The Hardball Times -- Rick Wilton http://www.hardballtimes.com/main Baseball. Insight. Daily. en studes@hardballtimes.com Copyright 2013 2013-05-17T08:57:15+00:00 Baseball injury report http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/baseball-injury-report38/ http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/baseball-injury-report38/#When:04:05:15 From Injury Watch September 14…
Dontrelle Willis (LHP, FLA)
Back in June, Willis had a bout of stiffness with his pitching forearm but never landed on the DL and only had one start pushed back a couple of days. Other than that, there have been no public reports of him having any physical problems that would help explain his horrible season. Willis' ERA has gone from 2.68 to 3.87 to 5.27 the past three seasons. Without a doubt 2005 was his career year, but it seems like a distant memory now.

Digging deeper into his numbers, we do find a couple trends. His strikeout rate has remained steady the past four years, between the current 6.31 to the 6.47 mark he had back in 2005. While his strikeout rate has remained stable, he is now using 17 pitches per inning. That's way too many. He has allowed 41 more hits than innings pitched. He has also allowed a career-high 27 home runs so far this season and opposing batters are hitting .304 against him.

This 25-year-old southpaw should be entering the prime of his career, not looking like a 39-year-old starter at the end of a long career. It is very difficult to dissect his numbers and come up with a statistical reason for his struggles, other than to say he is allowing way too many baserunners. What can we blame his struggles on? Have National League hitters figured out his funky delivery? Was his 2005 season (2.63 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 22 wins) a fluke? Not likely, since he pitched well in stretches before that career season and the following season.

The odds are pretty good somewhere over the winter or early next spring we will read a story about Willis having back, elbow or shoulder problems that contributed to his problems in 2007.

From Injury Watch September 17…
Pedro Martinez (RHP, NYM)
It looks like the Mets are going to add an extra day between Martinez's next start after he threw 98 pitches in his third outing since coming off the DL. After three starts, Martinez has regained most of the command and control of his pitches and already is pitching effectively. While he has not regained the velocity he had in the prime of his career, the movement on his pitches is as effective now is a was several years ago. Considering the surgery he underwent and how intricate it was, this is an amazing recovery. The remaining question is whether Martinez can remain healthy without any setbacks to his rotator cuff.

From Injury Watch September 17…
Danys Baez (RHP, BAL)
Over the weekend, it was revealed that Baez has a partial tear in his pitching elbow and will miss the rest of the season. It has not been reported what exactly is torn or if the looming surgery will cost him all of the 2008 season. We can put two and two together and project that it is likely the ulnar collateral ligament is damaged, meaning Tommy John surgery would be necessary. He will get a second opinion on the elbow to see if it is possible to rehab the ailment and not have surgery to repair it.

From Injury Watch September 17…
Carlos Delgado (1B, NYM)
Delgado has been out of the lineup for nearly two weeks due to a strained right hip flexor injury. He took some batting practice on Sunday and indicates he is improving, but veteran Mets observers do not believe he will be ready until late in the week at the earliest. This would leave roughly a week in this regular season for him to get at-bats and prep for the postseason.

From Injury Watch September 17…
Zach Duke (LHP, PIT)
Duke worked three innings of relief over the weekend and showed decent control considering he missed 10 weeks with an elbow injury. While there has been speculation that the Pirates should be concerned with the velocity on his fastball only reaching 86-87 mph, we are not that concerned about it. The main goal for Duke in returning before the end of the season is to overcome the psychological hurdles of the injury and to let the Pirates know that is healthy, even if he isn't at 100%. Look for a couple of more relief outings from Duke before the end of the season.

Click here to learn about THT's download subscriptions.]]> Rick Wilton 2007-09-20T04:05:15+00:00 Baseball injury report http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/baseball-injury-report37/ http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/baseball-injury-report37/#When:04:02:15 From Injury Watch Sept. 10…
Vladimir Guerrero (OF, LAA)

The tests on his sore right elbow revealed a posterior impingement (pinching) in the back side of his elbow region and tendinitis in the triceps/elbow region. He has been on the sidelines since last Wednesday and may not return to the Angels lineup until Tuesday. Guerrero has a high pain tolerance and can play at less than 100%. If he is out of the lineup, it must be serious. There don't appear to be any signals from the Angels so far that he is done for the year. If he is not ready by Tuesday, it may signal the need for more down time this week.

From Injury Watch Sept. 7…
Mariano Rivera (RHP, NYY)

Rivera has set the bar so high with an outstanding career that it has come to this: In August, he posted a 3.86 ERA and opposing hitters batted .268 against him. There is speculation in New York that he is pitching with a tired arm, and his "poor" August is the proof. If you break down the month of August, he allowed 15 hits in 14 innings, but walked just three batters and allowed just one homer. He had one blown save, which definitely is not something that would suggest he is struggling.

One thing does catch your eye, though, over an eight-game stretch. He allowed at least one hit in seven of the outings. Clearly, he is not the lights out, 1-2-3 type closer used to be. Rivera is, however, at the age of 37, still one of the best in the American League. We believe that the rumors of a tired arm are unsubstantiated, and even if he is scuffling some, he is still a highly effective closer.

