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Garza’s nerve could strike the Twins

The radial nerve irritation that pitcher Matt Garza is currently experiencing could come back to haunt the Minnesota Twins. The Tampa Bay Rays are debating on whether or not to file a grievance with Major League Baseball and seek compensation from the Twins.

The problem here is did the Minnesota Twins know about the injury before the Rays and Twins made a trade this off-season. The Rays currently contend they knew Garza had been bothered by this when he played college ball at Fresno State but had no idea he was still being bothered by it. Garza says he did have this problem while pitching for the Twins but usually just pitched through it. Garza pulled himself out of Monday night’s game and said afterwards “This time it was just real bad, I knew something was up”

The Twins contest there were no problems with Garza’s arm while there. “If he said he was hurt, I’m not going to call him a liar or anything like that,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said, “but he should have let us know that he might have had an injury. Normally, it’s good when the team you are pitching for knows that” Later on in an interview in Chicago, Gardenhire said, “Wasn’t he healthy all spring? Now, he’s going to say he was hurt? That’s no good … No, we have no documents of Matt Garza ever having any problems with us.”

This whole situation could get very ugly if Garza misses more then just a few weeks. The Rays gave up a LOT to acquire one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. Remember, in this deal they gave up their future star outfielder Delmon Young as well as Brendan Harris. The hardest part for the Rays thou will be proving that the Twins knew of this injury and that it could affect his future.

MLB doesn’t like to deal with situations like this, but if the Rays file that grievance they’ll be forced to deal with an issue that will be very public. The pieces involved are just to big for them to not do a full investigation. If there would wind up any compensation it would depend on how long Garza is on the DL and how much it effects his future abilities.

Here’s a link to the Raysindex, they’ve got an excellent article on this topic.

K-Rod likely for free agency

It looks like the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and closer Francisco “K-Rod” Rodriguez will not be coming to terms on an extension before Opening Day. The problem is the Angels aren’t willing to budge from their initial contract offers to K-Rod. Angels GM Tony Reagins has said the team “is always open to dailogue” but yet won’t make an offer better then the 3-year , $34 million deal that is already on the table. He’s also made it clear the team isn’t looking to trade K-Rod either just to get something back. “No. Right now, Frankie is an important part of our team,” Reagins said. “The fact that his contract expires at the end of the season and he can become a free agent doesn’t mean we have to trade him any more than any other player whose contract expires at the end of a season.

Rodriguez and his agent Paul Kinzer don’t plan on having any negotiations during the baseball season. “Right now, we’ll wait it out until the season is over,” said Kinzer, “Normally, I don’t like to do that (negotiate during the season). It’s tough on the player.” Kinzer has said thou that there is no deadline for the Angels, which would lead me to believe if say in July they offer a big contract then the two would accept. But its more then likely that K-Rod will be a free agent. Rodriguez said, “Everything’s headed that way … But there’s going to be six long months of the season and I can’t predict what’s going to happen in one week or one month or six months.”

The 26-year old closer is due for a HUGE pay raise thanks to the deal that 33-year old Joe Nathan just signed with the Minnesota Twins. “The market for Frankie is pretty much established,” Kinzer said. “I think it (Nathan’s contract) just helps reinforce the market.” Rodriguez is already among the elite closers in the league, easily top 5 and ahead of Nathan, while also being 7 years younger. Nathan signed a 4-year $47 million deal, only Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees makes more at $45 million for 3-years. Nathan has 160 saves in 4 season as a closer, while K-Rod 132 in his first 3 full seasons. At his young age, K-Rod may also have the chance to rewrite the record books for a closer, unless Jonathan Papelbon does it first.

Thanks to Nathan and Rivera the market for closers is about to change in a big way and may never take a turn back. Very soon elite closers are going to be paid like elite starters and hitters which I believe is fair since the teams with best closers usually wind up playing playoff baseball. Boston Red Sox’s Jonathan Papelbon and Rodriguez have a chance to take Nathan’s contract to an entirely new level. With their ages I’m sure they’ll even pass the $15 million a year that Mariano makes. Come November it will be interesting to see where the bidding war takes Rodriguez. If Mariano’s age catches up this year, could the Yankees make a big run?

MLB Injury Update, 3/27

Alright boys and girls, here is today’s MLB Injury Update report. There’s 15 players with updates from the Brewers, Rangers, Padres, Mariners, Blue Jays, Twins, Cubs, Yankees, Braves, Rays, Phillies and Marlins. Its a doozy, enjoy.

