Sept. 12: Doctors estimate that Zimmer will need six to eight weeks before he’s ready for full baseball activities, which seems to largely eliminate the possibility that he’d be able to return to contribute in the postseason (Twitter links via MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian).
Sept. 11, 9:23pm: Zimmer is set to undergo surgery on his broken hand tomorrow, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon-Journal reports on Twitter. It’s still not known exactly how long Zimmer is likely to be sidelined.
12:49pm: Zimmer is expected to miss the rest of the season, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reports via Twitter.
This is a significant blow to an Indians team that has won 18 in a row and has their sights set on a return to the World Series. Zimmer’s defense in center field has been well above average according to advanced metrics. It’s unclear whether Zimmer will be able to return for any amount of time in the postseason, but it’s not outside the realm of possibility. It’s worth noting that even with a broken hand, Zimmer could have a place on the roster as an emergency pinch-runner in high-leverage situations.
Sept. 10: Indians manager Terry Francona says outfielder Bradley Zimmer has a broken bone in his hand, MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian tweets. To be precise, Zimmer has fractured the fourth metacarpal on his left hand, as Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal tweets. The injury occurred when Zimmer slid into first base and had his hand stepped on by Chris Davis in the Indians’ game against the Orioles Sunday.
We won’t know more about Zimmer’s injury until he sees a hand specialist tomorrow, but his broken bone appears to be a significant bit of bad news for an Indians team that has otherwise had plenty to celebrate lately. This is the second injury in ten days that Zimmer has suffered while diving — he came up with concussion issues after attempting a diving catch earlier this month.
The 24-year-old Zimmer has emerged as a solid contributor in his rookie season. He’s batted a modest .243/.310/.389, but has created good value with his baserunning (he has 18 steals while only being caught once) and center field defense, resulting in a solid 1.5 fWAR over his first 100 games. Assuming Zimmer has to miss time, the Indians have a variety of players who could help in center field. Austin Jackson has ample experience at the position. Tyler Naquin, Abraham Almonte and speedy newcomer Greg Allen could represent other possibilities there.
there goes all the speed we have
don’t forget Greg Allen
i doubt allen will make the postseason roster. zimmer has the speed element that we had last year with rajai. while allen and frankie and josey all have good speed they’re not game changers on the basepaths. zimmer beat out several routine grounders to the right side and is a smart base stealer. i guess if you’re going to lose a player, at least it’s an OF. we have like 20 of them on the roster.
With this injury, can they trade for somebody and have them eligible for the postseason due to the injury? Is that an exception to the August 31 trade deadline?
No. The only exception that can be made via a petition to the Commissioners office is to allow someone who was not previously on the 40-man roster to replace someone who was on DL for more than 60 days.
So a) You still have to be in the organization. There is no exception to this, and b) the player that is being replaced has to be on the 60-day DL and spent more than 60 days on the DL.
Why would they trade for anybody? They have plenty of options.
Ramirez has 15, Frankie 13.
This team still has speed. It’s more than just stolen bases, it’s taking the extra base, like 1st to 3rd and 2nd to home. Yes, Zimmer is our best baserunner, but not everyone is slow like EE.
As for Allen, it wouldn’t surprise me if he made the postseason roster, but Naquin might go before him. Unfortunately, because he missed last year’s playoffs because he cheated, I can see Chewy giving the nod to Almonte.
Blessing in disguise, unfortunately. No way they could have rostered 6 OF’s for the postseason. Chisenhall and Jackson are an upgrade offensively in CF.
Zimmer is really exciting, but he’s been the weakest link in the lineup since July. I’d like to see Urshela and Guyer make the cut, much more likely now. Their best D is Ursh at 3B and Ramirez at 2B, hope Tito will consider it unless Kipness comes back on fire.
I actually agree with you. As mentioned last night during game by ESPN broadcast, Tito is going to have very tough choices for playoff roster. Since pitchers adjusted to Zim, he has been struggling to readjust as we saw with Naquin. As much as his speed is great, not helpful if he can’t get on base. Can’t justify having him just for pinch running and defense when you have capable defenders that could give you positive offensive production.
I’d rather see Yandy Diaz make the roster before Gio.
Gio’s defense is a game changer can’t say the same thing about Diaz offensively or defensively.
And as for Diaz, have you ever seen anybody with such big arms and biceps have such little pop in his bat?
He has pop, just not lift yet. But he looks like he’s getting there. But his bat plays better than Gio’s, and he’s underrated as a defender.
He’s already 26 and only has 29 dingers in over 2600 ABs…built like Tarzan plays like Jane. Gio could be a Gold Glover at 3B, Diaz doesn’t have a position.
True story. He lead the league in exit velo before he was demoted. I’m perfectly fine with his swing. Rock that .370 obp all day with gap power.
Exactly. There are other ways to contribute besides the long ball. Just look at what he did tonight. 2 hits, 2 runs, and an RBI.
That’s production, but some still won’t accept that.
