Pregame notes: When it rains, it pours (even on a sunny day)
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes, Podcast on Jun 08, 2011 
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Mark Teixeira says his right knee feels great. He’s taking batting practice with no apparent problems and feels good enough to start tonight’s game at first base.
That’s pretty much the extent of the good news.
Joba Chamberlain is on the disabled list, Jorge Posada is away for the day, Russell Martin’s back is bothering him, Hector Noesi was temporarily sacrificed for fresh arms and the Yankees need a win tonight to stay in first place. If ever they needed Good A.J. to show up, this is the night.
“Every club’s going to go through injuries, and you got to find a way to get through it,” Joe Girardi said. “One of the ways to get through it is by what your starter does that night.”
Let’s hit on these issues one at a time, shall we?
Joba Chamberlain
On the 15-day disabled list with a strained flexor muscle in his right elbow
Turns out, Chamberlain’s elbow has been bothering him for a while. Girardi is about as careful with his relievers as any manager out there, and he was convinced that his setup man going through normal soreness. On Monday — one day after throwing a season-high 35 pitches — Chamberlain finally told the Yankees that it might be more than the normal discomfort.
He went for an MRI that showed a strained flexor muscle. He won’t throw at all for 10 to 14 days, then, if he’s healthy enough, he’ll start working his way back. This is almost certainly going to take more than 15 days.
“His arm has been a little tender the last couple of weeks, so we’ve been careful with him in what we’ve done,” Girardi said. “He played catch yesterday and he said, ‘It feels pretty good today, but it’s been tender.’ We had the doctor look at it, and they decided to do an MRI this morning. It’s really pretty amazing. He probably pitched with it for a while.”
Chamberlain said it never bothered him when he pitched, only afterward. He got a little treatment — ice and such — but he believed everything was fine. He said even today he feels like he could pitch, but he knows what the MRI showed and he knows he’s out for a while.
Both Girardi and Chamberlain said they believe with absolute conviction that the 35-pitch outing is not a direct cause of this problem.
“It just happened to be this is what it was after,” Chamberlain said. “But the 35 pitches had nothing to do with it. Obviously, if it was to this point, I would have said something to Joe, or Joe would have said something to me.”
To be fair, Girardi is notorious about his reliever rules. He’s generally a manager who plays it safe if he sees any cause for concern.
“Part of me believes that he pitched through it for a couple weeks,” Girardi said. “I don’t know exactly when the strain came in the muscle, I don’t. We hadn’t used him a lot. We used him when we needed him like we always would, but his stuff had been great.”
Here’s Chamberlain.
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Russell Martin
Day-to-day with a sore back
According to Girardi, Russell Martin’s back “locked up” after last night’s game. Martin told Girardi that he wanted to try to work through it and see if he could play tonight. Girardi told him to take the day off and go through treatment.
“I can’t tell you (when he’ll be back),” Girardi said. “When a back locks up, you really don’t know. It could take a couple of days. It could take three days. I can’t really tell you. It could be tomorrow.”
Girardi said if something were to happen to Francisco Cervelli, Martin would probably play. But he’s going into this game planning to manage as if he has no backup catcher.
Jorge Posada
Away for his son’s surgery
Jorge Posada is away for the night because his son is having surgery. It’s been known for a while that Posada would probably be away tonight, but Girardi indicated last night that Posada might be around to play first base if necessary.
Girardi said he expects to have Posada back tomorrow.
Mark Teixeira
Back in the lineup after being hit by a pitch
Amazing that Teixeira has become a footnote. Showing up at the park today, I believed there was no chance the Yankees first baseman would be in there. Girardi said he went to bed last night also convinced that he’d be without Teixeira for at least one night.
At around 10 a.m., Girardi got a text from Teixeira saying he was good to go.
“Geno saw him and said he was ready to go,” Girardi said. “So I was really surprised.”
Teixeira said he feels good enough that playing the field shouldn’t be an issue. No need to DH tonight.
Hector Noesi
Optioned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Fair and unfair don’t really matter in situations like this. Of course Noesi deserves to stay, but after pitching six innings last night, he’ll need four days off. The Yankees decided to option him to Triple-A — where he’ll almost certainly work as a starter — and replace him with a fresh arm.
The Yankees will add two multi-inning guys before tonight’s game. They called up Amauri Sanit and claimed Jeff Marquez, the former Yankees prospect who was traded away in the Nick Swisher deal and ultimately designated for assignment by the White Sox. Still no word on a 40-man move for Marquez, but he’s coming straight here.
