The Walking Wounded

J.D. Drew may be joining Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield, Mike Lowell, David Ortiz and Julio Lugo among the Opening Day contributors to miss significant time this season.

With the Clay Buchholz disaster, Bartolo Colon's ill-advised swings, Jason Varitek's collapse into the end of his career, the vortex of suck out of center field for most of the season and the Manny Ramirez fiasco, it's amazing this team is still in first place for a playoff spot.

Comments

[FenSheaParkway]

I'm even more impressed with the Sox being tied (with the other Sox) for the 2nd best run differential in MLB right now. Thank goodness for Pedroia and Youkilis.

[rootbeerfloat]

Beckett and Drew have me very concerned about the next few weeks. Gotta win a few games in the next 5 weeks to make the playoffs....

[Mike-YF]

Under what definition of "significant" has Beckett, so far, missed time? And I'd think most would have taken 150 innings from Wakefield at the beginning of the season.

Also, didn't the loss of Lugo help the team?

[FenSheaParkway]

Maybe ANY time without Beckett is significant? That's my guess anyway. Or, again, maybe I'm missing a crucial piece of information regarding Josh's prognosis for his scheduled start next week.

[Sam-YF]

If you think your injuries have been bad take a look at ours!

The sox have done a good job getting over these but they havent been nearly as decimated as the yankees this season....

[walein]

They're saying JD has a herniated disk.

[Micah-SF]

A herniated disc for Drew is likely to keep him out for a good bit of the rest of the season, possibly the whole thing.

I have two bulging discs in my neck, which is a highly unfortunate place to be in at the age of 23. I have to be extremely careful with them - sitting wrong, lying wrong for an extended period of time, or exercising wrong can all aggravate my neck, which can make for weeks of incredibly uncomfortable neck pain. I'm assuming that Drew's herniated disc is worse than mine, and if it is, and baseball activities make it worse (likely), he'll probably be out for quite some time.

There isn't much time left in the season, so I don't think this injury will keep us out of the playoffs as long as Youk and Ortiz and Pedroia keep producing, but it hurts a lot - Coco's absolutely miserable at the plate.

[Paul SF]

Beckett began the season on the DL, missed two or three starts. Now he's missed another and was clearly affected by the injury in the one he did make. I'd consider four of a possible 32 or so starts (13 percent) to be significant, especially when the pitcher is Josh Beckett.

Man, that sucks for Drew. I really like him. Always have, and I was really enjoying his proving all the critics wrong.

[Atheose]

Rios homers, Jays up 2-1. F*cking Paul Byrd.

[sf rod]

the toast is hot.

[Atheose]

Varitek and Cora both single? The planets have aligned!

[rootbeerfloat]

or the end is near

[Sam-YF]

Beckett made his first start on April 6th which was the 7th game of the year for the sox. So he missed his start in Japan and then was pushed back to the end of the rotation. He's missed one start in the current situation. He's really missed two starts this year, maybe 3. Id say that on average this isnt much worse than many SPs.

[sf rod]

i wonder if you were to have crisp and jacoby batting at the same time (one lefty, one righty) if that would up the chances of getting a hit? at least it would speed the game along.

[Micah-SF]

Rios is one of the Frank Catalanatto All-Stars - the group of Blue Jays and former Blue Jays that all turn into Albert Pujols when they face the Red Sox. I hate those guys so much.

[Brad]

Oh my, that Red Panic Button® on the keyboard looks tempting to me ....

T_T

It's been a while, but I'm starting to feel the gut-wrenching that recalls the fall of 2003 ....

AIIEEE!

[sf rod]

sam- we've been hearing about the yanks injury situation all year. the next person i hear talk about the ipk and hughes "injuries" effecting the yanks season is gonna make me puke. the rest of the league would have loved for those two to "remain healthy". they were giving up hits like the beatles. the wang situation was unfortunate, but you need to count your blessings with regards to pettitte and mussina. i personally would have never guessed those two would have made all their starts this year. injuries are one thing, going into the season counting on two unproven youths is a death sentence. can we just please put the "3/5ths our rotation" thing to bed already.

[krueg]

I thought you guys would get a kick out of the fact that ARod has hit into a double play AND K'd on a hit and run that got Fat Bobby thrown out for another double play...

Sorry for the intrusion...I had to bitch to someone!! ;)

[krueg]

I'm not saying you guys won't make the postseason but I will be relieved if you guys don't...just will help me avoid the allready gut wrenching amount of abuse my SF friends are giving me!!!

