You're Entering A World of Pain (2009 Injuries)

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

"I'm underwhelmed."

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Bitch!


(snaps fingers in JCL and Irish's general direction)

[ashie62]

Cut Cora some slack..a torn thumb tendon. I don't see how he could play at all. and then we find out 2 tendons.

He may not have been the best but he walked the walk and had to play with an injury that not even strong pain meds can make bearable.

[Farmer Ted]

Another conspiracy theorist on the WBC and injuries. I subscribe to the theory, wholeheartedly.

By Eddie Mayrose, July 9, 2009

Under Commissioner Bud Selig�s reign, Major League Baseball has become more and more about marketing and sales and way less about the fans or even the game, itself. If there�s a way to create a new revenue stream or bump up the current prices, Selig and his merry band of carpet baggers, baseball�s owners, will leap at it with no regard for who may be incurring the cost. Looking forward to taking your kids to an afternoon game on a summer Sunday? Check back with the team two weeks prior, as ESPN may have moved it to Sunday evening; a privilege the Commish and Co. signed away for extra cash when the last network deal was inked. Ticked off at the ridiculous prices being charged by the Mets and Yankees in their new homes? Selig can�t wait to tell anyone who�ll listen that he thinks the ducats have been priced responsibly. Even the nice patriotic gesture that sees teams wear Stars and Stripes hats on the three national holidays that fall within the season has been corrupted. Last year, when they debuted, each team wore a blue version of the cap, which was a big seller among fans. However, when Memorial Day rolled around this year, a red edition adorned the heads of all big leaguers. Let�s face it, how many more blue lids were actually going to be sold? As for the kids who thought they�d be wearing the same apparel as their heroes? Let Dad pony up another thirty five bucks and they�ll be up to date.

But, it is Selig�s most far reaching money grab, the World Baseball Classic, which has managed to put the players, themselves, in jeopardy. A made for television event played in 2006 and 2009, the WBC, features professional players representing their native countries in a two week tournament played at the beginning of March; or the time when most are just beginning the routine of preparing for the season. That many of the players might not be ready to compete so early was an issue seemingly disregarded as soon as a network exec reached for his checkbook. That there didn�t seem to be a whole lot of interest among fans was another factor that was ignored. So, on the games went, with their consequences to be realized during the regular season.

Of the 115 MLB players that participated in the event, 24 have spent time on the disabled list this year; more than twenty percent. There have been 7 more that have missed time to injury during the season but have not been disabled and still another 10 experiencing seasons that range from extremely sub-par to career-worst. That�s thirty five percent of those who played in the Classic having to deal with an unexpectedly disappointing season. Hope the payday was a good one, Bud.

Now, there are more than a few injuries that would have occurred no matter the situation. You can�t blame Cesar Izturis� appendicitis or Brian McCann�s adverse reaction to laser surgery on the WBC. But some interesting patterns still exist. The Mets, for instance, not only sent the most players to the tournament but have had the most land on the DL. Even the Japanese, two time winners of the Classic and renowned for their conditioning, have seen no less than four from their roster miss time to injury.

Former Commissioner Bowie Kuhn was ridiculed at time by owners and fans alike for invoking the �best interest of the game� clause. Maybe that�s something Selig should consider. For, as the accompanying list shows, the �best interest of the game� is clearly not being served by the WBC. These players are paying the price for a shortened Spring Training. Unfortunately, until it hits him in his wallet, Selig probably won�t care.


DISABLED LIST

Mike Aviles Brian McCann

Alex Cora Oliver Perez

David Davidson J.J. Putz

Carlos Delgado Jose Reyes

Stephen Drew Carlos Ruiz

Jose Guillen Carlos Silva

Scott Hairston Joakim Soria

Chris Iannetta Ichiro Suzuki

Akinori Iwamura Edinson Volquez

Cesar Izturis Joey Votto

Daisuke Matsuzaka Brad Ziegler



MISSED TIME

Carlos Beltran

Miguel Cabrera

Carlos Guillen

Chipper Jones

Evan Longoria

Hanley Ramirez

Shane Victorino



UNDERPERFORMING

Joel Hanrahan

Matt Lindstrom

Jose Lopez

Magglio Ordonez

David Ortiz

Roy Oswalt

Jimmy Rollins

Jonathan Sanchez

Geovany Soto

Fernando Tatis


http://thisisdiversity.com/articles/all/929/world-baseball-classic-proving-hazardous-to-health-of-mlb-players

[Frayed Knot]

I think this is a conclusion in search of evidence.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I don't agree that the WBC is the "cause" of injuries or that its an egregious money-grab, necessarily.

[ashie62]

I hate the WBC but I don't see an injury connection

[Guest Edgy DC]

How about we start with a control group?

[MFS62]

How about we start with a control group?[/quote:3kgeobsa]

Based on the Mets DL this year, the control group should be Olympic javelin catchers.

Later

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

The way this has dragged Church's situation-- and, by entension, the player himself-- into a kind of second-stage spotlight is perhaps the oddest tangent of this story. (Witness, as well, Manuel's-- unintentional?-- cheap shot at the departed.)

From Manuel at yesterday's pregame:

"David is a different animal, so to speak," Manuel said. "And how he is made up is a little different than, say, Ryan Church, in my opinion. And that's not to say one is better than the other. But they're different... ... With Church, it was, 'I want to play, but,' " the manager said. "It was, 'I want to play, but I'm queasy.' It was just always stuff coming out of left field."