“(Noesi) grew up a lot in front of us,” Girardi said. “And we envision him as a starter one day. I can’t tell you that’s how we’ll use him in the near future, but that’s how we envision him, and we want him to work on his stuff. But it really came down to, we needed some arms… He did everything that we could have asked.”
—
• Without Chamberlain or Rafael Soriano, Girardi said he will mix-and-match in the seventh and use Dave Robertson as his primary eighth-inning reliever.
• Girardi indicated that he doesn’t expect retribution for last night’s hit batters or the David Ortiz bat flip. “I didn’t hear our guys talk about it at all,” Girardi said. “It seems like it’s been talked about more amongst the media than our guys.”
• Girardi was asked if he second guesses the decision to start Freddy Garcia last night. “If I wouldn’t have pitched him yesterday, I think probably a lot of people would have said, what are you doing?” Girardi said. “But it’s easy to say after the fact that he didn’t pitch well, do you second guess? No I don’t second guess. This guy’s pitched well for us all year long.”
• Although Girardi said Martin might be available to catch in an emergency, he said he’s treating tonight as a two-man bench with Chris Dickerson and Andruw Jones. “I guess that’s probably safe to say,” he said.
RED SOX
Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Dustin Pedroia 2B
Adrian Gonzalez 1B
Kevin Youkilis 3B
David Ortiz DH
Carl Crawford LF
Marco Scutaro SS
J.D. Drew RF
Jason Varitek C
Associated Press photos
Keep the twitter feed open, Jorge, we might need you.
Gardners WAR 2010 + 2011 is 7.6, he is very good.
the opportunity is there for someone to step up big time tonight…just a question of who it will be!
team looks to be falling apart
Jerkface-
Then the Sportin news list was accurat. I initially thought it was 2011 only. Thanks for the info.
I wonder if Texeira will be cut from the 40 man. He was charged with 3 runs in relief of Brackman last night. Marquez for Texeira act 2.
“Sporting” “accurate”
Chamberlain heads to the DL just three days after Girardi allowed him to throw 35 pitches in a 1 2/3-inning stint in Anaheim. Girardi said Wednesday that he had been aware Chamberlain was getting treatment on his elbow but didn’t consider it risky to let him throw that many pitches.
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knew he had a problem and let him throw 35 pitches….
Yankee Trader June 8th, 2011 at 5:43 pm
What parts, for a position player, would you clone GB?
Aaron’s quick wrists.
Mantle’s power.[upper body]
Henderson’s speed. [legs]
Ted Williams eyes?
Others??
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Randy Johnson’s left arm, Clemen’s right arm, Billy Martin’s baseball brain and Yogi Bera’s luck.
AJ has to step up and give 7 very solid innings.
Speed kills! Run and run some more against Wakefield.
Hopefully the batter’s timing won’t be thrown off by the Knuckler. Predicting Jeter will get his 1st homer this season.
I predict Jeter will not get his first homer of the season.
Maybe #’s 3, 4, and 5
Girardi IS notoriously cautious with his pitchers. But I probably would not have extended Joba knowing that he was experiencing discomfort in that area after pitching.
Not blaming Girardi for the condition itself, and if something pops up, it would have happened sooner or later.
As for the Yankees, let’s get through tonight. AJ is the most important player tonight. Then let’s get through tomorrow, and so on and so forth.
If there’s any question if Cashman will be busy with other GM’s during July, the answer is a resounding yes.
Clemen’s right arm-before or after the wonders of chemistry. Maybe Nolan Ryan’s right arm.
Was Looking for body parts of non-pitchers, so would you take the arm of Clemente, Colavito or Kaline?
# 108 stitches June 8th, 2011 at 6:03 pm
If there’s any question if Cashman will be busy with other GM’s during July, the answer is a resounding yes.
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thats when they will be saying goodbye to Montero
Oh sure Binder Joe. You’ve been real careful with Joba – like pitching him 13 times in a span of 27 games. Who do you think he is, Soriano?
Chad, once again you’re being a stenographer, merely writing down what Binder Joe says. How about asking him whether he’s full of you know what when he says he’s been real careful with an injured pitcher who he’s used 13 times in 27 games?
Nick-
#3,#4,#5 would be good. Gosh I remember one of the homers to left field-on the recent road trip? When was the other one?
JackCurryYES Told Derek Jeter NY beat Boston in media baseball gm 2day. “Oh, really?” he said. Then Jeter added, “Did Peter Gammons pitch for Boston?”
