Yankees Loss of Nix Hurts More Than You Think

There have been a number of players over the years described as scrappy, pesky, or a "real gamer". Sometimes those terms have been used so often, such as describing David Eckstein, that it annoyed fans. It really is said to mean said player does more with less. (Which could  kind of sound like a slight to the player.)

Teams like to include those types of players on their rosters. Guys like Phil Garner, who would run through walls to help his team win a game. Jayson Nix is that type of player and when the Yankees lost him for the season with a broken hand Wednesday night they lost some attitude and grit in their clubhouse.

Don't go quoting Nix's OPS to me to belittle him. Nix is the kind of player whose game isn't necessarily reflected in box scores. His best asset is his versatility; he can play second base, shortstop, and third base. He's also played 22 games in the outfield, mostly on an emergency basis.

Nix has good speed and picks the right times to swipe a base. He was successful in 13 of 14 stolen base attempts this season and is 35 of 44 (79.5%) lifetime. Nix has decent power for a utility infielder - .358 lifetime slugging pct. - and has topped double figures in home runs three times in his MLB career.

Unfortunately for Nix his inability to get on base enough keeps him from seeing more action. His best game as a Yankee might have been the next to last game he evey played for them. In Tuesday night's come from behind win against the Toronto Blue Jays, Nix tied the game in the 7th inning with a solo home run and then provided a walk off single in the bottom of the 9th. (He also went 1-2 with two walks and two runs scored in the day portion of Tuesday night's day/night twinbill.

Nix got to the plate just once against Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey on Wednesday night. Unfortunately it wasn’t a softer knuckleball, but an 80-mph fastball that bore in on Nix, leaving him and his left hand no room to escape. He stayed in the game, but only momentarily before he told first base coach Mick Kelleher that he was in pain. Nix's hand appeared to be already swollen when television cameras zoomed in for a closer look.

Ironically, Nix probably would have been out of a job in the next week with Derek Jeter starting another rehab assignment with Scranton on Thursday evening. If he heals properly Nix would be able to rejoin the Yankees after the MLB rosters expand on September 1. Until then you'll just have to hold your breath every time a ball is hit to Eduardo Nunez or Mark Reynolds on the left side of the infield.

BD Hot Stove: Stuck In The Middle With You | Baseball Digest

It's time to take a look at the middle infielders not named Derek Jeter in this year's free agent class.

BD Hot Stove: Stuck In The Middle With You | Baseball Digest

Christian Guzman, Orlando Hudson, David Eckstein, Ty Wiggington, Miguel Tejada, Orlando Cabrera

Tejada, Cantu Switch Leagues

As soon as San Diego Padres' shortstop David Eckstein went on the DL, rumors began that the Pads were looking at Baltimore Orioles infielder Miguel Tejada to replace him. Today the rumor became reality when the O's sent Tejada to the west coast for minor league pitcher Wynn Penzer.

Tejada started out like a house on fire, but has cooled considerably since. He's hit just .224 with 7 RBI in the month of July. Penzer has struck out 147 hitters in 150 innings pitched at High 'A' level Lake Elsinore.

Jorge Cantu also got a new home this afternoon. The Texas Rangers may be going bankrupt, but they continue to deal. They sent minor leaguers Evan Reed and Omar Poveda to Florida for the Marlins' corner man. Cantu average 97.5 RBI the last two seasons, but has just 54 RBI this year along with a .716 OPS. He'll expected to get at-bats primarily at 1st base, but could fill also fill in at 2nd baseman while Ian Kinsler is injured.

Reed was recently promoted to Triple-A Oklahoma City after posting a 1.62 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 39 relief innings at Double-A Frisco. Poveda has missed the entire season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in March.

Travels and Travails

We were on the road for much of the last two days, so we saw/heard part or none of the latter two games against the Blue Jays. It's just as well. It was 6-2 Yankees last we heard on Saturday and we know how that turned out, and yesterday Roy Halladay became the first pitcher since Chuck Finley in 1996 to beat the Yankees four times in a single season.

The only Yankees runs on Sunday were solo home runs (aren't they always) by Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi. It was A-Rod's 547th, putting him one behind Mike Schmidt on the all-time list.

Andy Pettitte stunk yesterday, giving up six runs in 6.1 innings pitched, putting his teammates in a 4-0 hole after two innings. While it was once a given that Pettitte would be a Yankee next season, if he wanted to return, it is now clearly up in the air. Mike Mussina has been the better pitcher by far this season, and it's not likely that the Yankees would bring both of them back next season.

The Blue Jays' David Eckstein was 2-4 with an RBI in the game and was traded afterwards to the Diamondbacks for a player to be named later.

Since being one game back of Boston in the wildcard race on July 26, the Yankees have gone 14-19 with a 5.64 team ERA.

The Yankees make a one game trip to Detroit this afternoon with Sidney Ponson facing Justin Verlander.

Travels and Travails

We were on the road for much of the last two days, so we saw/heard part or none of the latter two games against the Blue Jays. It's just as well. It was 6-2 Yankees last we heard on Saturday and we know how that turned out, and yesterday Roy Halladay became the first pitcher since Chuck Finley in 1996 to beat the Yankees four times in a single season.

The only Yankees runs on Sunday were solo home runs (aren't they always) by Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi. It was A-Rod's 547th, putting him one behind Mike Schmidt on the all-time list.

Andy Pettitte stunk yesterday, giving up six runs in 6.1 innings pitched, putting his teammates in a 4-0 hole after two innings. While it was once a given that Pettitte would be a Yankee next season, if he wanted to return, it is now clearly up in the air. Mike Mussina has been the better pitcher by far this season, and it's not likely that the Yankees would bring both of them back next season.

The Blue Jays' David Eckstein was 2-4 with an RBI in the game and was traded afterwards to the Diamondbacks for a player to be named later.

Since being one game back of Boston in the wildcard race on July 26, the Yankees have gone 14-19 with a 5.64 team ERA.

The Yankees make a one game trip to Detroit this afternoon with Sidney Ponson facing Justin Verlander.