddy November 20th, 2010 at 10:45 am
Part of Zambrano’s problem for his declining innings is due to what’s troubling him in his mind.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Part of Carlos Zambrano’s lower innings in 2010 is when he was away for anger management sessions. When he returned he won 7 games and looked good. He recently said he’d wave his no trade clause. I’d say take him for Burnett because both have close to the same contracts (money and length) and Larry Rothschild has a leg up on Zambano’s thought process.
Then again, Burnett could help to lure Cliff Lee with both living in Arkansas.
Just two years ago, everyone was screaming to get Zambrano at any cost. Now, people are willing to give up anything from players to first born to keep him out of pinstripes.
with posada dh ing this year, i would love the yankees to get bengie molina to back up montero. forget cervelli. molina wont be super expensive, lee knows him and his experience can be an amazing benefit to montero.
GB-
I’d like to see Z-Man traded to the cross town rivals just so I could enjoy the festivities when he and the other Nutjob have a friendly interaction.
It would be fun to watch Z rip Guillen in half and spit out the pieces.
With pitchers like Sabathia, Lee and Pettitte, anybody can catch them and they can call their own games if need be. another aging, expensive, overweight catcher is not a need.
maybe a little reach out to Bill Hall….can bat right with pop and play both of & if
“Though the success of Rothschild in Chicago is in the eye of the beholder, Hendry has considered him one of the top pitching coaches in the game, a claim bolstered by the Yankees’ hiring. Yet a sizeable segment of Cubs fans blamed him for a rash of arm injuries to promising pitchers, particularly the Wood-Prior saga of 2003-06.
Rothschild said Friday that Prior’s shoulder “started going backwards” after his 2003 collision with Marcus Giles, and Wood had a “pretty violent delivery at times” but rebounded with a “nice career” after surgeries.
“Young pitchers, you see from time to time there are injuries,” he said. “Sometimes they’re controllable, sometimes not. You have to take every step to make sure those things don’t happen.”
http://articles.chicagotribune.....m-hendry/2
Something tells me that guiilen and Zambrano might be a perfect match. The one you want to see him matched with is Tony LaRussa. Even Duncan would chew his fingers off watching.
GB-
I don’t think Guillen would last 5 seconds but I’m cool with seein’ La Russa get some.
Scioscia and Maddon would work too.
If the Yankees needed a butcher on defense, they’d bring in Oscar Mayer instead of Bill Hall.
GB-
That’s true, and they’d get the added bonus of having a higher authority on their side.
Not only that, but Oscar could help with the post game spread.
GB-
He’d certainly be a great table-setter.
True, though he can be a ham and often full of baloney.
SUX Casey Kelly is a soft tosser. He will get CRUSHED !!!
GB-
My specialty.
One thing you can never say about Oscar and that he’s not exactly chopped liver.
OK…enough…Let’s get on to meatier subjects.
GB-
I’ve even heard it said that guys like you and me actually ADD something to this blog.
Can’t imagine what but you never know.
Just noticed that Chad made a reference to “Baseball Digest”. Love that little magazine. great stories/articles and the best was their look back at long ago players. The crossword puzzle in the back was great as a kid. They also had some great stat comparisons of the current and past players.
I think they want part of my stash and to laugh at your four legged fur balls. You do post great pix, though.
Why would Rothschild tinker with Hughes’ mechanics? Well, I guess I can’t say that – whatever improvements he can make in any pitcher is a good thing. I see nothing wrong with making changes if they are for the better……..whether it’s in Phil or anyone.
I don’t get the skepticism -the guy has a very good track record and is considered a tremendous pitching coach.
Will this make fans drool all the more for Upton, regardless of the cost or run screaming into the night?
By Mike Axisa [November 20 at 10:26am CST]
Yesterday we learned that at least 15 teams inquired about the available of Arizona’s Justin Upton at the GM Meetings, and that five of those clubs wanted to push talks further along. We also learned that the 23-year-old can block trades to Athletics, Indians, Royals, and Tigers. Here are today’s batch of Upton rumors, with more to come throughout the day…
•ESPN’s Buster Olney tweets that a lot of people in the game are wondering why the Diamondbacks are so intent on marketing their budding star. They’re curious if something’s wrong.
•ESPN’s Keith Law (Insider req’d) lists four reasons why new GM Kevin Towers might want to deal Upton, noting that he may have concerns about his on-field, potential, makeup, and health.
