WEDNESDAY: Earlier this week, Lance Berkman learned that he likely suffered a torn ACL and the veteran acknowledged that he might not look to come back after the surgery, writes David Dalati of FOXSportsMidwest.com.
"I think the decision of whether I want to continue playing or not I would want to make in the offseason. It's just one of those things…you realize you can't play forever. Certainly when you get to be my age and you suffer a significant injury it can help push you out the door. I'd be lying to you if I said I wasn't at least considering that possibility," Berkman said.
SUNDAY: The Cardinals and Lance Berkman have yet to disclose specifics about an injury caused by Berkman stretching for a routine throw from Rafael Furcal, but the veteran is unsure about his future as he awaits MRI results, writes Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
"You think about it when you have a potentially major surgery at this stage of your career. But, again, right now we don't know what it is. But it gives you pause," the first baseman said. "I don't think it's one of those deals where you sit out a week and see where your are. I think it's much more serious than that."
Berkman, 36, added that he wouldn't automatically call it a career if he has re-torn his ACL and that he is hopeful that he will be able to bounce back from his injury. The veteran is earning $12MM this season but has appeared in just 13 games thus far.
For his career, Berkman owns a .296/.409/.546 slash line across 14 seasons and has earned more than $102MM in total, according to Baseball-Reference.
It’s been that kind of year for baseball…
Ugh, what a shame!!! I don’t want Lance to go out like this. I hope he can manage the rest of the year and go out on his own terms rather than kicked out by injuries.
He needs to pull a Chipper and come back. Sucks to see anyone at Berkmans level quit because of a injury.
The Cardinals called up Matt Adams to take his spot at 1B. I think that indicates they believe it’s a very serious injury. Most likely, Berkman has played his last game as a Cardinal.
Wow… How would you possibly know that. He has not even had an MRI yet?
Obviously I don’t know that, I’m reading between the lines. Berkman said he’s hoping it’s a torn meniscus and he can be back within a few weeks, but he believes it’s worse than that. Berkman knows his body better than anyone. It’s bad and he knows it.
They also called up Adams which leads me to believe they are planning to be without Berkman for quite awhile. I don’t believe they would call him up for just a couple weeks. They’ve been very careful with prospects lately and I don’t see them playing the up and down game with Adams.
So even though they haven’t officially ruled Berkman out it’s easy to see this is a pretty serious injury. I’m guessing he is done for the year and he really doesn’t make sense on the 2013 Cardinals unless Craig, Carpenter, Adams are all failing.
They could be calling up Adams because Berkman, Craig, and Jay are all on the DL and they need another bat, feeling the Carpenter isn’t full-time 1b ready or the answer at 1b.
That said, I do think you are right that he is seriously hurt. Hope it’s not the end, because Berkman has always been one of those guys you can’t help liking.
and Carpenter just got put on the DL
your right , this is more then just a simple injury, it very well could be a season ending injury for Berkman.. I dont see Adams as the answer at this point.. he is not an Albert in the waiting.. Craig is a partial answer, though we dont know if he can stay healthy, between this and the BP, expect some trades to happen in the next month..
We’re less than a quarter of the way into the season. It’s a little premature to count Berkman out for the season.
Wow, that’s just miserable, especially when you consider he’s got so much left in the tank if he could just stay healthy. Definitely a HoFer, IMO, would be a shame to see his career end on these terms.
” Definitely a HoFer”
Only if they continue to water down the standards for enshrinement. Berkman falls into the category of good ball player, but not great. The Dwight Evans type (though Berkman was never a GG caliber defender) offensively that never quite stands up to Hall worthy.
Agreed, I like Berkman but not HOF worthy. A very good ball player though.
Berkman put up 60 WAR in a career that only spanned 12 full seasons. He had only two seasons in his career with an OPS below .900- one was at .896. His career OPS is 19th all time, second among switch hitters, only to Mickey Mantle. Yes, it was higher than Chipper’s or Murray’s.
Issue of perception vs. reality, here, look at the numbers and you’ll see it my way. He was a FAR better hitter than Evans.
Someone forgot to look at the defensive end.. Please remember it’s all about a 2 ended game.. if you just want to look at players from 1 perspective.. Ortiz crushes berkeman but nobody would say he is a HOF for obvious reasons.. he was a horrible player even when he played in the field and Berkamn..Nobody would confuse with an even decent OF and Evans it was known to have been the finest RF in the game during most of his time with an absolute cannon for an arm.
