September Call Ups

There has always been something about September call-ups that made me feel uneasy. I have never liked the fact that rosters expand right when playoff races are being decided. I understand the beauty of getting to see "the future" play now is a great asset for teams out of contention, but what about those teams playing those teams out of contention. Don't they then get an unfair advantage? They get to play against a team of Triple A/Quadruple A players (no, I am not referring to the Mets) rather than have to go up against the best their opponent has to offer.

But now, I have a whole new reason to be POed at this process. Pablo Sandoval has been suffering from a calf injury and is currently day to day. He has been replaced in the line up by Ryan Rohlinger (who was actually on the Y-D Red Sox in 2004, the team I did play by play for in the Cape Cod League that summer). In my head to head points league, we are allowed to sub in a player from our bench for a player on the DL twice in the regular season and once in the playoffs. Currently Sandoval has yielded one point for me. Carlos Guillen, who is eligible at 3B and could replace Kung-Fu Panda in my lineup, has 31 points on my bench. And it is only Wednesday morning.

Now here is the problem. If this were early August, the Giants might think long and hard about putting Sandoval on the DL and giving him the 15 days to full heal while also getting a roster spot for Rohlinger. But now that rosters are expanded, they don't need the roster spot and can allow Sandoval to be a high powered pinch hitter for the rest of the week. If I lose by the difference between Sandoval and Guillen's points, I will be forever mad at September call-ups.