[Buffalo Head]

Matsui broke his wrist. Surgery tomorrow.

EDIT: He's out 3 months.

This post has been edited by Buffalo Head: 11 May 2006 - 10:30 PM

[Max Venerable]

This probably goes without saying, but given the reds' start so far, can't see them dealing Kearns or Griff unless they get ML talent back. Hunter, yeah I could see that but not without a lengthy auction.

[Crazy Puppy]

I think the Reds would give up Griffey for not a whole lot just to get out from under the contract, but not Kearns.

[Rasputin]

Where did the three months come from?

I'm not arguin' just askin'

[Grubbery]

Rasputin, on May 11 2006, 10:48 PM, said:

Where did the three months come from?

I'm not arguin' just askin'
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yankees officially say "at least two" but Torre said "looks more like three."

By the looks of it, this had to be a compound fracture. Even three might be pushing it if pins are involved.

FWIW, Derrick Lee is 8 - 10 weeks, and Shemp looks much worse. Hard to say though until we know more about what needs to be done in the operation. Chances are, they won't even know until they get in and see the damage.

I do have to say that Matsui solidified my respect for him tonight. Most people would probably pass out with what that break looked like. He managed to crawl to the ball and get it into the infield with his glove hand completely mangled. Spectacularly gutsy, IMO.

This post has been edited by Grubbery: 11 May 2006 - 10:58 PM

[Buffalo Head]

Apparently, Torre said 3 months after the game. WFAN says it might be season-ending.

From the NYT:

Manager Joe Torre said that he expected Matsui to miss about three months, but that he was hopeful that Matsui could come back this season.

Compounding the problem is the growing concern within the organization that Gary Sheffield's injury could be much more serious than it first seemed. Sheffield, the right fielder, is scheduled for another magnetic resonance imaging exam next week on his injured left wrist and hand. The fear around the team is that a bone within the hand may require surgery.

This post has been edited by Buffalo Head: 11 May 2006 - 11:14 PM

[Lucen]

Buster Olney on Baseball Tonight just said Abreu to the Yanks is likely to be the hot rumor for the next few days or week. What would the Yanks have to give up though? Philip Hughes? Melky Cabrera? Eric Duncan? A combination of two of them? Someone else?

Edit: And yeah, the fact that he stayed with the ball and made the throw before grabbing his hand and trying to put the bones back into place is remarkable. The guy has guts and a really high pain threshhold.

This post has been edited by Lucen: 11 May 2006 - 11:17 PM

[Crazy Puppy]

Unless the Phillies are giving up on the season in May, after winning 9 of 10 and closing to within 3 games of 1st, I don't see how they can trade Abreu for prospects. They probably lost Rowand tonight for a couple of weeks also.

[JBill]

Quote

Compounding the problem is the growing concern within the organization that Gary Sheffield's injury could be much more serious than it first seemed. Sheffield, the right fielder, is scheduled for another magnetic resonance imaging exam next week on his injured left wrist and hand. The fear around the team is that a bone within the hand may require surgery.

In case the injury isn't that bad, Sheff apparently also won't hurry back, although Cashman says that's a good thing.

From NYT, May 8th:

Quote

Sheffield, who is unsigned past this season, said Sunday that he would not play through this injury the way he played through injuries the past two seasons. Cashman praised Sheffield for that decision.

"The injuries he's played through in the past didn't hurt the team," Cashman said. "This one is a hand issue, and Gary feels he would hurt the team by playing. That's a good thing. You don't want people going out there if they're not going to help the team."

As someone said already in the thread, and WFAN hinted, Sheffield might cause a bit of a stink if he feels like it in terms of how long it'll take him to come back.

This post has been edited by JBill: 11 May 2006 - 11:26 PM

[Buffalo Head]

Sweeny Murti on WFAN says the vibe with the Yankees is that Matsui's season is probably over.

[Crazy Puppy]

Quote

For now, Melky Cabrera is the right fielder and Bubba Crosby the left fielder, with Bernie Williams seeing occasional time in the outfield, too. New York planned to bring up outfielder Kevin Reese from Triple-A Columbus on Friday.

AP Story

Very surprising that they're going with Reese and not Kevin Thompson. Reese is a 28-year-old non-prospect who's hitting .250/.333/.375 in AAA.

I guess they want Thompson to play everyday in Columbus rather than come off the bench in New York, and they don't want to start two rookies in the OF with Cabrera already up. That means a lot of Bubba Crosby over the next few weeks.

[Buffalo Head]

From that story:

"Damon said the left wrist was twice the size of the right wrist."

[Grubbery]

Crazy Puppy, on May 11 2006, 11:18 PM, said:

Unless the Phillies are giving up on the season in May, after winning 9 of 10 and closing to within 3 games of 1st, I don't see how they can trade Abreu for prospects. They probably lost Rowand tonight for a couple of weeks also.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

And if the Phillies are trading for prospects, can't they do a damn sight better than what the Yanks have floating in the upper levels of their system? Does Abreu go for anything less than a Milledge or Marte level prospect?

Seriously folks. I know they have money and people have some contracts (Griffey) or want to get something for guys they expect to lose (Hunter), but it's not like the Yankees won't have to compete with deeper systems to pry these guys loose. If this were the offseason, I could see something creative involving money or some balancing factor helping them out, but the cupboard is already bare in Toledo for this level talent, isn't it?