From Injury Watch Sept. 6…
Randy Wolf (LHP, LAD)

Wolf had surgery on Wednesday to repair a frayed labrum, and he also had some scar tissue of the bursa sac cleaned up in his pitching shoulder. While the MRI spotted the bursa sac problem, the frayed labrum was a surprise. Luckily for Wolf, the damage to his labrum was not significant and did not require any sutures or anchoring of the structure.

Because of the type of minimal surgery that was done on the labrum, Wolf has a good chance of being ready at the start of spring training.

From Injury Watch Sept. 6…
Adam LaRoche (1B, PIT)

Once the season is over, LaRoche will have his left knee examined to determine the cause of the discomfort that has plagued him since June. He says the knee injury is not bad at the moment. The MRI performed in June did not reveal any structural damage at that time. It has gotten worse recently and it did not help that he fouled a ball off his kneecap over the weekend.

LaRoche’s situation is being compared to Jason Bay, who needed minor surgery after the 2006 season to clean up the damage to his knee.

From Injury Watch Sept. 5…
Chris Young (RHP, SD)

Young has declared on several occasions that he is healthy and does not feel the strained oblique or lower back ailment that sidetracked him early in August. While that may be the case, all is not well with Young, one of the leaders for the Cy Young Award this season. He has been knocked around his last three starts and does not look like the pitcher who dominated earlier in the season.

Speculation in San Diego is that Young is healthy but has altered his mechanics because of the back and oblique strain maladies. This would help explain his poor pitching, and provide the possibility for Young to bounce back shortly. Young and the coaching staff are poring over video to find a flaw in his mechanics. If he is indeed healthy, his owners should expect a rebound before the end of the season.

Click here to learn about THT's download subscriptions.]]> Rick Wilton 2007-09-11T04:02:15+00:00 Powering down http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/baseball-injury-report36/ http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/baseball-injury-report36/#When:04:03:15 From August 31, 2007 Injury Watch…
Billy Wagner (LHP, NYM)
Wagner complained of a dead arm earlier in the month (6.23 ERA, .375 OppBA in August), so manager Willie Randolph gave him some time off earlier in the week. After six days off, he was inserted into the game to try and get a six-out save and failed miserably. He threw 48 pitches and labored to get Phillies hitters out. While the velocity on his pitches was OK (96 mph on the fastball) they lacked the sharp movement he is known for.

In fact, Wagner's pitches have been flat and his command off almost the entire month. The 48 pitches is his high pitch count for an outing this season and will not help the dead arm. What is the "dead arm syndrome" that you hear so much about late in the year? It could be weakness in the shoulder or maybe a signal he is not completely healthy. We do not have the details from the Mets, so it is hard to assess his medical situation.

From August 30, 2007 Injury Watch…
Scott Rolen (3B, STL)
The Cardinals have finally started providing some interesting but not surprising background information. Rolen's troublesome left shoulder continues to tighten up on him. The term the Cardinals are using is a "frozen shoulder," known in medical circles as adhesive capsulitis. The shoulder capsule gradually tightens and decreases a player's range of motion.

The medical staff no doubt has a routine down for Rolen that includes various treatments to help loosen the shoulder so he can play. In the end, surgery is inevitable. The earlier the surgery is done, the more time he has to rehab for the 2008 season.

Manager Tony LaRussa admitted on Wednesday that it is not out of the question that Rolen's season may be over. He is having trouble getting the bat through the strike zone. The risk he takes by trying to play through the malady is that he could cause other injuries as he compensates for the lack of range of motion. Unless the medical staff can come up with a new treatment plan, Rolen's 2007 season may be over.

From August 31, 2007 Injury Watch…
Joe Mauer (C, MIN)
Mauer strained his left hamstring a week ago and has yet to resume any baseball related activities. The Twins did not place him on the DL at the time because they believed he would be back before the rosters expand. Obviously, that is not going to happen. The Twins do not have any idea when he will begin baseball related activities, though there is speculation it could be as early as next Monday. Once we get into September the issue then becomes whether the Twins will risk further injury by bringing him back for a couple of weeks. If they were in the race, it would be a non-issue but they are not in the playoff hunt. Do not be surprised if he’s shut down if he is unable to get game ready by the end of next week.

From August 29, 2007 Injury Watch…
Vernon Wells (OF, TOR)
We still have not regained confidence in the medical information coming out of Toronto. Wells refuses to discuss his left shoulder soreness. The coaching staff is defending him, saying he has played hurt all season, and yes, it has affected his offensive numbers.

For the record, he has just 15 home runs (he hit 32 last year) and is batting .258 after hitting .302 last season. Wells is expected to undergo a thorough examination of his shoulder once the season is over. Wells has a reputation for playing hurt, so it is difficult to judge how bad the left shoulder really is. We should know more by the World Series. In the meantime, Wells owners should not expect a power surge the last month of the season. In fact, once we get to the middle of September, it would not be a surprise if the Jays just shut him down for the year.

