Baseball's MASH Unit
• So much for Joba going to the rotation. Right-handed reliever Brian Bruney almost certainly will miss the remainder of the season after being diagnosed with a Lisfranc fracture in his right foot.
Bruney was placed on the 15-day disabled list and is not expected back before 2009, general manager Brian Cashman said. Dr. William Hamilton examined Bruney yesterday in Manhattan and recommended surgery.
• Because the Yankees told Joba Chamberlain to stay off his feet during batting practice yesterday, it was likely the set up man wasn't available for last night's 6-4 loss to the Indians in which the need for him didn't surface.
"He slipped on the mound (Thursday night) and tweaked his legs," manager Joe Girardi told The Post during batting practice.
• As though this is news.... The Dodgers are expected to place Nomar Garciaparra on the disabled list Saturday and recall third baseman Blake DeWitt to replace him. Nomar will be out for about a month with an ovarian cyst.
• Chipper Jones has had varying degrees of injuries to a wide range of body parts, but nothing quite like this.
The hot-hitting third baseman was scratched from the lineup Saturday morning after having severe back spasms 2-1/2 hours before the game with the Mets.
• Brad Penny had just stepped out of the shower area in the clubhouse when a replay of his 96-mph fastball crashing into umpire Kerwin Danley's mask with a sickening thud was showing on the wide-screen TV.
• Sawx placed first baseman Sean Casey on the 15-day disabled list.