V For Very Suspicious

The injury plague that strikes down Rule V draft picks every year has made its first appearance of 2006. Like a virus, it mutates from player to player, taking the form of a sprained ankle to a sore shoulder to a bonkus of the konkus. It is a strain almost undetectible to graduates of the Hollywood Upstairs Medical School as well as the fraud investigation unit of the Commissioners Office.

Yesterday this deadly curse struck down Rangers pitcher and Rule V draftee Fabio Castro. Castro is a 21-year old prospect drafted by the Royals (good idea) from the White Sox organization and then given away to the Rangers for Esteban German (bad idea). The Rangers needed to open up a roster spot for Robinson Tejeda, so Castro, who was not reported to be suffering from any ailments previous to yesterday, suddenly was felled by a groin strain. Modern medical miracles being what they are, I expect the Castro will only need until September 1 to be fully healed and ready to return to the roster.

I realize that it's pointless to compare Baron Budhausen to Judge Landis, and that Judge Landis was far, far from perfect. But one thing that Landis considered to be one of his priorities was watching over roster shennanigans. Under Selig, there may as well not be any rules involving rosters or transactions at all, as they are never enforced.