From August 29, 2007 Injury Watch…
Tim Lincecum (RHP, SF)
In his first full season in professional baseball, Lincecum has worked 161.1 innings, and the Giants are contemplating skipping his next start. In his last start on Sunday, he clearly looked fatigued, which is not unusual for a rookie starter. His fastball velocity has dropped down into the 80s. The hope is skipping one start will provide a boost to his strength and pitching. However, since Lincecum is so valuable to the Giants organization, it's also possible they'll soon decide to shut him down for the rest of the year. Either way, look for the Giants to keep very close tabs on him.

From August 28, 2007 Injury Watch…
Gustavo Chacin (LHP, TOR)
Chacin went on the DL in late April and has never returned to the Jays. He has a strained pitching shoulder and details have been sketchy. Now we get word from Toronto that he is a candidate for exploratory surgery on his left shoulder. He has tried a rehab program for most of the 2007 season without success. That is because the team received a second opinion on his shoulder, surgery was postponed and a rehab program was set up. Obviously it has not worked.

The problem reportedly lies within the shoulder capsule (the tissue that surrounds the shoulder joint and helps stabilize it). He is slated to undergo the exploratory surgery on Wednesday. Once the results of the surgery are released, we will have a better idea on how much of the 2008 season he will miss.

Click here to learn about THT's download subscriptions.]]> Rick Wilton 2007-09-06T04:03:15+00:00 BIR: Pennant Races http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/bir-pennant-races/ http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/bir-pennant-races/#When:04:02:15 Injury Watch, August 27…
Chad Tracy (3B, ARI)
Tracy began experiencing tendinitis in his right knee the middle part at July. The tendinitis got so bad in early August that he received three injections of a synthetic gel (most likely Synvisc) to provide cushion for the knee and reduce the friction causing the tendinitis and pain. Just after the synthetic gel treatments were finished, he received a cortisone injection in the knee to reduce the inflammation was causing in so much pain. Now we get word from the East Valley Tribune that famed physician Dr. Lewis Yocum concluded on Friday that Tracy has a condition called patello-femoral syndrome. It is also called Chondromalacia Patella and is the most common cause of chronic knee pain. Simply put, it is the result of poor alignment of the patella (kneecap) as it slides over the lower end of the femur (thigh bone). The underside of the kneecap, which is sensitive, rubs up against the femur because of misalignment, causing pain. The Diamondback is shut down for two weeks and most likely will focus on treatment that will help get the patella back in alignment, reducing the chronic inflammation and pain. Based on the current available time frame, we could expect Tracy to begin baseball-related exercise the second weekend in September, and barring a setback, he should be able to play for roughly the last two weeks of the regular season.

Injury Watch, August 24…

Mark Mulder (LHP, STL)
Mulder is making his third rehab start as he moves closer to activation from the DL. He is recovering from rotator cuff surgery, and it is hoped he can provide some much-needed pitching help for the Cards in September when he is activated. The track record of pitchers getting out of the gate quickly after undergoing rotator cuff surgery is bleak. While he may show some flashes of his former self, typically recovering pitchers need more than three or four rehab starts to regain their control, command and confidence. Mulder will not be any different. If you are hoping Mulder will help out as a September call-up option, you had better look elsewhere for pitching needs.

From Injury Watch August 21…

Craig Monroe (OF, CHC)
Back in March, I reported that Monroe had patellar tendinitis in his left knee. Both he and the Tigers admitted it was an ailment that he would have to play through the entire 2007 season. We predicted that his home run total for the season would suffer, and that he definitely would not approach 30 home runs in 2007. It did come as a surprise, however, when the Tigers designated him for assignment a couple of days ago and called up top prospect Cameron Maybin to take his place on the roster. Just a year ago, Monroe belted a career-high 35 doubles, 28 home runs and drove in 92. Is his knee still ailing, and is that the reason for the sharp decline in his offensive output this season? It is a known fact that some players struggle with their mechanics when they have this malady. This is a likely scenario with Monroe. The Cubs made a deal for Monroe, hoping he will provide some power off the bench. Monroe owners should not be expecting a resurgence now that he has been traded to the Cubs. I suspect he will have surgery in the offseason to repair the damage in his left knee.

Injury Watch August 23, 2007…

Troy Glaus (3B, TOR)
It looks like the plantar fascitis in his left foot has surfaced again and he will be on the shelf for a few days while he receives treatment and waits for the inflammation to quiet down. With all the aches and pains he’s struggled with this season and September roster expansion just around the corner, his playing time is likely to drop next month. In fact, it would not be a surprise if he is shut down early in the month since he isn’t hitting and the Blue Jays have nothing to play for.

Akinori Otsuka (RHP, TEX)
The third opinion on his pitching elbow and forearm and elbow is in. Dr. James Andrews concurred with the first two opinions—Otsuka does not have any ligament damage in his pitching elbow. He will remain in shutdown mode for about three weeks. Then he will resume throwing. If he still feels the discomfort in the forearm/elbow region, surgery will be an option. He is definitely done for this season with the start of 2008 in doubt depending on the type of surgery he would need.

