Even with a torn labrum A-Rod should shine

So Alex Rodriguez will attempt to play through pain. A torn labrum in his right hip could eventually require surgery, but A-Rod will tough it out for now.

"There's two courses of action concerning what he has," Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman said Thursday from Tampa, Fla. "There is treat it conservatively, which would imply rest, exercise and treatment. Or you can treat it aggressively, which is by surgery. At this point in time, we are going to go the conservative route."

There have been comparisons of A-Rod's injury to Chase Utley's. Utley played last year with his own hip injury and is just getting back to playing baseball again after surgery in late November.

Recently we have seen other high-profile baseball players undergo surgery to address labral injuries, including Phillies second baseman Chase Utley and Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell. Utley, for one, had labral surgery in late November and is optimistic that he'll be ready for Opening Day. "Optimistic" is not "certain," though, and the time lapse between Utley's surgery and Opening Day will be about 19 weeks.

So, let's see how much Utley's numbers suffered from 2007 to 2008 to see what kind of impact we might see in A-Rod's 2009 season, assuming he can play through the pain like Utley did.

Utley
2006 - AB: 658 R: 131 HR: 32 RBI: 102 SB: 15 OBA: .379 SLG: .527 AVG: .309
2007 - AB: 530 R: 104 HR: 22 RBI: 103 SB: 9 OBA: .410 SLG: .566 AVG: .332
2008 - AB: 607 R: 113 HR: 33 RBI: 104 SB: 14 OBA: .380 SLG: .535 AVG: .292

A-Rod
2006 - AB: 572 R: 113 HR: 35 RBI: 121 SB: 15 OBA: .392 SLG: .523 AVG: .290
2007 - AB: 583 R: 143 HR: 54 RBI: 156 SB: 24 OBA: .422 SLG: .645 AVG: .314
2008 - AB: 510 R: 104 HR: 35 RBI: 103 SB: 18 OBA: .392 SLG: .573 AVG: .302

Utley's numbers over the past two years were most significantly impacted with his broken hand back in 2007. That injury caused him to miss several weeks in the late summer, retarding what might have been a career year. That said, Utley might've been on a growth trend that was further retarded in 2008 with the hip injury. His numbers in 2008 included a better slugging percentage than in 2006 and a better batting average, showing that despite the hip injury he was still playing at a very high level.

Of note: Utley stole 14 bases in 2008 despite the hip problem, which was just a couple of bags short of his career high and one short of his 2006 total when he batted 51 more times.

Fantasy Impact: If he can tolerate the pain, A-Rod has every ability to play with this injury and play well. Utley did not experience much of an impact in terms of matching his stellar numbers from previous seasons. A-Rod shouldn't either. If you think it's worth risking an eventual surgery or midseason shutdown, A-Rod is still a first round draft pick and high-end candidate to anchor your fantasy team's offense.

Matty and the mic

MLB Network just gained a little notoriety thanks to Matt Vasgersian. He curses. On TV. Viewer discretion is advised...

Pre-mature Manny?

The LA Times published a report titled "Manny Ramirez is back with the Dodgers," which was removed from the Times website several minutes later.

Could this mean that something's changed again in the Manny saga? Just saying...

Mid-season WBC games?

Tovin Lapan believes the World Baseball Classic needs to follow other world sporting competitions (his example is soccer's World Cup) and become a mid-season tournament rather than a spring afterthought.

It will need to take some tips from soccer's World Cup, one of the greatest sporting events around, to truly capture the attention of the baseball world:

1. Too many players sit out the WBC for dubious reasons because their loyalty to their ballclub and the signer of their checks still trumps playing for their country.

2. Even baseball fans would struggle to recall that Japan won the first WBC, and South Korea won the 2008 Olympic gold medal, but every soccer fan knows that Italy won the last World Cup and Spain is the reigning Euro Cup champ. Baseball fans need to get more familiar with international squads, which will come with increased exposure.

3. Once the WBC does gain the type of notoriety mentioned in points 1 and 2, then it will be able to suspend the MLB schedule in order to hold the games. If the Classic were held when players were at their peak, say in the middle of the traditional season, instead of in pre-season when they are just getting back into shape, the quality of play would be better and the games more exciting. After all, the NHL suspends its season for the Winter Olympics, and European soccer leagues work around the World Cup.

There are all sorts of problems with these points, including the fact that soccer takes a much different toll on the body than baseball does, and rarely does a team play more than two games in a week in soccer. But the biggest problem with the WBC is its lack of tradition. World Cups in soccer are nearly as old as the sport itself. When there were no multi-million dollar contracts from club teams, soccer players felt more of a loyalty to playing for the national team for free. A certain glamor became attached to playing for country, and soccer players and fans alike have developed a unique bond with their tournament that stands the test of time. The WBC enters the baseball world at a time of mega-deals between teams and players, meaning loyalty is firmly established between player and ballclub and not player and country. This situations makes it a lot more difficult to get players to risk injury and play for free.

