By Kevin Kleps, Fantasy Baseball Correspondent
Tuesday, the Yankees held a news conference to promote the All-Star game, which will be held July 15, one of the showcase events in the farewell season of Yankee Stadium.
That day, real news – and not of the positive variety – came via the transaction wire and two dreaded names for any fantasy owner. Dr. James Andrews and Dr. Timothy Kremchek.
Alex Rodriguez, the consensus No. 1 overall choice in fantasy, was headed to the disabled list for the first time since 2000 because of a strained right quadriceps.
Meanwhile, Jorge Posada, baseball’s most durable catcher and a top-four fantasy player at his position, was seeking opinions on his ailing right shoulder from the aforementioned doctors. Andrews is an orthopedist and Kremchek the Reds’ team physician and a shoulder specialist. Neither is a name you want associated with one of your best players.
Rodriguez will miss at least two weeks. He has yet to justify his draft status, but you shouldn’t be too concerned. He’ll be back, and he’ll mash. It really is that simple.
What to do with Posada isn’t nearly as easy.
The Yankees are hoping surgery isn’t needed, and Posada was pretty productive while playing with a bum shoulder – a .302 batting average and 11 RBI in 63 at-bats. Still, a catcher who says he has a "dead arm" is enough to make you consider other options.
One shouldn't be Jose Molina, who is the Yankees' starting catcher in Posada’s absence. With career highs of six home runs and 25 RBI, he’s not even roster-worthy in fantasy baseball.
Your best choice might be looking for a temporary fill-in – Milwaukee’s Jason Kendall, Kansas City’s John Buck and Arizona’s Chris Snyder are available in most leagues, but don’t get your hopes too high. Posada, who is on the DL for the first time in his career, could be back soon, and if he is, get him back in your lineup.
Still, you should start exploring other options. When Andrews and Kremchek are involved, good news doesn’t usually follow.
The same could be used to describe the remainder of the Yankees’ disappointing lineup.
With A-Rod and Posada on the DL, the Yanks are down to four regular fantasy starters on the offensive end – Derek Jeter, Bobby Abreu, Hideki Matsui and Melky Cabrera. The latter, who had five home runs and three stolen bases in the season’s first month, has been a pleasant surprise.
Jeter has yet to hit a home run or steal a base after averaging 16.3 homers and 22 steals in his first 12 full major-league seasons, but it’s too early to be worried.
Of much greater concern to fantasy owners is second baseman Robinson Cano, another top-five pick at his position who is off to a miserable start. In his first 103 at-bats, Cano batted .155 with a .216 on-base percentage and a .243 slugging percentage. He has a track record – he batted a combined .314 with 48 home runs and 237 RBI the previous three seasons – but his numbers are too anemic to keep him in your lineup.
If you have a decent backup at second, put Cano on your bench and hope he turns it around.
I wouldn’t have the same patience with outfielder Johnny Damon and first baseman/designated hitter Jason Giambi.
Both are fantasy backups at best at this point in their careers. Damon seems to be on track for a season similar to 2007 – 12 home runs, 63 RBI, a .270 batting average and 20-plus steals. Decent production, but you can do better in the outfield.
Giambi’s first 70 at-bats went like this: five home runs, 12 RBI and .171 average. If you need to free up a roster spot, he would be a player to let go.
Same goes for a couple of the Yankees’ highly touted pitching prospects.
Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy didn’t get dealt for Johan Santana over the winter, and they’re not making fans of the pinstripes feel good about the decision thus far.
Hughes, who’s just 21, is 0-4 with a 9.00 ERA in his first six starts. Kennedy, 23, was 0-2 with an 8.53 ERA in his first 19 innings pitched.
Both showed promise as rookies last season, and both might be pitching their way out of the rotation this season. At this point, I wouldn’t count on either.
The Yankees’ beleaguered staff has one must-start (Chien-Ming Wang, who is 5-0 with a 3.23 ERA), one occasional starter (Andy Pettitte) and a veteran who should be on your roster only if you’re desperate (Mike Mussina).
But let’s look on the bright side: The struggles of Hughes and Kennedy could produce some rare good news in the land of the $200 million payroll.
Joba Chamberlain could eventually get his chance to start. He’s one who should be worth the wait, although fantasy owners are likely getting tired of all the delays associated with baseball’s marquee franchise.
Also, see Picks and Pans for more fantasy advice. And you can contact Kevin Kleps at kkleps@hotmail.com.