Injury Watch August 20, 2007…

Curt Schilling (RHP, BOS)
Schilling and the Red Sox made a big deal about the fact that he altered his between-starts workouts to build up the muscle strength in his entire torso, not just his pitching shoulder. He stated over time that his focus was on the rotator cuff muscles and not much else. Because of his age and the need to have the supporting muscles of the pitching shoulder as strong as the rotator cuff muscles, he made a huge adjustment in his workout routine while out on rehab. Supposedly, this new regimen added strength to his shoulder region and velocity on his pitches.

In the three starts since his return from the DL, Schilling has worked 18 innings, posting a 1.22 WHIP and 4.50 ERA. Not bad numbers, but they don't tell the whole story. He's yet to walk a batter since returning, and there is no doubt his control and command is better than they were before the DL stint. After these three starts, it has become obvious that Schilling has not regained all velocity on his fastball and it is just not moving like it did in previous seasons. His K/9 rate is 4.0 in those three starts as he is failing to get even an average amount of swings and misses on his pitches.

In his latest start against the Angels (85 pitches), he managed a paltry four swinging strikes the entire outing! While Schilling is healthier now than he was earlier in the season, he is a shell of his former self and we doubt he will regain all the shoulder strength necessary for him to dominate like he has in the past.

Click here to learn about THT's download subscriptions.]]> Rick Wilton 2007-08-29T04:02:15+00:00 How soon can Utley return?  Is Johnson done? http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/how-soon-can-utley-return-is-johnson-done/ http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/how-soon-can-utley-return-is-johnson-done/#When:04:02:15 From Injury Watch July 27…
Chase Utley (2B, PHI)
Utley suffered a fractured right hand when he was hit by a pitch during Thursday's game. It didn't look serious at the time because he was able to take two more at-bats before the end of the game. After the game, X-rays revealed a fractured fourth metacarpal bone, which is toward the outside of the hand below the ring finger.

The Phillies were saying after the game that on a scale of 1 to 10, this is probably a 2-3 fracture. They are hoping for a return in about three weeks. Utley underwent surgery Friday morning to insert a pin to support and help facilitate healing. The procedure was done arthroscopically and took only 20 minutes. The new estimate from the hand specialist is that he'll miss about four weeks.

Even if he does beat the four weeks, Utley has another hurdle to overcome. Players coming off wrist and hand injuries rarely regain their normal power levels for up to a year after the injury. Even if he can regain his power stroke in less than a year, he sure as heck isn't going to find it in September. All we have to do is look at Derrek Lee as an example to see how a wrist injury, albeit a much more serious one than Utley's, causes a player to lose some power for an extended period. The standard guideline for that power drop is at least 12 months.

From Injury Watch July 27…
Randy Johnson (LHP, ARI)
Johnson will have surgery to repair the same disc as last year. He is done for the year, but Johnson was adamant he was not done in baseball. We have to give Johnson kudos for being in top shape. We also have to acknowledge that he's needed that superb condition because of a problematic back his entire career.

Until last season, his conditioning and dedication to taking care of his back have allowed to him be an elite pitcher for a good portion of his career. Father Time is advancing quickly, though, and all the specialized exercises can't roll back the clock. He'll be 44 years old next year, and unless there is a miracle, his career is likely over.

From Injury Watch July 27…
Huston Street (RHP, OAK)
Street looked decent Monday in his first appearance since coming off a two-month stint on the DL with a sore elbow. We are watching Street closely, because he underwent a radical (by U.S. standards) treatment for ulnar neuritis in his pitching elbow in Canada. In a way, we look at him as a test case for this new type of treatment that we have talked about many times in this column.

He was scheduled to get Tuesday off, and we learned yesterday that he would have pitched on Wednesday only in an emergency. The reason is that he had some soreness in his elbow after that first outing. The next question is whether this soreness is normal or if it's a hint of things to come. It is too early to make that declaration, and we will be watching the situation closely.

From Injury Watch July 25…
Bobby Crosby (SS, OAK)
The A’s placed him on the disabled list Wednesday with a fractured left hand. He was hit by a pitch (thrown by Justin Speier) and was removed. The X-rays done on his hand revealed multiple fractures. Reportedly, he has fractures of the third and fourth metacarpal bones, the bones at the base of the middle fingers. The fractures are clean, but in alignment, thus surgery should not be needed. The initial estimated down time is four to six weeks, which would put him back with the A’s early in September. Because the injury involves bones, it is unlikely he will heal faster than normal, thus ruling out an early return.

From Injury Watch July 25…
Jason Giambi (1B, NYY)
He is slated to begin a minor league rehab assignment at Single-A on Friday and Yankees believe he will be ready sometime the latter part of next week. He is recovering from a torn plantar fascia tendon in his left foot. At the time of the injury, there was a lot of skepticism, including from yours truly, that he would not be able to return from this injury this season. We are not convinced he will be able to hold up during a rehab outing or once he returns. Giambi owners should take the cautious route and leave him on the reserve roster until weekend to determine if his foot and he will indeed hold up.

