SU asks this question: if you are mostly sitting on the bench, how do you get hurt? The Yankees just announced that their latest utility infielder acquisition, Dustin Ackley from Seattle, has been placed on the DL with a right lumbar strain. How is that possible? Out 20-30 days and surgery is a possibility. It’s not like he was this great pick up but still…
SU will give Brian Cashman a pass as he was smart enough to not trade any of their prospects for some over-priced contract. As a long-time Yankee fan, I would much rather watch guys like Judge, Refsnyder and Severino for years to come than see a rental pitcher for a few months who will be gone come October – even if it means missing the playoffs this year.
The Yankees need a back-up first baseman. And if Texeiria goes down with an injury, they are really exposed. That is the one position where they are extremely vulnerable.
Sports Update Intergalactic 
Seattle does it to the Yankees again- when they traded Pineda to them a few years ago, he was damaged goods as well.
Here’s my response to your question about getting a lumbar injury while you’re not playing: “If you’re a star defensive player in a violent sport, and it’s your off season, how do you get hurt playing with fireworks?”
I know there is little love for JPP out there for what he did to himself but I think you have to remember that these are young guys who may often act first and think second. There is a reason that fireworks are illegal in many places. Baseball players use smokeless tobacco in large doses day in and day out. It’s just a matter of time before they get gum cancer (see Curt Schilling). I think when you are a professional athlete you feel invincible. But they bleed just like the rest of us do and fall apart over time. But… hard to defend JPP. Just a dumb move.
When you’re a bench player much of your activity amounts to giving high fives when your team scores runs. And when your team scores 90 runs in 10 games that’s a lot of high fives, especially when you’re coming from Seattle. This can take a toll on your back.
I was at yesterday’s game and it was a pretty ugly win despite the score. A bunch of miscues in the field and a failure to plate more than one run in the 1st when the Sox pitcher seemed completely rattled in his debut. Also an odd move when Girardi went to the bullpen when Wison had a 1-2 count. Not sure what Girardi’s thinking was but I suspect that, like me in section 413, he had no idea that there were 2 strikes on a batter in a close game because the stadium was silent.
Seth, I watched that sequence with Girardi and Betances and it was 2nd guessed to the nth degree on tv. I am a Girardi fan but sometimes you need to show confidence in other relievers besides Betances and Miller. I mean, he rolls out Stephen Drew night after night. How about a little love for Wilson? The Yankees are a flawed team but lately their offense is covering up some of those shortcomings. At least it looked like a full house last night.
An odd move. The problem is he had everyone confused including Betances who came in and was wild. He’s not used to coming in with a 1-2 count either. The decision may have hurt Wilson’s ego and Bentances’ routine. If you’re going to do something this unusual you better have a good reason. Girardi says it was “strategy.” Not sure what that means.