Glavine has "coldness" in finger

[Guest Iubitul]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/story/445171p-374889c.html

]Tom may have a blood clot BY ADAM RUBIN DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER Sunday, August 20th, 2006 Tom Glavine's health and his season are in jeopardy, a potentially crushing blow to the pitcher as well as to the Mets' World Series ambitions, the Daily News has learned. Sources said the southpaw has experienced coldness in a finger on his pitching hand, and that the cause of the alarming condition isn't yet known. The 287-game winner is scheduled for a CT scan tomorrow, while an angiogram is planned for Wednesday. Doctors are unsure whether the problem is related to a blood clot or possibly a "knot" in an artery near his left shoulder. Depending on the diagnosis, Glavine could miss little time or the rest of the season. The "knot" could require invasive surgery, while a clot might be able to be dissolved and limit the time lost. Reached last night, agent Gregg Clifton said he could confirm that "diagnostic tests" are planned for this week, but he declined to elaborate. Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said he was unable to provide any details and would not even acknowledge a medical issue. A teammate aware of the situation was similarly tight-lipped when asked if he could speak about how Glavine is doing, saying: "I would get in a lot of trouble for that." Doctors apparently have ruled out an aneurysm. Last year, Mets reliever Felix Heredia experienced coldness and numbness in his pitching hand during April and ultimately was diagnosed with an aneurysm in the shoulder, which ended his Mets career. Trainers conspicuously huddled multiple times with Willie Randolph yesterday, and Glavine hasn't been present in the clubhouse the past two days at Shea. The Mets generally list the following series' pitching matchups on their game notes, but the entire series against the Cardinals that opens Tuesday is omitted. Any injury that restricts Glavine's ability to compete in October could be a jarring blow to the Mets, who already have Pedro Martinez on the disabled list for the second time this season, this time with a strained right calf. The Mets pressed Dave Williams into duty in Martinez's place in last night's 7-4 victory over the Rockies. Williams pitched a solid game until leaving with what he labeled calf cramps with two out in the sixth inning. Minus Martinez and Glavine, the Mets would be left with a rotation headed by Steve Trachsel, Orlando Hernandez and John Maine. Brian Bannister and Oliver Perez are available at Triple-A Norfolk, while 2005 first-round pick Mike Pelfrey is nursing a strained lat (back) muscle. Perez combined with Tim LaVigne and Heath Bell for a one-hit shutout last night against Charlotte. The ex-Pirate Perez faced the minimum through five innings and struck out 11 over seven innings. Glavine (12-6, 3.92 ERA) is tied with Steve Trachsel for the team lead with 12 wins. He last pitched Wednesday in Philadelphia, allowing three runs on six hits in seven innings in the Mets' 3-0 loss. The condition apparently surfaced after that outing. Glavine is one win shy of matching Tommy John for 23rd on the all-time list, and 13 shy of the 300-win plateau.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

It's gonna be cool to defeat the MFYs in the WS behind a rotation of John Maine, Mike Pelfrey, Phil Humber, Oliver Perez and Bobby Parnell.

[Gwreck]

I'd still rather play the Tigers. And I still have more confidence in Maine than Trachsel.

Oliver Perez pitched a gem for Norfolk last night, apparently.

[Guest Iubitul]

Johnny Dickshot wrote: It's gonna be cool to defeat the MFYs in the WS behind a rotation of John Maine, Mike Pelfrey, Phil Humber, Oliver Perez and Bobby Parnell.

ok - this got me more excited than I thought it would...

[MFS62]

So, what's the problem?
Ever hear of "Three Finger" Mordecai Brown? (No, he was before my time)

Hey, its only one finger.
And the eccentric motion on the ball caused by a new, different grip could extend his career another five years.
So.................................

Uh, sorry.
This is not funny.
Just trying to find a "half-full" to this rotten news.
I Hope he's ok.

Later

[smg58]

At this point, I'll settle for one of Pedro or Glavine pitching in October. Crap.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Now can we try Heilman?