• San Diego Padres - Mark Prior - shoulder. Prior finally faced live hitters for the first time today. He threw around 25 pitches in batting practice, while throwing about 35 pitches in a bullpen session before that. His fastball was only in the low-80s. Yea I know low 80s, what the hell! But remember the Padres aren’t even considering putting him in game action before June, so he has at least 2 months to build up strength.
• Texas Rangers - Milton Bradley - knee surgery. Bradley is progressing just fine from off-season knee surgery and should open the season with the big leaguers. Bradley played in his second appearance in right but sixth game overall, going 2 for 3 with a homer. He’ll be with the team but don’t expect to see him in the outfield, he’ll most likely need to DH for a while first.
• Mariners - Brandon Morrow - sore shoulder. Morrow has been experiencing a sore shoulder for most of the spring and has struggled mightily in minor league games since returning. The Mariners are considering one of two options. A) starts the season on the DL B) starts the year in the minor leagues. Morrow will be the 8th inning guy thou once his healthy and accuracy has fully returned.
• Toronto Blue Jays - Matt Stairs - sore hip. Stairs has been struggling with soreness in his hip this spring and because of that has only played in minor league games. The good news he’s getting in his work and his swings, downside the pain might still be to much to handle. The only reason he’s been playing in the minors is in case the Jays decide to give him some more healing time and place him on the disabled list. If he goes on the DL it would be backdated quite a bit since he’s been playing with the farm boys.
• Toronto Blue Jays - BJ Ryan - Tommy John surgery. General manager J.P. Ricciardi says BJ Ryan will get to start throwing off a mound sometime next week. He’ll undoubtedly be starting the season on the disabled list but the team somehow expects him to join the club in mid-April. “I think we’ll get Ryan back sooner rather than later,” Ricciardi surmised yesterday. I wouldn’t be surprised if its more of late-April, early-May but we’ll see. In the meantime, Jeremy Accardo will occupy the closing duties till he’s back.
• New York Yankees - Andy Pettitte - back spasms. Daily update number 15,583 for Andy Pettitte. This will be the last time I update on him unless there is a setback. Pettitte is now officially scheduled to start Sunday in a minor league game. That puts him in position to start the fourth game of the season. That would also mean Philip Hughes would likely take his start against the Blue Jays in the #2 spot.
• Milwaukee Brewers - J.J. Hardy - bacterial infection. Hardy missed the last 10 days of action due to a bacterial infection. He rejoined the lineup today and went 2 for 2 with 2 rbis. Not a bad return. Expect him to be in the lineup, Opening Day.
• Milwaukee Brewers - Chris Capuano - damaged ligament in left elbow. Capuano underwent a second opinion on his injured elbow from Dr. James Andrews. After the consultation, Capuano decided NOT to undergo Tommy John surgery. He’ll rest for about a month or so, then work on making a comeback. If there is any pain once he starts working out again then surgery is definitely on the table.
• Chicago Cubs - Scott Eyre - sore left elbow. Eyre was officially placed on the 15-day DL today because of his sore elbow. The move is retroactive to March 22nd. He’ll take time to rest and should miss the first week or so of the season. In the meantime, Sean Marshall will probably take his bullpen spot.
• Atlanta Braves - John Smoltz - sore shoulder. Same deal as Pettitte, barring any setbacks this is the last update about his current problems. Smoltz threw for 20 minutes in the bullpen today and felt great afterwards. “I got everything accomplished that I wanted to,” Smoltz said of today’s session. “It went really well. It was great. It was the best day I’ve had down here.” Smoltz is still starting on the DL but will make his first start on April 6th against Johan Santana and the New York Mets.
• Philadelphia Phillies - Mike Zagurski - Tommy John surgery. Zagurski also went for a second opinion on his elbow but has decided to go for the surgery. He’ll be visiting Dr Andrews down in Birmingham, AL to undergo the surgery at some point within the next 10 days. His goal is to be back for the start of spring training in 2009.
• Minnesota Twins - Carlos Gomez - left leg cramps. Gomez was scratched from today’s lineup due to continued soreness in his left leg. The injury is still considered very minor and the Twins just wanted to give him some extra rest. He should be able to go Friday.
• Minnesota Twins - Jesse Crain - shoulder surgery. Crain will be starting the regular season with the Twins. He’s pitched 5 innings this season with a 1.80 era. He’ll be held back this April, pitching coach Rick Anderson said he will not be used in back to back games for at least one month.
• Tampa Bay Rays - Willy Aybar - hamstring. Aybar is still experiencing problems with his injured hamstring and still not playing in games. He’s only got 28 at bats this season, and to get him some more the team is going to have to use him in minor league games this weekend. He should still be ready for Opening Day thou. “I still believe he’s going to be fine to play in that game,” Rays coach Maddon said. “I’m not hearing anything that leads me to believe that he won’t be.” Hows that for irony, star prospect Evan Longoria, who had a very good spring was sent down to the minors and now his replacement hasn’t even been able to play. Great move by the Rays demote the hot hitting prospect for a guy who’s going to start off pretty cold all to save a dollar.
• Florida Marlins - Jeremy Hermida - tight left hamstring. Hermida played DH today in a minor league game. He hasn’t played in a MLB game since March 15th due to the hamstring injury. The Marlins will place him on the DL retroactive to that date so in all he’ll only miss 4 games, 5 tops. “Worst-case scenario (Hermida could miss) the first four games of the season,” manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

