MAY 24: Mikolas will visit Dr. James Andrews on Wednesday for a second opinion, Jones tweets.
MAY 23: Mikolas has been placed on the 10-day injured list, the Cardinals announced. Right-hander Junior Fernandez was called up from Triple-A in a corresponding move.
MAY 22, 9:38 pm: Mikolas is headed for an MRI tonight, manager Mike Shildt told reporters (including Jeff Jones of the Belleville News Democrat).
8:03 pm: Cardinals righty Miles Mikolas left this evening’s start against the Cubs before the fifth inning after a visit from the trainer. The team later announced he was removed with right forearm tightness. Daniel Ponce de Leon was called on to replace him.
Mikolas’ start today marked his return to a big league mound for the first time in nineteen months. He missed the entire 2020 season after undergoing surgery to repair the flexor tendon in his right forearm. Expected to return at the start of this year, Mikolas ultimately wound up delayed nearly two months by a shoulder issue. Any pitcher exiting in the middle of a start with forearm tightness is concerning, since that can often be a precursor to Tommy John surgery. Given Mikolas’ recent injury history, it’s especially alarming.
The 32-year-old did make three successful rehab starts with Triple-A Memphis before getting back on a big league mound. In this evening’s game, Mikolas’ fastball was in the 89-92 MPH range, topping out at 92.7 MPH. That’s below the 93-94 MPH he averaged on his heater in 2018-19, although it hadn’t seemed particularly surprising his velocity would be down a bit given his long layoff from pitching.
The Cardinals already had a five-man starting staff of Jack Flaherty, Kwang-hyun Kim, Adam Wainwright, Carlos Martínez and John Gant before Mikolas’ return. If this latest issue ends up forcing him back to the injured list, those players figure to continue taking the ball every fifth day.
sucks, but not quite shocking
This guy fleeced the cardinals lol
Yeah. I was about to say that. This contract is looking worse and worse every day for the Cardinals. What a bust.
Fleeced? He got hurt. It happens. Cards didn’t have to extend him. Beyond dumb.
Cards fleeced themselves.
I have a Cardinals fleece.
First year back he shocked everyone, pitched for a pretty favorable salary. They re-upped, he got injured, now it is wait and see.
But I forget, the commenters on this board surely made this same claim at the time. Too bad all the gm know-nothings are not privy to all this amateur advice.
i mean, as good a year as he had, the Cards should have waited to see if he could duplicate his success.
There were actually a lot of people @ the time that said this was too much money to give to someone that wasn’t proven. Granted they didn’t specifically predict injury, but there were definitely sceptics of the deal at the time it was signed.
Geez… I feel for the guy but it’s time to move on.. who’s that MAX guy that is from STL? Let’s give him a look
It is hard to move on from guaranteed contracts in MLB – and kind of pointless if a player isn’t dragging the team down. He has two or three years remaining and might recover to pitch well a la Jaime Garcia.
He is on another team. Why not ask about that DeGrom guy or any other pitcher on another team,
Scherzer is a free agent at year end. If Washington is still in last place by July, he would be a trade candidate and Cards could likely resign him because he is from STL.
Yeah I know. Your points are valid. Scherzer is interesting but people need to temper the whole STL connection thing at this point. It has little bearing on it.
First – he is 36. Still looks really good no lie and if they get him for the stretch run and he still looks this good I’m fine with it. But an extension is risky for a pitcher with his mileage and age,
Another factor I don’t fully understand is the attached commitment to pay him $15,000,000 a year from 2022 thru 2028. Yes he is a free agent but that remains. I would NOT accept that in the trade. His remaining salary for 2021 is OK if he is still this good by July but the Nats own the rest.
Lastly some overlook if the Nats do fall out of contention and look to deal Scherzer and if he is still dominating as he is now, the cost in prospects will hurt. EVERY playoff team would take a run at him. Unless STL looks like a serious WS contender it wouldn’t be smart. Think Liberatore or Gorman to land him.
So yeah I know all you mention and it is all valid. Just need to factor in all the issues to getting a guy like him the good and the bad.
Great points Jimmy. And based on what you say here, I would have to pass.
BUT, look at the deal Mo made with Colorado. Not saying Washington would do something similar but if they know they won’t resign him there may be an opportunity.