[Sam-YF]

Rod there have been quite a few more injuries that have effected the yankees season. Joba for starters was a huge loss. You are entitled to your opinion but I feel that Hughes' injury has effected the yankees this season. It remains to be seen but I still think he is capable of being at least a #3 starter. He was pitching injured so his results are at least somewhat in question. Add in Posada, Matsui, Damon, A-Rod, Bruney and Id say that injuries have had a massive impact on the yankees this season.

[Atheose]

Bases loaded with no outs, Cora is HBP! Yeah!

[Atheose]

God bless Coco! Single makes it 3-2. 7-8-9 hitters are now 3 for 4 tonight.

And Ellsbury keeps it going with a groundout, run scores and runners advance. Time for the laser show!

[SF]

Sorry about the lack of gamer, everyone. Consider this your gamer.

Duh...

[sf rod]

sam- totally agree with you on the yanks position players. it's just the ipk/phil injuries thing that rubs me wrong. the joba injury may have been a product of his handeling which goes beyond a fluky bad luck type of thing.

[Sam-YF]

"the joba injury may have been a product of his handeling which goes beyond a fluky bad luck type of thing."

I think the yankees handled him great. I do believe this is a relatively flukey thing, we can have this debate some other time though...

[SF]

Is there really any question whether the Yankees have been more affected by injuries than the Sox? If Drew misses the rest of the season and Beckett too, along with Papi and Lugo's problems we may have a right to compare (not that Lugo's absence has hurt, but conceptually he was a starter). Until then, we've had it well better than the Yankees. Not perfect health, in fact, reasonably mediocre health. And the Sox are doing reasonably well to be where they are despite the injuries. But the Yankees have suffered worse, to me, very clearly.

[SF]

I hate Paul Byrd!!!

Fuck you, Paul Byrd!

[Atheose]

I think what sfrod was trying to say was that the "3/5 of the rotation" argument is stupid because Hughes and IPK were atrocious before they went on the DL, which actually helped the Yankees. Their replacements (Rasner and Ponson) performed significantly better than they did, so their injuries are irrelevant. It does hurt the Yankees long-term though.

What the f*ck is with out pitchers coughing up leads? "Oh, my team has scored 5 runs so I need to start shitting my pants now." First Buchholz, now Byrd. Bah.

[sf rod]

i was really only addressing the "3/5ths our rotation" excuses. the ipk/hughes injuries are similar to lugo's. any replacement (ponson/rasner/lowrie) was providing an upgrade in those cases.

[SF]

What the f*ck is with out pitchers coughing up leads?

Pretty simple, Ath - our pitchers aren't good pitchers. Hence, they give up runs. The fact that we scored first doesn't change the fact that they aren't good pitchers. I detest Byrd, this acquisition might be the single worst event of the season, at least to me. I can deal with injuries, I can deal with tough losses, but when your GM picks up a guy you dislike on all levels it makes it hard to root for your team the days he plays. It's a really frustrating thing for me, to have to watch him pitch with a Sox uniform on.

[SF]

understood, rod. In those terms I understand.

Nonetheless, Posada and Matsui really hurt the Yankees, just as an aside.

[SF]

and Wang, of course.

[sf rod]

why couldn't we have gotten a guy with normal pituitary glands.

[Atheose]

Damon did too. Relying on Gardner and Christian has been painful for them.

[SF]

God, tonight's olympic coverage has been putrid. They covered the first nine events of the decathlon in about fourteen seconds.

[Atheose]

Just turned it on, SF. I see the USA went 1-2-3 in the event?

I'm happy to see that the IOC is looking into the Chinese gymnasts to make sure they're all 16.

[sf rod]

if you continue to sign older oft-injured type players, don't be surprised when they spend time on the DL. really, it's just that simple.

[Sam-YF]

Cano and Molina go back to back to tie it up for the yankees...

This is a combined gamer right?

[Atheose]

Ooooooooh check out the blondes competing in the the 400x4 relay. Are they Swedish, Russian or Ukrainian?

[Atheose]

Holy crap did anyone else see the British woman slowly jog into the finish, and almost lose to the German woman? That was insane.

VARITEK HOMERS! He's reached base 3 times tonight!

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Don't mean to crap on the parade but the four runs aside, am I the only one troubled by the fact that with runners in scoring position in the fourth the Red Sox got exactly one hit, and it was a single?

