Injuries, injuries, injuries

If the 2009 Red Sox were a racehorse, it might be put down.

Every day, it seems we learn of a new injury. It's so bad that even writers from Minnesota are creating injuries for Jonathan Papelbon. Paps says he's fine, but he seems to be the type who would keep pitching even if his arm was about to fall off. I'm concerned.

Do you know who else plays through injuries? Kevin Youkilis. Christine spoke for herself last night when she said no more World Baseball Classic talk. I would not have made a promise if I had known about Youk's revelation. He wasn't injured during the WBC, he was injured weeks before it. That makes it all better. He just needs to shut it down and wear a boot for a few days. Lord knows this couldn't have been taken care of the past two weeks instead of playing meaningless exhibition games as if they mattered and then participating in a post-game celebratory melee.

I'll ignore the joke and blame Derek Jeter:

"Dog-piling and running around, having so much fun doing that, I think that was probably not the brightest idea," Youkilis said. "But you know when you have your adrenaline up you can do a lot of things. Not a great decision on my part to participate in dog-piling, running around and jumping around. Probably didn't help it at all. But like I said, it had nothing to do with all of that. Derek Jeter kind of grabbed at my ankle, and twisted it."

(OK, yes, Youkilis was joking in that last part.)

Just when I thought I had a handle on the injuries, there comes good news: J.D. Drew's X-rays were negative. What? When did he get injured? Oh, today, he was hit on the hand.

Every team has its share of injuries. I think we've had our fill before the season has even started.

And the games play on

When I saw Team USA losing last night, I was a little psyched. Finally, this charade can be over, and Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino can come back to Clearwater. Alas, I forgot that the team had already qualified for the semifinals and that the match-up against Venezuela was just to determine seeding.

Memo to J-Roll and Shane-o: You’re already World Champions. No need to prolong play in the World Baseball Classic. Come back and start playing with the real champions. It would make Charlie Manuel, and me, very happy.

Tomorrow: Promise, something other than WBC talk.

Damn WBC

All day I was planning today's post about how Christine and I got sucked into watching the exciting end of last night's World Baseball Classic in which the United States put off its inevitable tournament loss with a 9th inning comeback against Puerto Rico.

I was going to talk about the SoxandPhils impact on the 9th inning - J.C. Romero pitched against Shane Victorino, who led off with a single, and Jimmy Rollins, who walked and later scored the winning run. Kevin Youkilis walked against another pitcher.

I even teased Christine that the post would be called "Mr. Met is Mr. Clutch" because David Wright might shed his choker reputation with the game-winning hit. Then we watched the players dog pile in celebration, nervously wondering which of our players would suffer a season-ending injury during the pandemonium.

Those fears were unfounded. It turns out Youk was already injured - three or four days ago - and decided to play the game even though he could barely walk afterward.

I guess it's too early to concede defeat for 2009, but I don't like what this stupid tournament is doing to my team. I hope the next victim of the WBC isn't J-Roll or Victorino.

8:24 update: Argh! Greg just told me that tonight's game is being played in the rain. Of course, both Victorino and J-Roll are in the lineup. We wouldn't want Derek Jeter to get hurt playing in the rain, would we? You better keep my guys safe, Davey Johnson.

Injury word association

Remember Saturday's post about Dustin Pedroia's injury?

Well, Greg is to Dustin Pedroia is to Robinson Cano as Christine is to Cole Hamels is to Johan Santana.

I still say it's early and this is probably nothing, but it's never comforting to hear that your ace is heading up north for evaluation. The Red Sox, meanwhile, aren't blaming the World Baseball Classic for Pedroia's injury. I am.

In other news, Kyle Kendrick got hit pretty hard today, but he's still in the running for fifth starter if Hamels and a couple other starters go down. Charlie Manuel couldn't quite express himself:

"We had some shabby defense," Manuel said. "(Kendrick's) line definitely should have been better. We made mistakes. We made a hell of a lot of (bleeping) mistakes. That was really a nice game. I think any game like that (ticks) you off, but the best thing you can do is (bleeping) go out there and get on the bus and forget about that son of a (gun). Yeah, that was a horse (bleep, bleeping) game. If I played in that (bleeping) game I definitely (bleeping) would take a good inventory of myself. That was a horse (bleep) game. They don't get no better than that. God (darn) it, that's terrible.