Our cupboard isn’t like the old days when Jockety made trades. So I agree, parting with Liberatore or Gorman is not an option. Maybe Oviedo?
Oviedo is a possible. Arenado was a perfect storm of Colorado had a really unhappy player and a perfect fit in STL, Scherzer fits everywhere so we may not be able to drive a hard bargain. I really don’t know what a “rental ace” is worth so I’m just guessing.
I can’t fathom Liberatore or Gorman being the cost to rent Scherzer for two months. Six years of control for 10 starts plus however far they get in the playoffs? No way.
I don’t know. Maybe it is too much. But then we are talking about PROSPECTS versus a proven ace for a stretch run and playoffs.
Cubs dealt Gleyber Torres for Chapman to win a series.
Astros traded away their #3,4,5 and 22 prospects for Greinke.
It all depends on who else is bidding. It might take a Liberatore or Gorman to pull it off. Guess we’ll see if the Nats fall from contention and market him.
What’s the record for most tjs in a season?
The Angels had 7 in 2018
Mikolas had one good season 3 years ago. Kind of hard to believe he’s still capable of getting MLB hitters out regularly at his age anyway.
He’s the same age as deGrom
And?
Saying “Kind of hard to believe he’s still capable of getting MLB hitters out regularly at his age anyway” makes it sound like he’s 40.
Now I remember why I only sporadically bother to post on this site.
Bully me all you want. I have a mute button and you’ll be gone the first time.
Like I was saying, the mute button is the best thing to ever happen to this site, because it completely neutralizes the need of a lot of its regulars to pile on someone.
That’s not playing a victim card – it’s stating facts. This is my 2nd account here and I know how this site works: posters are bullied constantly, and the bullying starts with the regulars and flows from there.
Their bullying is done now. Have fun on my mute list.
I didn’t say anything that should have offended you. The way you worded the sentence made it sound like he was 40 and somehow still in the majors.
“Made it sound like he was 40”
Yet I literally typed that he’s 32
32 isn’t that old though
Okay, well you’re making 32 sound like that’s the usual age when MLB players tetire.
“ Kind of hard to believe he’s still capable of getting MLB hitters out regularly at his age anyway.”
If you wanted to say it’s because of the injuries and lack of track record, no one would have argued. You eventually got to this point, so I’m comfortable assuming that’s where you were going. But you finished the sentence with “at his age”. Not “at his age and with his injury track record”… see how different that is?
As many others have said. At his age, he’s still, in theory, young enough to get hitters out. Verlander is 37 and planning a comeback? Kershaw+DeGrom at legit his exact same age. His age isn’t what’s going to hold him back. His shoulder? Maybe. But not being 32
But dude, you didn’t say that at first
I don’t think you know what bullying is.
No actually the median average age mlb players retire is between 27-29. In case you weren’t aware, 32 is a higher number. And Mikolas will be 33 in August, when he’ll probably still be injured.
Continue pretending you don’t understand all these things that have been explained to you more than once in this thread, and I’ll go ahead and mute you. You’re just here to bully posters because you have nothing better to do.
You’re a great example of why this site needed a mute button, “jimmybcool.”
“You keep using that word. I don’t think you know what it means”.
Also, I never said the average age. I said the usual age. There aren’t too many average or better SP’s that are retiring at 32-y.o.
mlb1225, I hope you don’t think this is bullying, but you didn’t get that quote from The Princess Bride quite right.
Douche
I don’t think it’s bullying, but I thought that quote would work here quite well. Close enough, people got it lol.
People calling you out for a stupid post by providing examples of why what you said isn’t a valid argument is bullying? Man, people are soft. Back to the echo chamber for you.
he’s 32
32 year old pitcher that had one good year 3 years ago, and now is chronically injured.
Will continue to wait to hear what pointyoure making, darkside.
all I said was his age. 32 isnt old, and the other risk factors would still be huge red flags at younger ages. similar to Lamet.
Exactly. Only 32. Scherzer won B2B Cy Young’s at 31/32, RA Dickey won it at age 37, Verlander at 36. Mikolas is 32 with under 500 MLB innings.
Ok so basically your argument is that Mikolas will win a Cy Young because he’s 32 and 32 years old have won Cy Youngs before.
Mind-numbing.
This thread is really typical of this site: a bunch of know-it-all’s pick one thing a poster says (age 32) and beat it to death with silly comps.
