The procedure was performed by Dr. David Altchek in New York. A five-time All-
Star, Posada is expected to need about six months to recover from surgery.
The Yankees and Posada toyed with the idea of seeing if he could continue
playing this season as a first baseman or designated hitter, because the
injury to his right labrum didn't affect his swing.
With another bat in the lineup, after New York's acquisition of outfielder
Xavier Nady and pitcher Damaso Marte from the Pittsburgh Pirates last week,
the decision for surgery was easier, so that Posada will be able to play again
in 2009.
More importantly, the Yankees made a deal for Posada's replacement behind the
plate, dealing reliever Kyle Farnsworth to the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday in
exchange for 14-time All-Star catcher Ivan Rodriguez.
Posada, who had never been on the DL in his career prior to 2008, spent 32
games on the shelf earlier this season with right rotator cuff tendinitis.
When he returned he was unable to make routine throws without feeling
pain in his shoulder.
The 36-year-old was batting .268 this season with three homers and 22 runs
batted in while playing only 51 games. Until this year, he appeared in at
least 110 games in every season since 1998.
<< Johnson, Dodgers shrug off quake to shut down Giants
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jason Johnson recorded his first win in
more than two years with six shutout innings, as the Los Angeles Dodgers edged
the San Francisco Giants, 2-0, in the middle contest of a three-game set
played
<< Davis shines as D-Backs blank Padres
San Diego, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Doug Davis was perfect through six innings
and wound up giving up just two hits to help the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 3-0
win over the San Diego Padres in the second of three games at Petco Park.
Davis (4
<< Royals' Buck, Meche keep A's in the loss column
Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - John Buck belted a three-run home run and Gil
Meche tossed seven solid innings as the Kansas City Royals topped the reeling
Oakland Athletics, 5-2, in the second of a three-game series at McAfee
Coliseu
<< Padres reinstate Young for start
San Diego, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Diego Padres reinstated right-
handed pitcher Chris Young from the 15-day disabled list in time make his
first start in more than two months on Tuesday against Arizona.
Young took the moun
<< Vazquez's double lifts Rangers to wild win over Suzuki, M's
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ramon Vazquez belted a two-run, game-
winning double in the bottom of the ninth to lift the Rangers over the
Mariners 11-10 in a wild game that featured Ichiro Suzuki's 3,000th career
hit, in
Astros acquire Hawkins from Yankees >>
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Astros acquired pitcher LaTroy
Hawkins and cash considerations from the New York Yankees for minor league
infielder Matt Cusick on Wednesday.
In 33 games for the Yankees this season, the 35
Yankees avoid sweep as Abreu, Rodriguez go deep >>
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bobby Abreu homered twice, doubled, drove in
three and scored four times as the New York Yankees pounded the Baltimore
Orioles, 13-3, to salvage the finale of a three-game set.
Joba Chamberlain (4-3) h
FAU extends Schnellenberger through 2010 >>
Boca Raton, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Florida Atlantic extended the contract of
head football coach Howard Schnellenberger through the 2010 season on
Wednesday.
Schnellenberger, 74, has been the head coach at Florida Atlantic sin
A's send Bankston, Patterson to minors; Thomas ready to return >>
Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Oakland Athletics optioned first baseman
Wes Bankston and outfielder Eric Patterson to Triple-A Sacramento on
Wednesday, after the club's 4-3, 10-inning loss to Kansas City.
Bankston got the
Guillen's sac fly in 10th helps Royals complete sweep of A's >>
Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jose Guillen's sacrifice fly in the top of the
10th inning provided the winning run, as Kansas City edged Oakland, 4-3, to
sweep the three-game series with the Athletics.
Guillen finished with one hit and t
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers SPORTS TRASH TALK
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from mysportsbook.com.