It will be a late night at work tonight, so if there are any injury updates in the night games, I’ll post them. Look out for tomorrow’s MLB Predictions. I’ll give my predicted records, LCS and World Series winners, as well as MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, and Manager Awards then.

MLB Injury Update, 3/26

Here’s today injury update from around Major League Baseball. Today we’ve got updates on the Yankees, Royals, Cubs, Rangers, Twins, Padres, Giants, Mets, Brewers and Angels. Like usual its a long read.

• San Francisco Giants - Kevin Frandsen - Ruptured Achilles tendon. This is an unfortunate injury that will cost Frandsen the entire baseball season. Surgery is needed but has not been scheduled yet. He’s expected to be on crutches for around two months after he does have the surgery. Eugneio Velez should take over his backup role
• Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - Scot Shields - Inflamed forearm. An MRI revealed no ligament damage which is a good thing. He’s still expected to start the season on the disabled list. He pretty much just needs to stay behind in extended spring training to get some more action in before facing major leaguers. “He’ll need to pitch and to work out some things, and he can do that better in camp games,” Scioscia said. “If we back-date a DL stint, he’d only miss the first six or seven games. It’s worth the price to pay short term, rather than risk a month or two of the season because he’s doing something he’s not ready for.”
• Kansas City Royals - Hideo Nomo - pulled groin. Nomo pulled his groin in a start Tuesday against the San Diego Padres. He’s now expected to start the season in the minors as he won’t be ready to pitch come opening day. He was already a long shot to make the roster thou.
• Chicago Cubs - Mark DeRosa - sinusitis. This guy has had one rough spring. First an irregular heartbeat, then the flu, now he’s missing game due to sinusitis. The good news for him thou is that the team has finally decided to break off negotiations with the Baltimore Orioles’ about Brian Roberts. His job as the starting second baseman is safe.
• San Diego Padres - Jim Edmonds - strained right calf. Edmonds feels his strained right calf is finally healed enough to at least attempt game action. He’s been running and working out on the side. He will test the calf out this upcoming week in minor league games. He’s still expected to start the season on the DL, just to get in his at-bats.
• Milwaukee Brewers - Yovani Gallardo - knee surgery. Gallardo made his second minor league start today in his recovery from arhroscopic knee surgery. He went three innings giving up one hit and a walk, but no runs. He’s expected to re-join the team in mid-April after a brief DL stint as he is working on strengthening that knee.
• Texas Rangers - Luis Mendoza - finger blister. Mendoza will start the season on the DL because of the blister. This injury really doesn’t affect the rotation thou as he’s the fifth starter and won’t be needed till April 12th. This is more just to get an extra reliever on the Rangers roster during that time. Mendoza will start on the 12th when needed
• Minnesota Twins - Carlos Gomez - left hamstring cramping. The injury isn’t as severe as originally thought. During today’s game, Gomez came up lame after going to the left-center field gap to make a play. The way it looked, it seemed like a strained or pull but luckily it was just cramping. He’ll be considered day-to-day as the team will take it easy with their starting center fielder since this is the hamstring that caused him to miss a few games last season.
• New York Mets - Moises Alou - hernia surgery. Alou showed up at training camp today for the first time since having hernia surgery on March 6th. The recovery time is 4 to 6 weeks, and Alou is hopping to be cleared to at least start jogging shortly. He’s definitely starting the season on the DL with an estimated return of late April, early May.
• Mets - Ramon Castro - strained hamstring. Castro hasn’t played in a game since March 16th and may need to start the season on the DL now. He recently suffered a setback in his recovery efforts.
• New York Yankees - Sean Henn - shoulder tendinitis. Unfortunately for Henn, he’s a victim of the numbers games. Henn is out of options and recently lost his left-handed specialist job to Billy Traber. Due to that, he’ll start the season on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis. It’s been a while since he’s pitched in a major league spring training game so the Yankees were at least able to back date this and he could return April 5th. Henn pitched in a minor league game this afternoon and experienced no problems.
• New York Yankees - Brett Gardner - split lip. Gardner suffered a split lip today after foul ball bounced back up and hit him in his mouth. He went to see a dentist after the game, this is clearly a day-to-day injury. Gardner may open the season with the big boys if Melky Cabrera serves out his suspension to start the season.
• New York Yankees - Johnny Damon - flu. Damon was scratched from today’s game due to the flu, he’ll most likely miss another day or two with it. Maybe its a good thing, it will leave him well rested for Opening Day in the Bronx.
• New York Yankees - Andy Pettitte - back spasms. And now the daily Pettitte update. Pettitte had a 10-minute bullpen session today throwing 36 pitches and is now fully on target to pitch in the 4th or 5th game of the season. “It makes me feel good that I got through that and I felt good,” Pettitte said. “I could just tell that I felt a whole lot better this morning when I woke up. It loosened up nice for me.”