Laird and Nunez as a bench? That’s pretty bad..and if the Yankees like Nunez, why have him sit on the bench to basically rot? Let him stay in AAA and play.
GB-
Not really. I think they want you to surrender Karloff’s number.
We both know you would NEVER do that.
Thank goodness I’m good for something.
I suck at stats though so I have rather limited value.
Can’t provide history and stories like you either.
Bill Hall ? A butcher on defense. Hope he stays in Boston to keep in tune with Theo INepstein’s philosophy of “run prevention”.
Oh, I’m sure it was all Baker when it comes to the issues Cubs pitchers have had……………the buck stops there (with the manager, as it does with the President). Cubs fans are generally pretty unhappy that Rothschild is gone and I think that says something.
MTU, I can provide the stories that you can’t because, unlike you and Randy, I can still remember them.
I guess I don’t see why all of a sudden CC and, if we have Lee, Lee would stop throwing 200 innings. If Phil doesn’t, I don’t see how that’s on a PC. If a pitcher isn’t very good, that’s one reason for not throwing that many innings. If a pitcher gets hurt, same thing. Even if it’s an arm injury – pitching is an unnatural motion and often pitchers get hurt. If Phil, say, hurts his arm – I don’t see how that’s an indictment on Rothschild. Wood has had issues for years…..he’s just a guy that hasn’t been able to stay healthy, period.
2010 BP:
His Mo-Nes
Wood
Aceves
D-Rob
Logan
Joba
Feliciano
Moseley
Zambrano is a psychotic…….he’s not coming here.
Sure, I’m sure some Cubs fans blame him……….but the article should also mentiont that there are plenty of fans who are sorry he’s gone and who don’t blame him. As we saw with Eiland, PC (or hitting coaches) often take the brunt of criticism when their pupils don’t perform……..better than blaming players, right?
MTU, It’s too late to add Jose Feliciano to the 2010 roster.
Gotta keep Moseley so we have the arkansas mafia on the staff:
AJ
Lee
and D-Mose.
GB-
Ok. I’ll take Downs then.
GB-
Sorry. I misread that one. Two many circles in my mind.
Add Feliciano to the 2011 roster instead.
GB-
Let’s take a gamble. A blind shot at him.
I’d be surprised if somebody doesn’t jump on Josh Schmidt as a spot starter bullpen guy during the Rule 5 draft. If NYYs doen’t add Justin Christian, he’s likely gone, too.
GB-
You’d give Youngman and Burns fits. Run circles around them too.
Of course you can’t do it any more.
Now, that was just sick, MTU, but, I guess he won’t see this.
GB-
I’d like to keep Christian but I doubt they will.
GB-
I hope not, or I’m goin’ where you’re goin’.
To Domino’s?
# GreenBeret7 November 20th, 2010 at 11:10 am
If the Yankees needed a butcher on defense, they’d bring in Oscar Mayer instead of Bill Hall.
so what your saying it would be Bill the Butcher
GB-
Well you’ve gotten it partially correct in that it’s hot food.
Don’t forget the cerveza while you’re out.
You’ll need something to wash it down.
Killer must be crashin’ at his lady’s house or you’d never try it.
Coming to TV this week is one hour of Costas and Uecker. It’ll be great viewing on MLB-TV…for those that can get it.
I quit supporting Killer’s tramps….errr….ladies. He’s out looking for a job.
GB-
I’ll believe that when it’s official. Right now only Sherman is reporting it as true, and Heyman.
Work to do.
Every year with age becoming more of a reality the bench takes on heightened importance. With all th big money going out this winter it’s going to be another bargain basement grab in January probably. We spent $2.9 million on our entire bench last year. We need to get better hitting from A-Rod’s, Jeter’s replacements when they sit.
Also bullpen is a mystery to me right now after Mo, Joba, Logan and Robertson.
OK, now I’m lost…reporting what?
GB-
That Killer has found a job.
Oh, “It’s Twue, it’s twue”.
I’ve been telling him that they were just after his bones, but, he didn’t believe it. Now, his inheritance is gone.
GB-
It would appear that a Blogectomy has occurred because so many posters are missing.
Many good posters are MIA.
Yep, and it’s a realy pity. Slugs have eaten the heart and soul of this site.
WCYF -
Nunez, Laird and Golson doesn’t cut it. But that’s the problem with having such a top heavy roster. Cashman has shown no ability whatsoever to evaluate and acquire good talent at a good price (Swisher being the exception). All he knows how to do is write oversized checks for too many years to big names. He’d be unemployed if there was a salary cap and he had to actually show some acumen.
randy,
In 2008 Zambrano went on the DL with a minor shoulder strain.
