Helmets, Rumors, Injuries, and Brawls

Complaints from coaches like Larry Bowa of the Dodgers and Andy Van Slyke of the Tigers regarding the new requirement for wearing helmets have become very tiresome—not to mention borderline absurd. Van Slyke has become the latest to chime in, complaining that wearing the helmets for two and a half hours leaves him hot and gives him headaches after every game. I’m not sure why Van Slyke is suffering headaches, unless he has been wearing a helmet that is too small, but the complaints about the heat are ludicrous. Does Van Slyke not realize that he can take the helmet off when his team is in the field and he is sitting in the dugout? Thus far, Major League Baseball has kept fairly quiet about the coaches’ complaints, which have included threats by Bowa that he will disobey the rule during the regular season. If any base coaches refuse to wear the helmet, the umpires’ response should be quick and simple: either put the helmet on, be ejected from the game, or force your team to take a forfeit—take your pick. Given such alternatives, all coaches, including Bowa, will quickly comply with the common sense rule…
Speaking of absurdities, a strange rumor that surfaced earlier on Wednesday had the Red Sox sending Coco Crisp to the Mets for Angel Pagan. The rumor turned out to be a fabrication, which is good news for Red Sox fans. As much as Crisp struggled offensively in 2007, he is a far superior player to Pagan. An exceptional defender with occasional power, Crisp should bring more than a fifth outfielder like Pagan in return. Pagan has played extremely well this spring, spraying line drives while hustling on the bases and in the outfield, but he's still not worth Crisp in a straight up, man-for-man deal...

Pending the outcome of Josh Beckett’s back spasms, the Blue Jays have suffered the first major pitching injury of the spring. Casey Janssen, who was arguably Toronto’s best relief pitcher last season, will miss the entire season with a torn labrum. The Jays had been hoping that Janssen could make the transition from the bullpen to the rotation; now they’ll have to turn to Jesse Litsch as the No. 5 starter and find someone to replace Janssen as a primary set-up reliever. With Janssen sidelined, the Jays have to hope that B.J. Ryan can continue his rehabilitation from elbow surgery ahead of schedule. Janssen’s injury also increases the chances that Brandon League, another rehabbing pitcher, will make the Opening Day roster. Hey, maybe the Jays will even have room for Armando Benitez...

Finally, I don't think any of us should be surprised that the Yankees and Rays engaged in fisticuffs during Wednesday's exhibition game in St. Petersburg. Clearly dissatisfied with the Rays after a lack of remorse over the injury to prospect Francisco Cervelli, the Yankees have made it quite clear they will be a more aggressive, perhaps even pugnacious team under Joe Girardi. Shelley "Slam" Duncan could be looking at a fine and brief suspension for his "spikes-high" slide into second base, but I have the feeling that Girardi considers the penalty worth it given the strength of the message sent.