Two things to say –
1. I met Bobby Valentine, years ago when he was managing the Mets. I talked to him a while about this and that, and at some point it turned to pitchers. I don’t remember the context, but I remember Valentine saying that every pitcher, during the year, has a sore arm, and hurts, when they pitch. When I pressed him on it, he said that the only time they would say anything was when it bothered them more than usual. I must have had a quizzical look on my face, because he added “Hey, it’s an unnatural motion!”
2. I am amazed by how tough Mark Teixeira is. He played a good part of last year with a broken toe, going out there every day. Some here called him for being unproductive, and a failure. They should have half his stamina, and fortitude.
If the starters actually went deep into games outside from CC or the every-other-Colon start, and the pen had some reliable arms outside of the collection of mop up men like Pendleton, Ayala, Sanit, Carslyle, etc. then maybe Binder Joe wouldn’t have to use Joba so frequently.
We have to win games.
They were hit in the same game.
What about Pedros arm? Fingers maybe?
Trader, tough call on the right arm of Clemente and Colavito. Hard to leave out Winfield’s rifle. too.
joeman-
Do you really think Montero will be traded?
Who get’s called up if overused Martin goes on the DL? Molina?
From what I understand, Joba requested the 8th inning when Soriano went down.
When the team wins games, the setup guy pitches more often.
Pedro’s Jheri curl.
Hey Chad, that was my line.
Nick-
Thanks. I found it.-was May 8th in a 12-5 win over the Rangers.
“After going 259 at-bats without a homer, Jeter hit two in three innings Sunday, with each landing over the right-center field fence in the Rangers’ bullpen. Jeter finished 4 for 6 with two homers, three runs batted in and a stolen base.”
D-rob to Joba to Mo has been a successful combo, why wouldn’t Girardi use them?
Jeter hits homers in bunches, just like Redsock pitchers hit our batters.
“Jeter hits homers in bunches, just like Redsock pitchers hit our batters. ”
Although Jeter’s HR are not quite as predictable.
Their reluctance to go young and stick too long with veterans (or ‘experience’) might be their downfall this year. Hope they realize it before it is too late.
Pedro’s Jheri curl.
======
I always thought he might have been juicing the ball. Surprised it was never in question. How else would you explain hiim going to the mound with 10 w 40 synthetic oil night in and night out risking eye irritation.
Can you be thrown out of the game if, while batting, the bat “accidentally” slips out of your hands and kneecaps the opposing pitcher???
I never understood why they make Yankeeographys for active players.
Put me in the Montero will be traded list. Dont know for who or why. But I think the orginization knows something we dont.
I really really don’t like Cervy trying to catch AJ tonight. Might be tougher to catch AJ than Wake.
Upstate kate-
With Joba out at least 3 weeks, it’s only Ro and Mo!
LoRoMo?
Not too good of news on Chavez either huh? Wow what a day and now we have to play a team who has owned us this year. OUCH!
Back in the day, Jackie Robinson had a way to handle pitchers who made it a habit to lose their control when pitching inside. He would bunt down the first base line (remember, this is when ballplayers actually knew bunting and how to handle the bat), forcing the firstbaseman to handle the ball, and the pitcher to cover first.
He would then run over the pitcher, putting his knee into the small of the pitcher’s back. And, if his sharp metal spikes happened to shred the pitcher’s ankle, hey, it’s an accident.
After a while, Jackie started to get some respect.
YT
remember at the beginning of the season we thought it would be Ro-Jo-So-Mo? How things have changed
I really really don’t like Cervy trying to catch AJ tonight
========================
It’s not totally unfamiliar terrain for Cervelli. He caught Burnett 25 times last year.
“Put me in the Montero will be traded list. Dont know for who or why. But I think the orginization knows something we dont.”
Unless they know how to tap the fountain of youth for declining veterans, or trade Montero for a young impact bat, I don’t think they know anything worth knowing.
I never understood why they make Yankeeographys for active players.
–
Its like releasing an obit for a celeb early
Yankee Trader June 8th, 2011 at 6:20 pm
Can you be thrown out of the game if, while batting, the bat “accidentally” slips out of your hands and kneecaps the opposing pitcher???
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Bert Campaneris says yes, even after he apologized to Laren LaGrow.
Put me in the Montero will be traded list. Dont know for who or why. But I think the orginization knows something we dont.
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Can anyone think of a pitcher that currently would be realistically available to trade the likes of Montero for? Position player? No to Liriano!
