Pass the Ice Pack

Jason Michael Barker

Darn these ballplayers -- you'd think for all they money they get paid, they could at least play a week without getting themselves injured. Here's a rundown at the players of consequence who've gone down since opening day and what ails them, along with a brief look at what their teams are doing to cope.

Alex Rodriguez, Seattle
Status: 15-day DL on 4/7
Prior reports that he was injured while running from a screaming pack of 13-year old girls have been denied. In fact, Rodriguez injured his knee doing a jumping exercise near the end of spring training, then played two games to start the season before it was discovered that he had torn cartilage. He underwent surgery last week and is expected to be out four to six weeks. In the meantime, the Mariners planned to play 2B Carlos Guillen, a former shortstop, in his place and move utility man David Bell to second. However...

Carlos Guillen, Seattle
Status: Out for season (torn ACL)
Guillen was involved in a controversial play on Saturday which ultimately resulted in his being lost for the season. Following a wild sequence of events which culminated in run-down between third and home, Oakland's Tony Phillips stumbled as he was being tagged by Guillen and the two got their legs tangled up as Guillen attempted to pivot and throw back to 3B. Guillen's knee gave way, and that was all she wrote. Phillips reportedly offered Guillen an undisclosed substance "for the pain." Guillen opted for Advil.

The M's had already called up Giomar Guevara to serve as Guillen's backup, and they've also signed veteran IF Domingo Cedeño to help fill the void. The two will likely split time at short until Rodriguez returns, with Bell remaining at second. Neither Cedeño or Guevara brings much with the bat, although the former homered in his Mariner debut Sunday. Both are good defensive players.

Mike Piazza, New York Mets
Status: 15-day DL on 4/10
The most valuable player in all the land is out two to three weeks with a sprained medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his right knee, which strangely enough was suffered during a run-down. That's it -- no more run-downs in Major League Baseball. Manager Bobby Valentine has said Todd Pratt will be the everyday catcher until Piazza returns, and for the moment Pratt is the only catcher on the roster. Infielder Mike Kinkade is the emergency backstop, although he has very limited catching experience. In case you didn't already know, Pratt is a huge offensive drop-off from Piazza.

Rick Reed, New York Mets
Status: 15-day DL on 4/12
Those wacky Mets are at it again, placing entire starting pitcher/catcher combos on the DL at the same time in order to save on transaction costs. Reed has a torn calf muscle as a result of attempting to stretch a single into a double last week against the Expos. The good news is that the injury is much less serious than an Achilles tear, and Reed will likely be ready to re-join the rotation after his stint on the DL. Allen Watson will replace Reed in the rotation for the time being, and the Mets called LHP Rigo Beltran and OF Terrence Long up from AAA to fill the open spots on the roster. Met fans might argue that the spots were better left unfilled.

Alex Fernandez, Florida
Status: 15-day DL on 4/12
Fernandez missed the entire 1998 season after Jim Leyland's incessant abuse led to rotator cuff surgery following the 1997 season, and now he has inflammation in his pitching shoulder. Fortunately for fans of the Fish, doctors say that there's no damage to the rotator cuff. Pitchers go through this stuff all the time, but it's entirely possible he's still feeling the ill effects of his fateful 1997. Fernandez had managed only 9.2 innings total in his first two starts of 1999, so it's possible that he was never all the way back in the first place, at least not in terms of his endurance. It remains to be seen if the Marlins will toss another young hurler into the fire in his place.

Jose Valentin, Milwaukee
Status: 15-day DL on 4/11
The Brew Crew's starting shortstop tore a ligament in his left thumb Friday while sliding into second base. IF Lou Collier has been called up to fill Valentin's place on the roster. Milwaukee had been looking to clear things up in the middle infield, although I'm sure trading 2B Fernando Viña was the preferred method. Utility man Mark Loretta, who has good on-base ability (.382 OBP last season) will likely play short until Valentin comes back. The injury probably means any trade involving Viña is on hold for the time being, despite prospect Ronnie Belliard waiting in the wings.

Homer Bush, Toronto
Status: 15-day DL on 4/11
Much like Valentin, Bush suffered his injury (a tear in his right index finger) while sliding into second base. Isn't the proper way to slide something you're supposed to learn in little league? Regardless, Bush's digit will be immobilized for two weeks, and he could be out another week or two beyond that. Normally utility man Craig Grebeck would be expected to fill in at second base, but he's missed the past couple of games with a bum foot. The Jays signed IF Norberto Martin to a minor-league deal last week, and he got the start at second on Sunday, going two-for-four with a walk and a run scored.

Ricardo Rincon, Cleveland
Status: 15-day DL on 4/10
Rincon was acquired this off-season in exchange for OF Brian Giles (a good deal for both clubs), and was the top lefty in the Tribe's pen to start the season. He's got that ominous "sore elbow," although the MRI didn't show any ligament damage, loose chips, or other assorted snack foods. The injury opens the door for veteran lefty and un-retiree Mark Langston, who had his contract purchased from AAA. The Cleveland bullpen formerly had Rincon and Paul Assenmacher from the left-hand side; Assenmacher and Langston seem like a pair waiting to blow up (and not in the good way). Given Cleveland's offense, it shouldn't matter much.

Mo Vaughn, Anaheim
Status: 15-day DL on 4/8
Big Mo is at the bottom of this list because he's old news by now, and nearly ready to come back anyway. The Halos have been playing Darren Erstad at first base, with Tim Salmon, Garret Anderson and Orlando Palmeiro in the outfield, the latter getting to play because Jim Edmonds is on the DL too. When Vaughn comes back, Erstad will move back to center and Palmeiro will assume his rightful role on the bench. When Edmonds comes back, it'll be time to trade Anderson or DH Salmon and move Todd Greene behind the plate full time.

about the author

Jason Michael Barker has managed to avoid serious injury thus far, but he did cut the tip of his thumb while slicing a tomato last week. Cry him a river of pseudo-sympathy when you drop him a line at jmb@strikethree.com.