MVN - Most Valuable Network

Spring Training Injury Roundup Extravaganza

With all the talk about lineup construction, statistics, and potential transactions, perhaps the most important thing we learn in spring training is the most obvious: who is injured and who is not. With that in mind, here’s a scattered gander on some injury storylines that are becoming increasingly clear.

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STARTING PITCHERS

Chris Carpenter, SP [STL]
Still many, many months away, Carpenter is due for a return sometime after the All-Star Break following Tommy John surgery. If you have two DL slots, though, you may want to consider stashing him. Of course, he’ll be pitching himself back into shape, and as such, will see his innings sharply limited. There is only marginal return here.

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Kelvim Escobar, SP [LAA]
Escobar is going to start the season on the DL with a sore shoulder, but shouldn’t be out past April. Cory will tell you that the situation mirrors that of last year, when Kelvim was hurting to start the season but went on to make 30 dazzling starts (dazzling is my word, not his). Skeptics are passing him on draft day, and at this point, I’m still one of them. As an aside, his injury assures a rotation spot for Ervin Santana for the time being.

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Yovani Gallardo, SP [MIL]
I think everyone is being a little reactionary about Gallardo’s value following news that his knee was to have minor surgery. He was going to be on a strict inning count regardless, and the knee shouldn’t affect anything in his delivery. If anything, this might simplify things. He’ll be back sometime in April. Don’t drop him more than a spot or two in your rankings.

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Mike Hampton, SP [ATL]
He’s supposedly healthy, and is returning to camp as the Braves’ #4 starter. That is, at least, until he finds another creative way to get injured and still receive a paycheck.

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Francisco Liriano, SP [MIN]
Liriano’s return from Tommy John surgery has been unique: scanning all the papers, it’s impossible to find a single setback, disclaimer or even lukewarm statement about his rehabilitation. Every description of his throwing sessions has been filled with words like “outstanding,” “great” or “perfect.” He’s had more than ample time to recover, and should be ready when the season starts. Every day that passes without issue is another spot Liriano moves up in the rankings.

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Mark Prior, SP [SD]
No injury report would be complete without a mention of Mr. Prior. It’s positively eerie how similar every season starts for him: a likely return in early April, followed by hope, followed by a “minor setback,” followed by a minor league rehab stint, followed by minor setback, followed by major setback, followed by surgery. Death, taxes, Mark Prior’s fickle arm and psyche: the only certainties in this life.

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RELIEVERS

Brad Lidge, RP [PHI]
After having knee surgery, Lidge is said to be on the “early side” of a three-to-six week rehabilitation cycle. I wouldn’t expect him to be ready on Opening Day, but he should reclaim the closer’s job from Tom Gordon sometime in the first few weeks.

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B.J. Ryan, CL [TOR]
It’s going to be interesting to see how well Ryan comes back from Tommy John surgery. He threw to batters for the first time in about a year last Thursday, and by all counts, it went well. It’s even-money as to whether he’ll be ready on Opening Day, but from there, he has the closer’s job locked up. Jeremy Accardo will return to the role of setup man for the time being.

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HITTERS

Moises Alou, OF [NYM]
Shockingly, his groin is injured again, and he may miss Opening Day.

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Bobby Crosby, SS [OAK]
Baseball’s Ironman is already having back spasms again.

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Hideki Matsui, OF [NYY]
The 33-year-old Matsui is still being hampered by a bad knee, and now has neck stiffness to add to the injury report. It’s nice for his health that he’s probably going to get most of his at-bats as a DH this year, but there is definitely some risk here.

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Alfonso Soriano, OF [CHC]
Sori has two ailments: a finger that he just fractured while catching a flyball, and the lingering quad injury from last year. The finger thing isn’t anything too big, and it’ll be fully healthy by next week.

The more concerning thing is the quad. The fact that the Cubs medical staff ordered Soriano to run at 75% this spring is a little scary. Even after sitting out for a month last season, he was never fully right, and the truth that it still hasn’t fixed itself has to affect his value a little. I just can’t see him stealing 35 bases on a bum leg.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 5th, 2008 at 3:20 pm and is filed under B.J. Ryan, Yovani Gallardo, Mike Hampton, Kelvim Escobar, Francisco Liriano, Bobby Crosby, Moises Alou, Injuries, Mark Prior, Alfonso Soriano, Brad Lidge, hideki matsui. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.