Earlier today we had a post entitled Berkman's Chance of Being Ready Equal to that of a Chance of Rain. And just like a weatherman, he's right.
In that it's not likely. After trying to run at practice today, the knee swelled. Berkman:
"When I tried to run, I just couldn't do it. They're going to back me down for a few days and see what happens."
It's now a "good possibility" Berkman begins the year on the DL. What does this mean? McTaggart says this:
If Berkman is disabled, that leaves Geoff Blum, Kaz Matsui, Tommy Manzella, Pedro Feliz, Chris Johnson and Jeff Keppinger as the six infielders.
I'm going to agree with how McTaggart wraps this part up. If The Apparatus wants Johnson to play every day, they should have held off on sending Edwin Maysonet to Round Rock, as he makes more sense playing around the infield than Johnson. Johnson, because of his bat, could see time at 1B, and the whole "Defense" thing wouldn't be as big of a deal.
Here's my main problem with this decision. If Wade knew that Berkman would be ramping up his rehab today, just over two weeks after surgery on that knee, then why wouldn't he wait to send out Shelton or Maysonet to see how the knee would respond? Don't get me wrong, I love seeing Chris Johnson in the lineup, but Maysonet makes more sense for Johnson's development.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
