Rivera could start minor league rehab next week

by Neo8234 on Aug 9, 2007 6:40 AM PDT

http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/angels/la-sp-angrep9aug09,1,6916098.story?coll=la-headlin es-sports-mlb-angels

Medical report on Rivera is encouraging
The outfielder, who broke his leg in the off-season, could play in minor league games next week.

_________________
After a series of discouraging medical updates on Juan Rivera, the Angels finally got some good news Wednesday regarding the outfielder who has missed the entire season because of a broken leg suffered in a Venezuelan winter-league game.

Manager Mike Scioscia said Rivera "passed a hurdle" in his rehabilitation program this week and could begin playing in games next week, which would greatly improve Rivera's chances of returning to the majors by late August or early September.

It wasn't a specific hurdle, such as running the bases or making sharp cuts in the outfield, things Rivera has struggled to do.

"It's just an overall thing, from how he looks in agility drills to baseball drills to his stamina," Scioscia said. "He's been making improvements, and it's encouraging when you can clear a hurdle and get closer to being in games."

With minor league seasons ending in early September, Rivera's window to complete a minor league rehab assignment was beginning to close, and the Angels seemed more and more resigned to him missing the whole season.

They're still not sure what to expect if Rivera does return, but if Rivera can regain even some of his 2006 form, when he hit .310 with 23 home runs and 85 runs batted in, he could provide a boost to the offense.

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Comments

playoff roster

He has to be up by Sept 1 to be on the playoff roster, correct?

by tanana40 on Aug 9, 2007 7:28 AM PDT reply actions

well...

I think the K-Rod rule is still in effect. If we had an injured player, he could sub for him.

by elricsi on Aug 9, 2007 8:26 AM PDT up reply actions

We do!

If we had an injured player, he could sub for him.

His name is Juan Rivera.

In all seriousness, everyone on the 25 man roster AND everyone on the DL on August 31st are eligible for the post-season roster. So if Rivera isn't back by then, he's still eligible for the post-season roster.

And to add further comment, that's one of the stupidest rules in baseball. This isn't beer league softball where you bring a ringer in for the playoffs. Who gives a shit who's on what roster on what date? If a player is in your system, and you're developing him, he should be eligible for the playoff roster even if he has never been on the 25 man roster. I'd agree that there should be a deadline for adding players from other organizations by a certain date. But is there any reason why, if Steve Green hadn't been hurt in 2002, that Frankie should have been kept from the post-season roster?

by LA Seitz on Aug 9, 2007 9:37 AM PDT up reply actions

Players on the DL are still eligible

Which is why we put Steve Green on the 2002 playoff roster, slapped our forehead in amazement that he couldn't pitch, and replaced him with Frankie.

Stoneman should be given a free pass for life for that one...

"When you don't know that you don't know, it's a lot different than when you do know that you don't know" - Bill Parcells

by johnnyangel101 on Aug 9, 2007 9:25 AM PDT up reply actions

Time for Dallas McPherson

to make his biggest contribution to the team, ever.

http://kotchatthebat.livejournal.com/

by Caseys Kiss of Death on Aug 9, 2007 9:38 AM PDT up reply actions

Green

Nope Frankie replaced Dennis Cook

I'm giving Figgins a big F U. Seattle isn't winning 90. I am not worried.

by hauldog on Aug 9, 2007 1:46 PM PDT up reply actions

I seem to recall that it was Green

but it owuld be more poetic to give it to a veteran ex-Met whose musical intro song was Blondie's CALL ME

by Rev Halofan on Aug 9, 2007 2:09 PM PDT up reply actions

My mistake

I got confused Cook was injured and not on the roster so I assumed he replaced him.

Green was out for the year with a shoulder injury. I forgot about him.

I'm giving Figgins a big F U. Seattle isn't winning 90. I am not worried.

by hauldog on Aug 9, 2007 3:39 PM PDT up reply actions

Actually, that's not right

He did replace Steve Green, at least according to this article in the Register.

Of course, that article also gets some information wrong, as it says Green made an appearance in April 2002. He didn't, according to his baseball reference and baseball cube pages.

The best explanation I've found of the rule is right here.

by LA Seitz on Aug 9, 2007 2:15 PM PDT up reply actions

And to add

According to that rule, they wouldn't need any loopholes or exceptions to get Rivera on the post-season roster. The pool of eligible players consists of guys on the 25 man roster on August 31st, plus guys on the DL on August 31st.

According to Rule 40(a), a player must be on his club's active big league roster or disabled list (or bereavement list, suspended list, or military list) on August 31 in order to be eligible for post-season play.

by LA Seitz on Aug 9, 2007 2:22 PM PDT up reply actions

Clarification

This via an email from a friend and former front office type, who now writes a national column:

[T]he truth is, anyone who is in your organization on August 31st can be slipped on to the postseason roster via the DL exception. But yes, Rivera is absolutely eligible, and if you see it misreported somewhere, let me know so I can smack them.

by LA Seitz on Aug 9, 2007 8:30 PM PDT reply actions

Oh

and hes a second half player! I think that means that it doesnt really matter how much he has played, as soon as its the second half of the season he gets magical powers!

by Pwn on Aug 10, 2007 9:13 AM PDT reply actions