There’s nobody on the market that’s worth Montero, straight up.
Trader,
Nope
The way he’s pitching right now, I wouldn’t trade Montero straight up for Jon Danks.
Can anyone think of a pitcher that currently would be realistically available to trade the likes of Montero for? Position player? No to Liriano
=========================
Don’t think there is one now. Don’t think there’s going to be one between now and 7/31.
I don’t understand how the Yankees could trade their only upper level offensive threat for almost any pitcher.
Montero for Danks? That would be a stupid trade.
I thought that Varitek couldn’t catch a knuckleball? If I’m Girardi, I tell the team to put on their track shoes tonight. Every guy in that lineup should be stealing bases. Varitek will have a hard enough time catching the knuckler, let alone having time to compensate for his terrible arm.
Exactly, joe. No way to do that trade. The Sox have a first baseman, a DH and a young and coming catcher in Flowers, and Pierzinski is locked up for a couple of years…cheap.
Somebody finally put a mirror in front of the Indians and they finally saw who they really are. White Sox will be in the race. Kinda doubt Danks is going anywhere.
There’s nobody on the market that’s worth Montero, straight up.
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I agree. As close as many teams are to contending for a playoff spot, it might be too close for most of the teams to even trade a star player come July 31st. Current trades now would likely be salary dumps.
However, that being said I’d package whatever the Dodgers want and can afford for Matt kemp and lefty Clayton Kershaw.
Pipe dream however for Kershaw, maybe not so much for Kemp.
Joe from Long Island June 8th, 2011 at 6:34 pm
Montero for Danks? That would be a stupid trade.
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Yeah that would be horrible. As others have said, I wouldn’t trade Montero straight up for anybody on the market. Only guys I really would swap him for would be if Felix or Josh Johnson magically became available (which isn’t going to happen).
A strong 7 innings from burnett and a big lead to turn over to the pen, like Pendleton and Sanit.
I wouldn’t trade Montero for Johnson. He’s too fragile.
Mell-
Hopefully the Tribe have cooled off permanently just in time for the weekend series. Their only pitcher that I really like is Masterson. Carmona is inconsistent, Tomlin doesn’t impress me much..
Rich in NJ June 8th, 2011 at 6:39 pm
I wouldn’t trade Montero for Johnson. He’s too fragile.
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He might miss some time but when he is in the rotation, he is one of if not the best in the game. He’s an absolute stud and easily comparable to Felix. I’d give up Montero and drive him to the airport.
Josh Johnson is on the DL.
Kershaw is on my list with King Felix. I’d like the Yankees to obtain another lefty starter.
Trader-
I’m not saying trade for him right now. But hypothetically if he became available in the offseason, I would trade Montero for Johnson. Kershaw is also on my list.
Johnson on DL with shoulder inflammation, as of May 21st.
If the Yanks were going after a bat, I’d look at KC and find out what they want for their worst contract and Billy Butler. Kemp, is the biggest bat in LA and not likely available. Pence may be if NYYs take on a bad contract.
I would fly the plane for Kershaw.
I think Kershaw is the real deal. I don’t think Montero, straight up, gets it done for him. At least, not logically. Who knows what’s going on in LA.
Houston’s biggest contract is Carlos Lee. That’s not bad…that’s insanely stupid.
GB-
I just don’t know if Hunter Pence would be traded. I feel like he is the only reason that Houston even draws 20,000 fans a night. Him being traded would bury that franchise….
GB – you’re thinking like a GM.
Tyler-
Other than Travis Hafner and Grady Sizemore the Tribe isn’t saddled with big contracts. Shin-Soo-Choo would have been on my list last year but he’s in a terrible slump this year, for some reason.
SoS June 8th, 2011 at 6:45 pm
I would fly the plane for Kershaw.
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What good would Kershaw be to the Yanks if they had to scrape him up off of the top of the mountain? Oh, and you, too. They’d need to sort out body parts.
Tyler
He isn’t a stud when he’s on the DL.
Jeter, A-Rod, Posada are all offensive question marks in terms of performing up to past performance.
Swisher is inconsistent. Gardner is good, not great.
Martin is a decent hitter, but need regular rest.
The Yankee have tons of high level mL pitchers.
They need young bats.
If the Yanks were going after a bat, I’d look at KC and find out what they want for their worst contract and Billy Butler
=========================
Butler would be an awesome grab. Hard to believe the Royals wouldn’t want the world given his relatively reasonable $8M per year thru 2014.