Moving games to mid-season and perhaps taking a couple of weeks off to play the games might help build interest and attract players, but this could mean scrapping the All-Star game in favor of the international tournament. None of it, however, is likely. The grueling nature of a 162-game baseball season and the lack of traditional rivalries between nations in the sport means the classic will struggle to gain legitimacy in the near future.

A-Rod's hip

The hip that's potentially forcing Alex Rodriguez out of the World Baseball Classic is not a new injury, according to Yankees manager Joe Girardi.

"Alex expressed a little stiffness. There was really no pain," Girardi said on Wednesday, a day after the 33-year-old slugger played for the Dominican Republic in a tuneup for the World Baseball Classic. "We just thought it was best because he had some minor issues last year with it. We'll have a better idea after today with what the course of plan is."

The team announced on Tuesday that Rodriguez would get his hip checked by Dr. Marc Phillipon in Vail, Colo., on Wednesday afternoon. An exam Saturday revealed a cyst in the hip.

"Whenever you have something going on, you're concerned," Girardi said. "The fact he didn't have a lot of pain is a little bit more comforting. He's been able to play, and play at a high level. It hasn't kept him from doing anything. It hasn't kept him from driving the baseball. That's the good thing."

At this point it sounds like the Yankees and Rodriguez are trying to stop the injury from becoming a bigger problem, but if the issue lingered through the offseason into the spring there might be more to it than needing rest.

Acta: We don't want Barry

Nationals Manager Manny Acta summed up the interest level of at least one "rebuilding team" in Barry Bonds at his morning press conference.

"[Laughing]... it's not a match for us," Acta said. "I don't think at this stage of his career that Barry is going to pick a team that is rebuilding anyway."

Bonds would put people in the seats at Nationals Park, but that's not the direction the team is going in.

"Yeah he will, but that's not the main point here. It's trying to win, win in the long term basis and give a chance to younger guys."

The Nationals might not want Barry, but he would pick any team at this point. The only teams that might remotely be interested in him are the playoff contenders that fall into desperate straights later in the year.

They're the only ones that will even consider bringing on Bonds, and they won't be desperate for at least a few more months.

Pudge wants to play; Mets want Pudge?

Ivan Rodriguez doesn't want to talk about his ever-shrinking physique, but he does say he's looking to play baseball in 2009 at the major league level after playing for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic.

“I’m expecting soon something to happen,” Rodriguez said yesterday after training at the Red Sox [team stats] minor league facility, where the Puerto Rican team will work out this week. “I’m ready to play for a major league team.”

There's at least one team willing to talk. The New York Mets would like Rodriguez to compliment Brian Schneider in a platoon- or reserve-type role.

Fantasy Impact: Rodriguez's numbers had slipped in recent seasons to that of a fringe starter for most fantasy formats. A platoon situation would take him off the fantasy radar entirely.

A's to sign Cabrera and Garciaparra?

One day after closing in on a contract with shortstop Orlando Cabrera, the Oakland A's are close on signing Nomar Garciaparra. He and Cabrera wouldn't be battling for playing time.

If signed, Garciaparra would provide depth at first base and third base, as well as serve as a righthanded bat off the bench.

Because of injuries, Garciaparra played in only 55 games for the Dodgers last season, hitting .264 with 8 homers and 28 RBIs.

Cabrera and Garciaparra won't take time from one another, but neither is a great fantasy option. Garciaparra won't play enough to make a dent. Jason Giambi and Daric Barton will get the lion's share of time at first, and unless Eric Chavez goes down (which is likely), Garciaparra won't get much time at third, either.

Cabrera is an average to above fantasy guy at short, but at 34 his value is likely to slip more toward average than above in the coming seasons.

Not so easy Edinson

The New York Post publishes the contracts of several pre-arbitration eligible players. What's striking is Edinson Volquez's money vs. someone like Garrett Olson or Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

Among notable signings are...
Garrett Olson ($420,000), Texas' Jarrod Saltalamacchia ($410,890) and Cincinnati's Edinson Volquez ($440,000).

Certainly Volquez is hurt by his youth in this case.

Not so Sori about his defense

Sabernomics.com, in a short review of John Dewan's The Fielding Bible II, lists the top defensive players at each position with regard to "runs saved."

Pos. - Player - Runs Saved
1B - Albert Pujols = 61
2B - Chase Utley = 63
3B - Pedro Feliz = 50
SS - Adam Everett = 48
LF - Alfonso Soriano = 42
CF - Carlos Beltran = 44
RF - Alex Rios = 49
C - Jason Kendall = 27
P - Kenny Rogers = 27

The shocker? Alfonso Soriano in left field. He's been ripped repeatedly for his defense at Wrigley Field. There is, however, merit to his high standing here. Soriano does have the ability to throw from left, recording the fourth-most assists from left field (10) in MLB. His five double plays from the outfield led the majors.