I’ll accept that, my comments were directly in response to somebody saying Diaz should make the roster over Gio. I’ll take Gio’s defensive contributions down the stretch over a singles hitters in a lineup that has been crushing it.
Hmmm, seeing as Chewy has been starting Yandy over Gio, you may be in the minority.
And plugging Gio in as a defensive replacement every game.
Which means he values Yandy’s overall game over Gio’s.
Which means he values defense when it counts over a Punch and Judy hitter with arms like Popeye. Another bloop and 4 LOB tonight for Yawwwnnnnddy and then yanked for defense in a tight game.
Why are you so negative about someone who contributes to the team?
I used to enjoy chatting with you, but not anymore.
Another 0-3 stranded 3 on base and then booted one that led to 2 unearned runs before being replaced by Gio for his defense.
Not negative about Diaz, just calling it how I see it; Urshela’s defense is worth more to this lineup than a couple slap singles.
You are absolutely negative about him, even when we win. How about you don’t reply to me anymore?
By the way, that’s Yandy’s first error at 3B this season. Gio has 3.
I people didn’t reply to dumb comments these threads would be bare.
Has 3 errors because he gets to more balls and makes more plays. And if he was so bad at it why would he go in as a defensive replacement for your boy so often?
And if he’s so good at it why isn’t he starting?
I don’t understand why you are so negative about someone who contributes to the team in such a way and not just appreciate the ride.
Answer the question.
The question of how your boy did tonight? Another 0fer, 0-4 with 3 LOB in the first few innings alone and a K in crunch time after getting ahead with a 3-0 count.
Win streak Over/Under 20 games
Also, guess what, he was sliding back to first base. Guess position players can get hurt that war
Um, no he wasn’t “sliding back to first base”. He was sliding to first base on a ground ball.
Also, headfirst.
Still, sliding into first
He was avoiding the tag
When are players going to understand that sliding into 1st is moronic?
He wasn’t trying to beat a throw by sliding, he was trying to avoid a tag. I don’t see how sliding into first is any different than sliding into 2nd or 3rd when it comes to avoiding a tag.
Guys get hurt sliding through the bag, which 1st base is the only raised base you can do that. The other two you slide into so you slide earlier. He had too much speed and too many moving parts and it cost him.
Yeah Zimmer was a disaster waiting to happen the way he throws that massive body around.
Grady Sizemore played with the same excitement and reckless abandon and look how it de railed his career. I’m hoping it doesn’t happen to this young kid as well he has a bright future in front of him.
More injuries suffered by players sliding into first than any other base – jammed shoulder, broken hand, etc. I tell my players that the only time sliding into first is an option is if the SEASON or championship is on the line based on the outcome of that play. Otherwise it should never happen.
Agreed, JD, figure it out. I’d go further and outlaw headfirst slides were I managing a big league club.
When they figure out that they are better athletes than you can ever be.
Probably when they figure out that they need your sage advice about how to play pro baseball.
I see all these exciting comments
First though Zimmer was lucky this was not worse.
He could have had a concussion, a broken nose, and whatever.
Although, he probably does not feel that way today
Also, I am willing to bet that some of this was caused because of this back when the Indians played the Rockies.
Noticing that Zimmer didn’t run, Arenado let the ball touch the ground
Francona had something to say to him after the play. ( I saw this game btw on TV)
Combine that with that Bleier does not cover 1st base well, it’s a shortcoming of his
He didn’t cover well last night he was late again and Davis had to make the play
I feel bad though, because Zimmer was doing well for a rookie and he will be missed despite some of the comments here.
Lucky it wasn’t worse? You do realize that his season is over right?
He might still play as did Gomes last season
For all of you complaining about the injury being caused by sliding into first base, wasn’t the injury actually caused by his hand getting stepped on?
In fairness, it’s nearly impossible to have your hand stepped unless you’re sliding.
And he dove in order to avoid what would’ve been a nasty collision. He should’ve been awarded 1B due to fielder interference.
Davis didn’t do anything illegal lmao. He simply dove to not get tagged, not to avoid a collision
Had he not dove and stayed upright he had no path to the base and a collision was inevitable.
I suggest you watch the replay again. It’s a force out at 1B so all Davis had to do was tag the bag but he made a play for Zimmer and forced him to swing wide and dive to touch the bag and stepped on his hand in the process.
That’s not what interference is. Davis is allowed to go for the tag and Zimmer likely would’ve beat him to the bag since bleir kind of bungled it up. There’s is really no fault in the play, especially for Davis
All he had to do was tag the base on the inside of the bag, it’s a force out play. Instead he gave the runner nowhere to go
Idk if he would’ve beat him, but just because he went for the tag instead doesn’t make it interference. That’s my point. Was it the smartest play, who knows? But it was legal.
You’re right because he went for the tag doesn’t make it interference, but by blocking his path to the base it was clearly defensive obstruction. Had Zimmer stayed upright he had no room to run through the base as is done at 1B.