Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo went on the injured list last week with post-concussion syndrome following a collision with Padres start Fernando Tatis Jr. at first base back in May. Given Rizzo went from a clear All Star candidate (146 wRC+) to the worst hitter in the majors (43 wRC+) following the collision, the revelation that Rizzo has been dealing with concussion symptoms has sparked confusion regarding him continuing to play over the past two months. To that end, The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner interviewed Rizzo regarding the situation, and in an article today discussed Rizzo’s slump over the past few months, his injury, how it was handled, and if he wishes anything had been done differently.
Throughout the interview, Rizzo emphasized that he didn’t believe anything was wrong despite other people suggesting the collision may have impacted him: “You know yourself as a hitter and you know what your strike zone is,” Rizzo told Kirschner, “When it all disappeared, you’re like what is going on? You don’t think it’s because of a collision. My agent said something about the collision. My parents said something… Every time someone said something like that, I would get mad at them because I don’t need excuses in this game… everyone struggles in baseball.”
With Rizzo on the shelf without a timetable for return, the Yankees will look to salvage a season in which they sit 3.5 games out of a wild card spot despite a solid 58-53 record without their everyday first baseman and most reliable left-handed bat. Jake Bauers, who has hit well (122 wRC+) in a part time role with New York this season, has taken over at first base since Rizzo hit the IL.
More from around the AL East…
- Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story will remain in the minor leagues until his rehab assignment reaches the maximum of 20 days later this week, per MassLive’s Christopher Smith. Smith adds that manager Alex Cora says Story will be reevaluated after playing on Tuesday and Wednesday, as the shortstop has struggled to bounce back following back-to-back games played. Story is in year two of his six-year, $140MM contract with Boston and has yet to play in the majors this season as he works his way back from elbow surgery. With Story on the shelf, the Red Sox are currently relying on Yu Chang and deadline acquisition Luis Urias up the middle.
- Rays right-hander Tyler Glasnow was scratched from his start against the Tigers today due to back spasms, as noted by Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Right-hander Erasmo Ramirez took Glasnow’s place as the starter for this afternoon’s game. Topkin also relayed that manager Kevin Cash doesn’t believe the issue will require a trip to the injured list, with Glasnow potentially being able to return to the mound as soon as later this week against the Cardinals, though Glasnow won’t see a doctor regarding the issue until tomorrow. With Taj Bradley back in the minor leagues and Shane McClanahan having gone on the injured list last week, an IL stint for Glasnow would leave the Rays with only Zach Eflin and Aaron Civale as traditional starters in their rotation.
Is anyone else starting to get the feeling that Trevor Story is never going to be healthy again?
Story is 1-2 with 2BB so far today at AAA. His OPS is 1.082 at the moment.
Suit – With all due respect, what does his hitting have to do with not being physically able to play the field in consecutive days? They don’t need another DH, they need a real middle infielder. I called it, I said I’ll believe he returns healthy when I see it.
I also called Rizzo, getting shouted down for pointing out he’s not old & finished after a great season last year.
Fever: He must be fairly good health to be able to hit well. I imagine he needs to build up stamina and/or arm strength at this point.
suit – The original plan was for Story to first DH with the Red Sox, I think between Casas and Turner catching fire after the ASB, that plan changed.
I hope Story returns soon, but it may be too late. If the Sox don’t win at least 7 of the next 10 they are cooked.
The kicker is they knew he wasn’t right and gave him 6/140 anyway. The stupidity of this current RS regime is stunning and I could care less what the Bloom fan bois think.
There are a lot of Bloom Fanboys here, so restock that ammo. They could’ve just taken that 140 and paid Mookie over more years. He said he wanted 365, no matter the years
There you have it ppl he doesn’t care that Bloom signed damaged goods just tries to change the subject. True cultists.
You are a true idiot. He was agreeing with you.
Story was quite durable entering last season. What on Earth are you talking about
“Briar-patch”
Weird, thats a new name on the posts. Let me guess youve made so many predictions about the Red Sox that have come out wrong, that you need to change your name every few months. Haters are so predictable.
“Bloom signed damaged goods just tries to change the subject”
So you must have been all over it right? When Story signed. Im sure if we look theres probably a dozen posts, saying “Stop” “Dont Do It” “Hes Damaged Goods”.
Oh wait, I just checked. There are 530 posts when Story signed and not a single ‘Boxscore’ among them. If that is your real name.
So, when a player is trying to make a comeback, you feel the need to make trashy comments. But, when the question is legit, and your opinion would mean something, like when the player is signed, NOTHING. What a loser.
