In what has become an all-too-frequent occurrence for Aaron Sanchez, the Toronto right-hander left his start Monday with a finger injury. It’s a “right middle finger nail avulsion,” to be exact, per Hazel Mae of Sportsnet.
Sanchez threw three innings and 64 pitches against the Rays on Monday, yielding one earned run on six hits and two walks prior to his exit. Monday’s start was Sanchez’s second since May 17, when he departed an outing against the White Sox with a blister.
Finger problems consistently haunted Sanchez from 2017-18, during which he only totaled 141 innings, and have continued to weigh him down this year. Thanks in part to those troubles, Sanchez hasn’t been able to replicate the outstanding 192-inning season he enjoyed in 2016. Sanchez registered a 3.00 ERA/3.55 FIP with 7.55 K/9, 2.95 BB/9 and a 54.4 percent groundball rate that year, which stands as the Blue Jays’ most recent playoff campaign.
Toronto was a contender earlier in Sanchez’s career, but it’s now in a rebuild. As such, Sanchez could be a summer trade candidate if teams are remotely confident in his health. With a 3.75 ERA/4.54 FIP, 8.4 K/9 and a 51.7 percent grounder mark in 60 innings, Sanchez hasn’t pitched poorly this season. The soon-to-be 27-year-old’s walk rate (4.95 per nine) is far too high, but that alone may not scare off other clubs. At $3.9MM, Sanchez is affordable, and he’s under control through next year.
Aaron “4-Finger” Sanchez
Blister Sanchez
Stuff like a “right middle finger nail avulsion” is why football fans always accuse baseball players of being soft. It’s really hard to argue against the point.
Good for you.
I would like to see you pitch with one of your fingernails falling off
For that kind of money, I would pitch with one of my fingers falling off.
That being said, you totally missed the point.
Woah, careful everyone. We’ve got a bad@$$ over here.
Thank you for you input. It was very helpful to the conversation. Lives have been changed.
What was your point?
This would be a baseball site. Not a football site. We don’t care what football fans think.
Best nickname in the comments wins a bitcoin
Nailed it!
Aaron Can’tchez
Here we go again…
Oooo rough…. he’s gonna have a hard time fingering now
He needs to go to the pen, would be a great late inning guy and his finger wouldn’t get as much abuse out of the pen as it would from starting
Probably gonna need to amputate.
At what point does he alter his grip? It’s that or stop pitching, basically his only options
Here we go again!
One pitch can do the job to Sanchez’ finger, so let’s stop with this “put him in the bullpen” crap. The logic that less pitches means no problems is bullcrap.
Although Sanchez needs to sort out his finger issues, MLB needs to bring back the higher seams and maybe that will help alleviate the finger problems. At least that may decrease the homerun ball, as the homerun has become boring and repetitive. That’s just a side note….
Actually less pitches CAN mean less problems. Yes, all it takes is one pitch but less wear and tear on the finger can also help prevent future issues. So, no it’s not crap to think about putting him in the pen. But him going to the pen won’t be anytime soon. Teams always think they can unlock the starting potential (ie Brendan Morrow) and Scott Boris and Co. won’t allow it either to maximize his potential future contracts.
As for you saying the homerun ball is becoming boring and repetitive… sorry to say bud but you’re part of a minority.
Really? Because ratings are dropping and so is attendance. So I’m not sure how I’m in the minority considering I just gave you two facts to your nothing. Homeruns ain’t bringing the boys, or girls, to the yard or the television.
Way to try to refute what I said about Sanchez. Your second line verified what I said and blew your argument. Thank you.
It’s not really that many less pitches considering he will be pitching more often which means he’ll be warming up more often. It will also give the area less time to heal. If anything, the bullpen would be worse.
Good point DTD.
Not sure I agree with you. Problem seems to be created by repeated use of his very high spin rate curve ball. Has never happened in the first two innings. May not even use the curve as a closer. Add 4 mph to his wildly moving fastball if he comes out of the pen.
You aren’t sure?
Do you know how and why Sanchez generates so much movement with his fastball?
Tell you what, I’m not “sure” the curve is the reason for his finger issues, and you want to speculate. It most certainly could be the fastball based on your comment. Would I bet on it? No, because I am not sure. However, I would bet on this problem happening again coming out of the bullpen.
It’s like saying you won’t have a baby because you partner up less often. Just like Sanchez, all it will take is one time.
Time to move him to the bullpen.
Try the Moises Alou solution