Find A Ledge: Tanaka Headed Back to New York For MRI

MRI, the three little letters that no athlete ever wants to here. Especially pitchers, when it comes to their arms. More specifically, the elbow and shoulder. The Yankees' veteran rookie ace, Masahiro Tanaka, left Cleveland after last night's poor performance and headed back to NYC for an MRI.

As first reported by the NY Post's George King III (shouldn't he go by King George III? Though he didn't fare too well back in 1776), Tanaka didn't feel too bad after the game, but evidently had more pain/discomfort/soreness today.

Japanese pitchers are used to pitching every seventh day, not every fifth, so hopefully this is just a bump in the road. Brett Gardner, who will miss Wednesday night's game with an abdominal strain, said it best. “We just hope and pray we get good news. “He’s a special player.”

Just in case, find a ledge.

UPDATE - 6 pm; As expected Tanaka has been placed on the 15-day disabled list. The results of the MRI will determine the next step.

A-Rod: What a Fool Believes

Dr. Gross may not be smiling much longer

The Yankees had a really great come from behind win in the 9th inning against the Texas Rangers Tuesday night, but you would never know it. All that was talked about today was the continuing saga of Alex Rodriguez aka A-Quad.

It's a situation that appears to not to be going away any time soon, in part because A-Quad has decided to go on the offensive.  Dr. Michael Gross, not to be confused with the Dad on Family Ties, made the media rounds on Tuesday to refute the Yankees claim that A-Quad has a Grade-1 strain of his left quadriceps.

The ball got rolling when Gross appeared on Mike Francesa's radio show on WFAN Wednesday afternoon and claimed that the MRI of A-Quad's leg showed no injury and that A-Quad felt fine and ready to play in games.

Gross later backed down a little when he was questioned by other media about his supposed examination of A-Rod's quad. Gross, in fact, never actually examined A-Quad, he simply read the MRI. After he told Francesa he "saw nothing", Gross later said he "didn't see much." When questioned by ESPN.com's Andrew Marchand, Gross changed his statement again to "I don't see a significant injury."

Yankees GM Brian Cashman released a statement Wednesday evening in response to the allegation as well as to reports that A-Quad sought a second opinion without getting permission from the team, which would be a violation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

“I heard via a text message this afternoon from Alex Rodriguez that he had retained a doctor to review his medical situation. In media reports, we have since learned that the doctor in question has acknowledged that he did not examine Mr. Rodriguez and that he was not retained to do a comprehensive medical examination of Mr. Rodriguez. Contrary to the Basic Agreement, Mr. Rodriguez did not notify us at any time that he was seeking a second opinion from any doctor with regard to his quad strain.

“As you know, it is the Yankees’ desire to have Alex return to the lineup as soon as possible. And we have done everything to try and accomplish this.

“As early as Friday, July 12, when I suggested to Alex that we move his rehab from Tampa to Triple-A Scranton (at Buffalo), Alex complained for the first time of “tightness” in his quad and therefore refused to consent to the transfer of his assignment. Again, last Sunday, Alex advised that he had stiffness in his quad and should not play on Sunday or Monday. We sent Alex to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital for an MRI which evidenced a Grade 1 strain.

“As always, we will follow the rules and regulations set forth in the Basic Agreement, and will again re-evaluate Alex in Tampa tomorrow, as our goal is to return him to the lineup as soon as he is medically capable of doing so.”¹

Things got even crazier a short time ago when the New York Daily News reported that Gross is now part of Major League Baseball's investigation into the Biogenesis clinic.

"Gross was reprimanded in February for “failing to adequately ensure proper patient treatment involving the prescribing of hormones including steroids.” 

When notified by the Daily News of the reprimand Gross received from the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners, a league source said Major League Baseball’s investigation of Rodriguez in the Biogenesis case would expand.

"This has caused MLB to now expand its investigation (of A-Rod) in regard to his relationship with this doctor and this wellness clinic,” said the source. According to the reprimand letter, Gross started a clinic called Active Center for Health and Wellness, where he permitted an individual “who had completed medical school but did not have a medical license to participate in the care and treatment of the patients.”²

If Rodriguez truly had a leg to stand on (yeah, I went there), he could simply have filed a grievance with the player's union. As far as anyone knows, that has not happened. Here's hoping Bud Selig and company get off their behinds soon and announce a suspension.

