Empty the Bench

A few big names have already been injured in the first week of the season. Obviously, Chris Carpenter headlines the list. Of the injuries sustained in the first week, he is the biggest name and has the most disconcerting prognosis. The St. Louis Cardinals originally said that his next start would be pushed back three days and he would be pitching tonight, but an elbow injury is about as precarious as they come for pitchers so fantasy owners weren’t exactly comforted. Sure enough, the right hander has been placed on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to April 2nd) with what is being called, “moderate arthritis and a mild impingement.” That doesn’t sound good. Why Carpenter didn’t receive a the MRI that gave this diagnosis right away is beyond me, but the damage has been done.

If you are a fantasy owner and relying on his services to anchor your staff, the worst thing you can do now is panic and trade him for pennies on the dollar. The season is six months long and all baseball leagues should have a DL, so for the time being stash him away, check out or sleeper pitcher list, and grab a guy like Zack Greinke, Boof Bonser, Rich Hill, Daniel Cabrera, John Maine, Adam Loewen or the like. However, if you can find somebody to offer you slightly below market value, pull the trigger and let the whole situation be somebody else’s headache. For those of you who do not have Carpenter, other owner’s losses can always be an astute owner’s gain. Put an offer in right now with one of your good-not-great players, and see if you can’t buy Chris on the cheap. The current best case scenario is that Carpenter returns at the start of May.

In other injury news, Hanley Ramirez was pulled from Sunday’s game versus the Phillies in the first inning after straining his hamstring. I was actually watching the game, and it was a pretty minor thing. He just took a bad step running out a ground ball and limped off the field. I’m a big fan of this kid, so hopefully this won’t be a lingering issue. With a player whose fantasy value is almost entirely tied to speed and explosiveness, you never like to see their name mentioned in the same sentence with the word ‘hamstring’. Fortunately this looks minor. “It was pretty tight, like a cramp,” Ramirez said. “It’s way better. I’m OK. I’m going to try to be in there Monday.” Hanley was held out yesterday, but is expected to return for tonight’s game according to Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez.

Victor Martinez was originally scheduled to go on the 15-day DL, but since the last four Indians games have been postponed he may be able to remain on the regular roster and wait out his strained left quad. That said, V-Mart is at least a week away from returning. The postponed games were a real blessing for fantasy owners, as the games will now be made up later in the season when he should be fully recovered from this minor malady.

Around the rest of the league:
There was a Chone Figgins sighting today. He was re-examined and cleared to begin range-of-motion exercises and Figgins is expected to start throwing by the end of the week. However, it’s hitting that will be the problem with his broken fingers, and Chone is still at least two weeks from making a return. Those of you in need of speed, now is a great time to make a lowball offer. One of our Sleeper Hitters, Chris B. Young, sat out yesterdays game with a tweaked groin, but is expected to be back in the lineup for tonight’s contest versus Cincinnati. Jason Schmidt, who left yesterday’s game in the fifth inning with a hamstring injury, is reportedly feeling much better and shouldn’t miss any time. He’s currently listed as day-to-day, but is expected to make his next scheduled start. The Dodgers are also expected to welcome Rafael Furcal back this Friday. He’s going to make two more rehab starts, but his ankle is nearly 100% so feel safe inserting him into your lineups for next week.

Eric Gagne will be activated this Friday, but he is not expected to assume the closer’s role right away. He’ll make his first few appearances in non-save situations, and I sense there is some question as to whether Gagne will be able to get major league hitters out. Word out of Texas is that Gagne is the team’s closer, but do not drop Akinori Otsuka. I have a sneaking suspicion he’ll still be the closer when it’s all said and done. Royals closer Octavio Dotel is still bothered by his strained oblique according to Manager Buddy Bell. David Riske’s dramatic blown save on a 3-run homer to Pudge Rodriguez has to make Royal’s fans (yes, they exist) eagerly anticipate the return of Dotel, who pitched well early in spring training. Me, I’m avoiding this whole team with the exceptions of Alex Gordon and the aforementioned Zack Greinke. There’s still no word on a possible return date for Yankee’s left fielder Hideki Matsui, who was placed on the 15-day disabeld list with a strained left hamstring.