MARCH 30: Fairbanks has a partially torn lat, Topkin reports (on Twitter). He’ll be shut down from throwing for at least six weeks as initially expected, at which point he’ll be reevaluated. Topkin suggests it’d take another six weeks for him to ramp back up into game shape once he begins a throwing program. It seems a late June or early July return to the majors is the best case scenario.
MARCH 28: Rays reliever Pete Fairbanks underwent an MRI this afternoon after leaving yesterday’s Grapefruit League action due to lat tightness. The initial recommendation is that Fairbanks be shut down from throwing for six weeks, reports Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, and the club is now seeking second opinions.
If Fairbanks indeed needs to shut things down entirely for six weeks, he’d likely miss most or all of the first half of the season. That’d set around a mid-May timetable for the right-hander to pick up a ball, and he’d certainly need a good bit of time to gradually ramp back up into game shape. An absence of that length would require a minor league rehab assignment as well, perhaps keeping him out of MLB action until July.
Regardless of whether further evaluation confirms that timetable, it’s clear Fairbanks won’t be an option for manager Kevin Cash early in the season. That’s a tough blow for the Rays, as the 28-year-old has emerged as a key high-leverage arm. Over the past two seasons, Fairbanks has pitched to a 3.25 ERA/2.83 FIP in 69 1/3 innings. The University of Missouri product has averaged just under 98 MPH on his high-spin fastball, and it’s little surprise he’s missed bats in droves with that offering. Since the start of 2020, he has fanned an excellent 31% of opposing hitters.
Fairbanks becomes another notable loss for a Tampa Bay pitching staff that’ll be without a few important arms. Tyler Glasnow, Nick Anderson and Yonny Chirinos are each going to miss significant chunks of the season recovering from injuries that date back to last year. Top prospect Shane Baz was shut down for a bit last week after undergoing arthroscopic elbow surgery. With Fairbanks out, Andrew Kittredge, JT Chargois, Matt Wisler and offseason signee Brooks Raley look like the top options to take the most important outs late in games at the start of the season.
He scared the life outta me I’m the 2020 WS
This is the end for the Tampa Bay Rays. They should become the Sarasota Sea Horses.
Yeah, stick a fork in them. They’re done!
Clearwater Clams or Brandon Barnacles sound good also, but Sarasota Sea Horses takes the prize.
P.S. We should have 48 teams in MLB. What a spectacular idea.
We could also go with Tallahassee Turtles.
Riverview Roadkill?
Apollo Beach Sand Fleas?
Apopka Taco Trucks?
Tallahassee isn’t in Tampa Bay. Now you’ve gone too far, literally.
@StPeteStingRays
I’m aware that it’s not in Tampa Bay but it’s at least in the same state…unlike Montreal for example.
Gibsonton Golf Carts didn’t make the list?
Or Sun City Seniors? Wow.
The Palm Harbor Palm Harborers
New Port Richey Riches
Zephyr Hills Waterboys
I believe it’s time for a POLL.
A) Brandon Barnacles
B) Clearwater Clams
C) Lakeland Lobsters
D) Palm Harbor Pelicans
E) Riverview Rattlesnakes
F) Sarasota Sea Horses
55+ Community Rubberneckers
Sun City Garagesailers
Busch City Nike Monarch Fly Sneakers
No. They gonna be the Mango Shrimp
Good to see you folks studying the map of the Tampa Bay Metropolitan area. Now you’ll know that the Rays play in Saint Petersburg and not in Tampa. Much appreciated!
Had the Tampa Tarpons back in the days when Reds were there with an FSL team, think when Cardinals were in St Pete, they just used Cards as logo tho.. Miami used “miracle” as team name. funny how that one is.. Like how much of a miracle it will be towards them to be a winner again.
The Rays have had absolutely horrendous luck with their relief pitching the past couple of years. I have totally lost count of how many guys they have lost to injury. Luckily they have an entire second bullpen ready to go in AAA that is better than half of MLB team’s bullpens.
Pitching in general…
You speak the truth..
Tell you though: in ’21 they had 38 pitchers in their system that were projected to be above average. Thirty eight, bro!
If there is a team in MLB that can withstand some injuries to their staff it is the damn Ray’s. They just crank pitchers out like they have a factory.
I love the Rays.
But while their pitchers are effective, they seem to be burning them out.
It’s the new math. Decades ago a baseball organization would get pitchers to pace themselves and not put too much strain on parts of the body when pitching. But with the endless foul balls to run up pitch counts, now it’s all about pitchers K’ing hitters. The pitchers and their agents go along with it because the salaries they can demand are astronomical.
Not suggesting the Rays are doing anything wrong. If anything, they’re better than most teams in MLB in developing pitchers.
Chew them up and spit them out is the philosophy with baseball clubs when it comes to relief pitching. Maximize the cheap years and get rid of them whenever the injuries/price outweigh the performance.
@Samuel Can you please explain what you mean by batters fouling pitches off more these days??? Are you saying batters go up to the plate with a strategy to hit fouls, or the pitcher is somehow throwing in a way that produces a lot of fouls??? I didn’t think that was something anybody could really control. Thanks if you have the time.
@ Ignorant Son-of-a-b;
Doubt you’ll read this as so much time has elapsed.
If you bring it up under a more current article, I’ll spend the time explaining.
This kid has had the worst luck with injuries. Great relief stuff. I believe he’s already had 2 TJSs as well.
Be nice if he can recover; he’s a key ‘pen arm for them. Best of luck, PF.
I get what you’re saying, but I don’t think luck has much to do with it. He’s the opposite of effortless with his delivery.
Yeah, excellent point, poor choice of words. He’s had a very hard road would be an apt metaphor.
Please trade for Craig Kimbrel. Please please please.
-every White Sox fan
….and another injury for Rays pitching!!
Toronto is going to be on top of that division all year and probably 10 to 12 games up at the cessation of the regular season.
I’ll take that bet.
There’s a good chance that there won’t be 12 games of separation between 1st snd 4th place in the AL East, much less between the division winner and runner up.
It will be a nail biter all season long with any of the teams, minus Baltimore of course, capable of winning the division.
Rangers might be willing to trade Otto, King, and B.Martin for Meadows?
Don’t worry. They’ll just crank up the reliever clone machine.
Kimbrel, Mercedes = Meadows
No way the Rays do that.
Meadows & Walls for Matt Manning
I’ll leave the tip at the doorstep.
Throw in Franco while you’re at it
Extra cheese?? got it. Lol
Torn lat muscle? I tear my lats every time I work out. Mine simply grow….
damn. Good luck, Shaggy!