Is he an adventure in left? Yes, but it's traditionally the weakest defensive position in baseball. Maybe he's not so bad in terms of his peers.

Running Reds

The Reds' homer-hitting approach is getting a bit of a makeover this year with Dusty Baker interested in Willie Taveras and others running more on the base paths.

Baker is planning on having his team run much more this season, and he hopes using that aggressiveness will create more scoring opportunities.

"No. 1, you manage to your personnel. The personnel we have has more speed," Baker said. "Plus, nine years of losing the other way, you have to try something. Don't you think?"

Also, part of the revised focus is better pitching and defense -- both weaknesses in the past. Reds pitching staffs have routinely been around the National League's bottom in team ERA the past eight years. Last season's defense was second from the bottom in the NL.

Here's guessing that this story gets covered as "the Reds will run more in 2009," but actually, Baker seems to be talking about well-rounded-ness. Teams that have a more complete makeup have a better chance to win.

How many single-dimension offenses relying on the home run win championships? Not many. Last year's Chicago White Sox succeeded in winning a division with a homer-only approach. They didn't go any further.

Barry wants to play baseball... again

Barry Bonds wants back into baseball, and with his perjury trial on delay his agent is pushing for a return.

Borris said Bonds wanted to play in 2008, but no teams were interested in signing the all-time home run king, even at the minimum salary.

"Major League Baseball was successful in conspiring in keeping Barry out of uniform in 2008. Unless they have a change of heart or see an error in their ways, I seriously doubt that clubs will give him the opportunity to play this year," Borris told the newspaper.

USA Today reports Borris has been working in conjunction with the players association to investigate the union's collusion allegation, which MLB denies.

I wonder if anything changes with teams' interest this time around. Last year I was shocked that nobody jumped on the chance to have Bonds' bat in their lineup for at least part of the season. Now I'm expecting everyone to lay off after Bonds didn't play in all of 2008. He's 44, he just missed an entire season, and he's a PR nightmare, I think.

Santana weathering the elbow issue

The doom and gloom surrounding Johan Santana suddenly lifted today after a throwing session that removed doubt that a foggy left elbow problem might roll him into a doctor's office. He won't pitch in the World Baseball Classic due to the concern, but he also won't be worried about quite as much.

No flight to New York, no MRI, no flight back and -- the Mets fervently hope -- no more issues with his left elbow. Team Venezuela can't have Santana; the Classic won't pay the insurance premium. But the doctors can't have him either. Santana saw to that after some long-toss in the outfield and 31 pitches thrown off a practice mound Sunday morning convinced him he could move forward without tightness around his triceps tendon and risk.

That's excellent for the Mets and fantasy owners. I'm still going with Tim Lincecum as the ace of all aces until Santana is certainly back pitching in games. Even then Lincecum might be the best pitcher in baseball. CC Sabathia is my third pick this year.

A Wash with baseball news

Thanks to the Nationals, the Washington Post is almost as busy with investigative journalism and breaking news as they were during the Nixon years. Lots of tales to tell, indeed:

Alvarez/Gonzalez: "I feel bad, really bad"
Nationals decide to fire Rijo, search for new academy
Time runs out for Nats' Bowden

There's not much to comment on here, except for the fact that Bowden was always considered a touch shady. That and the fact that this could be just the tip of the iceberg in terms of uncovering players' falsified ages.

Dusty betting on Francisco

Dusty Baker's convinced that third base prospect Juan Francisco's the real deal because he excelled in winter ball. Baker offers up this analysis:

"Anybody who ever played Winter Ball knows that Winter Ball is no joke," Baker said. "People are into it big time, gambling on games. Therefore, that puts pressure on you. You better play good or you're going to hear it from somebody."

Yes, because when people bet on games it matters more, right? That's just silly.

Francisco does sound exciting, though. He hit 25 home runs as a 21-year-old in Single-A last year. Here's betting his power only improves!

Lachey throwing out Reds first pitch

Now this is breaking news! Nick Lachey will throw out "baseball's first pitch" when he does so for the Cincinnati Reds' Opening Day.

"Hopefully, I won't embarrass myself like our good mayor," said Lachey, a huge Reds, Bengals and University of Cincinnati sports fan. He watched Bob Huggins' homecoming ceremony, before the UC-West Virginia basketball game, on ESPN Thursday from his Los Angeles home.

"I was thrilled to see Huggs get such a great response from the crowd," he said.

I think Nick's already managed to do that a time or two, no?