Unless there is a Lowell type situation out there where a team might give them some talent if they take on a bloated crap contract...would the Mets consider moving Kaz and one of their starters (you'd think the Yanks would demand Floyd to pick up Kaz) then bring up Milledge? Do the Mets trade crosstown? That's about the only play I can think of where George's money MIGHT make up for a lack of talent above AA.

This post has been edited by Grubbery: 11 May 2006 - 11:47 PM

[941827]

Incidentally, on top of everything else, I expect the MFY will have to deal with a suspension of Bernie for throwing his helmet sometime over the next month or so.

[Lollardfish]

Quote

I think it's more likely they look to get a solid (but potentially overpaid) OF who is available for a B prospect....Shannon Stewart, perhaps Lew Ford, RonDL White if they want him. I imagine Arizona would deal one of Byrnes or DaVanon to make way for Chris Young. And they'd probably love to dump Shawn Green's contract if they can get him to go along with a deal. Eric Hinske is sort of a fit, but I am not at all sure the Jays want to deal with the Yankees at this point in the year.

I don't post much, but ... speaking as one in Minneapolis.

re: the Lew Ford and Torii Hunter thought, they are pretty much untouchable so long as the stadium issue is up in the air (which it still is right now). Both of them are insanely popular here (Lew is much like Youks for the chanting), and the last thing the Twins want is to erode their already questionable public support for a stadium.

Shannon Stewart's status is a little less clear, but my bet is the Twins sit tight for anything less than a real steal of a deal (i.e. Hughes, I guess).

Just my view as one who listens to the local sports radio station during commute.

[ookami7m]

On the later Sportscenters Olney says Aubrey Huff instead of Austin Kearns, which I think we all agree would be more realistic.

BTW the thought of Huff coming to the MFY and becoming a good hitter there scares the pants off of me.

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Quote

BTW the thought of Huff coming to the MFY and becoming a good hitter there scares the pants off of me.

"Becoming"? I think he's already established himself as a fairly decent hitter but if I am reading you correctly, the Yankees have had a fair amount of success turning average (or even below) into gold for short periods of time.

I'd even go so far as to say that their front office's stregth lies in augmenting their roster with role players who may be able to make a leap of sorts. Of course it always helps when you can paper over mistakes with more shipbuilding profits.

While Matsui's injury weakens the Yankees, I refuse to believe that it will hurt their season until I see them trot out a replacement level player in August and beyond. The truth is, Shemp's stand in will likely be an overpaid but very good ballplayer who has the potential to become a real Yankee once he puts on pinstripes. Or it will be a young player who they are able to "buy" with a combo of Hughes, filler and cash (in terms of real or Lowell dollars). Hello, Miggy Cabrera?!?!.

[normstalls]

miguel cabrera would be perfect for them (and just about every other team in MLB). He fills in for Matsewer this year then replaces Sheffroid in RF for '07 and beyond. I sure hope that doesnt happen.

[SoxFanPJ]

Just caugh the replay of Matsui's injury on ESPN news, it looks much worse then when I was just watching the game. Looks like a very serious fracture and I would expect some ligament damage as well. It will be interesting what they say about it after the surgery.

Can't say I feel bad for him though, he just signed an extenstion so he has money whether his wrist is toast or he is fine after surgery. For the Yankees this is bad, for the Redsox this is good, so I'm not going to shed a tear for the guy.

OF's who are going to be FA's and could be trade bait.

LF:
Luis Gonzalez (Mutual Option)
Ricky Ledee
Barry Bonds (May Retire)
Ryan Klesko (Team Option)
Cliff Floyd
Carlos Lee
Todd Hollandsworth
Eli Marrero
Rondell White (Team Option)
David Dellucci

CF:
Jim Edmonds (Team Option)
Mike Cameron (Team Option)
Juan Pierre
Kenny Lofton
Marquis Grissom
Bernie Williams
Preston Wilson (3-year Team Option)
Gary Matthews Jr.
Jay Payton
Torii Hunter (Team Option)
Steve Finley (Team Option)
Milton Bradley
Dave Roberts

RF:
Shannon Stewart
Michael Tucker
Matt Stairs
Brian Jordan
Matt Lawton
Moises Alou
Jeromy Burnitz (Mutual Option)
Jacob Cruz
Jose Cruz Jr. (Team Option)
Frank Catalanotto
Jermaine Dye (Team Option)
J.D. Drew (Player Void Option)
Jose Guillen

http://www.mlb4u.com/0607FA.html

Jose Guillen seems like an obvious player to be moved by the new regime in Washington if they could get value for him and th A's could move Payton if the Yanks are looking for a cheap option.

We have had to play a significant portion of the season without Coco, so perhaps this is just the universe balancing the odds a little bit. I hope that the Yanks give up Hughes, and other prospects just to get some mediocre OF after a Steinbrenner tantrum.

[SoxFanPJ]

normstalls, on May 11 2006, 11:03 PM, said:

miguel cabrera would be perfect for them (and just about every other team in MLB).  He fills in for Matsewer this year then replaces Sheffroid in RF for '07 and beyond.  I sure hope that doesnt happen.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Even with Hughes, Duncan and a couple other players I don't think its enough to get Cabrera, FLA could get a much better return if they put him up on the auction block.