Category Archives: Injuries

2007 Season, Injuries

More on Rogers – a blood clot

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I was further deferring my season preview to take a deeper look at the Tigers choice of Chad Durbin, when the news came across that Kenny Rogers may be suffering from a blood clot.

Now this could be bad, or it could be really minor. Tom Glavine had some coldness in his ring finger last year which was caused by a blood clot like malady. He was back pitching in 2 weeks after treating the problem with medication.

On the other hand, players have had to undergo surgery which have sidelined them for the better part of a season.

Dave Dombrowski has been downplaying the issue saying that it may be only a one start thing while Jim Leyland is worried about making sure that Rogers is OK before he wories about playing time. I don’t say this to paint Dombrowski as callous, just that there seem to be some different messages coming out.

I’ve been trying to get smart about blood clots, so I checked with Mrs. Billfer who is a heart nurse who happens to be working tonight. She checked with some physicians who identified 3 main causes for blood clots. Keep in mind I’m not a doctor, but I’m married to someone who talks to doctors while I watch TV.

The first is hypercoagulability which is inherited problems with anticoagulation. It isn’t uncommon for it to be diagnosed for people in their 40’s. A second cause is malignancy (cancer). The third cause is trauma. Given that pitching is a traumatic act on the shoulder, this doesn’t seem far fetched.

Of course speculation is pretty moot at this point. Rogers was to see a specialist and one name you might want to look for is Dr. Robert Thompson, a vascular surgeon from Washington University in St. Louis who has performed a couple surgeries on Major Leaguers.

(disclaimer: I’m truly not a clinician and don’t want to promote any false information. If you know better than me, please post corrections in the comment)

2007 Season, Injuries, Roster Management

Kenny Rogers to DL

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Danny Knobler reports that Kenny Rogers is headed to the disabled list. No other word is available on the injury.

The corresponding moves are that Chad Durbin joins the rotation and Bobby Seay has been recalled. There will need to be another 40 man roster move, but that hasn’t been announced yet. (EDIT: the 40 man move will probably be Edward Campusano going to the 60 day DL)

I’d guess that the rotation would be shuffled to something along the lines of Bonderman-Robertson-Verlander-Maroth-Durbin.

2007 Season, Fan Experience, Injuries, Previews

Ticket hiccups, injuries, and more previews

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Another link round-up while I watch Lost and work on my Tiger preview…

Ticket snafu

Things are kinda hectic for the Tigers ticket department about now. A problem with the printer has season ticket shipments coming at the last minute. Tickets are just starting to arrive today, but the club expects everybody to have their tickets by Friday. Extended box office hours have been created to help with any problems that crop up.

Now if you’re not a season ticket holder, you probably had to get your opening day tickets from a broker. It could be tricky to get those tickets in time for Monday.

Injuries

Indians starter CC Sabathia took a line drive off his forearm today. X-rays came back negative so if he misses time it probably won’t be for very long. But in what looks to be a tight AL Central, all absences of frontline players could be significant.

Meanwhile, the Tigers are dealing with an injury of their own. Vance Wilson had an MRI on his elbow.

Other links

Injuries, Players

All Zumaya Linking

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You’ve probably all heard that Joel Zumaya just won’t give up Guitar Hero.If you want my feelings on this, Roar of the Tigers has summed them up perfectly.

The issue is no longer whether or not Guitar Hero is indeed the sole source of his arm trouble. The point is that it MIGHT contribute, that the trainers have some inkling that it can do so, that they have TOLD Zoom about this, so he is AWARE of the issue, and he STILL INSISTS ON PLAYING THE BLOODY GAME.

I understand that he enjoys the game but, Zoom? YOU MISSED PART OF THE POSTSEASON LAST YEAR. THE POSTSEASON. THE THING THAT THE TIGERS HADN’T BEEN TO IN A QUADRILLION YEARS AND IT WAS A MAGICAL FACT THAT THEY WERE THERE AT ALL AND YOU MISSED IT. YOU MISSED IT BECAUSE YOUR ARM WAS SORE AND THIS MIGHT, MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH GUITAR HERO.