Why are you making stuff up? That was definitely not true. Sox offered around 300 million his agent asked 420 million and then took 365 million from the Dodgers.
I’m guessing “Boxscore” is not his real name.
@Darkside, that is why reading the comments of people judging in hindsight are always comical. At the time the Story signing was not all that bad and there was nothing that was indicative of him being an injury risk.
Sorry to be a broken record, but Mookie wanted out of Boston. He called the city racist,
@Milt, they don’t want to hear that. They want to judge in hindsight what should have been regardless if it was even a realistic option or possible.
I don’t know enough about Bloom to pass judgment. However, he should not b blamed with Story’s injury. That was an unknown and no red flags at the time. Yet people are here in hindsight acting as though it was Buxton who was signed and all should ve known this was inevitable….
Dark – You seriously aren’t aware of the injury in Colorado that suppressed his ability to get a better free agent contract last year? Oh my …
Two – Math time … take the Sox $300M offer, subtract it from Mookie’s $420 counteroffer, then divide by two.
What Mookie said is he would have stayed in Boston if the Sox had negotiated in good faith and met in the middle.
The middle was $360M.
Tigers – Wow did you choose the wrong take to stand behind. Don’t follow the NL much?
Milt – Can you please provide a link?
Fever: I’m very confident there are no quotes from Mookie saying that. I saw Mookie at his introductory press conference in LA avoid answering a reporter when asked if he would have signed with Boston if they offered the same deal LA offered. Mookie said, “That’s a good question.” and moved on. I think his answer was no and he avoided saying it.
soxintwo – Point of clarification.
Offered by Boston
$300 million for 10 years or $30 Million per years (below market value)
Suggested by Mookie’s Agent
$420 million for 12 years or $35 million per year
LAD paid Mookie
$65 Million bonus in 2020 and $300 Million for 10 years
Best way to compare offers is by showing their net present value since it takes into account the number of payments and the time period
Boston’s Offer – $225.5 Million net present value of the contract
Mookie’s Agent – $284.8 Million net present value of the contract
ACTUAL Contract for Mookie – $295.5 million net present value
There was no COVID discount. LAD paid more than the amount Mookie’s Agent suggested to the Red Sox. And it’s proving to be a steal as expected.
@Fever aside from year he was called up and Covid shortened season(which he played 59 of 60), he plated at least 142 games every season in COL. Sorry that is just not indicative of a player one expects to miss significant time.
@Fever, are u speaking of reports such as Yankees passing judgement in hindsight on their rivals, as though it should have been foreseeable?? That seemed more to me like saving face for their embarrassing offseason.
I’d the Yankees were so good at spotting arm injuries in advance, they sure dropped the ball building their current staff…..
@Fever
Whatever reports u were referring to seemed to have been news to even Story himself. As he discounted his elbow as minor inflammation and played through it…
audacy.com/weei/sports/red-sox/trevor-story-reveal…
suit – Why would Mookie answer a question that would cause either fanbase to be offended?
Dodger fans would be ticked off if he said he would have chosen Boston if the money was equal, it would have been a slap in the face to them.
And if he said he wouldn’t have stayed with the Red Sox for the same money, then he’d be turning on the same fanbase that adored him for several years. So answering the question would have been a very obvious no-win situation.
Tigers – That type of arm injury didn’t require an extended stint on the IL, it just impacted his arm strength. The injury occurred May 27, 2021 during a doubleheader in NY against the Mets. Players play through injuries all the time, especially when it’s a contract year.
There’s a reason why Story never played even one inning at SS during the 2022 season, despite all the times Xander didn’t play SS because of days off or minor injuries.
In fact the Red Sox lost a 1-0 game in Toronto because Xander was given the day off and Cora chose to have Arroyo start at SS instead of moving Story there and having Arroyo play his better 2B position.
Of course the only run of the game was scored because of Arroyo’s error at shortstop.
Tigers – Guess who was at the very bottom in MLB for arm strength in 2022. Just a coincidence I’m sure, right?
A 6.3 MPH drop in velo is massive for an infielder.
“In a new Statcast feature that tracks arm strength, MLB.com highlighted Story’s decline in arm strength from 82.3 mph in 2020 to 79.1 mph in 2021 to 76 mph this season, the weakest of any regular second baseman this year. It clearly hasn’t affected his play at second base, but a move back to shortstop — especially with new rules against shifting — might be different, making a stronger case for the Red Sox to retain Bogaerts.”