Click here to learn about THT's download subscriptions.]]> Rick Wilton 2007-07-31T04:02:15+00:00 Injury wrapup http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/injury-wrap/ http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/injury-wrap/#When:04:02:15 Disabled list moves up 16.3% the first half of the season
The first half of the 2007 season is in the books and the record DL moves pace of April continued all the way through the All-Star break. At the end of April, we reported that DL moves in 2007 were up more than 16% compared to last season. As of July 8, major league teams had made 350 DL months compared to 293 over the same time last year. We must also note that there are few players who are still out and they could be placed on the disabled list retroactively. So the increased rate in injuries compared to last season may be even higher.
  • There is a baseball adage that teams need to stay healthy to win and the surprising Milwaukee Brewers have made only seven DL moves to date. They are tied with the Houston Astros for the lowest number DL moves so far in 2007.
  • Entering the 2007 season, the Chicago White Sox were ranked first in fewest DL days the past five years with just 1,781. They already have made more DL moves this year with Scott Podsednik (twice), Darin Erstad and Joe Crede leading the way than all of last season.
  • The Oakland A's have been in the news regarding injuries to Rich Harden and Huston Street and they have made a total of 15 DL moves so far. But that's not the most by a team.
  • The leader at the All-Star break is the Kansas City Royals with 18 DL moves in the first half of the season. This shouldn't come as a surprise, because the Royals have a five-year DL total of 5,067 days and that ranked them 26 out of 30 teams.
  • Ditto for the Texas Rangers. They have 16 moves so far this season and they finished last in the five-year study with 6,110 DL days.

From Injury Watch July 18…
Rocco Baldelli (OF, TB)
Baldelli is doing a good job of campaigning that he will be back this year. He is currently on the 60-day DL with a strained left hamstring, an injury that occurred way back on May 17. One of the little tidbits that came out from his "news conference" was that he is changing the way he is running. He has shortened his stride in an effort to take the pressure off his hamstrings and the lower back.

As we saw with Jose Reyes and his chronic hamstring problems early in his career, this change can indeed make a difference and stop the string of hamstring injuries. Baldelli is running, and while he is not close to being activated, according to one source, it's possible he could return sometime during the second half of August.

From Injury Watch July 17…
Derrek Lee (1B, CHC)
Last week, we looked at three hitters who had posted disappointing power numbers - Scott Rolen, Bobby Crosby and Todd Helton. I postponed including Lee in that group only because he was looking good at the plate, and I felt that a power burst was just around the corner.

Unlike the others, Lee has consistently hit for a high average for most of the season. He already has 28 doubles, and is close to his 50 double pace of 2005. The fact that he is hitting doubles and has a slugging percentage of .494, which is just a shade below his career average, is a positive. A lot of the doubles aren't hustle doubles either—they are gappers and close to going out of the ballpark.

The one statistic that has caught my attention is his GB/FB ratio of 1.24. He is hitting a little more than 25% more ground balls now than he did in 2005 when he stroked 46 home runs. This suggests that he has altered his swing and is hitting down on the ball more often. Is this due to the wrist injury he suffered last May? That may help explain why he is hitting home runs only once in every 46 at-bats.

From Injury Watch July 19…
Jason Giambi (1B, NYY)
The word out of New York is that Giambi is about two weeks away from returning to the Yankees, as he recovers from a torn plantar fascia tendon. Before Giambi owners get all giddy about his return, there are a lot of factors involved. I have my doubts that the ruptured tendon has healed completely, and he is at risk to suffer a relapse sometime in the last third of the season. Also under consideration are all of the legal ramifications from his discussions with the investigation involving steroids.

While the Yankees could use Giambi's OBP and power, the open DH slot has allowed manager Joe Torre to rest Johnny Damon and others all the while keeping their bats in the lineup. Lastly, the Yankees are playing good baseball, so will putting Giambi in the mix disrupt the momentum they have developed since the All-Star break? It is not a given that Giambi can stay healthy or will return to full-time role.

Click here to learn about THT's download subscriptions.]]> Rick Wilton 2007-07-24T04:02:15+00:00 Struggling hitters and rehabbing pitchers http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/struggling-hitters-and-rehabbing-pitchers/ http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/struggling-hitters-and-rehabbing-pitchers/#When:04:02:15 Injury Watch, July 13, 2007
Bobby Crosby (SS, OAK)
Early in the season, we were encouraged by some offensive signals from Crosby. After he got off to a slow start in April, Crosby hit .291 with three homers and 11 RBI in May. Not earthshaking numbers, but positive enough considering he was coming off a fractured vertebrae from last season. As it turns out, May was a mirage. As in April, June and so far in July he's struggled to hit .200 or more than two homers in any month. His strikeout rate is one per 5.6 at-bats, which is an improvement over last year's rate. So we can't blame a lack of contact for his offense woes.

We can conclude that either the 2004 season was a freak (22 HR) injuries and he really wasn't as good a hitter as he displayed then, or his struggles in the 2 1/2 seasons since are due to injuries. We can only speculate that his back troubles have contributed to his decline. It's safe to say that if you're hoping Crosby will rebound in the second half to 2004 levels, you will be sorely disappointed.

Injury Watch, July 13, 2007

Todd Helton (1B, COL)
In the preseason, the Rockies tried to hold the Red Sox up for a king's ransom in a deal for Helton. Looking at what he's accomplished in 300 at-bats so far this season, maybe they should have pulled the trigger on the deal. While Helton is still a .300 hitter, he is on pace to hit only 15 home runs this season. That's the same number he belted last year.