-”The Chicago Cubs star pitcher stormed off after being told the news, and a loud banging was heard in the shower area in the clubhouse at Wrigley Field moments later.”
-”The test, in which dye is injected into the troubled area to provide a more detailed look, revealed no major structural damage.”
-”There’s nothing wrong,” Zambrano said. “We just have to be careful, take some time, give it a rest, come back stronger.”
-”Hendry and the Cubs’ medical staff decided “Big Z” would benefit physically and mentally from a two-week rest.”
http://seattletimes.nwsource.c.....tes22.html
In 2009 Zambrano went on the DL twice.
-First was when he strained his hamstring trying to beat out a bunt for a hit.
-Second, was from a back strain. He had suffered from a bulging disc in his back for years and it was thought at the time that “is believed first to have suffered spasms after swinging at a pitch against the Marlins and again after he took batting practice Friday in Coors Field.”
-Zambrano is known to take “vicious swings” during batting practice.
-He was also supposed to be exercises regularly for his bulging disc, but “My problem is I’ve been lazy.”
2010
-Well we all know what happened this year. Unless Roths is a psychiatrist there was not much he could do.
GB-
Aren’t you surprised more wasn’t done to curtail it ?
I know I am. I’m disappointed in them actually.
Registration was not sufficient IMO.
Other measures should have been taken.
MTU, GB………. you guys are nuts. In a good way.
For example:
An “ignore feature”
Moderation
A fee for use
Changes to the Terms of Use rules
Just some suggestions.
GB,
I loved Baseball Digest and Street and Smith’s as a kid. They were my only real source of baseball info. Now we can find out a Class A players OPS, his fielding average and his favorite breakfast cereal.
JCPD-
You mean you just noticed.
MTU, not really. Changing the owners that had more than a few extra pennies on their mind would have been better. The quality actually im[roved a lot when Chad and the boys took over, but, registration didn’t really fix the problems. Permanent bans would have, but, not when money is involved. I’d have rather put up a refundable $25 fee to “subscribe”. If you get banned, you get no refund. That would eliminate the multiple name posters.
Whatever. It’s some sad sh*t. I’m not into their excuses.
Yeah MTU, things go a little slower at my age
Yep…, Mac, always three magazines that I couldn’t wait for to hit the stands…”Baseball Digest”, “Street and Smith’s Baseball” and “Who’s Who In Baseball”. That’s when you knew that baseball was coming soon. always loved “S & S’s” Target lists of upcoming and past milestones.
JCPD-
Gettin’ ready to head off to Jersey soon ?
Ignore feature would be wonderful. To me it would be the easiest and most effective. If I don’t want to be bothered by MTU’s post, I don’t ever have to see them.
Bright and early Monday morning MTU, still don’t know where they are sending me to train, but I’m guessing it will be Syracuse.
JCPD-
You or anyone else. Exactly.
JCPD-
Have you spoken to Al recently ?
I might be tempted to wear out the ignore button.
and before MTU say’s it, I’ll save him the trouble.
Yes, I’d ignore any posts except my own.
clownthrowindown November 20th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
WCYF – Nunez, Laird and Golson doesn’t cut it. But that’s the problem with having such a top heavy roster. Cashman has shown no ability whatsoever to evaluate and acquire good talent at a good price (Swisher being the exception). All he knows how to do is write oversized checks for too many years to big names. He’d be unemployed if there was a salary cap and he had to actually show some acumen.
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In my opinion, I don’t see Cashman’s performance as being extreme one way or another. He has made some good bets and some bad ones. I think he is a middle of the road GM given the tools he has to work with. Last winter was not his finest hour, he has admitted that.
JCPD-
Rough seas for Al right now.
You might want to shoot him a line (no pun intended) if you haven’t.
No I haven’t MTU, but my hard drive crashed so I was on the “DL” for a few days. Took it back to Apple (55 days left on protection plan). The replaced the 250GB crashed hard drive with a brand new 500GB hard drive. Nice. Thankfully on the Mac, everything is automatically backed up onto an external hard drive so I didn’t lose anything.
JCPD-
That may explain why you were having difficulties just recently.
JCPD-
Good luck with everything. stay in touch. I’ve got to walk the mops or they’re gonna make a mess all over the floor.
BIAW.
The Phillies are looking at adding another veteran pitcher of the non-guaranteed variety. Any bets that they are talking about Brandon Webb?