Pregame notes: A-Rod out again
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes on Aug 23, 2011 
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To paraphrase Michael Corleone: every time he thinks he’s in, they pull him back out.
A day after Alex Rodriguez returned to the Yankee lineup from his long DL stint, he was a late scratch today because of a totally separate injury. Rodriguez jammed his left (non-throwing) thumb in Sunday’s win over the Twins. A Joe Mauer ground ball caught him the wrong way on a backhand.
“I just jammed my thumb a little bit on that play where Mauer hit it,” he said. “It kind of swelled up a little bit. Hopefully it’s just a day.”
The plan was to get it X-Rayed by Dr. Chris Ahmad after speaking to reporters. But Rodriguez said repeatedly that it felt like a one-day injury.
It was sore during yesterday’s off day, when he and a few other players attended a charity event. Today he was in the original lineup and took two rounds of early batting practice with Kevin Long. I saw him flexing his hand repeatedly toward the end of that BP. Apparently the pain was too much and he opted to come out.
“The good news is the knee feels great,” he said. “The knee feels great, body feels good, and hopefully it’s just a bump in the road here.”
Eric Chavez will play third base.
• A magnitude 5.9 earthquake hit the East Coast today at about 2 p.m. Though it was centered in Virginia, it could be felt in New York. By some people at least. Girardi was working out at the Stadium and said he didn’t feel anything, though some members of his coaching staff did.
Curtis Granderson doesn’t even know where he was when it hit.
“Once I was in the cab,” he said, “I got a text saying did I feel that. I said feel what? I didn’t feel anything.”
• With Rodriguez out of the lineup, Curtis Granderson was dropped into the 3-hole to provide power. Mark Teixiera was moved to cleanup. Derek Jeter takes Granderson’s usual 2-spot. Brett Gardner moves from ninth to leadoff.
• Girardi on Bartolo Colon’s second-half fade: “It just seems like he hasn’t been able to put people away. And he’s gotten into some deeper counts. They fouled more pitches off on him. And then eventually its kind of led to some mistakes that he’s made. So to me it’s the location, getting back to the location, and the movement, and the late movement, that’s worked for him.”
• Colon has thrown more innings this year than the last three years combined. Girardi said he might skip one of his starts after this turn through the rotation.
• Aaron Laffey and Gustavo Molina cleared waivers.
I assume that if Garcia will start game 2 on Saturday then Ivan Nova will start game 1. That means they don’t have to make a roster move until game 2. I still think that Nunez will be sent down from Saturday until Thursday (Sept 1st) so that the Yankees can have a full allotment of pitchers through that period. Look for Nunez to start game 1 on Saturday so that someone (Jeter, Chavez, ARod or Cano) will be frsh to play the second game.
Gustavo Molina cleared waivers? No way.
Repost:
Ayala and Wade aren’t long men.
2 IP max for either and they’d both likely be unavailable for a day or two after that.
What happens if Colon or Burnett doesn’t give them length and they need Noesi for that?
Take it one game at a time. Girardi is going to manage his team to win the next 4 games before he decides what to do about Sat.
Thumb injuries can be tricky………..Hopefully Alex will be back soon.
So who is set up for Boston?
Colon’s “fade” has been overrated. Seriously, did anyone think he was going to keep up that kind of pitching? He’s been fine – not great, but fine.
I just want a decision to be made on the rotation sooner rather than later
I don’t think Nunez is going anywhere because he’s the only backup infielder they’ve got right now.
# Betsy August 23rd, 2011 at 6:46 pm
I just want a decision to be made on the rotation sooner rather than later
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Why?
You don’t want them rushing players back from the DL or rushing kids in the minors so why would you want them to rush a decision on the rotation before it’s necessary?
No one likes uncertainty GF
Alex said hopefully only a day on the pre-game like he didn’t believe that.
if he goes with nova and garcia then colon and cc are up to finish the series.
that leaves hughes aj and freddy in bost.
# mick August 23rd, 2011 at 6:51 pm
Noesi can go 4-5 innings, Ayala 2.
AJ goes Friday and Noesi will prolly go down for Freddy til 9/1.
After that the pen will grow.
Adding in 20 ST innings and 75 innings of winter ball and that’s over 220 innings in less than a year. Colon has to be feeling it some, so running low would be understandable. He’s still reaching 95 MPH, but not a lot of movement and the few off speed pitches haven’t been sharp. .
maybe call up warren or phelps for game 1?
feels like a week since the last game
if they do not brought up montero before sept. 1, they better be sure that they have a loophole to add him on the playoff roster. If he hits and is not eligible come postseason time, girardi and cashman should be fired.
Molina back in AAA lends a shade of doubt to Montero coming up on 9/1. AAA season ends on the 5th, so he’ll be up at some point. But I’m not convinced he’s going to get regular at bats.
If AJ blows up friday, noesi is certain to be sent down and hopefully AJ to the DL.
Molina back in AAA lends a shade of doubt to Montero coming up on 9/1. AAA season ends on the 5th, so he’ll be up at some point. But I’m not convinced he’s going to get regular at bats.
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Molina is off the 40 man, they aren’t putting him back on it. One catcher has to go on the 40 man.
Imposter Molina just won’t die
All players in the minors are eligible for the post season regardless of when they come up because of 40 man roster players on the DL. River ave Blues did a post on that subject today. Check it out if you’re curious.
They can add Montero to the playoff roster if he’s called up 9/01 or after.
I seem to recall Ohlendorf getting added to the playoff roster a few weeks back and he wasn’t even called up until the second week of Sept.
fantasygame101 August 23rd, 2011 at 7:00 pm
if they do not brought up montero before sept. 1, they better be sure that they have a loophole to add him on the playoff roster. If he hits and is not eligible come postseason time, girardi and cashman should be fired.
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What if they can’t bring up Montero, but still manage somehow to win? Do both still have to go?
Oops. A few YEARS back….obviously.
# BJK August 23rd, 2011 at 7:04 pm
What if they can’t bring up Montero, but still manage somehow to win? Do both still have to go?
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Of course! Some fans LOVE unrealistic fantasy scenarios that make no sense.
Man, the extra innings package has had the other team’s announcers for 8 games in a row. Very annoying.
Gametime! SEEEEEEEEyAAAAAAA
Interesting after compiling a 3.71 ERA over his last six starts the amount of attempted orchestration of Colon’s demise.
Anything to keep AJ in the rotation…