By Kevin Kleps, Fantasy Correspondent
That wacky Hank Steinbrenner, taking a page out of his father’s use-the-media-to-get-something-off-your-chest playbook, spoke for fantasy owners everywhere when he vented about Chien-Ming Wang’s bizarre foot injury on June 15.
After the Yankees’ ace tore a tendon and sprained his foot running the bases, the younger Steinbrenner’s target was the Senior Circuit.
“My only message is simple. The National League needs to join the 21st century,” Steinbrenner told reporters. “They need to grow up and join the 21st century.”
OK, so maybe fantasy owners couldn’t care less about pitchers batting and running the bases. Unless said pitcher – a 19-game winner in each of the previous two years, one who is 8-2 this season – is on YOUR team and might not return until the fantasy playoffs.
Wang’s injury is one of the most bizarre, but far from the only ailment suffered by a big-name player in this already-eventful season. The list is a long one, but we’ll focus on 10 of the most significant injuries, and try to determine if there’s a suitable replacement on the affected team’s roster. All statistics listed are through June.
Chien-Ming Wang, SP, Yankees
With Wang, Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes hurt, the Bronx Bombers have turned to Darrell Rasner and Sidney Ponson. Yes, Sidney Ponson, Grump Extraordinaire. Ponson was 4-1 before getting dumped by pitching-starved Texas (which has to tell you something about his personality), and he won his first start with the Yankees. His numbers (5-1, 3.50) are roster-worthy, but I wouldn’t use him as a starter unless I had to. Rasner (4-6, 4.42) is a bench player at best. Wang is expected to be out until September. If you’re lucky, he’ll return in time for the fantasy postseason.
Magglio Ordonez, OF, Tigers
Last year’s batting champ is on the 15-day disabled list with a pulled muscle in his side. He should return after the All-Star break, and when he does, the choice the simple: Start him. For the time being, hop on the Marcus Thames bandwagon. With Ordonez out and Miguel Cabrera now banged up, Thames has given the Tigers a huge lift. He has 15 home runs and 33 RBI in just 148 at-bats, with 10 of the home runs and 16 of the RBI coming in June, a month in which he batted .306. Start him while he’s hot. Matt Joyce, who has five home runs and 11 RBI in 54 at-bats this season, was called up to take Ordonez’s spot on Detroit’s roster. He has some pop, but he’s only worth a roster spot in AL-only leagues. And even that might be a stretch.
Victor Martinez, C, Indians
Fantasy’s top catcher entering the season, the Tribe’s cleanup hitter likely won’t be back until at least August after surgery on his elbow. Martinez, who had 25 home runs and 114 RBI last season, injured his hamstring on opening day and played with a bad elbow until he could take no more. It showed in his statistics – no homers and just 21 RBI in 198 uneventful at-bats. I wouldn’t count on him the rest of the way – the last-place Indians aren’t going to have much of a reason to rush him back this season. His backup, Kelly Shoppach, is worth a roster spot in deeper leagues. Shoppach has five home runs and 17 RBI in 133 at-bats this season, and 12 homers and 47 RBI in 294 at-bats the last two seasons.
David Ortiz, DH, Red Sox
Big Papi started terribly, got hot, then injured his left wrist. He likely will miss the next few weeks, but there is a bright side: Since he’s strictly a DH, you can plug anyone into your lineup in his place. If you’re looking at someone from the Red Sox to pick up the slack, Coco Crisp (five homers, 22 RBI, 12 steals, 24 runs in 198 at-bats) is a decent option once he returns from serving a five-game suspension for his role in a brawl with the Rays on June 5. When he returns, both Crisp and Jacoby Ellsbury should get everyday at-bats, with Crisp playing left and Manny Ramirez as the DH in Ortiz’s place. The highly touted Brandon Moss (.246 in 57 at-bats) will play some, but not enough to warrant a roster spot.
Alfonso Soriano, OF, Cubs
He’s batted only 212 times because of a calf injury and now a broken hand, but he’s been his usual productive self when he has played (15 homers, 40 RBI, seven steals). Soriano wants to return next week, but it looks as if he might not get his wish. The Cubs provide other quality fantasy options in Mark DeRosa and Jim Edmonds. The latter batted .319 with six homers and 19 RBI in June. If you’re desperate, he’s probably available in many leagues. The versatile DeRosa, on the other hand, has reached must-start status. He’s eligible at second base, third base and the outfield, and he’s hit 10 home runs and driven in 45 runs while batting .296. I’d start him at second, the weakest of the three positions from a fantasy perspective, but DeRosa isn’t a bad option anywhere.
Five more injuries to watch on Page 2, and these are harder to fix.
