FRIDAY: The Cardinals announced that Berkman will likely miss eight to ten weeks after undergoing surgery for meniscus and cartilage tears today, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweets. Berkman could return this season if all goes well despite talk of an earlier-than-expected retirement.
MONDAY: It appears that Lance Berkman suffered a torn ACL in his right knee Saturday, Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch tweets. An MRI will take place today to confirm the early diagnosis. The injury could end Berkman's season and has the veteran switch-hitter considering retirement.
Matt Adams and Matt Carpenter provide the Cardinals with a pair of internal options at first base. Adams had a .340/.375/.603 batting line at Triple-A before getting called up this weekend and Carpenter has a .280/.345/.500 through 113 plate appearances as a corner infielder and outfielder with the Cardinals this year. Allen Craig could also play first base once he returns from the disabled list, ESPN.com's Buster Olney notes.
Berkman, 36, will earn $12MM in 2012 before hitting free agency this offseason. He is a client of Moye Sports Associates.
There goes there playoff chances
Where’s there?
It’s hear.
Their hear? What was said?
Why was the baseball stadium so hot?
Because all the fans left.
Dudum-tiss.
* They’re
whoosh
wooooow, just re-read it. Looks like I needed another coffee.
Eh, it’s a Friday afternoon after a long week. I know I’m going to order an extra turbo shot in mine.
sorry to bust your bubble but even without him the Cardinals can make the playoffs he hadn’t played in that many games to make a difference one way or another, I”m sad Berkman may be done but it shouldn’t hinder the Cardinals
The biggest thing now is that Allen Craig stays healthy. He is an even more important piece now. I still have no worries about the offense, this team will score plenty of runs. The pitching staff is starting to make me a little nervous.
Ouch. Hope it isn’t the end of his career. Even though he was at first this year, I would say this is a permanent end to his OF days, though, if there had been any remaining doubt.
Ah, disqus, I see it is a Monday morning for you, too.
I’m a long time Cards fan and I’ve always liked and respected Lance (even from a far in Houston even though he killed us on a regular basis). I hope this isn’t the end for him as he is truly one a baseball’s great guys. Also “there’s goes our playoff hopes”? Don’t be bitter just because the Braves did THEIR best Cubs impression last year. I think that Craig would be a starter on several clubs and will fit in as a nice replacment. Not to mention the guy (Adams) that was hitting 340/375/603 in AAA and profiles as a legitimate middle of the order lefthanded power monster.
I believe I reported this last night, ha. It was pretty obvious that he was going to be gone for the year. It’s too bad and I wish him well. The Cardinals can make up for his offense in the line-up, what I’m not sure they can make up for is his presence in the clubhouse.
Hope you didn’t dislocate your shoulder patting yourself on the back over getting the scoop on Berkmans injury. And you didn’t report it – you’re not a reporter – you made an educated guess about a gut feeling you had from “reading between the lines” and posted it on a message board. And on top of all that – its not even official until the mri comes back.
whoa…
wake up on wrong side of the bed?
If healthy Craig will get the playing time he finally deserves when he comes off the DL.
I know this might be strange but the Cubs could trade LaHair for maybe a Cox or a pitcher to Cards. Then let Rizzo play.
Cards have Craig to play first along with Adams plus Matt Carpenter can play first. They have plenty of options and have no need to make a trade.
The Cardinals have plenty of options for 1B. It really wouldn’t make sense for them to trade for another .Between Adams, Craig, and Carpenter 1B should be set for years to come.
However, with Craig being able to play 1B and Carpenter proving himself as a passable starter/great bench player, Adams could establish himself as good trade bait.
Alas, there will probably be more injuries, and the need for all of these players will increase 3-fold
Why wouldn’t LaHair just transition to the OF?
Would LaHair make the cut as a MLB outfielder?
I think he could. I think he will eventually. Could he be any worse than Soriano?
He could sure but Cubs must look to 2014. A trade like this must be all in Cubs favor or don’t make it. Get some great young players through trades like this. Then draft wisely. Jackson already in OF for 2014.
Another freakish knee injury! Bad things happen in threes. Who is next?
This is very depressing because I hate to see a good player going down like this.
Mark Hamilton or Cox 1B to?
this hurts but right now, I’m missing Jon Jay more. Berkman can be replaced and once him and craig comes back, our lineup will be just as strong.
furcal-ss
beltran-rf
holliday-lf
craig-1b
freese-3b
jay-CF
molina-C
Descalso-2b
p
still a very strong lineup. Not too much stronger with berkman replacing craig, arguably weaker that way.
I agree, if your lineup stays that way, it is still plenty potent. But you are relying on two huge injury risks (Furcal and Beltran) to stay healthy and be productive for most of the season and be ready to go for the playoffs. Losing Berkman could really hurt more from a depth standpoint than production right now, but they could very easily need that depth at some point this year and not have it
Biggest part about this is that the Cardinals, as Reaper said in a reply above, rely very heavily on several injury-prone players. They have a very deep team this year, but Freese, Furcal and Beltran have all spent considerable time on the DL the last few seasons, and Craig has spent considerable amount of time on the DL THIS season. We’re also still lacking Carpenter and now Berkman’s likely done for the season.
On paper, this is still a scary team, but if some of these players either have to go on the DL or end up only playing at 75% due to nagging injuries, then the Cardinals aren’t going to look quite as good. Hope for good health!
Damn it has been so cool to see Berkman in a Cardinals uniform. Sure hope he can come back this season.
So Berkman should be back early August, just in time for the stretch run.
Meniscus and cartilage tears? So it wasn’t an ACL at all? That must be seriously good news for Berkman.