From Joel Sherman:
Also, the Yanks were privately a lot more optimistic by Sunday that Xavier Nady could avoid Tommy John surgery and that he might be able to return in June and form a righty-lefty DH platoon with Hideki Matsui. Of course, that would mean the Yanks were carrying two players who did not play the field, which hurts roster construction. Also, that is assuming that Matsui’s fragile knees could last.
Nady returning by June would really help a bench that now has Melky Cabrera as its most established bat. He has plenty of reasons to hurry back, as he is in his walk year and is sure to hurt his stock if he does not play at all for the remainder of 2009. A few solid months, on the other hand, would likely establish him as a solid bat who can be counted on to provide some good power from the right side. Hopefully he returns with enough time remaining in the season to be an important member of the 2009 Yankees.
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I disagree with the notion of a DH platoon with 2 players who can’t play a position. With the 12 man BP, spots on the 25 man are precious. If Nady is unable to take the field, I think he should be kept on the DL.
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Moshe Mandel Reply:
April 20th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
I dont think that is what Joel is saying, although I may be wrong. I think he is assuming that Nady is not good enough to displace Swisher or Damon, both at the plate and in the field. In that case, he makes sense as the 4th outfielder/half of a platoon.
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I don’t see how Nady could agree.What? Does he play until the season ends and then gets TJ or some other surgery without a contract and miss a season?
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Moshe Mandel Reply:
April 20th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
No, I think the idea is that he does not have a full tear, and that rest and rehab should heal it.
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O.K., that works!
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