It is clear that the back problems Helton continues to endure have greatly reduced his power, even at Coors Field. He entered the season with an extra 20 pounds of muscle. That was supposed to bring back his power to the glory days of 2000-2004. It is now clear that those days are gone, and they will never return.

Breaking news, July 14, 2007

Chris Carpenter (RHP, STL)
The Cardinals' Chris Carpenter is recovering from May surgery to remove bone spurs from his pitching elbow. He had an uneventful and positive recovery until, after his second rehab outing on July 8, he developed stiffness and swelling in the elbow region. That outing was six days ago, so it is curious that this news wasn't released earlier and that he has not seen a staff physician since the setback. Were the Cardinals waiting for the stiffness and swelling to dissipate with treatment?

Carpenter is expected to see team physician George Paletta shortly to determine the cause of the swelling and pain. Odds are pretty good that he has scar tissue tearing in his pitching elbow. One physician who advises us concurs that is a strong possibility. It's also possible he has strained something in the elbow region and this is a new injury. A recurrence of the bone spurs this soon after surgery is unlikely.

This is a setback for Carpenter, but whether he can overcome it this season depends on whether this is a scar tissue problem or a new injury.

Breaking news, July 14, 2007

Curt Schilling (RHP, BOS)
In a surprise development on Saturday, Schilling was expected to throw 30-35 pitches in his first test of his strained pitching shoulder off a mound. He ended up throwing 55 pitches and did not report any discomfort in his shoulder. While this is good news that may indicate Schilling is further along than we thought, we need to remember one point: He is the type of pitcher who will work through discomfort, and he is eager to get back pitching for the Red Sox. Did he push too hard to fast? We'll know more in a few days.

Injury Watch, July 12, 2007

Manny Ramirez (OF, BOS)
We've already speculated that David Ortiz' drop in home run numbers is due to a knee problem. Can the same be said for Ramirez? Last season, he struggled with patellar tendinitis in his right knee. We haven't heard any stories regarding his knee this season, but he has struggled to a 27.5 AB/HR ratio, the worst of his major league career.

Digging a little deeper, Ramirez's home run decline started in the second half of last season (14.6 AB/HR). Manny is having a subpar season by his standards, but we cannot blame his struggles on an injury at the moment. He may have one that we are unaware of, which would explain his depressed numbers across the board. Until we hear otherwise, his 2007 struggles are either mechanical in nature or, at 35, maybe Manny's lost a little bit off his swing.

Click here to learn about THT's download subscriptions.]]> Rick Wilton 2007-07-17T04:02:15+00:00 Baseball injury report: Disarming news http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/bir-disarming-news/ http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/bir-disarming-news/#When:04:05:15 From Injury Watch July 3, 2007
A.J. Burnett (RHP, TOR)
Trying to take advantage of the Yankees' demise, the Blue Jays attempted to keep Burnett on the mound after he came down with a mild strain shoulder, despite all the money they've invested in his long-term health. Now his situation suddenly becomes potentially very serious.

The shoulder wasn't responding to treatment, so he's scheduled to go see Dr. James Andrews in Alabama. While some have joked that when a pitcher goes to see Andrews it means surgery, we have seen several examples recently where that's not the case. We've heard that "something just doesn't feel right" regarding his shoulder, but not much more.

This is Burnett's 10th trip to the DL, and one can't help but wonder if he has some sort of damage to his labrum or rotator cuff. Looking back at his game logs this season, he threw 372 pitches in three starts between May 27 and June 7. This included a 131 pitch outing on June 7. In the two subsequent starts after that outing, Burnett struggled with his velocity and felt soreness in his shoulder. Hopefully for his sake, his shoulder became fatigued after such a heavy workload and he doesn't have any structural damage.

From Injury Watch July 2, 2007

Brian Fuentes (LHP, COL)
On June 21, Fuentes had recorded a 1.89 ERA, 20 saves and only two blown saves. He was as dominating as any reliever the National League. Starting on June 22, Fuentes blew four straight saves and now his ERA sits at 4.17, with a WHIP of 1.20. Those numbers don't tell the true story.

In those five outings, he allowed 13 hits, 10 earned runs (27.02 ERA), and two homers. He was moved out of the closer's role on July 1 and in his next outing he faced Houston, where he needed 35 pitches to garner three outs. The Rockies are mum, but his numbers sure say something is hurting.

In spring training, he had some mild back spasms, a problem he also endured in April of 2006. The only time he's been on the DL was back in 2004, with a strained lower back that cost him 69 days on the disabled list. Could his back be bothering him? There's enough history here to say yes, and it would help explain his struggles. Fuentes' fantasy owners should place him on the reserve list until this is all sorted out.

From Injury Watch June 28, 2007

Scott Kazmir (LHP, TB)
Currently, Kazmir has thrown the 11th most pitches in the majors so far this season. Remember, he had two stints on the DL last season for stiffness in his pitching shoulder. You have to think that the front office and coaching staff are at least somewhat concerned about his current pace. Kazmir has talked about being more aggressive toward hitters, yet he needs 18.1 pitches on average to get through an inning. His WHIP currently sits at 1.55, a sign that his command-and-control aren't nearly what they should be. Should we be concerned about Kazmir?

