The latest updates on some injury situations around the game…
- Minor left hamstring tightness forced Robinson Cano out during the second inning of today’s Mariners/Reds game, and the second baseman will receive an MRI tomorrow. Cano told reporters (including the Seattle Times’ Ryan Divish) that he doesn’t believe the injury is serious, comparing it a hamstring issue from last season that kept him out of action for just a couple of games. The Mariners are certainly hopeful they can avoid another spring injury — Ryon Healy (hand) and Ben Gamel (oblique) could miss Opening Day, while the likes of Felix Hernandez, Mitch Haniger, Erasmo Ramirez and Dan Vogelbach have all also missed time with less-lengthy injuries.
- Diamondbacks righty Randall Delgado could be questionable for Opening Day, as manager Torey Lovullo told The Athletic’s Zach Buchanan (Twitter link) and other media that Delgado has an issue with his left oblique. Delgado was already working his way back from a flexor strain that ended his 2017 campaign in mid-July. Prior that injury, Delgado had a solid 3.59 ERA, 8.6 K/9, and 4.23 K/BB rate over 62 2/3 IP for Arizona as a swingman, making five starts and 21 relief appearances.
- Nicky Delmonico and Tyler Saladino were both injured after the two White Sox outfielders collided while chasing a fly ball during today’s Spring Training game. As per announcements from the team, Saladino was diagnosed with a mild concussion and will enter the seven-day concussion protocol, while Delmonico suffered a partial dislocation of his left shoulder and will be re-examined tomorrow. It’s a tough setback for the duo, as both players were looking to establish themselves on a young Sox roster that is wide-open for young talent to win jobs. Saladino was in the running for a utility role, while Delmonico was looking to win regular at-bats as either a left fielder or DH after an impressive (.262/.373/.482 with nine homers in 166 PA) rookie debut in 2017. While the severity of the injury isn’t yet known, Delmonico seems likely to begin the season on the disabled list.
- Reds left-hander Brandon Finnegan lasted just two batters into an outing today before leaving the game with what the club described as a “lateral forearm spasm.” The injury doesn’t seem too problematic, as Finnegan himself said in a pair of tweets that the problem was “just a knot” and leaving the game was “just precautionary, got it all worked out and good to go.” Finnegan posted a 3.98 ERA over 172 innings for Cincinnati in 2016, but multiple shoulder problems limited him to just four starts last season.
Prediction: I predict that Zych is released and D-backs sign him to a minor league deal worth 500K and 1 MM if he cracks the opening day roster with some incentives he can earn (depending on his health)
According to EV Sports they believe he will make the opening day roster.
We released Zych despite him still having a Minor League option(s). The horizontal movement on Zych’s pitches at times almost defied physics and I’m sad to see him go. But there’s a good chance Zych will never pitch on a Major League team again nevermind this season. Why would the Ms release a pitcher this good when he could’ve rehabbed in AAA? That being said, I hope he does return to the NL
I feel like a concussion is just a complete career killer. Mauer is the only successful bounceback that I can think of
It really seems to be a problem with guys who don’t sit right away or seek medical attention the moment it happens. Guys think they feel ok and they aren’t. Also, players trying to come back to early. A concussion is a very serious injury, much more so than any ligament or bone injury.
Many players have come back from concussions and done just fine. Yes it certainly is a serious injury, but it’s one that many guys have come back from just fine.
Believe it or not the problem with concussions is flying to soon that cause lingering effects
Just having one increases the incidence of subsequent blows to the head resulting in concussion. It’s not impossible to come back from multiple concussions, but not to an elite level, and I don’t know why. I never had a concussion as a player, but I had 2 as an umpire.
David Wright came back from concussions and played at an elite level.
Not for long !
I feel like Harper has to have a few with the amount of walls he’s crashed into. Alec Cobb also came back from one pretty successfully
Would White Sox go after Neil Walker?
no…
Nicky Delmonico and Tyler Saladino sound like mob henchman when you throw them in the same sentence.
Only if u drop Saladinos name to Ty. Then def sounds like old school mob. Ty Sal and Nicky D.
The worst looking outfield collision I ever recall seeing was between Lyle Mouton and Dave Martinez of the White Sox — yes, there have been worse injuries, but that one looked horrific. Cant’ find a video anywhere online.