Trader-
I just read an article on Choo in which he admits that his DUI arrest is affecting his play. He seems to be having a bunch of issues right now. I really don’t know if I’d be interested in many players on the Tribe… I like Santana despite his slow start but the Yanks don’t need a young catcher. I like Masterson, Chris Perez would be a good addition to the ‘pen. But those guys are going to cost a fortune in a trade.
Was anyone just watching ESPN? Buster was talking about someone having support in his clubhouse.
Who was it?
Best way to avoid a DUI? Come live in NY and take the train. Bring Choo to the Bronx!
Butler’s running out of positions with the kids almost ready. They could use a couple of near ready young arms, though.
GB7
Missed your Butler caveat re: the Royals worst contract. Still doesn’t help. Butler IS their worst contract since their previous worst contract (Meche)retired with money on the table. Only guys signed beyond 2012 are Butler and that Cuban lefthander they picked up last year.
Rich-
How do the Yanks have a ton of high level ML pitchers? Are you counting Banuelos and Betances in that mix because they aren’t even in the majors…
I like how the Yanks rotation has held up those far but outside of CC (and maybe Colon who I hope can stay healthy and keep his pace up with the increase in innings), they don’t have a high-end pitcher on the staff in my opinion right now. The game is leaning towards quality pitching again. Pairing up CC with a guy like Johnson would be deadly in the game of baseball today.
GB,
LOL, a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile. Iv seen the movie plane and its sequels. Ill wing it and call it in on landing. No worries my friend. If all else fails. You can use his left arm to clone.
Hunter Pence 2011 contract-arb eligible.
1 year/$6.9M (2011)
Lifetime .287 ba and 28yo.
Brett Wallace is the Astros up and coming star.
I would not trade Montero for Pence, although I like Pence. Now Justin Upton and you’d get my attention. Give me Mike Stanton and you’ve got a deal!!
SoS, what if it’s your left arm that we use? Are we in trouble?
I think KC needs to make a trade for Dejesus so we can then trade with the royals for him.
BTW, despite the drip-drip of bad news, the betting line has been moving towards the NYY all day. The public is behind us! #forentertainmentpurposesonly
have to finish cooking dinner, but here is my prediction for the night:
a strong outing from AJ
Cervelli gets a big hit
Tex hits a HR
lots and lots of SB!!!
Yankees win!
Yankee Trader June 8th, 2011 at 6:55 pm
Hunter Pence 2011 contract-arb eligible.
1 year/$6.9M (2011)
Lifetime .287 ba and 28yo.
Brett Wallace is the Astros up and coming star.
I would not trade Montero for Pence, although I like Pence. Now Justin Upton and you’d get my attention. Give me Mike Stanton and you’ve got a deal!!
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Mike Stanton in Yankee Stadium wearing pinstripes…. the guy would hit 60 homers a year maybe just at the stadium alone haha. That would be unreal.
Tyler
I am. My perspective is longer than just this season. I think Banuelos and Betances can make major contributions during the 2012 season.
I just don’t think this roster has shown enough to mortgage the future for, at least to this point.
By the AS break (or early August), the rotation could be CC, AJ, Colon, Hughes, and Noesi. If that isn’t good enough, so be it.
I think they need a bat more than a pitcher.
come on Capitan lets get a closer to 3 g’s tonight with a few knocks.
GB,
That depends. If you want a fresh arm never used for anything and I mean anything. It would work. Maybe youd also want my two left feet.
NYYS score 15 runs in the first 2 innings and slowly pull away.
“Girardi was asked if he second guesses the decision to start Freddy Garcia last night. “If I wouldn’t have pitched him yesterday, I think probably a lot of people would have said, what are you doing?” Girardi said.”
*************
No moron, no one would have said what are you doing if you switched Colon and Garcia to face the Sux.
Time for dinner and a big Yankees win!! Having the order bat around in the 1st would be a nice start!
Odds on Burnett shutting down the Sux tonight?
30%
Oh Wow ESPN just named Schillings appearance in game 6 04 as the #1 performance of a hurt or ill athlete.
I think I am watching the game on YES tonight. Wowza.
NAH!!!.. Sos, I think that we’ll just hope that one of you two has a tattoo on your left arm.
Bring up the kids. Yanks won minor league championships over the past 3 years in AA and triple A so there has to be talent down there to get this team younger and fill some holes.
Howard–
I like your suggestion to bring back Joba from rehab as a starter
Acquire another EIG