Fever: I don’t think it would be a big deal for Mookie to answer that question. I think it would be understandable for Mookie to stay in Boston if the money was equal…if he wanted to be there. It certainly would have cleared up a lot of he answered the question. Where are you getting that Mookie would have stayed in Boston for $360M?
The amount he took from LA was heavily deferred, For accounting purposes, LA is paying him $306,657,882 over 12 years.
“… making a stronger case for the Red Sox to retain Bogaerts.”
============================
I had some questions about retaining Bogaerts, but I really liked the guy, so I was hoping they would.
But since 4/6, Bogaerts has a .700 OPS. That ship might’ve sailed.
Fever: I should be more accurate: Where are you getting that Mookie would have stayed in Boston for $360M (midpoint between $300M and $420M) before Boston traded him to LA?
Joe – In one post about Rizzo you say injuries are legit reasons for poor performance, and in the above post you say Xander’s wrist injury has no bearing on his performance? Double standard much?
suit – If you’re employed, go to your employer and tell them the only reason you chose to work for them is because the employer you REALLY wanted to work for didn’t offer you as much money.
See how that goes ;O)
Common knowledge, Mookie wanted to meet in the middle.
$360M is the middle, only $5M less than what the Dodgers gave him.
That’s how good faith negotiations work, each party moves the same amount to meet at the middle. That way there are no winners or losers, each side saves face.
suit – See above. LOL
Fever: So, you have nothing to support that Mookie was willing to negotiate with the Red Sox to take less than the $420M he asked them for before he was traded to LA? It looks like it to me. I’m not buying that it was common knowledge because I have seen nothing to support it.
BTW, I got a taxi ride to the airport in Nashville in 2019. I got talking to the driver and it was Mookie’s godfather. I have often wished I asked him if Mookie wanted to stay in Boston, but it wasn’t a big issue at the time.
Suit – I have read plenty of articles about people close to Mookie saying he wanted to stay. Sox made initial offer, Mookie countered, Sox then refused to budge.
Why would Mookie lower his initial counteroffer when the Sox refused to raise theirs? That’s not negotiating, that’s Sox saying take it or leave it.
Bottom line, Sox lost a beloved franchise icon and likely future HOF’er.
Fever: Or we don’t know what happened after each side made an offer. There is also this story:
nbcsportsboston.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/did-the-red…
The story is that the Red Sox offered Mookie exactly what he wanted and he still turned it down. So, the Red Sox decided it was better to be known as cheap than a place Mookie did not want to be. This is the only person going on the record about the Mollie situation that I have seen so far. If your have any direct quotes from anyone regarding the Mookie situation, please post them.
Mookie not Mollie
Sure Bloom should be blamed. Story was throwing lollipops to first base early last season from shortstop. Story should have been put through a medical before he signed. He was damaged goods before he got here. He had an injury to his arm in Colorado but Bloom thought he was getting a bargain at 20 million less. He has missed clumps of two seasons now. Great pickup, Bloom! Then when it came out in the off-season that he needed surgery Bloom had to sign Devers to take the heat off himself and Henry. What a waste of 160 million for this guy when we should have hung onto Boggaerts who wanted to stay in Boston. Bloom is a buffoon and a small market GM at best.
suit – Look at this logically.
Felger, who is notorious in Beantown, supposedly heard some anonymous guy say – while having cocktails of course – the Sox offered Mookie exactly what he wanted … but unlike their initial $300M offer, which was acknowledged by the Red Sox publicly, THIS TIME the Red Sox “didn’t want anyone to know they were rejected by Mookie”.
And Mookie, according to your story, hated the Red Sox so much that he turned down $55M more than what he accepted from the Dodgers.
With all due respect, NONE of that makes any sense.
Mookie is a great guy, but he has ALWAYS been all about the money. He has always made it very clear no player should ever leave any money on the table. So you really think he would reject a contract offer that was only $6.5M less than the largest contract in MLB history?
And you really think Mookie supposedly rejecting a $420M offer would have been a bigger PR hit for the Red Sox than them refusing to budge off their initial $300M offer?
How about this for a direct quote, you really think he would lie about this AND the Red Sox would keep quiet if he did?
boston.com/sports/morning-sports-update/2022/07/19…
So, if the Red Sox had offered a similar contract to the one that he eventually signed in Los Angeles — a 12-year, $365 million extension — would Betts have actually stayed?
The answer, according to a recent Betts interview with Christopher L. Gasper of the Boston Globe, is simple.
“Absolutely, I just didn’t get it,” Betts told Gasper. “That’s the argument. I didn’t get it, so that’s why I am where I am.”