That is tonights update. It’s still relatively early in the evening almost 9pm. If there’s enough updates then I’ll send out a Part 2 around midnight.

Twins roster surprises, Liriano

The Minnesota Twins started to make their final cuts on Monday morning. The following players were optioned to Triple-A Rochester - Philip Humber, Denard Span, Brian Buscher and Jason Pridie. Pitcher Chris Daigle was also reassigned to the minor league camp. So I said roster surprises in the headline and I’m sure you are saying “no surprise with those moves”. Well here is how this shakes out for two players, Francisco Liriano and Carlos Gomez.

• Lets start with OF Carlos Gomez. With Pridie being sent to AAA, it looks like the starting center field spot is Gomez for the taking. This spring he’s batted .286 with a homer , 6 rbi and 10 stolen bases. Pridie had comparable numbers and gave Gomez a huge run for the final outfield spot, but its just to crowded in Minnesota. Gomez should be a terror on the base paths with that speed, look for 40+ if he starts the whole season, maybe even 50+. Gomez isn’t going to give the team much at the plate, which could hurt the team some as with that speed the Twins ill most likely try to bat him lead off.
• And now to what you guys want, Francisco Liriano. Yes, he is still on the major league roster but there is still another round of cuts coming. Liriano has dazzled this team much like he did in his meteoric ride to stardom. Only problem is he’s still not 100% after his Tommy John surgery. The Twins may consider sending him to the minor leagues as well to work his way back up to 100%. He could probably dominate most teams right now at the major league level, but sending him down for just a couple more starts could help strengthen the arm even more for the long haul. Looking at the Twins roster this could be likely as there is still more then 12 pitchers on the team. With Humber being sent to the minors, the team still needs a long reliever.

Twins and Nathan progressing in talks

It looks like the Minnesota Twins and closer Joe Nathan might actually come to a contract agreement on an extension before the season begins. Things have been looking bleak in talks for the past couple weeks, but today their was some cause for renewed excitement. “Things are headed in a good direction right now,” Nathan said. “We feel very optimistic that something can get done.” While Nathan wouldn’t divulge any details this is definitely a sign that the two sides have broken ice and are no longer in that stalemate mode.

To me, it’s still a surprise that the Twins are considering locking up a 34-year old closer in to a multi-year lucrative extension (most likely $10 million+). Especially after letting the best pitcher in baseball be traded away due to money. Regardless Nathan doesn’t have as much stress on his shoulders as today’s other elite closers. Nathan only recently broke into this role, 2004 to be exact. He’s be in the league since 1999 but never even had a full season of big league action till 2003 the year before he started to close.

Twins’ Liriano delayed to camp for DUI.

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Francisco Liriano will be late arriving to Twins’ training camp this week because of a prior arrest (2006) for drunken driving. Liriano attempted to fly to Fort Myers, Florida today, but the US Consulate in Santo Domingo flagged his application for a visa because of the arrest.

Back in July, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice ordered consulates to refer visa applicants to a panel of doctors. And this is just for ONE drunk driving arrest or conviction over the past 3 years. Liriano told the Associated Press all he has to do is pass a sobriety test and attend counseling. Not to bad actually, he had an appointment today but the whole thing could take up to 10 days.

The Minnesota Twins didn’t even know about the new policy, GM Bill Smith said “”[Liriano] did everything right,” Smith said of the application process. “This is a new policy. None of us knew about it, including Francisco.”

Now on to his road to recovery from Tommy John. This SHOULD NOT affect him in ANY way. He’s almost fully recovered as he had the surgery back in November 2006. He just recently pitched two innings in a scrimmage at the Twins’ Dominican academy. And has told team officials they can count on him to be ready on time to start the season. This is a huge plus for a team who needs an ace now after the trade of Johan Santana to the New York Mets.

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