Joel Zumaya at spring training
Joel Zumaya – credit Roger DeWitt

I’m not even that bothered that he missed the A’s series last year. I can understand a situation where after the first time they say – “Joel, I think this video game is messing with your wrist” and Joel thinking “No way.”

He’s young and full of confidence and it is certainly understandable. But after the recurrence in the playoffs, maybe the light bulb should have gone on. The risk-reward proposition here just doesn’t seem worth it. I’m certainly not hating on Zumaya. I just want Joel to have a long and successful career, hopefully for the Tigers. And what may be missing from the story is mention of the various wrist strengthening exercises that Joel may be doing to guard against this – in case it is the fact he grips the ball too hard.

That’s not to say he doesn’t care about performing well. He’s been in Lakeland a couple weeks already. And via Jason Beck there was an interesting NY times piece about Joel Zumaya, Barry Zito, and others using yoga and meditation as a regular part of their offseason regimen. I knew that Zito and Zumaya had trained together a couple years ago and that Zumaya added speed because of these works outs. I didn’t know this is what those workouts were, and still are.

And finally some neat stories from Jon Paul Morosi today about when last seasons success all sank in. Oh yeah, and Zumaya is engaged.

UPDATE: I neglected to include this link to D-Town baseball which opines on whether Zumaya should be starting or in the pen. Up until the drafting of Andrew Miller and emergence of Jurrjens and Vasquez I thought he should at least be given a shot as a starter. Right now that need doesn’t seem as pressing so I’m content with him in his current high leverage-multi inning role. But I have heard of some talk that he might be looked at as a starter again.

Contracts, Injuries, Pitching, Players

Dombrowski on the Big Show

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Dave Dombrowski was interviewed today on WXYT 1270. There were definitely more insights than you typically hear in a team executive interview. The 12 minute interview can be found here, but I’ll break out some of the highlights.

Zumaya is staying in the pen

Dombrowski stated very clearly that Joel Zumaya is not moving to the rotation. Prior to the season I would have been highly against this. I was all for trying Joel Zumaya as a reliever to get him some big league experience and take it easy on his arm at the same time. But I still thought at some point he should be given an opportunity to start. I’ve come around on this completely. Zumaya’s dominance combined with the continued strides forward of Nate Robertson and Jeremy Bonderman, the drafting of Andrew Miller, and the emergence of Zach Miner, Wil Ledezma, and Jair Jurrjens make me think this is the right move.

Zumaya likes video games

You remember that wrist injury that limited Zumaya late in the season? Apparently he’s a big fan of Guitar Hero 1 Bundle (with Guitar) and played it all the time. At least this is a correctable problem.

Inge isn’t moving to catcher

When Pudge Rodriguez is no longer catching for the Tigers, they aren’t going to turn to Brandon Inge. He doesn’t want to catch, and the Tigers don’t want him to catch, save for an emergency situation. He won’t be reporting to spring training early with the other catchers this year.

Extending Bonderman

Dombrowski said he’d like to keep Bonderman in the organization long term, but doesn’t feel a pressing need to get it done this season. I agree with this to a certain extent. That said, I’d love to be writing this winter about locking up Bonderman with a new 4 year/44 million contract with a 16 milliion club option for a 5th year with a $4 million buyout.

2006 Season, Injuries, Playoffs

ALCS Game 3 Aftermath

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After game 2 I was happy, but cautiously optimistic. I knew that while Kenny Rogers was definitely capable of giving the Tigers a chance to win, Rich Harden also had the ability to shut them down. An A’s win on Friday and you’re looking at a whole new series. But then the opposite happened. Rich Harden pitched decent. He was erratic but the damage was kept to a minimum. It didn’t matter because Kenny Rogers was stone-cold money as he has taken a personal vendetta against letting runners into scoring postion let alone touching home plate.

As you’ll read below, most think this series is over. Things are never over til there over, but when you’ve got the other team practically conceding I think it’s safe to feel confident. Jim Leyland is even managing this series differently now. One part of his decision to use Omar Infante as the DH was that, “Omar needs some at-bats.” How often are playoff managers looking to make sure everybody stays in the lineup?

