Game 2: Yanks VS. Royals (Ensberg to the DL?)

Here’s the lineup and some important news from PA:

YANKEES
Damon DH
Cano 2B
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui LF
Giambi 1B
Molina C
Cabrera CF
Gonzalez SS
Kennedy RHP

Notes: Jorge Posada has been diagnosed with a shoulder strain according to the KC team doctor and should only miss a few days. It doesn’t look like a DL. He had the MRI sent to Dr. James Andrews for confirmation and the Yankees will have their doctors look at it as well. “It’s good news because it’s not serious,” Posada said. … Gonzalez is in the lineup. There seems to be a chance that Morgan Ensberg will go on the DL with a mysterious knee injury. It may not necessarily be Jeter.

The Yankees won’t say what the move is until after BP.

UPDATE, 6:51 p.m.: Stunning news from Joe Girardi. It seems that Ensberg injured his left ankle on Monday. This was probably news to Ensberg until he was told about it today. The Yankees will announce their move after BP but that’s what it’ll be, Ensberg placed on the 15-day disabled list.

So, it looks like Morgan Ensberg took one for the team and will be headed to the DL. The Yankees will have Jeter and Posada on the bench so they won’t miss substantial time and all is well in Yankeeland.

UPDATE (8:32) — I just got in and turned on the game and who do I see pitching? Brian Bruney. Yup. The Yankees website is reporting that IPK was scratched right before the start of the game. No explict details have been provided and the site implies that there was an injury. HOWEVER, it’s raining a lot in KC and the Yankees might have started Bruney instead of IPK in order to save his start. The Giants did something similar with their young starter, Tim Lincecum, last week.

UPDATE (8:41) — IPK is fine. The Yankees held him back so that his start wouldn’t be wasted by the rain. Brian Bruney is pitching well through 2 innings. However, Greinke is also pitching well, so let’s hope the Yankee offense can mount something against him.

UPDATE (9:52) — With the way the Yankee offense has looked, you could swear they were the Tigers. Their inability to drive in baserunners and string together hits has continued into this game. Zack Greinke is a good pitcher, but at the same time, he’s stil hittable. The bullpen was solid up until Kyle Farnsworth came in and gave up 2 ER in his 2nd inning of work (surprised?).

Blog Bounce: RAB

River Ave Blues has a nice read on Phil Hughes and his velocity. Many fans have been wondering if his low velocity (90-92) has been the result of a mechanical issue. RAB, using a variety of sources, provides you with a nice understanding of what could be going on. I think Hughes does have some mechanical lapses, but his velocity is right about where it should be and it could increase as the months go by and the temperature rises.

Gonzalez With the Team

Either Jeter or Posada are headed to the DL. Alberto Gonzalez has been recalled from Triple-A and is with the team in Kansas. Mark Feinsand of the Daily News is guessing that Jeter will be put on the DL (retroactively?) and that Posada will likely sit out, probably for a week or so, to rest his shoulder. Feinsand accurately states that if Posada was headed to the DL, the Yankees would have called up Chad Moeller to serve as the backup catcher to Jose Molina.

However, this is not definite. Both guys could be headed to the DL, or it could be Posada OR Jeter. I honestly thought that Jorge would be headed to the DL (15-day) but then who would be the backup for Molina (since Gonzalez, a SS was called up)? Morgan Ensberg or Shelley Duncan? That’s unlikely, especially with the tough schedule. The Yanks could have Posada stay with the team in order to rest up while seeing some AB’s at DH although that would take the bat away from the red hot Hideki Matsui (.357 AVG).

George King also has a report out about Gonzalez joining the team and he spoke with Brian Cashman who had the following to say:

As for Posada, Cashman didn’t have the results of yesterday’s MRI exam on the All-Star catcher’s right shoulder, but the GM said he didn’t believe the problem would land Posada on the disabled list for the first time.

“It sounds like it’s a day-to-day thing,” Cashman said. “It needs to get stronger. It’s my understanding talking to the trainers is that he needs four, five or six days of rest. He can do that in a backup manner. But we will wait to hear from the doctors. The good thing is that there is no pain.”

Nothing’s for certain as of now, but there will be some sort of roster move today.

The Brighter Side

Well, no news on Jorge Posada yet. I’m waiting intently as he is an integral part of not only the Yankees but 2 of my 3 fantasy teams. Either way, there is a bright side to Jorge’s absence with the Yankees (it’s not all doom and gloom). Think of it this way, with Jorge out, he’ll be resting and getting a chance to become fully healthy, allowing him to post up great numbers later on. The Yankees have Molina to fill in for him while he’s gone (if placed on the DL) and he’ll do a great job calling games and challenging baserunners with his cannon behind the plate. Jose has worked well with youngsters Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes before, so I’m hoping that his ability to call a good game (limiting runs) will help to dilute the offensive loss of Jorge and Jeter. Of course, the Yankees could always sit Jason Giambi and try Jorge at first base, but turning double plays would be hard for him.

Bill Buckner’s Return to Fenway

For those who don’t know, the infamous Bill Buckner returned to Fenway to throw the first pitch in Boston’s home opener. Here’s some info. on the event from Jack Curry:

“It was hard for me to do,” a teary-eyed Buckner said about returning to Fenway.

When the Red Sox first invited Buckner, he said he figured he would decline. But he said he prayed about it and decided to accept. Two titles in the past four years for Boston have lessened the sting of what happened in 1986.

“I really had to forgive, not the fans of Boston per se, but I’d have to say in my heart I had to forgive the media for what they put my family through,” Buckner said. Later, he asked: “Where do you the draw the line? Is it O.K. to disrupt someone’s life over a baseball game?”

Through the tears and the emotion, Buckner is a baseball man. So, as he analyzes the Red Sox, he sees a powerful team. He sees a team that may add to its ring collection.

“It looks,” Buckner said, “like there might be more ahead.”

I saw a clip of Buckner’s return on ESPN and I also caught his postgame interview. I must say, you cannot help but to feel for the man. He could barely speak to the media because he was too busy choking back tears. He is the ultimate baseball scapegoat.