Printer-friendly

Contact Author

August 16, 2004

Under The Knife

Back From the Big Apple

by Will Carroll

While the rain (or threat thereof; sadly, Jim Cantore was previously occupied) kept my New York trip from including a Pizza Feed, it wasn't short on baseball. I was able to get together with people you've been reading like Cory Schwarz of MLB.com (who hosts the great Fantasy 411 on MLB Radio. I'd recommend the August 13th show!), Alex Belth, Jay Jaffe and Allen Barra. Add in dirty-talking puppets, a wicked witch, and one of the best dinners I've ever had and I'd call the trip a success. I doubt it will be my last to the boroughs.

Now, it's back to baseball as we glide into these next 15 days with a re-energized race in the AL Central, a dogfight in the AL West, and two three-team wild-card chases. I'll be watching closely as teams try to stay healthy before rosters expand.

Powered by Le Parker Meridien, on to the injuries:

• When Jon Heyman at Newsday tells us that a source told him that Brad Penny had some arm trouble before being traded to the Dodgers, I guess he gave himself away as one of the few non-BP readers in the game. Penny has had a series of arm problems that he's pitched through. While I'll make note of those--frayed labrum, elbow pain and this latest nerve injury--I'll also note that he's been able to pitch effectively through most of the problems. Penny went to the DL retroactively after the Dodgers determined he would miss a second start, but the original prognosis holds. The Dodgers simply need the roster spot, so don't get too worried. We'll have plenty of time for that if Penny isn't throwing by the end of the week.

• Word from Minnesota has the team scrambling to find a rehab slot for Joe Mauer. While Mauer's knee is no less painful or swollen than it was a week ago--when it wasn't actually that bad--they realize now just how much they need his bat. Three consults later, Mauer has been convinced he can play without further damaging that sore left knee. Expect an extremely short rehab, but not at the now-damaged Fort Myers complex. Rochester and Quad Cities are the most likely locations.

• Albert Pujols has figured out how to get past his foot injury: just hit homers. It's a strategy that could work for J.D. Drew, Pujols' former teammate. Drew missed Sunday's game with tightness in his quad, an injury that has lingered for months. Both players will be rested more down the stretch, even as both say they don't want the rest. Watch situations like this if your fantasy team needs the stats that can be lost when a team uses a big lead to rest its stars.

  The rest of this article is restricted to Baseball Prospectus Subscribers. Not a subscriber? Click here for more information on Baseball Prospectus subscriptions or use the buttons to the right to subscribe and get access to the best baseball content on the web.

  Cancel anytime. That's a 33% savings over the monthly price! That's a 33% savings over the monthly price! Already a subscriber? Click here and use the blue login bar to log in.