Lugo's Elbow

[Centerfield]

Strange scene yesterday, as Collins cryptically stated that Lugo is on the shelf for a period of at least a few weeks.

http://www.nj.com/mets/index.ssf/2017/04/whats_going_on_with_mets_seth_lugo.html

I don't know. Maybe I'm a "sky is falling" guy, but once you hear "elbow, second opinion, and Altcheck" in the same sentence, it's not long before Tommy John shows up.

So we know he is going for a second opinion, and that we will have more word on Wednesday, but we don't know what the original diagnosis is. Why all the secrecy? It's not like Lugo was scheduled to pitch anytime soon, and it's not like keeping his condition under wraps will give us any competitive advantage.

And sure, the Mets don't have any obligation to tell us what is going on, and they're entitled to keep things quiet. But if that's what you want, why mention anything at all? It's not like they asked about Lugo, Terry just volunteered the info.

It's just so strange. If you want to keep quiet, say nothing. If you want to share, then share. I don't see what is to be gained by offering cryptic messages that have fans assuming the worst.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

This is the break his Trump-blowing buddy Sean Gilmartin has been angling for.

But I'd bet they go to Montero first, if needed.

We're going to have to forget about Lugo and Matz for awhile.

[Edgy MD]

This is why they built their impressive foundation of redundancy. Lugo emerged, in part, because Wheeler went away for a long time. Now Wheeler is back and it's Lugo's time to be on the shelf, hopefully not for two years.

[Centerfield]

Slight UCL tear.

No TJ surgery for now. Recommending rest, then rehab.

I feel like we've discussed this before. Do UCL's heal?

I think Tanaka is pitching with a slight tear.

[metirish]

Now he just looks like an asshole with bleached blonde hair

[Benjamin Grimm]

Anyone who bleaches their asshole hair is braver than I am.

[metirish]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Anyone who bleaches their asshole hair is braver than I am.

[Edgy MD]

"So, who are we?!"

"Puerto Ricans!"

"And what does that mean?!"

"Children of the Island of Enchantment! And their descendants!"

"And how do we show the world what that signifies?!"

"By all of us dying our hair something more Nordic-looking!!"

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Centerfield wrote: Slight UCL tear. No TJ surgery for now. Recommending rest, then rehab. I feel like we've discussed this before. Do UCL's heal?

They can. That's the aim with the platelet-loaded plasma injection/rest. But, like, throwing things hard tends to not help that process. Tanaka adjusted the way he pitched after his injury-- fewer sliders/four-seamers, more splitters and pitching to contact-- and it's worked for him, albeit differently (two straight years of diminished K/9 numbers... but with similar swinging-strike numbers). But is Lugo a Tanaka, or is he a, like, Everyotherpitcherinrecentmemory?

[Fman99]

So this is because of the WBC, right? In some way, I mean.

[Frayed Knot]

Well, UCL tears do not heal in the definition of the tear repairing itself the way a muscle can. Ligaments don't do that which is why TJ surgery replaces the ligament with a tendon (hopefully one
of yours but, if not, one from a cadaver works just dandy) which they then thread around the elbow (and through the nifty holes the doc drills into it) with the intention of the tendon becoming your new
replacement ligament.
But if the UCL is torn it's torn and it's not becoming 'un-torn' or even less torn. Many pitchers -- probably 'most' to some degree or another -- pitch with partially torn ones, it just depends on how bad
and how you can either adjust to take some of the strain off it or just say 'Fuck it' and figure when the meter runs out on the original it'll snap and it's time to go under the hood and get new parts.

The platelet rich plasma helps with the healing process around the ligament, to subside whatever pain and irritation that accompanies the injury, and hopefully strengthen the area around it so as to not
tear things further at which there is no option other than the zipper scar and 18 months of vay-kay ... if you define 'vay-kay' as 18 months of tediously boring work and rehab.

[Lefty Specialist]

Fman99 wrote: So this is because of the WBC, right? In some way, I mean.

I'm betting throwing the spinniest curveball in the majors has something to do with it.

[Ceetar]

Lefty Specialist wrote: Fman99 wrote: So this is because of the WBC, right? In some way, I mean. I'm betting throwing the spinniest curveball in the majors has something to do with it.

If only these silly pitchers would stop doing the damn pitching they'd stay healthy!

[MFS62]

Blame me.
I jinxed him in his prediction thread.

Its my fault.
Everything is my fault.
At least, that's what my wife tells me.

Later

[Fman99]

Hopefully his other elbow is OK.

[seawolf17]

MFS62 wrote: Its my fault. Everything is my fault. At least, that's what my wife tells me.

LOL!

In all seriousness, though, Lugo's elbow isn't going to make or break our season. No worries.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

You wonder if the Mets will try and snag some unclaimed freight to stash in Vegas: Pelfrey, Fister, Lincecum, Gee etc are all out there.

[Fman99]

Pelfrey is a fister.

[Centerfield]

I've always liked Lincecum. Would love to take a flyer on him to see if he's got anything left.

What's his issue? Just can't throw hard anymore?

I'd be fine with Gee or Fister as well.

Pass on Pelfrey. Didn't like him in his prime. Old, washed up Pelfrey seems even less appetizing.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Lincecum can't throw hard anymore, and was never able to adjust his pitching sufficiently-- say, using the offspeed stuff as his bread and butter, and spotting the fastball-- to still be effective.

Fister could be interesting. Colby Lewis looked good in limited action last year (if with some apparent batted-ball luck), too.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Joel Sherman, New York Post wrote: Toronto designated Mike Bolsinger for assignment, but the Mets have shown no inclination to clear a 40-man roster space for a marginal upgrade. The Mets personally like Mike Pelfrey, a free agent who was with the team from 2006 to 2012, but his representatives indicated the Mets starting group is too good, giving him a low chance to break through back to the majors. The Mets inquired in the offseason about Colby Lewis, seeing if he would agree to a minor league deal. He said no then, and continues to seek a major league deal. Other veteran free agents still unemployed include Doug Fister, Alfredo Simon, Ryan Vogelsong and Tim Lincecum.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I used to think Big Pelf could be a short reliever, especially if he dyed his hair black, grew a sinister handlebar, and used "Space Station No. 5" as warmup music. Maybe that's the way you lure him in. Not that he's ever been as successful as he appeared to be, but maybe in short bursts he could be. Pitching is weird.