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

Things could get real ugly if some pitchers don't start to get healthy. If both Pedro and Glavine are out, Trachsel, O. Hernandez, and Maine become the Mets likely playoff rotation. Sad prospect for the Mets chances in the post-season.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Edgy DC wrote: Now can we try Heilman?

I bet the Mets answer to that would be, "He's too valuable in the bullpen."

While I'd hate to go into the playoffs with Trachsel and Hernandez as the top two starters, it's better than not being in the playoffs at all. I'd be willing to take my chances.

But that's jumping the gun a bit. Pedro should be recovered from his current ailment by then. (I just hope the third shoe doesn't drop.) And there's been no diagnosis on Glavine yet.

[metirish]

Jesus this is bad news,whatever about our team I hope Glavine will be ok...

[metirish]

]Oliver Perez pitched a gem for Norfolk last night, apparently.

7 innings,1 hit with 11 strike outs,no runs and two walks.

[Zvon]

This is some nasty news.

[Guest cleonjones11]

Can we sign Darling, Ojeda, Sid and Orosco they are in town

[Zvon]

cleonjones11 wrote: Can we sign Darling, Ojeda, Sid and Orosco they are in town

We could probly use you in the outfield too, Cleon.

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

I just hope that the report is premature and that the condition isn't all that serious.

[Centerfield]

Any of the resident doctors want to weigh in on this? How common are clots as opposed to knots?

[Willets Point]

Johnny Dickshot wrote: It's gonna suck to watch the MFYs win the WS after the Mets fail to win anything behind a rotation of John Maine, Mike Pelfrey, Phil Humber, Oliver Perez and Bobby Parnell.

Corrected that for you.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Willets Point wrote: ="Johnny Dickshot"]It's gonna suck to watch the MFYs win the WS after the Mets fail to win anything behind a rotation of John Maine, Mike Pelfrey, Phil Humber, Oliver Perez and Bobby Parnell. Corrected that for you.

Defeatist looser. You're the one whose wish is fulfilled.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I think I read that the test results are due back by the middle of the week. So maybe we're 48 hours away from finding out what's going on.

I got quicker results when I got blood tests on my cat a few weeks ago. Maybe the Mets should take Glavine to a veterinarian instead.

[MFS62]

Maybe your cat has a better medical plan.

Later

[Guest cleonjones11]

MFS62 wrote: Maybe your cat has a better medical plan. Later

That is funny

[Guest OlerudOwned]

Exhale

]On Sunday it was feared Tom Glavine might miss the rest of the season. Now, the veteran Mets left-hander might be on the mound as soon as next week. Sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney that an angiogram performed Monday revealed that Glavine has some small blood clots, which have been there for a period of time. This is actually good news, because it indicates his body has been dealing with this on its own.

[MFS62]

]Glavine's left middle finger and index finger were diagnosed in 1990 with Raynaud's, a condition caused by poor circulation that leads to numbness and coldness.

I'm shocked that he wasn't put on a medication program when that was first diagnosed.

Later

[RealityChuck]

MFS62 wrote: ]Glavine's left middle finger and index finger were diagnosed in 1990 with Raynaud's, a condition caused by poor circulation that leads to numbness and coldness. I'm shocked that he wasn't put on a medication program when that was first diagnosed.

Because non-drug treatments are preferred in most cases: http://www.niams.nih.gov/hi/topics/raynaud/ar125fs.htm

(Note the importance of exercising regularly. Glavine shouldn't have problems with that part. )

Drugs are generally only used when the phenomenon (it's called that, not a disease or a syndrom) is caused by connective tissue disease.

[MFS62]

Met luck - the medication they will now put him on probably contains steroids.

Later

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

Whew!

[Benjamin Grimm]

I hope that the sense of relief that Tom feels inspires him to win six games this October.

[metirish]

Great for Glavine and his family and great for the team.

[Benjamin Grimm]

You forgot to add, "And great for Tom's sleazy battery mate, Paul Lo Duca!"

[metirish]

I'll work that onto the IGT tonight....