I have never seen that one, but the Carlos Beltran and Mike Cameron collision was terrifying. Worst I can think of.
Agreed with the Beltran one that was bad
As a Yankees fan, I so vividly remember my frustration at losing cano to the mariners over dollars. Then I remember the 10 years he signed for, and I remember how bombastically stupid that contract is. I still root for the guy and want him to succeed, but these increasingly nagging injuries and declining performance suggest age is catching up to him all too quickly for what he’ll be paid to do.
Check out the stats they might not have fallen as much as you think.
I’ve checked them out plenty. He remains an above average second baseman, but has very much so declined from his elite years. Sub .800 ops in two of his 4 Seattle seasons, along with a sub 4 war season in 2017. Serious decline from consistent .900+ ops and 7-8 war/year peak.
He played most of one of those years with a sports hernia that is not an injury from getting old an athlete any age can get it. You guys gambled and lost and now you are making excuses. There is going to be a fall off there is no doubt. He hasn’t fallen off yet though. I imagine the plan is when Lewis is ready Cano will spend time at 2nd and DH Gordon will spend time at 2nd and be a super utility guy. Then when the time comes Cano will be the DH and we have either brought up a 2nd bm or Gordon is there. Cano will be just fine for the rest of his contract. You guys need to fill your hole at 2nd ours is good for the foreseeable future.
Not making excuses. Just saying that, in the current financial climate, not having an aging second baseman signed into his fourties at 24MM a year isn’t exactly such a bad thing. I’m sure he still has quality years left, and perhaps maybe a serious comeback if the suggested injuries are as you say. History, however, isn’t kind to Cano’s outlook here; it’s tough to deny that. But, again, I have nothing but fond memories of Robby, and I ultimately hope he does remain productive for years to come. His career numbers are eeking into HOF watch already.
I agree and disagree with what you’re saying. On one hand it was devastating losing cano and replacing him with Ellsbury was a mistake. Cano would’ve made last years team that much better.
On the other hand, if cano stays, where are they with he rebuild? You’d imagine there would be no Gleyber? Maybe the yankees go all in one 15 and 16 seasons because Cano was still productive in that time and would’ve been viewed as the leader of those teams
Only a Yankees fan can try to turn a 3.4 WAR into something negative. “Sub 4 WAR season lol. Yeah I guess Bonds was bad when he had his Sub-10 WAR seasons
That is an utterly ridiculous comparison, and sub 4 war seasons do not amount to 24 million dollars into age 35-40 territory still to come.
It was actually more over years, yanks only offered 175 over 7 and he took 240 over 10 which is a slightly lower AAV. I wish he would’ve taken the 7 though and then they probably wouldn’t have signed Ellsbury that same offseason.
Yeah, I remember; I used “dollars” more generally. The years still amounted as a challenge ultimately due to the dollar figures involved for said years. Same concept, but, yeah, it was about contract length that lead him to Seattle.
He averages like 156 games/year and was a 4-win player last year. Declining, sure – he’s 34 and players don’t get better at that age. But he’s not in free-fall or anything. He’s still an above-average defender at a key position and still hits. He’s going to be a Hall of Famer, obviously, and I wonder if he goes in as a Yankee or a Mariner.
Oh man that’s a good question about the HOF. Aren’t his best years in NY, he even won a title. Seems right for him to go in as a Yankee, however maybe he plays longer in Seattle. Would the Yankees retire 24 while Sanchez wears it (or possibly retire it twice some day if Sanchez’ career pans out)
If Cano finishes out the contract he will have spent more years in Seattle, but I think the Hall decides unless the player insists. For example, Winfield had more games as a Yankee but went in as a Padre because of the Spira/Steinbrenner stuff and Dave refused to have the Yankee logo on his plaque
Disco and Finnegan down.. I know a lot of Reds faithful are saying to themselves maybe there’s a silver lining to this and one or two more of Garrett/Mahle/Romano/Stephenson gets a shot, or maybe, albeit doubtfully a FA like Cobb is brought aboard.. but I’m hoping maybe there’s a little voice in the head of someone in the front office who thinks that trading for McHugh might be a pretty decent idea. C’mon D-dub, you know it’s perfect