Now there’s hope of Mikolas winning a Cy Young, even though the point of the story is that he’s injured yet again.
I think the point everyone is trying to make is that 32 isn’t that old. Even for MLB standards.
Muted.
Google the words “average mlb retirement age.”
Since you’re probably too lazy to do that I’ll save you the trouble: 29 is the high end median of how long MLB players last.
You’re 100% wrong that 32 isn’t old. And Mikolas will be 33 in August.
Get a clue.
No. The argument that I proved in my example is that 32 isn’t old for a MLB starting pitcher, contrary to your opinion.
No that is not what he’s arguing. He’s arguing that plenty of pitchers contribute at that age as evidenced by many famous cases
They don’t retire at 29 because they’re old, they retire then because they such and hope fades at that age that there will be an improvement. Mikolas didn’t such, he got hurt.
*because they suck
The average isn’t really a good way of looking at the average age most MLB players retire. That’s taking into account depth guys who appear on rosters for just a few seasons, then retire at age 28-30, and there are plenty of those kinds of players throughout MLB history. Mikolas was an average or better SP for 2 straight seasons in 2018 and 2019. Not many players who pitch well for 2-5 seasons retire at age 32-33.
The average also says that pitchers only last abut 4 years in the major leagues. I’m pretty sure most people won’t say that a 4 year MLB career (minus injuries) isn’t an average MLB career.
It’s kinda funny that this discussion on age broke out because the Cards called up a player named Ponce de Leon when Mikolas got hurt
Holy…did you just mute @mlb1225?
That’s certainly something. He’s one the best, most accurate, respectful, knowledgeable posters on the entire board, bro. For real.
@bullied are you soft in the head, uncle1sock never once said mikolas would win a cy, just pointing out pitchers who have won a cy at age 30+.
@ducky he muted him because mlb1225 was making to many logical post that he couldn’t argue. imo if your afraid that someone on a bb site is going to hurt your feelings then don’t post or read the message board. for the most part the worst comments i’ve read on this site isn’t any worse than what i hear at the bar when i’m watching a game.
Well, @brodie…that would depend on which bar I went to, uh?
It seems like the “mute button” (mine remains a virgin) has improved the dialogue & lessened the cat fights on the board.
That’s good!
But, man, using it on mlb1225 seems to me a blatant misuse of it.
@ducky i agree mlb1225 is a pit fan (and i feel for him because his owner is trash) but i’ve seen his comments on other nlc teams and well some of his points i hate but there solid and hard to argue. and if we start “muting” people if they make good points what’s the bloody point of having a comments section. then i’m a firm believer of sticking by what you said, heck when i throw a jab at another trade on the s’house walls i sign my name to it.
It’s hard for you to admit when you’re wrong, it’s ok.
Mikolas is still young. He just seems older. Maybe because the injury history and time missed? Maybe because of the 70’s porn ‘stache look?
Either way, no one is bullying you.
waino says hi he’s getting guys out at 39 and has 2 complete games, also mad max, grenike and kershaw are pitching well and there in there mid 30’s. just because your 30+ you can’t still be an effective pitcher.
St. Louis made a mistake by singing Mikolas to that contract after one good year. You can’t predict injuries but he’s not an $17-$18M per year pitcher even when healthy. Hopefully this is just a minor setback and he can return in 10-15 days but forearm tightness has been the Tommy John kiss of death for a lot of pitchers so far this season.
If he’s healthy and pitching like he did in 2019 he’s definitely worth the money. I don’t see that happening now but thats hindsight. Stupid extension by Mozeliak but it’s not near the top of dumb things he’s done. Adonis Garcia git his 14th homer today….
Yea, Garcia would look good in the OF this year. I’m not ready to call Arozarena and his 141 OPS+ a bust yet, because I like Liberatore, but time will tell.
To be fair Adolis was DFAed and none of the other 29 teams grabbed him then. SO it isn’t as if STL was the only team to miss on him..
In 2018 he was 6th in Cy Young voting. He looked like the real deal #1 starter then and the price paid for that for a guy in his prime was not bad. As mentioned by others injuries are hard to predict. I can’t fault them for the extension.
I can’t either.
Looked like a really savvy move at the time.
