A flexor strain in Pirates starter Jameson Taillon’s pitching elbow has kept the right-hander off a major league mound since May 1. Almost two months later, Taillon’s not recovering as hoped, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic explains (subscription required). Surgery could emerge as a possibility for Taillon if he doesn’t begin progressing, Biertempfel notes.
Taillon first started feeling symptoms of his flexor strain in spring training, well before he landed on the injured list. He still hasn’t resumed throwing since going on the IL, though the Pirates are hopeful that will change in 10 to 14 days, director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk told Biertempfel. However, Tomcyzk admitted “we might have to go in another direction” – possibly surgery – with Taillon if he shows ill effects after he returns to throwing. Regardless, it doesn’t appear he’s close to a return to the majors.
An elbow procedure would be the second for Taillon, who underwent Tommy John surgery as a prized prospect in 2014. Now, given the 27-year-old’s importance to the Bucs, another TJ procedure would be an enormous blow to Taillon and the team. Taillon entered 2019 off his best season in the majors, in which he threw 191 innings of 3.20 ERA/3.46 FIP ball with 8.43 K/9 and 2.17 BB/9, and performed well again this year before going on the IL. Even though he wasn’t at full strength, Taillon managed 37 1/3 frames of 4.10 ERA/3.76 FIP pitching with 7.23 K/9, 1.93 BB/9 and a 49.6 percent groundball rate.
Injuries to Taillon and other starters help explain the Pirates’ 33-40 record, which is the third-worst mark in the National League. The club just got back Trevor Williams, but he missed a little over a month with a side strain. Meanwhile, Jordan Lyles has been on the IL since June 10. Of starters who opened the season in Pittsburgh’s rotation, Taillon, Williams and Lyles have been its top performers so far. On the other hand, Joe Musgrove and Chris Archer haven’t prevented runs at palatable rates.
Typical team with terrible pitching staff and 0 motivation to make the world series. You should take a page out of the mets playbook and ACTUALLY hire a good medical staff. WE made the world series this decade.
Nothing says competent like the Mets medical staff. Wright and Cespedes are laughing together at some golf course in Florida, and Nimo is gonna meet them on the back 9. Have fun rewatching the Mets last world series win, if you can find a VCR.
The Mets’ medical staff can’t even spell “competent”.
So what 2020.
Should’ve taken Machado. Always take the High School hitter over the HS pitcher. The odds are better.
Should’ve…….could’ve…….would’ve….either way he’d already be gone in free agency. Could’ve Machado made a difference in the Bucs playoff run a few yrs ago? We’ll never know.
kershaw, bumgarner, greinke, halladay, wainwright, hamels. yeah odds are terrible. lol
Threw a bunch of meaningless innings late last year in the Pirates race to be a .500 ball club.
Pirates (front office and owner) are worthless. Sell the team nutting if you don’t plan on spending money. You fool, let’s see how many people show up to watch the Bucs the next two months.
I’m guessing very few. Some of the games I’ve watched on TV, it looks like they’re lucky to have 3000 fan in the stadium.
Doesn’t matter how many fans go to games, owners make money before a single ticket is bought because of revenue sharing.