Fever: I did some googling after my last post and found that article and some other ones. The article you linked says, “The official offers that Betts received from the Red Sox have never been made fully publicly known.” Where did you see the Red Sox acknowledged the $300M offer and when was the offer made?
I ask because in this article from July 2019 Mookie makes it clear he is going to free agency no matter what:
“Just because you go to free agency doesn’t mean you don’t want to be somewhere. It’s just a part of the business.”
masslive.com/redsox/2019/07/mookie-betts-boston-re…
Mookie’s statements about free agency from 2019 are at odds with the story Mookie is telling in 2022 where he is saying he could have easily signed with Boston and not gone to free agency. I don’t see when Mookie abandoned his determination to test free agency to see what offers were out there. That is the way to make the most money and we agree he was about money first.
So, some missing info needs to be filled in before I believe that Mookie would have signed with Boston before becoming a free agent. When did Mookie abandon his determination to be a free agent and why?
Fever: I should add that I found Felger credible because he is known for bashing Boston teams. In this case, he was saying something that put the Red Sox in a positive light.
Of course it does. But Bogaerts wrist injury is chronic. He’s always had it. Probably always will. I like the guy, but it was a very bad signing by SD.
Red Sox fans. Not a fan of being miserable like you appear to be.
Is this a long Story made into a short Story? Seems like Chris Sale all over again? Hope they had insurance (& hope they pay a huge premium)
Box – The Theo regime was also stupid. For example they traded for Gagne despite knowing he was a roids guy.
But yeah, this regime is the worst in my lifetime. Totally ignorant when it comes to assembling and fostering a winning environment.
10 hits in 12 rehab games, 7 for extra bases (3 HR’s, 4 Doubles). Offensively he looks ready, the article states he’s struggled bouncing back from back-to-back games presumably meaning low stamina due to the fact that this is basically an accelerated spring training for him
Rsox – It could be arm strength too, we just don’t know.
Damaged Goods before he got her my friend! But Bloom thought he was getting a “Bargain” at 20 million less.
Chris Sale made a AAA rehab start today. 4.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 7 K, 0 BB
Chris Sale will never pitch another meaningful inning for the Red Sox. He might slot into a few games this year or next, but he’s washed up.
Can you tell me the Mega Millions numbers too? I could use those.
‘all in the suit’
Didnt the haters say almost the exact same thing about Paxton in May? Its like a record stuck on a skip. Rehash the same lines every time and they’re usually wrong.
The difference is that Paxton was out for TJS, and worked his way back. Sale was out for TJS, came back for a few days, then out for a broken bone, then out for another broken bone, then out for a strain…
Paxton was worth taking a flyer. Sale’s extension was always a terrible idea, and I’ve given up any hope the Sox will get anything out of him for it.
“The difference is . . .”
The things that are the same. Both players were injured and had multiple set backs. The haters, as predictable as ever, just assume/hope the player wont return so they can hate on Bloom. — Unless you are a doctor who is in the room, you have no way of knowing anything, and your opinion is just a guess marinated in hate.
Also “bcjd”. Thats a new one. Do you guys ever get tired of disguising your names?
Suit – All I know is the winner better not be in Southern Cal again! Lol
@bcjd
Are you stoned? Sale looked good before getting hurt.
DHB – Sale will be fine. He’s a stud, always has been. Some of his injuries were avoidable, some were bad luck and some were his own body not enduring what his heart and mind thinks it can do.
I’ll take whatever he can give the Red Sox. If his body holds up, he’ll finish this season as dominant as he was earlier. Could it break down again? Sure. Time will tell. Greatness is always more fun to watch than mediocrity so I look forward to his return.
@Ace. Agreed. The hasn’t really gotten on a roll. He should still stud if he can stay healthy. Just put boxing gloves on him when he isn’t physically on the mound lol
This is one of those things where I know I am probably wrong, but I would offer to guarantee his 2025 option if he were to give me a somewhat cheaper option in 2026.
Despite all the injuries, he still has a top-tier arm. In his last 8 games, he has an ERA/FIP of 2.87/2.72, with a 52/8 K/W in 47 IPs.
I can see why you would, but I don’t know. Maybe it is time to let him go. Then again, if we do, he could pull a clemens and play another 10 years lol. I just have a feeling that whatever happens, it will not work in our favor. Somebody annoyed the baseball gods and now we need to sacrifice a peep or gummy bear or something to appease them
I’m a sucker for talent. Every year, I religiously avoid Buxton in the fantasy drafts. Somehow, he mysteriously finds his way onto one of my teams. And every time I try to drop him, he hits a HRs and steals base. So I stop.