"Alex Rodriguez making trouble for himself since at least 2003."

And just so it's not completely lost in the mix, great job by Vernon Wells, Eduardo Nunez, and Brent Lillibridge to beat the Rangers Tuesday night, 5-4.

1 - Courtesy of NJ.com
2 - Courtesy of NYDN.com

Girardi Loses it as Streak Ends

The Yankees seven game winning streak came to an end last night, 7-2 to the Blue Jays as Roy Halladay won his 20th game, but all anyone wanted to talk to Joe Girardi about was Mariano Rivera's possible injury.

Earlier in the day it was reported that Rivera, suffering from an "cranky" body, had gone to New York for his standard year end physical. Last night it turned out that Rivera's shoulder was bothering him and he was sent to New York to get it examined and have an MRI done. Even Mrs. MM said there was no way Mo would leave the team early unless he was hurt.

The media pounced on Girardi, who has had a habit all season of stretching the truth concerning the teams injuries, during his post-game press conference. Girardi lashed back, showing some of the attitude that the media in Florida complained about. Peter Abraham has audio of both the pre- and post-game press conferences. Tyler Kepner also discusses Girardi's propensity for lying about injuries.

Apparently the shoulder has been bothering Mo for a while, but he didn't want to say anything until the Yankees were eliminated. Hopefully, the MRI will show no structural damage. George King has more...

On another note, the Carl Pavano era has, thankfully, come to an end. Pavano was knocked out last (surprisingly, not literally). He was knocked out with two away in the fourth after allowing 5 runs. He finishes his 4-year, $39.95 million contract with a 9-8, 5.00 record in 26 starts. Almost half those wins came in the second half of this season.







"The price of 20 wins"

Girardi Loses it as Streak Ends

The Yankees seven game winning streak came to an end last night, 7-2 to the Blue Jays as Roy Halladay won his 20th game, but all anyone wanted to talk to Joe Girardi about was Mariano Rivera's possible injury.

Earlier in the day it was reported that Rivera, suffering from an "cranky" body, had gone to New York for his standard year end physical. Last night it turned out that Rivera's shoulder was bothering him and he was sent to New York to get it examined and have an MRI done. Even Mrs. MM said there was no way Mo would leave the team early unless he was hurt.

The media pounced on Girardi, who has had a habit all season of stretching the truth concerning the teams injuries, during his post-game press conference. Girardi lashed back, showing some of the attitude that the media in Florida complained about. Peter Abraham has audio of both the pre- and post-game press conferences. Tyler Kepner also discusses Girardi's propensity for lying about injuries.

Apparently the shoulder has been bothering Mo for a while, but he didn't want to say anything until the Yankees were eliminated. Hopefully, the MRI will show no structural damage. George King has more...

On another note, the Carl Pavano era has, thankfully, come to an end. Pavano was knocked out last (surprisingly, not literally). He was knocked out with two away in the fourth after allowing 5 runs. He finishes his 4-year, $39.95 million contract with a 9-8, 5.00 record in 26 starts. Almost half those wins came in the second half of this season.







"The price of 20 wins"

Footlose

12 Days. That's all it took for Carl Pavano to visit his old pals, X-ray and MRI. On Saturday, Pavano took a line drive off his left instep, off the bat of rookie Alberto Gonzalez, . Though he was able to finish throwing batting practice, the Yankees shut him down for Sunday's workout and sent him for precautionary tests. Pavano is one of several Yankee pitchers who do not throw behind an L screen during BP. Perhaps Brian Cashman should just have an X-ray machine in the same format as an L screen in order to kill two birds with one stone.

Johnny Damon was excused from weekend workouts due to a personal issue. Joe Torre did not know the specifics, but it was originally thought Damon would be out for an extended period of time. He's now expected to return today.

Pavano isn't the only one with some spring training aches and pains. Brian Bruney has been sidelined by back spasms in his rib cage area and Humberto Sanchez has been slowed by tightness in his right forearm. Sanchez has been on the DL 8 times in his young career and had his season ended early last August with elbow problems. Bruney is expected to be shutdown for 4-5 days, while Sanchez is going for a precautionary MRI.

Spring Training Rule #1
All Rookies must walk 2 paces behind the Captain