All Things Bubba

Paul Janish at a Louisville Bats game last Sunday

This has turned out to be a bad year for the good men of Rice who are in pro baseball. Lance Berkman will be out up to 10 weeks after knee surgery, and rumor is he's considering retirement. Jeff Niemann broke his leg and will be out 4-6 weeks. Anthony Rendon is likely done for the season after breaking his ankle. And Paul Janish is still on the DL with his broken wrist.

I saw a couple of Bats games last weekend. Janish was dressed but did not play. He spent the games standing at the dugout rail, watching the game. The cast he was reportedly wearing a couple of weeks earlier was gone. Instead, he had a black brace on the wrist. (See photo above.)

The original estimate was 4-6 weeks, and it's been just about 4 weeks. Matt Andrews, the Bats radio announcer, said tonight that Janish is "a couple of weeks away." It always takes longer than predicted, so I'm not surprised.

Labels: Paul Janish

Scott Rolen was put on the DL, shortly before tonight's game started. Mike Costanzo was called up from AAA Louisville.

Sigh. It probably would have been Janish if he weren't on the DL.

Interesting that it was Costanzo who got the call. I'd have guessed it would be Chris Valaika, who is on the 40-man. Costanzo had to be added to the roster. He's pretty much a career minor leaguer. This is his first callup in eight years in pro baseball.

He has been playing well, though. On defense and offense. I can see why the Reds would want to reward him with a callup...and give him a look-see.

Labels: Paul Janish

The 2012 Louisville Bats (click for larger version)

It was picture day yesterday for the Louisville Bats. Looks like Paul Janish didn't bother to shave for the occasion. (He's in the back row, 4th from left.)

He coached first base in tonight's game. (That is common for minor league teams - players who are not playing coach first base. Andy Phillips coached first base for the Bats when he was sidelined by a hamstring injury, and Kei Igawa used to coach first base for the SWB Yankees when he wasn't starting.)

Labels: Paul Janish

John Fay has an update on Paul Janish. It is his left wrist that's broken. He won't require surgery, and is expected to be out 4-6 weeks.

If that's true, he should be back in the lineup when the Bats come to Syracuse in June. Of course, there's Peter Abe's law: whatever time the team gives you for a DL stint, double it. I hope that doesn't apply this time.

Labels: Paul Janish