Delino DeShields part II

Delino DeShields was a pretty good second baseman, and now his son, also Delino, is excelling as a two-sport athlete. It looks like he might end up with multiple offers to play college football, and he's likely got one to play baseball at Georgia Tech.

“Delino and his family had a one-on-one meeting with Georgia Tech’s staff on Thursday, and they extended a football offer to him,” Woodward Academy defensive backs/recruiting coach Ryan Davis wrote in an e-mail. “They will more than likely allow him to play baseball also.”

I was shocked that the former Major Leaguer already had a son ready to commit to play in college.

Don't have to shell it out to get Schilling

Curt Schilling says he'd consider coming back for another year if he can play for a team like the Cubs, or perhaps the Rays. Schilling also said his return wouldn't be about getting a big paycheck.

Schilling said Saturday that he'd like to pitch for the Cubs this season. The 42-year-old missed the 2008 season with a shoulder injury, but the thought of helping Chicago win its first World Series in 101 years might lure him back for one more season.

"Absolutely I'll come back," he said at Disney World, where he was appearing in ESPN The Weekend activities.
...
Schilling, who has a career mark of 216-146, said money would not be a major issue. He's looking for a team that has championship potential and has never won a title.

"The challenge would be in a place like Tampa Bay or Chicago," he said.

Being that he won World Series with the Diamondbacks and Red Sox, I'm sure there'd be a few Chicagoans dying to acquire his services. But this just in: Schilling is coming off of a major shoulder problem, and the Cubs are going to exhaust their search for a fifth starter with several talented young candidates first. The Rays have the uber-talented David Price slotted for their number five spot. Schilling would need some time to get ready. He won't be a Cub or a Ray.

Beltre told "no" for WBC

Adrian Beltre felt his surgically-repaired shoulder was ready to play at the World Baseball Classic. Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik felt otherwise. Today the team told Beltre they wouldn't excuse him to participate in the tournament.

"We had an idea how we both felt," Beltre said. "And from that conversation, I got that he wanted me to stay here but if I was going to go he was going to support that.

I was trying to get ready and mentally, I was ready to go. And physically, yesterday I found out I was ready to go. But today, it's a different story."

An unanswered question is whether this episode could impact Beltre's pending free-agency. Beltre has declined to comment on any possible contract extension, while speculation mounts that Zduriencik will attempt to deal him by the July 31 deadline.

The Mariners kept Beltre out of the lineup for Saturday's game, a 6-4 win over the San Francisco Giants. They plan to give him a couple of days off to absorb the decision and ease him in more slowly.

"I think they're separate issues," Zduriencik said of Beltre's free-agency and the denied WBC opportunity. "Hopefully, this isn't an issue that is anything further than this particular issue."

Beltre was fairly diplomatic about the situation, but if he's masking ill feelings, they could eventually come back to haunt the Mariners. Then again, if they're holding Beltre as trade fodder rather than a cog in the wheel, he might not be around long enough to get bitter.

Odds and ends on potential MLB contraction

Matt Snyder at Fanhouse is critical of the idea that baseball might need to consider contraction during the economic downturn. Among his good ideas:

If things continue down this path, it's conceivable to believe two franchises would be cut from the league. Of course, choosing the A's as one of the teams would cause a bunch of extra logistical problems. It would leave the AL West with only three teams, and both leagues would have an odd number of teams. Thus, you'd have to move a team from the National League to the American League. If you didn't move a team who could fit into the AL West, you'd have to move someone else into that division. So, are you going to choose a team from the NL West to switch leagues? If so, the Dodgers and Giants would be untouchable.

Then there's this one I like as well:

If MLB did decide to contract two teams, can you imagine a contraction draft? I assume they would draft instead of having a free-for-all free agency period. Still, without a salary cap, you'd have to assume the Royals or Nationals couldn't afford to pay Hanley Ramirez what the Yankees, Red Sox, or Cubs could, so there would probably be some jockeying with trades. Thus, it would just be a case of the rich get richer. I can't see that as being good for the game as a whole.

Agreed, and that's why baseball probably could use a salary cap, or, perhaps a couple of teams moving into the New York area to compete with the Yankees and Mets. Like that's ever going to happen.

One of Snyder's oddest comments, however, is this one:

Good luck convincing the Padres, Diamondbacks, or Rockies that they need to completely shift their entire method of building a team, because they now play against the Angels, Mariners and Rangers.

I don't think I've ever heard of a team that actually subscribes to the idea of just being better than its division mates. You don't compete to win a division; You compete to win as much as you possibly can. Therefore, you're building a team you believe can eventually compete with any team in baseball. I highly doubt any general managers subscribe to the theory of simply beating the teams around them. They simply don't play enough games against their division rivals to think that way. This line of thinking is archaic and bad practice.