AND TEK GOES DEEP!!!! I like this new catcher we got.

[sf rod]

oops. had no idea this was a combined gamer. my apologies for the critical analysis of the yanks season.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Covelli singles! Don't look now but the bottom third of our lineup is 5-for-7.
Who are these guy? What did we give up to get them?

[Atheose]

Well Bill we had the bases loaded with no outs, and we scored 4 runs. I'd call that a success.

Coco singles for the second time tonight, and immediately steals 2nd.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

"Well Bill we had the bases loaded with no outs, and we scored 4 runs. I'd call that a success."

Maybe I'm being too much of a wet blanket, and yes, we put the ball in play, but it's just so frustrating to not see hits with runners on base.

[Atheose]

Yeah Bill, but Ortiz and Pedroia both hit the ball hard--they just hit them right at people. And I guess it's easy to take because of the 4-spot we put up in the inning.

[Paul SF]

I saw a comment on Baseball Think Facotry noting that Varitek had suffered from a really bad stomach flu in June, and that he might now just be regaining full strength from that illness, which is known to really sap your power. The month-by=month sOPS+ seems to bear that out. It's certainly not normal for the typical wear-down you'd see throughout the season from a 36-yo catcher.

April: 115
May: 173
June: 16
July: 75
August: 120

It's just a theory, but it's one that fits the stats.

[Paul SF]

Incidentally, I wasn't aware that anyone had said the Yankees didn't have it worse than the Sox. I certainly wasn't saying that.

I guess I am a bit confused as when a team can use injuries as a legitimate excuse for poor performance. I remember being told by YFs here in 2006 that whining about injuries was making excuses for a poor team. Are we allowed to use the same standard this season, or is that no longer in play?

[Atheose]

You've gotta give credit to Byrd--he throws strikes; 59 of them compared to 21 balls.

[SF]

It's always fair to explain performance via context, and injuries are context. I don't care what uniform the guys wear. Injuries are one excuse for the Yankees this year, a legit one. So is relying on young starters (an excuse the Sox can use, based on how much Buchholz has hurt the team).

The commentary from 2006 was easy enough for some YFs, I think it would make sense to treat the circumstances of this year with more logic and an acknowledgment that the injuries for the Yanks are excuses, but legitimate, an explanation for a portion of their travails.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Paul, I concur. It's the same as not being allowed to ever criticize Jeter.

Tanyon Sturtze (remember him?) in for the Dodgers tonight. Back from the "where are they now?" file.

[sf rod]

in the our injuries vs. theirs debate, why does schilling always get left out of the equation? his 8 million could have netted a pretty decent arm in the offseason.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Nice to see the Gnats bitch-slap the Cubs today, scoring all 13 runs in the last 4 innings.

[Atheose]

Not to mention another 122 ERA+ year, sf rod.

[SF]

I think we should be the gracious ones, and not in a phony way. The Yankees this year (and the Sox in 2006) suffered pretty terrible injuries, and both seasons were negatively affected by these injuries. With the Sox, these injuries mounted at the end of the season, for the Yanks this year they have been constant. I don't know which is worse - you could argue that the end-of-season injuries are worse because you can't transact your way out of their impact. On the other hand, year-long and constant injury is a draining pressure on a team.

It doesn't really matter - injuries are always a valid explanation for underperformance or decline. We need to grant YFs their complaints, they were ours two years ago. Just forget what they said about us back then, I am sure they get it now.

[SF]

I had completely forgotten about Schill...

Just imagine if, instead of Buck, we'd had a league-average Schill this whole year.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Swisher w/2-run homer in the fourth, CWS 2, Ray 0, top 5.

...

Masterson on after six serviceable innings from Byrd. I'll take it.

[Atheose]

Wow, Byrd pulled after only 86 pitches. Masterson in, though he gives up a single on the first pitch.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Injuries have been a factor, but not the only reason that offense has been anemic.

[sf rod]

we took a beating about finishing third that year. so you're telling me we're supposed to be gracious if they finish 4th this year? i hate being the bigger man.

[Atheose]

Masterson is a GIDP god.

[Sam-YF]

Rod, first you say that the yankees injuries should be expected since they sign older players and then you say Schilling's injury should get more play. Doesnt this fall into the same category.

