An expert on baseball's Junior Circuit, Don's has worked as a columnist both in print and online for multiple outlets over the past seven years. This is Don's first season at Sports Grumblings.
Last week I talked about guys who were hurt and/or coming back from injury. This week I’ll highlight players who have yet to be injured but who are no strangers to the disabled list. Think twice about acquiring any of these players since a wrong move could cost be a season-killer.
David DeJesus is probably sitting on some DL in the near future. The Royals’ centerfielder has had a history of injuries in his short career (hamstring, shoulder, foot), not to mention the fact his minor league time is littered with him getting hurt. On the plus side, he is young enough (27) that maybe he is learning to pace himself and not put himself in as vulnerable a position to become injured. Note that DeJesus has no homers and only three RBI in his past thirty games. Also, even though he is speedy, he is a poor base-stealer and has attempted only one steal on the year (yep…he was caught). What he provides is runs and, if in an OBP league, a good OBP…but little else.
Of course if you are talking about the Royals and injuries, you are obligated to discuss Mike Sweeney. Even though Sweeney has been healthy this year, the former catcher has made comments about once again donning the tools of ignorance. That would only expedite a trip to the disable list. Any way you slice it, you’d have to be delusional to acquire Sweeney and not expect some DL time this year.
Jay Gibbons missed time last year with knee, back, shoulder and neck ailments. While he hasn’t missed any time this season, he could have been day-to-day with some injury but was benched and we wouldn’t have known it. At any rate, Gibbons is a reasonable bet to get hurt at some point, though that would require him to play well enough to get at-bats. It is a catch-22, no doubt!
The Big Hurt just turned 39 and might be an interesting player to obtain if you need power. However, Frank Thomas will likely cost you more than you are willing to pay and there is always that injury risk associated with rostering Thomas. Pass.
For those J. D. Drew owners, not only has Drew been underperforming this year so far, but you can’t blame it on an injury. And you know that an injury is always lurking with Drew. He is certainly someone not to target in a buy low move since the owner who has him probably paid a lot to get him – and you won’t be getting him at a discount!
Carlos Guillen is a great player…but does have injury issues. In 2003 and 2005 Guillen failed to reach 400 at-bats. Invariably, something is always hurting on Guillen and he does a good job playing through injuries. But he is a five-category star at shortstop and you’ll have to pay a lot to get him.
AJ Burnett has been tough to hit this year and is on a roll recently, striking out seven or more batters in his last five outings. He may be an attractive target for you if you need pitching, especially in leagues that count strikeouts. However, he has had his share (and then some) of DL time in the past, including last season. Buyer beware.
Darin Erstad is on pace to steal 26 bases. He can certainly reach that in Chicago…if he stays healthy. Erstad has spent 252 days on the DL during the past four years so he would be on the short-list of players likely to find himself sidelined at some point..
Sure, Bobby Crosby has not had his DL stint yet, but we have faith.
I am surprisedthat Bobby Crosby has made it this far into the season without spending time on the DL. He was really hit-or-miss in spring training as to whether or not his back would hold up. As it is, if you invest in him now expecting him to show that “22 HR” form from his rookie season, keep in mind that came with a 0.239 batting average.
Jose Vidro is now a full-time DH and has not appeared in the field this season. That helps the perennially-injured player stay healthy. On the downside, the Mariners are giving full-time at-bats to a DH who has managed just eight extra-base hits on the year. Stay away.
Trot Nixon should be in line for more at bats against left-handed pitching, now that Casey Blake has moved to third base permanently. That isn’t necessarily a good thing since he is a poor hitter against south-paws AND this increased playing time just raises the injury possibility.
C. C. Sabathia has logged a lot of innings pitched in his career so far and has avoided “the big one” even though he has spent stints on the DL the previous two seasons with an oblique problem. Maybe this is his Cy Young year…or maybe it is the year for “the big one”. Keep the latter in the back of your mind if you acquire Sabathia.
By the way, there are a few guys that would be on the list above but they don’t count because they have already been injured. Those players are: Milton Bradley, Brad Wilkerson, Rich Harden, Rondell White, Rocco Baldelli, Maicer Izturis, Reggie Sanders, and Kelvim Escobar.
A few other notes around the Junior Circuit…
Andy Marte, as expected, was farmed yesterday. He’s going to have to become very “hitterish” (as Buddy Bell described a recalled Mark Teahen last summer) to get any momentum back. His prospect status is almost gone.
Dustin McGowan mowed down the Yankees for seven innings yesterday, allowing three hits and no runs, walking one and striking out six. He was over 100 pitches at the time and the Jays had a 7 – 0 lead. This was McGowan’s best start by far this year. So instead of taking him out at that point (or even allowing him to face one batter in the eighth and taking him out so the crowd could give him a standing ovation), John Gibbons has him try to finish the eighth inning. He gets the first two batters out (including a strikeout), but Derek Jeter singles. Of course Gibbons takes him out at this point since he is up to 114 pitches? Nope…he lets him pitch to Hideki Matsui, who promptly takes him deep to center field for a home run. It was a stupid move by Gibbons.
By the way, if you own Matt Stairs, you might want to think about selling high on him to an owner who doesn’t pay too much attention. The intention of Toronto was not to play him as much as they are, but Reed Johnson’s injury and Adam Lind’s slump has given Stairs at bats. That will eventually dry up and he’ll be back to more of a fourth outfielder role.
Texas has gone back to the Mike Young “third hitter” and Mark Teixeira “clean-up” hitter line-up, movingRamon Vazquez to the No. 2 slot. While I do think such an alignment will last, it likely means Frank Catalanotto will slide back up to the two hole at some point since we are talking about Ramon Vazquez here, after all. Catalanotto is miscast batting fifth (as he was on Monday).
An expert on baseball's Junior Circuit, Don's has worked as a columnist both in print and online for multiple outlets over the past seven years. This is Don's first season at Sports Grumblings.