He already has an injury history and has not surpassed the 186-inning level in his career. In a lot of ways, that's a good thing, because he's only 23 years old. While we don't have evidence that Kazmir has any physical ailments right now, you can bet the front office already has an eye on September regarding their prized southpaw. If his workload remains at the current pace, it would not be a surprise if they sit him in the last two to three weeks of the season. In the meantime, we will keep a close eye on Kazmir for any signs that he is having more shoulder problems.

John Patterson (RHP, WAS)
Patterson has now made the rounds among four physicians to have his ailing right elbow checked out. The consensus is that he has nerve damage involving the right elbow and a right biceps problem. Patterson is slated to have Dr. Anthony Galea treat his elbow.

According to MLB.com the treatments will include hyperbaric chamber, with homeopathic injections, lasers and frequency-specific microcurrents. If these treatments sound unfamiliar to you, it's because they are approved in Canada but not the US. Patterson has already endured one surgery and he's still not healthy, so he's at the point where he'll try just about anything. If this treatment is successful he should return the season. If not, he'll undergo surgery and be out for the year.

Click here to learn about THT's download subscriptions.]]> Rick Wilton 2007-07-05T04:05:15+00:00 Wounded pitchers http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/wounded-pitchers/ http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/wounded-pitchers/#When:04:03:15 From Injury Watch June 21, 2007
Jason Schmidt (RHP, LAD)

Wow! I said early this spring that Schmidt had been dealing with a damaged shoulder, but I never envisioned the damage the surgeon found when he opened up the shoulder Wednesday. Schmidt has some scarring of the bursa sac, a frayed biceps tendon and a partially detached labrum. The labrum injury is the most severe and one that did not show up on the MRI. The labrum was re-attached to the bone and he will still need considerable time to allow it to heal properly. The Dodgers speculate that the damaged labrum prevented Schmidt from having complete range of motion. Thus, he lost a considerable amount velocity on his pitches.

In 2000, Schmidt had a torn labrum and frayed rotator cuff while pitching with the Pirates. He ended up missing 129 days of that season. According to several sources, this surgery is much more extensive. While Dodgers trainer Stan Conte states that Schmidt will be throwing in spring training, it is highly unlikely he will be ready for the early part of next season. Now that he has had two labrum injuries, with the most severe just occurring, his ability to pitch effectively in 2008 is a longshot.

From Injury Watch June 22, 2007
Anibal Sanchez (RHP, FLA)

Dr. James Andrews arthroscopically repaired Sanchez' labrum in his pitching shoulder Thursday. He will not be allowed to begin throwing until September-October. Reportedly, there was some concern among the Marlins medical staff that Sanchez had nerve damage in the shoulder. Andrews did not find any evidence of nerve damage. Sanchez developed shoulder discomfort in early May, but didn't tell the Marlins until he was demoted to Triple-A. Since then, he's attempted to rehab the shoulder, but to no avail. We are always very cautious of pitchers who need labrum surgery, and Sanchez is no different. There is no guarantee he'll be ready for the start of the 2008 season.

From Injury Watch June 22, 2007
Rich Harden (RHP, OAK)

Harden has been activated by the Athletics and will be used out of the bullpen, at least initially. The thinking in Oakland is, rather than waste Harden in several rehab assignment outings, why not use him as a reliever at the major-league level? This will allow him to rebuild the strength in his strained right shoulder.

Harden owners should not get comfortable with the idea that he'll work three to five relief outings and then move back into the rotation. It may mean the medical staff does not feel confident enough for him to work as a starter, but feels his shoulder could hold up in a structured relief role. As always, lurking in the background is his medical history. He just can't seem to stay healthy.

From Injury Watch June 21, 2007
Curt Schilling (RHP, BOS)

The MRI on Schilling's ailing right shoulder did not reveal any damage to the rotator cuff or labrum. We've seen numerous times that MRI examinations can and often will miss injuries. Right now, the Red Sox say he has a sore shoulder. Schilling says he has tendinitis. He received a cortisone injection Tuesday, with the full benefits not being known until Friday. Working in both Schilling's and the Red Sox' favor is a huge lead in the American League East that gives them the luxury of placing him on the DL when normally they might not.

Schilling is the rare pitcher who was able to overcome a damaged labrum and have a highly successful career. He damaged the labrum in 1995 while with the Phillies. Schilling said that when he had that injury, he lost a considerable amount of velocity between two starts and had pain when he woke up in the morning. He indicates that this time doesn't feel pain in the morning.

With the available information, this appears to be a case of inflammation in his shoulder. That should be cleared up by the cortisone injection, a little bit of rest and the rehab program. That being said, we are close enough to the All-Star break that the Red Sox may use that time off along with the disabled list stint to make sure Schilling is healthy for a second-half run.

From Injury Watch June 21, 2007
Dontrelle Willis (LHP, FLA)

When a pitcher refuses to take an MRI and tells everyone that his shoulder is okay, that should raise a red flag. After his last start, Willis felt some tightness in the muscle just below his elbow but indicated the next day that the treatment helped clear it up. In his latest start, Willis was seen shaking his pitching arm numerous times. His velocity was down and control was off. The Marlins indicate he was pulled from his last start only as a precaution, not because he is hurt.