I appreciate the efforts from SF to appreciate the situation the yankees have been in this season injury-wise. To me the injury explaination is a valid excuse but only to a point. I do feel that even with the injuries the yankees have underperformed this year. There have been many games this year they should have won that they didnt regardless of who was out there...

[SF]

I am of the mind that we might want to be rooting for the Rays at this point, though that is obviously hard to do. Aren't all White Sox and Twins losses more important at this point than Rays' losses?

It's so hard to know who to root against when the Yankees aren't around.

[Atheose]

Masterson now doing his best Daisuke impression.

[Atheose]

Varitek has gotten on base 4 times tonight. FOUR TIMES.

I'm rooting against the Twins, White Sox, and Rays SF. When they're playing each other (like tonight) I root for a 27-inning game where both teams suffer injuries to their entire pitching staffs.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

"I am of the mind that we might want to be rooting for the Rays at this point, though that is obviously hard to do. Aren't all White Sox and Twins losses more important at this point than Rays' losses?"

Completely disagree.
Although this is Tampa's race to lose, I do think it's very lose-able for them. They have a tough, tough September schedule and they haven't proved they can win when the pressure is REALLY on. Boston can still win this division. Especially if it doesn't need to rely too much on the pen.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Another hit from Covelli!

And besides, how can you root for a team with a fan base like that?

[I'mBillMcNeal]

I mean, cowbells? I hated that crap when I was in high school.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Cowbells are as irritating as Thundrstix.

[SF]

I understand, IBM. I don't think it's that B/W. Obviously I'd prefer the Sox win the division. At the same time, the real goal is to make the playoffs. Either one works for me, the wild card or the division. I am not saying I know what to do, I don't know what to do, other than to root for the Sox to win. Maybe in another two weeks it will make more sense.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

I agree with Sam. Injuries are a factor but that NYY offense has underperformed period.

[Atheose]

You don't have a fever that requires a prescription for cowbell, Bill? What's wrong with you?

[sf rod]

sam- agreed on schilling. but he still gets overlooked in the debate. i guess pavano does for you guys as well. on the whole though, the sox have done a good job of parting with older players at the right time. we'll see what happens with tek and to a lesser extent lowell.

[sf rod]

a very productive nite for the bottom half of the order.

[SF]

Pedoria hits an absolute laser bleeder to left, knocking in Coco.

[SF]

Pedroia, that is. Pedoria is a town in Illinois. Or something like that.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Until it's over, we root to win the division.

Let's go Papi!

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Bradley University is in Pedoria, Illinois, on the lovely Illinois River. My wife used to work there.
There's also a Pedoria, Ariz.

[SF]

Until it's over, we root to win the division.

That's noble (and desirable), but five back in the LC I am rooting for the playoffs. If it's via the division, then that is great.

[SF]

Cruddy at-bat from Youk.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Let's go, Oki!

[SF]

Three outs, four run lead. Nail it down, fellas.

[sf rod]

oh god. i can already see the cody ransom yankeeography coming together.

[Sam-YF]

"Bradley University is in Pedoria, Illinois, on the lovely Illinois River. My wife used to work there. "

Sorry i cant tell if you are joking or not but its Peoria, IL....

[I'mBillMcNeal]

GAME!

Thisis a very good win for us. Against Toronto, against which we've struggled, on the road, where we've struggled, with good pitching from the bullpen and offense from the bottom of the lineup and from Tek in particular.
A very, very, very good win.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Yeah, Sam, it was a joke. But your knowledge of Midwestern geography is impressive. :)

[stuck working]

Hooray, Sox avoid the sweep! Hell, they could even win this series now, contrary to all my expectations.

[John - YF]

When the Washington Nationals lose their best players they are going to suffer. When teams of the Red Sox and Yankees caliber (financial situation) they should still remain competitive. Injuries should never be a complete excuse. The Yankees have been plagued by injuries this year, but they have also played VERY poorly in times when they needed to step up. Their poor numbers with RISP have nothing to do with injuries. Sure having Wang, Posada, Matsui, etc...all on the DL for significant stretches of time hurts, but the Yankees being in 3rd place really isn't all about injuries, nor should it be. So full circle, I don't feel bad for the Sox, just like I don't expect anyone to feel bad for the Yankees.

"so you're telling me we're supposed to be gracious if they finish 4th this year?"