The Snooze's John Harperspeculates:

Maybe that's why he felt the need to push Church, going all the way back to spring training when he declared young Murphy already a better hitter and said he didn't think Church's post-concussion problems were a factor in his late-season woes at the plate.

From Wallace Matthews (yeah, I know) yesterday:

The Mets played fast and loose with Church's health and not only got away with it but capitalized on it when they traded him for Francoeur, who has been a good addition.

From an Adam Rubin joint todayquoting Church hisself:

He's going to need to rest," said Church, who twice suffered concussions last year while with the Mets. "I don't know how bad it was, but a concussion is a concussion. You need time. Don't try to be a hero. Don't let anyone make you play.

[nymr83]

article on funny injury cover-ups:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&page=starting9/090819

[Guest Edgy DC]

The other thing that came out from Church is that he wasn't straight with the team about his readiness to play.

Jerry may be throwin low blows there, but (1) he kind of lends some credibility to Jerry's frustration with his account, and (2) you don't have to necessarily interpret it as Jerry questioning his manhood.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I agree that calling-Church-a-pussy is only one potential interpretation of what came out of his mouth, and I don't think that Manuel even intended to phrase it quite that way. (Honestly, it seems to me like he missed his meaning a bit, and was attempting to compliment David's gumption and/or discuss his value to the team relative to any other injured player.)

That said, that phrasing is what came out of his mouth. Based on word and deed during Ryan's time in pinstripes, it's difficult to deny that Manuel had a little bit less respect for Church than for most of the players in his stable, for what seems like several reasons; once he unwisely brought Church's name into the conversation, that couldn't help but wend its way into Manuel's off-the-cuff remarks. Either way, it's probably for the best that we're not voting on least-favorite recent manager now.

And I'm not sure I'd characterize Church's reaction as any less honest than that of most any other player who suffers an injury and feels momentarily better*. If the player says he's fine, and those who know better say he may not be, it's on the team to make the determination, isn't it?

*Honest though it may be, though, I'm not sure that I'd take opinions about medical qualifications from Mr. Church without a rack's worth of seasoning.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

On a bit of a tangent, I heard Jerry speak in a radio interview today and it struck me he's come off as a man not having even the least bit of fun. Not because of anything he said, which was typical jocky bland talk, but that he was clearly sick to death of the injuries, of trying to put a positive spin on everything, of making it seem as if Bobby Parnell's start is really part of a larger plan etc etc etc.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Well, the retaliation is covered, anyhow.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

lol

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

On a bit of a tangent, I heard Jerry speak in a radio interview today and it struck me he's come off as a man not having even the least bit of fun. Not because of anything he said, which was typical jocky bland talk, but that he was clearly sick to death of the injuries, of trying to put a positive spin on everything, of making it seem as if Bobby Parnell's start is really part of a larger plan etc etc etc.[/quote:1p55t7ky]

Well, hell, Jerry-- if you're sick to death with it, there's a pretty simple fix.

Also, there's a certain Stamford native who wouldn't mind taking that burden off your hands for a while.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I think Jerry survives if Omar does. And I think Omar is going to get "promoted."

[Guest Kong76]

Jerry in post game Q & A with reporters ... oh and by the way, Santana won't
start tomorrow and has been hurt for months.

(paraphrasing, of course)

[metirish]

Jerry in post game Q & A with reporters ... oh and by the way, Santana won't
start tomorrow and has been hurt for months.

(paraphrasing, of course)[/quote:3lkkxmi2]

Hurt like injured or hurt becasue the season went down the swanny?

[seawolf17]

Seriously?

Oh, and we might as well mention Jeff Francoeur's ligament damage so it's properly recorded in this thread.

[Guest Kong76]

I was on the phone so I could only half listen. He'll miss the start because
something bothering him with his elbow (discomfort) and it's gotten worse
and he's seeing the doctor tomorrow.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

ROLL CALL

Currently on DL:
Beltran (Knee--Bone Bruise)
Cora (Hand--Torn Ligaments)
Delgado (Hip labral tear, strained oblique)
Maine (Shoulder-- inflammation?)
FMartinez (Knee-- meniscus tear)
RMartinez (Finger-- torn ligament)
Nieve (Leg-- quad tear)
Niese (Hamstring-- tear)
Putz (Elbow-- inflammation/cartilage issue?)
Reyes (Hamstring-- strain/tear)
Wright (Concussion)

Previous DL time:
Church (Neck-- strain)
Pagan (Hamstring-- strain)
Perez (Knee-- inflammation)
Schneider (Back-- strained muscle)
Sheffield (Hamstring-- strain)
Wagner-- (Elbow-- recovery, TJ surgery)

Missed time, no DL:
Castillo (Ankle)
Castro (Back?)
Francoeur (Thumb)
Pelfrey (Shoulder-- Tendinitis)
Santana (Back/Elbow)


Am I missing anyone?

[ashie62]

Rotoworld has Santana out next start per Manuel's press conference and seeing the Dr. "tuesday"

[MFS62]

I'm bginning to think that CitiField was built on an Indian burial ground.

Later

[Benjamin Grimm]

Holy crap.

I was blissfully ignorant of this.

Until now, of course.

[metirish]

Nice work LWFS , I hope you did't injure yourself typing all that.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Nice work LWFS , I hope you did't injure yourself typing all that.[/quote:3ehyb8k5]

Nothing major. Like most of us, I'm day-to-day.

[ashie62]

Time to hire Dr. Nick from the Simpsons

You all need a rahdical appendectomy!

[ashie62]

I'm bginning to think that CitiField was built on an Indian burial ground.

Later[/quote:3mjm5esz]

or Flushing is a "sick bay"