@ducky i’ll be honest at the time i was concerned about the deal just because mikolas didn’t have the mlb track record but he was dealing and i’m sure another team would of gave him a similar deal. no one in stl predicted that after the contract the wheels we’re going to fall off health wise. untill the 5th he was looking good hopefully it isn’t anything serious and he can bounce back this season.
Wonder if he will opt for TJ now.
Probably. That should take him to the end of his contract.
Cynic. Thanks for the laugh, cause I agree.
Cards make their share of dumb signings. Dextor Fowler was another doozy.
every team makes their share of dumb signings
Yeah Dex turned out to be a mistake. I understood it at the time. A leadoff hitter that played CF/RF and allowed STL to move Carp from leadoff to #3-4. Of course that extension also looks bad now.
What a terrible contract.
Please dear LORD heal this man and keep him healthy. The Cardinals are your team, Lord, and they need Miklas to be healthy to beat the devil’s CUBS and bring the championship back to YOUR CITY. Please keep him and President Trump in your hands LORD. In Jesus name we pray, amen.
I remember my first beer.
But do you remember your last one.
Hahahaha
This may be the dumbest thing I have read this entire year. If there was a god (spoiler alert: there isn’t), he wouldn’t give a damn about baseball nor an immoral dullard like Tronald Dump. Clearly you’ve never read the Bible, because by Christianity’s own definition, Old Donny Pornstar-Lover is immoral and wicked.
Please don’t reproduce.
FYI, this should be obvious but CardsFan84 isn’t a Cardinals fan nor a Trump supporter. He/She’s just a troll looking to see how quickly one can be bait people into pointless political and religious debates on a baseball site.
Kudos. Didn’t take long to get a fool donkey going tho did it? Laugh and point, all can do at them both.
dont play into the trolling
You know Jesus too? Small world. Everyone talks about his tostadas, but you MUST try the fish tacos…they are to DIE for!
Former president
Suffer Cardinals suffer.
Really suffering up there in first place. Enjoy the basement sad Pirates fan.
Good to know. Thanks.
Really hoping he can stay healthy for our rotation. I can’t handle the butterflies in my stomach when John Gant makes a start
what’s in your stomach when martinez starts? hummingbirds?
Dread.
@troll i feel nothing when cmart pitches because i expect cmart to implode when he starts.
He’s toast. And the rotation and pen have more holes. Watch Cubs or Brew Crew take division and not win a playoff game. Hope Carpenter is off the books next season and the six arms needed are available.
Enjoy retirement Miles.
Heading right to TJ another two seasons to be missed. What a bust! But in a way, the timing is just great for him get injured, money wise he’s got nothing to worry about. Reputation? Go hide.
Sure, because he wants to be hurt.
Yeah, just what ANY pitcher wants to hear… “You have an appointment with Dr. Andrews…”
I wish Mikolas would shave his mustache and grow an actual beard.
Just get the dang surgery. Fix it, get over it and come back anew.
ʎɹǝƃɹns uɥoſ ʎɯɯo┴ ㄣquI
Second opinion on what? Retirement?
Well it took Tanaka 2.5 months to come back from rehab on his tear. I hope he has a rehab option. Not sure you want to be coming back from TJS at 34. Give him some damn steroids.
Just delaying the inevitable. He did this before and opted against TJS. Here he is again. Now he can have the surgery and all the money he didn’t earn. I have always hated free agency and always will. The players always claim the owners are unfair. What’s so f-n fair about what Mikolas is doing? Free money baby, free money.
I’m quite curious what arrangement besides free agency you would prefer.
I would like to see an agreement on a base salary with incentives built in. The better the player, the better the base salary. If both sides want to be fair, this could happen. Sadly, players would have to actually work for their money. There have been way too many free agents who somehow manage to lose their abilities and then laugh all the way to the bank. The Cardinals have been victimized too many times. Mikolas, Goldschmidt, Miller and Carpenter come to mind immediately. Yeah, Goldschmidt! He is getting paid for what he did in Arizona, not St. Louis. If you want superstar money then provide your team with superstar play. If you just want to sit on your butt, then take your base pay and shut the fk up. Yes, I know a player doesn’t get hurt on purpose, but in Mikolas’ case, he could have taken care of this over a year ago, instead of delaying then and now delaying again. He’s a schmuck! These guys are like gold diggers.
Unfortunately for Mikolas we probably won’t see him again until 2023 if at all