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Bad News for Wang, Bavasi

06/17/2008

BY Aaron Gleeman


Ichiro plays right for first time since 2006

Mariners relieve GM Bavasi of duties

Wang out at least ten weeks, possibly season

Cards' Molina suffers concussion in collision

Konerko could land on DL with rib-cage strain

Wang to undergo MRI for foot injury

Nady suffers sprained shoulder, day-to-day

Monday brought just about the worst possible news on Chien-Ming Wang's right foot injury. He may miss the remainder of the season after being diagnosed with a mid-foot sprain of the Lisfranc ligament, which fantasy football owners no doubt recognize as a dreaded injury. Wang is likely to avoid surgery and a late-season return hasn't totally been ruled out, but he'll wear a protective boot while walking on crutches for at least six weeks. Even before official word on Wang's injury came out the newspapers in New York were filled with speculation about the Yankees going after C.C. Sabathia, so now that Wang is likely done for the season the Sabathia gossip can be expected to intensify dramatically. Indians general manager Mark Shapiro spent all winter saying that the Indians wouldn't trade Sabathia despite his being an impending free agent, but has recently backed off that stance somewhat. After missing out on Johan Santana this offseason it certainly makes sense for the Yankees to make a strong push for Sabathia and the Indians' disappointing season is surely behind Shapiro's changing tune. With that said, the Yankees either couldn't or wouldn't put together a package for Santana that enticed the Twins. They're probably more willing to part with Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes now, but both pitchers have also seen their stock decline somewhat of late. For now the Yankees will replace Wang with journeyman Dan Giese, who'l l make his first MLB start Saturday against the Reds. Giese is 31 years old and has spent a decade in the minors, going 25-12 with a 3.25 ERA and 297-to-60 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 343 innings at Triple-A. Aaron Small going 10-0 before sliding back into obscurity is proof that strange things can happen when the Yankees call up a minor-league veteran, but Giese is at best a passable fifth starter. While the Yankees lose a pitcher who's gone 46-15 (.754) over the past three seasons compared to the rest of the staff going 182-151 (.546), here are some other notes from around baseball .

Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi deservedly got the ax Monday after guiding the team to a pitiful 322-395 (.449) record in parts of five seasons at the helm of the one of the game's largest payrolls. Bavasi spent much of his tenure simply making the Mariners older by pulling off several misguided trades and overpaying mediocre veteran free agents, leading to an MLB-worst record despite a $110 million payroll to build around Felix Hernandez and Ichiro Suzuki. Manager John McLaren will almost surely follow Bavasi out the door soon enough, but before that happens he decided to make a big lineup shift Monday. McLaren moved Ichiro from center field back to his old spot in right field, which is a questionable enough decision on its own. Not only did Ichiro win a Gold Glove in center field last season, during his career he's hit almost exactly as well in center field (.332 with an .800 OPS) as he has in right field (.331 with an .814 OPS). Toss in the fact that MLB right fielders as a group out-hit MLB center fielders by 50 points of OPS and the move seemingly makes zero sense. So why did McLaren make the switch? To get Willie Bloomquist and his .256/.312/.322 career mark into the lineup in center field, naturally. He's long been among the worst hitters in baseball and is far from a great defensive center fielder, yet Ichiro changed positions so that Bloomquist could start there Monday as Seattle fell to 24-46.

Mike Gonzalez has posted a sparkling 0.82 ERA and 12-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio during his minor-league rehab assignment, which apparently convinced the Braves that he's ready to return from Tommy John elbow surgery. Gonzalez is expected to come off the disabled list Wednesday and manager Bobby Cox replied "yes, absolutely" when asked Monday night whether he could quickly be in the mix for saves given the team's bullpen struggles."We may put him in a game just to see, we'll play it by ear," Cox said. "Hopefully we can count on him for the very end, eighth and ninth innings. If he's back to his old form, it's a huge plus." Gonzalez has been sidelined for 13 months, but already appears to have rediscovered his stuff and has some past experience closing within his 2.29 ERA over 186 big-league appearances. If he can put together 2-3 strong outings right away, expect Gonzalez to be in the mix for saves.

AL Quick Hits

David Ortiz (wrist) had his cast removed in favor of a splint Monday, but there's no timetable established yet for his return . Travis Hafner has suffered a setback in his recovery from a strained shoulder and appears unlikely to be activated this week . Ramon Vazquez came into this year as a! .250/.3 19/.343 hitter in 490 career games, but after going 3-for-4 with a homer Sunday he's now batting .336/.404/.534 in 48 games this season . Bartolo Colon allowed four runs over four innings Monday before leaving his start with back soreness . Fernando Rodney came off the disabled list Monday, with Joel Zumaya set to join him in the Tigers' bullpen later this week . Curt Schilling (biceps) has been shut down for a few days following what was described as a "sluggish" bullpen session over the weekeend . After sending a personal letter to every MLB team pleading for a job, Jay Gibbons has signed with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League . Kevin Youkilis was scratched from Monday's lineup with back spasms, giving Sean Casey a start at first base.

NL Quick Hits

As expected, manager Manny Acta said Sunday that Jesus Flores will remain the Nationals' starting catcher even after Paul Lo Duca (hand) returns from the disabled list . Micah Owings struggled Sunday for the fourth straight start, making him 0-3 with a 9.95 ERA during that stretch after beginning the season 6-2 with a 3.73 ERA through 10 outings . Cole Hamels held the Red Sox to two runs over seven innings Monday despite serving up solo homers to J.D. Drew and Dustin Pedroia . Xavier Nady has been diagnosed with a sprained shoulder after colliding with the outfield wall Saturday, meaning that a trip to the DL is possible . About a month into his 4-6 week recovery timetable, Nick Johnson (wrist) is scheduled to be examined Tuesday . Ryan Church (concussion) is aiming to return on June 23, saying Sunday that he hasn't "had any spells or anything like that" recently . Eric Byrnes (hamstrings) is hoping to begin a minor-league rehab assignment this week, with manager Bob Melvin saying Sunday that he'll be back by June 23 at the latest . Despite an ugly looking collision at home plate Sunday, Yadier Molina appears to have avoided serious injury and may stay off the DL.