Injury Report

08/30/2010 5:54 AM -  Ed Lilly

This is the time of the year when teams and players have to think long and hard about injuries. Teams have to look where they are in the standings and determine whether it is better to shut a player down and in some cases have their players undergo surgery so they could return sooner next season. Players have to consider the same but also with incentives in their contracts, do they play though the injuries or if they are playing for next years contract do they take a risk in order to put up better numbers and a bigger contract?  Tough questions for sure.

Keeper league owners are almost as crushed as Nats' fans right now.

Stephen Stasburg it appears is off to the operating room and this is not good for anyone. Strasburg landed on the D.L. after only eight starts earlier in the season and know he is having surgery after four more starts. There has always been a question about his pitching motion and the possibility of injury but even those folks never thought it would happen this soon. You have to wonder what the future holds. The success rate on TJS is very high so it is not out of the question that he will return to meet original expectations. You have to wonder since he was being watched so closely and this injury occurred under a tight watch, will the Nationals ever be able to count on him for 200 plus innings. Strasburg is such a talent that you have to be rooting for him.

Manny Corpas will be getting a second opinion from Dr. Andrews but fully expects to under go Tommy John Surgery. Corpas was put on the 15- day D.L with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and he is certainly done for the season and with surgery he will miss the entire 2011 season.

Danys Baez was put on the 15-day D.L. with back spasms. If you remember last week I mentioned that if a player is on the D.L. on August 31 he is eligible to be placed on that teams playoff roster. That’s what happened here. The Phillies put him on the D.L. so they could call up another lefty for the bullpen and keep Baez in the mix should the team make the playoffs.

Mike Leake was placed on the D.L. with what is being called arm fatigue. This is a good move for him. On June 5 he had an ERA of 2.22 in his next 11 appearances he had an ERA of 6.47. Something is wrong here and giving him rest makes sense. If the Reds find themselves in the playoffs he can come back rested and if not he could be done for the season.

Nolasco could be shut down soon.

Ricky Nolasco has a torn meniscus in his right knee. Last week I was dead wrong when I said he would be having surgery and miss the rest of the season. I still say he will have surgery but for some reason (see first paragraph of this article to see possible explanation) he was given the OK to start on Saturday. He lasted two innings, gave up six runs on seven hits. I still think he doesn’t last season even though he says he feels fine and is scheduled to start again on Friday.

QUICK THOUGHTS: Derek Lee was pulled from Saturday’s game with a mild strain on his right side. Jeff Francis is scheduled to throw a simulated game on Tuesday and if that goes well look for him to throw a minor league rehab game by the weekend. Lance Berkman is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment today, look for him to be back by the end of the week. Jeff Suppan will be activated and start Wednesday’s game. Chris Carter has seen his September call up go up in smoke after being placed on the minor league disabled list with a left thumb strain. Jose Reyes injured his oblique on Thursday and has been out since then and hopes to be back by mid-week. Jamie Garcia will miss his next start as the Cardinal’s are being very careful with him. Mariner minor league pitching prospect Michael Pineda has been shut down for the season but look for him to take a spot in the Mariners rotation in the spring. Chris Young will throw a rehab start tomorrow and hopes to be back with the Padres by mid-September. Chris Denorfia was scratched from Sunday’s game with a sore back. Something strange going on with Colby Rasmus and the Cards, he missed his 13^th straight start on Sunday. Brandon Morrow will make one more start before being shut down for the season because of the amount of innings he has already pitched this season and the Blue Jays wanting to protect him. Look for Jason Motte to return to the Cardinals today. Brad Penny is trying to return this season after an encouraging MRI and being given the OK to resume throwing. Mark Teixeira is day-to-day with a thumb injury and was unable to play on Sunday. Andy Pettitte threw 35 pitches on Sunday and it went well. He thinks he could be back in two weeks. Edwin Encarnacion is on the D.L. with a wrist injury but the good news it is not in the same spot where he had surgery. Damaso Marte has had a setback and this puts in jeopardy his returning this season, surgery a possibility. Alex Rodriguez is scheduled to begin hitting today. Vincente Padilla is expected to begin a rehab assignment later this week. Luke Hochevar is scheduled for two more rehab starts and if all goes well look for him to be back in late September.