A week later, after a 2-24, I go to drop him, and he does something good.
Then he hits 3 HRs, steals two bases, and I feel redeemed. then he goes on the IL, but I can’t drop him because he just 3 HRs with 2 SBs.
It can be a cold, cruel world out there.
Really scary situation regarding Rizzo. I know concussions can be hard to diagnose, but this looks really bad on the Yanks.
The thing with a concussion is that he may have been feeling good and all of a sudden it was an issue again. May not be anyone’s fault
I’m wondering if Rizzo might have been hit in the head during the recent Domingo German melt down in the clubhouse where he flipped a couch and damaged a TV.
suit – Maybe Rizzo fell off Chris Sale’s bicycle?
Fever – Clearly no doctors in this group. Rizzo’s brain needs to process 100 mph fastballs and 90+ mph breaking pitches in a fraction of a second. Maybe regaining that skill isn’t as simple as stepping back into a batters box and taking batting practice.
Good guy despite being a Yankee. I’m rooting for a complete recovery.
Acel – Rizzo is not just a good guy.
He’s a Hodgkin lymphoma survivor.
He’s a former Red Sox draft pick and prospect.
And he’s a graduate of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School … yes, THAT Parkland school.
Plenty of reasons to like and support the guy..
I just hope they don’t rush Story. If he is not feeling good after a couple days in a row, they should rest him. I don’t want to see a rush job. We all saw how that worked out for Pedroia.
Brings to mind Cora’s quote the other about letting Story determine when he is ready. We’re the Sox trying to rush him back? Was Story saying he wasn’t right and getting pressure to ignore his body?
I don’t know, but would love an answer to that. If only there was such a thing as a group of people who could ask about it, investigate, and report what they found.
Anyway. When he is back, we need him 100%
“I just hope they don’t rush Story.”
I dont think the brass/medical staff would push him since he’s signed long-term. But you never know.
I would agree. Though Cora’s quote seemed odd at the time, I really didn’t think much of it until I read this topic. Not feeling well after 2 in a row, but still played today. Maybe you are right, I could be reading too much into it
DBH – I read it was Story’s decision to return last Friday … but of course who knows if that’s true.
Funny, I read the opposite lol. Gotta love the sports pages!
Better to rest Glasnow than later?
When will teams learn that it’s cheaper to develop young talent than overpay “all-stars” that will age out or are perpetually injured?
Nation can WE all agree ….enough of … this guy and that guy and THE guy is coming back soon…. I don’t care if Pedro/ Ted/ Boomer( another favorite of mine) Cy ….etc are coming back. The time is NOW… have to win NOW… a sweep was a killer but 51 to go and still keeping out hope..( they bring Braiser back)
OLM, this guy/that guy back is the only card left to play, my friend. all other cards have been burned. Play the card you have left and hope it trumps
I pray we have many of Ace of ♠️’s ( Harpo animal crackers)
Well we can also look forward to a decade of Devers at DH…how’s that contract gonna look in a few years?
team – If he performs like Ortiz did at the same age, that contract will look quite good.
You’re almost 34 years old there Mr Rizzo. Probably time to at least start listening to your parents….
because I don’t need excuses in this game…
========================
I hate when people talk like that. It’s like when fans say injuries are no excuse. Of course they are an excuse. Same as Rizzo getting a concussion. Same as vertigo. Same as severe sleep apnea.
When a player goes from hitting everything to hitting nothing, it is usually just a slump. When that happens after a guy gets a concussion, then there is a pretty good chance it is because he had a concussion.
Joe – Rizzo is simply old school, back when men were honorable and held themselves accountable. I know it’s quite different these days, when many people have an excuse for everything.
Did Elon Musk ever use autism as an excuse for his failures?
Did Pedroia ever use his cracked hamate bone in his left wrist as an excuse for his 2007 ALDS performance?
Did Jim Abbott ever use his missing hand as an excuse for his Yankee performance?
When Wade Boggs’ OPS dropped 84 points in 1988, did he blame it on Margo Adams breaking up with him?
Most people have to deal with personal challenges of some sort. Winners rise above their challenges.
It’s a beautiful thought, but it changes nothing.
Rizzo can have the best intentions in the world, and I admire that.
But he cannot play and the Yankee team doctors couldn’t connect the dots between him getting concussed and him no longer being able to hit.
“despite a solid 58-53 record”. Who wrote this article? Brian Cashman?
Hah! Now a days, .500 clubs are contenders, .230 hitters are the norm, and a quality start is anyone still with a pulse after 3 pitches. Welcome to expansion!!!