Whether your gracious or not makes no nevermind to me. I am sure there were plenty of people antagonizing the Sox fans here in '06. Bottom line though is neither of our teams are in ideal positions right now. Sure you guys are going to playoffs, but are you confident? I would say the same thing if you told me the Yankees were going to the postseason. Sure I would like the streak to continue, but for what? So that they can trot Sidney Ponson and Darrell Rasner out there in a 5 game series, no thanks. The best is yet to come for both teams. They have money coming off the books, a solid farm system and competent GM's, so if this season is a wash, so be it there is always next year.

[sf rod]

hughes line from tonites AAA start...

3.1 innings / 10 hits / 8 earned

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Watching the Rays and White Sox, it occurs to me that Willie Aybar is a "G" short of being Willie Gaybay.

...

And, John you bet your ASS there will be next year. Bring it on. (That is to say, I completely agree with you on every point.)

[I'mBillMcNeal]

"hughes line from tonites AAA start...

3.1 innings / 10 hits / 8 earned"

OUCH!
Could it be ... both Hughes' AND Buchholz' best days are behind them? Lord, I hope not.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

"Watching the Rays and White Sox, it occurs to me that Willie Aybar is a "G" short of being Willie Gaybay."

CRAP CRAP CRAP.
GayBAR. Willie GayBAR.
I can't even get a BAD joke right.
CRAP!

[Devine]

Like it's supposed to go: starter at least six innings, Masterson, Oki, Pap.

[John - YF]

If the Yankees were smart, and I think they are they would shut down Hughes and Joba. Hughes is complaining of dead arm and Joba could only benefit from the rest. With all due respect to Ponson, Rasner, American Idle and so on, their long term arm health isn't a priority to me. Let them finish up the run and let the kids rest. Many folks are giving the Yankees crap for letting Pavano "audition" I don't see it that way at all. Milk this guy for every penny we paid him in the month he has left on this team. If he wins great, if losses stay out there boy and take it on your glass chin. It's win/win for all involved. Let Joba go home to Nebraska and catch some Big Red games and give Phil (Franchise?) a surf board and send him home to rest.

[Atheose]

Jesus Christ, Twins and Rays both winning. Can't we gain a f*cking game for once?

I agree mostly with John--injuries have been bad this year, but Jeter, Cano and Abreu have all performed horribly. If any of them is performing at their career averages the Yanks are still in the race.

And that's not even bringing up Melky.

[Brad]

Oh my, that Red Panic Button® on the keyboard looks tempting to me ....

T_T

It's been a while, but I'm starting to feel the gut-wrenching that recalls the fall of 2003 ....

AIIEEE!

Obviously this was not the me. The normal Brad. I was having dinner and enjoying not worrying about the Red Sox.

Again, I think they'll be fine.

[dc]

"...there is always next year..."

agreed with all of your comments john about the yanks injuries COMBINED with underperforming by the guys who should have picked up the team put us in the spot we're in...particularly agree with the last line about 'next year'...some sf's will accuse us of sounding rather unyankee-like, but it's just realistic at this point...i agree partly with your second comment about resting young guys, but i'd take it a step further and bring up some other guys from the farm to take a look at them...use them, they won't break...i've been saying for awhile that the yanks, with their chances anywhere from long-shot to no-shot, should use the remainder of the season to take stock of what they've got so they have a better feel for how to proceed in the off-season...

i'll stand up and confess that i was one of the guys who gave the sox fans beef about the '06 injury excuse...my argument was not about the notion that injuries to key players can hurt a ballclub...that seems like a no-brainer...rather, my argument was about the timing...someone will probably try to produce some material to disprove this, but my sense was that the sox were already "out of it", although not mathematically eliminated, before the injury "plague" really took it's toll, right after another famous 'massacre', if i recall correctly...added to that was more manny drama, or a real injury, i guess we'll never know for sure, and the sox faded fast...honestly, i got the sense that possibly, certain players were playing hurt all along, but once the playoffs looked impossible for them, they decided to do the right thing and shut it down...and wait 'til next year...turned out pretty good for them as i recall...

[Brad]

Yeah, DC. If I can remember correctly, this was a heated debate between you and I for months into the winter that year.
Which is exactly why I'll never say boo about NY injuries. They're significant, and a HUGE reason why they're closer to fourth than second this year. It can't be overlooked no matter what the payroll.

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Can we make it two gamers on this non-gamer thread?
...
Ellsbury leads off w/single, RS radio say he was out.

[Atheose]

Ellsbury beats out a broken-bat grounder. This team is deadly when he gets on base.