"I'd say we kind of (bleeping) hit rock bottom there for a while."

Injured second basemen

I was in another room while Christine was catching up online on the day's news. She excitedly told me that Robinson Cano is injured. I saw the headline earlier, but didn't pay much attention. It's too early for me to pay attention to these things, and Robinson Cano is pretty much irrelevant. There's only two second basemen who matter to this blog: Dustin MVPedroia and Chase "World ----ing Champion" Utley.

But being a Yankee hater, I couldn't help but snicker inside. That bit me in the behind when I read that Dustin Pedroia was injured during the World Baseball Classic. He says it's not serious, and reports are uncertain whether he will continue to play in the tournament. I don't care if Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman proclaims him 100 percent, he should be done with this stupid tournament.

Ironically, I've been putting off a post all week about how I've actually watched and enjoyed the WBC this year. No more. Not if it means the Red Sox could be without their heart and soul because of a meaningless exhibition. Next time, send the Pedro Martinezes, Rudy Seanezes and Eric Gagnes of the world to play in this thing. Keep the players who matter with their real teams.

Chase Utley escaped injury when he played in the first WBC, but was injured during legitimate play last season. He returned today for a minor league spring training game.

Tidbits

Kyle Kendrick: During dinner, Greg and I were discussing his latest disastrous outing. Greg said he's ready to call him Adam Eaton Jr.; I disagree. I know the comparison has been made before, but I'm afraid that he's going to be another Pat Combs. Prove me wrong, KK.

World Baseball Classic: Go Netherlands! I love an underdog story. I love when overly cocky team lose. I love watching Jose Reyes when his team blows it. I've seen that stunned look on his face before. You would think that he'd be used to it by now. Here he sits, wiping away the tears, with fellow non-winner Robinson Cano.

Jon Lester: Greg briefly panicked last night when he heard that the Lester deal hasn't been finalized yet. He started thinking of doomsday scenarios, the worst being that something bad was found on his physical. But it seems like just normal drawn-out contract mumbo jumbo. Lester is still expected to sign a multi-year deal with the Red Sox.

Movie review: Greg and I agreed that we would have never watched Race to Witch Mountain if we hadn't won free tickets, but it was enjoyable for a Disney movie. We were a bit overwhelmed when we walked into the theater because it was packed with kids who must have won tickets from Radio Disney. They were all screaming out answers to High School Musical trivia questions but quieted down for the flick. Nothing better than a free movie on a Tuesday night.

[Photo credit: Associated Press]

We're getting closer ...

Players are stirring, reporters have started writing again and a whole mess of chewing gum, T-shirts and baseballs will soon depart from Philadelphia to Clearwater. All that's missing is Jimmy Rollins dissing on the Mets. But J-Roll, who did a conference call on the World Baseball Classic, wasn't interested in talking about the past:

"Being on the same team, you actually get to see and admire what a guy is like when you're in the same clubhouse," said Rollins, who will play for Team USA next month in the WBC. "You're not representing New York or Philadelphia. It doesn't matter who the guy on your left or right is. It's just Team USA. So, as for the Mets, that has nothing to do with the World Baseball Classic. I'll address that in spring training."

C'mon, J-Roll, I'm dying here. Give me something to work with.

Not even Theo Epstein gave me anything to chew on in a radio interview (not that he ever provides good blog fodder).

The only thing we learned today is one possible reason the Red Sox unexpectedly signed Brad Wilkerson - our fifth outfielder/backup first baseman, Mark Kotsay, needs back surgery and will miss at least one month. The season is ruined.

{As for me, I'm getting desperate for baseball to start. I am absolutely not a Led Zeppelin fan, but I listened to all 8 minutes and 28 seconds of Kashmir on the ride home from work, just because it reminded me of being at the ballpark.}