THAT is the equalizer, but then.. he isn’t a HOF either.. Just like Berkman..
“He was a FAR better hitter than Evans.” Really? Then you never saw Dwight Evans play…
Hall of “Very Good”-you bet
Hall of “Guys I really liked and always seemed to play the game the right way, easy to like player”-Among the best
Hall of Fame-Unlikely
I’ll say this, when he played in SF before LA he missed a bounced throw from Freese entirely. It was a bad throw but one that a healthy Berkman would’ve easily gotten a glove on to stop it from going down the line and allowing a run to score. He really looked like his legs were locked and given how little movement it took for him to torque that knee it seems this may have been lingering for awhile.
12 Million bucks for 13 games. Sounds awesome. Sign me up.
you guys already have Ryan Howard and Chase Utley who are collectively being paid $35 million for 0 games played so far.
LMAO
This is sad, but true…
At least we’re not the Mets who are paying Bonilla for the next 20 years
I’m sure the Phillies would rather be paying Bonilla at this point…
I’d rather have Bonilla’s deferred payments and sign one year deals to Carlos Pena/Luke Scott types than be stuck with Howard’s contract, and I’d get equal or better production too.
…and the Braves are paying Derek Lowe NOT to play for them.
Yep. They were able to dump his awful contract. Something the Phillies won’t be able to do with either Utley or Howard.
if he retires, he voids his contract and forfeits the rest of his salary for the season (or something else happens, but he doesn’t get the whole 12MM).
I really hope its not an ACL tear, but if it is I think he will retire, what a shame he’s a great player and I will miss seeing him play but at least he got a WS ring
this is a real shame, berkman is a great player and a class act. i wish him the best i don’t want to see a player of his caliber go out like this.
If Mariano (who is 6 years older than Lance) can come back, Lance definitely can. I would hate to see his career end like this.
Mariano plays a much less demanding position than Berkman. On average, Mariano pitches about an inning every 3 games, while Berkman played in the outfield for much of his career. But yes, it would be a damn shame for Berkman to be forced to call it quits
And there’s no guarantee Mo can come back.
Good point, didn’t even think about that.
Hopefully he comes back and finishes out his career on his own terms. This is NOT how his career should end.
I will cry. Lance is the MAN, I named both of my Dodge Rams after him
this seems a bit premature. no reason to jump to conclusion before mri results
Hipster Victor Martinez tore his ACL before it was cool.
He’ll be the Astros DH next season.
Does not like AL said so will not be on Astros again. donWsox !
Does not like the AL… but likes the Astros
Last year was a fluke season. Obviously the injuries and age caught up to him.. I dont know how the Cardinals didnt see this comming..
I’m going to go out on a limb and say it’s because tearing your ACL isn’t a chronic issue that can be predicted in advance.
But you know, who am I to get in the way of a rant?
Actually yes you can, especially if you had one before. Many of us have frayed ACL’s waiting to tear that can be detected by an MRI. Even if they do not know exactly when they know the likelihood it could happen hence the one year deals.
Hopefully this isn’t the end to his playing career. If it is, maybe he can get a job with a coaching staff. Preferably with the Cardinals, but I’m sure the Astros would hire him just as quickly.
Well at least Cardinals have Beltran’s sturdiness to count on. That dude is indestructible.
Haha, I’ll give you that one.
Pffft more HGH and he’ll bounce back, just like last year
I think he’s sick of living outside the state of Texas. Only way he comes back is if it’s with the Rangers or Astros.
ha ha u are a joke Choate. after all the yr’s won a w/s out side of Texas and still lives there. He will not go to Houston AL next yr. he doesn’t like that at all. Texas has no place on their team for a 36 yr old.; ha ha ha !
donWsox !
12mm, 6 months work, world series ring, (WHAT TEXAS?)
What
A “torn ACL” … what is that supposed to mean? If it’s a partial tear (AKA, a sprain) it’s potentially recoverable but it will take months, and the knee will never be the same since the ACL doesn’t really heal. (Been there, done that.) A complete tear means ligament replacement, and forget about playing baseball and just be happy walking again.