Could Willis be hiding an injury that has caused him to struggle this season? Marlins sources deny it, and his numbers paint a confusing picture. A big concern is the number of walks he's allowed so far (44), though his K/9 rate of 6.2 is right in line with the past three seasons. Velocity and movement don't appear to be a problem. His GB/FB ratio is 1.80, the highest mark of his major league career. Because he's able to keep the ball down in the strike zone more often, he should have seen more of a benefit, but he hasn't.

He's only 25 years old, and one has to wonder if his more than 600 innings pitched the past three plus seasons is catching up with him this season. Willis owners need to watch his forearm-elbow situation closely. It doesn't look like it's serious now, but it could become a problem.

Click here to learn about THT's download subscriptions.]]> Rick Wilton 2007-06-26T04:03:15+00:00 Joe Crede’s back http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/joe-credes-back/ http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/joe-credes-back/#When:04:03:15 Key injury of the week…
Joe Crede (3B, CHA)
I know it's starting to sound like a broken record, but the latest news on Crede’s back ailment should not come as a surprise to anyone, especially readers of this column. We’ve known for some time he is battling pain caused by two herniated discs, an injury that dates to 2004. Here is the plan for Crede and the White Sox: The MRI and back examinations that were done on Tuesday and Wednesday are being forwarded to back specialists in California and Texas. Once he gets the second opinions, Crede says, he’ll decide about his future.

There is talk of an epidural injection or surgery to remove the fluid in his back around the area of inflammation. Regarding the epidural injection, he’s had four and they’ve provided only temporary relief. Crede added, in a statement with the White Sox, that last year the pain wasn’t so bad that he felt he needed surgery. He is admitting now that the pain is worse than it was at any time last year.

Of all the information regarding his current back situation, this is a defining statement. He added that his current pain is caused by a problem with the nerve and less with the discs. He talked about a potential new procedure that could relieve the pain and inflammation in his back. The surgeon makes a small incision in his back and extracts the fluid around the nerve that is causing all this pain at the moment. This is not a full-blown surgical procedure and if he has it, it doesn’t mean his 2007 season is over.

If Crede has this procedure (which it sounds like he’s leaning toward), he’ll have a month of recovery time, then begin a rehab program. Unfortunately, while this procedure could reduce or eliminate his pain in the short-term, it still is not a long-term solution to his woes.

It appears Crede will have this procedure in the next two weeks and won't return to the White Sox until mid-August. The likely scenario is Crede having this procedure in June, then after the season, having back surgery to repair the two herniated discs in his lower back.

From Injury Watch June 7, 2007…
Chris Carpenter (RHP, STL)
We have a Chris Carpenter sighting! He was able to do some throwing in the outfield yesterday, the first since he had bone spurs removed from his elbow on May 8. This is about the schedule that the Cardinals medical staff expected. When he had the spurs removed in May, it was projected he’d miss at least three months, and nothing has changed that schedule. Once he gets deeper into his rehab program, we’ll have a better idea when he’ll return. Right now, it still appears to be mid-August.

From Injury Watch June 5, 2007…
Preston Wilson (OF, STL)
It looks like the right knee problems that have plagued Wilson all season will land him in the operating room. The remaining question is what kind of surgery he will have on his knee. Will he have a quick cleanup and return in less than two months, or will he have "microfracture" surgery that could make his knee stronger come next year, but also cost him the rest of the 2007 season? Microfracture refers to surgery in which the surgeon repairs damage to the cartilage with the hope it will facilitate the growth of new cartilage.

From Injury Watch June 4, 2007…
Rafael Furcal (SS, LAD)
The past four seasons, Furcal has averaged roughly 14 home runs per year. That's a nice little bit of power to go along with his 35 to 45 stolen bases. So what's up with the zero home runs in 191 at-bats so far this season?

He suffered a sprained left ankle late in spring training and began the season on the disabled list. Furcal and the Dodgers speculate that's the reason he is not driving the ball so far this season. Because Furcal does not have the upper body strength to drive it out of the ballpark, he must use his legs to drive toward the pitcher and generate power by using his entire body.

This season, he must be getting on top of the ball, because he's hit more than twice as many groundballs as flyballs (2.09 GB/FB Ratio). The next question his owners must be asking is if he can he make up his lack of home runs in the last four months of the season. In the past four seasons, Furcal has hit seven home runs in a month and six in another, so he is capable of generating some power and he could make up lost ground. Several questions remain, of course.

How long until his ankle is strong enough so he can revert to his normal hitting stroke of last season and generate more power? According to one veteran Dodgers observer, Furcal's ankle may not bounce back until the second half of the season. While we have focused on his lack of power, his stolen base totals have suffered as well. He has only six steals so far, off the pace of last season.

It's important to note that Furcal's ankle is still bothering him—he hinted as much after a rundown play over the weekend. He tweaked the ankle during a game Saturday night. So it is obvious Furcal will struggle with a sore and weakened ankle for awhile.

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