Yesterday ticket brokers took a huge hit when the game time was moved up. Some combination of the weather and the game time made it one of the coldest tickets in town with seats on StubHub selling 40% below face value. With a potential clinching game today, I don’t think they’ll have any problems.

Injury Update

It’s looking like the Tigers will have less and less of a need for Joel Zumaya in this series. This is fortunate because he’s not looking so available. If the Tigers can close this one out quickly, Zumaya could have an additional week off before the World Series starts. If Fernando Rodney has fixed his control issues, it becomes even less of an immediate need for Zumaya to return.

What others are saying

Continue reading ALCS Game 3 Aftermath →

2006 Season, Injuries, Playoffs

ALCS Playoff Miscellaney

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I’m taking advantage of a break in the schedule to get some sleep tonight. But I will share this mish mash of information:

The Zumaya Injury

Detroit Tiger Tales has the Joel Zumaya situation thoroughly covered. Essentially it isn’t that serious, but Joel is worried, and he shouldn’t be out that long, but we don’t know how long that long is. And Carmen Harlen said on tonight’s local 4 broadcast that the MRI was encouraging.

Game Time Change

As you’ve probably all heard the first pitch will now be thrown at 4:30 tomorrow in an effort to keep the rather from being really freaking cold. Instead it will just be really cold. As for how this effects the team, we learned last night that Alexis Gomez likes hitting at 5:00pm.

Billfer on the radio

If you wonder what I sound like, I can be heard on today’s episode of Sports Bloggers Live. I’m on with the esteemed Blez of Athletics Nation.

Oh no, Deadspin likes the Tigers

Way back on the morning of August 8th things were sunny in Tiger Town. They had just knocked off Francisco Liriano and taken a 10 game lead and Deadspin gave the Tigers permission to print playoff tickets. They then went 19-31.

Well today Will Leitch once again endorsed the Tigers.

The Tigers look like they’re not gonna be beaten by anyone, in either league. Before the NLCS has even had a chance to start yet — more on this later — the Tigers have sucked the life out of the A’s and the ALCS like a grizzled, mustachioed, Olmos-faced manager pounding down some Winstons before taking questions for Thom Brennaman.

Festivities

Here’s the scoop on the events at Comerica this weekend:

  • Friday, Game 3: Mickey Lolich throws out the first pitch. National Anthem by The Temptations Review
  • Saturday, Game 4: George Kell throws out the first pitch. National Anthem by Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit
  • Sunday, Game 5: Ernie Harwell throws out the first pitch. National Anthem by Josh Gracin

The gates open at 2pm each day.

The Lions are playing on Sunday as well. If you are a Lions fan with a parking pass for the Tigers garage, you are to park in the Compuware garage and there will be a shuttle available to take you to Ford Field.

2006 Season, Injuries, Playoffs

Casey at the Bench

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In the 6th inning of game 1 Sean Casey’s left calf muscle went all broken-rubber-band. He of course had to leave the game with Carlos Guillen assuming first base duties and Ramon Santiago taking shortstop.

It’s moments like this that make one question the decision to take 3 back-up infielders – none of whom play first base. Chris Shelton would be looking like an attractive option right about now.

Now the impact of Casey’s loss could certainly be tempered if Omar Infante were slotted into the starting shortstop role. Infante is capable of providing Casey-type offense and is slick enough defensively to compensate for Guillen. However, like when Polanco was injured, we know how much Jim Leyland is fond of Neifi Perez. Perez of course is a switch-batter (notice I said switch batter instead of hitter) and Leyland loves platoon advantage – even if it isn’t an advantage. I fear that Perez who is inadequate defensively and poor offensively will get the bulk of the playing time.

Now if the Tigers survive the ALCS and make it to the World Series, Chris Shelton could be added at that time. But he wouldn’t be replacing Sean Casey, he’d be replacing Ramon Santiago. Only one of Santiago/Shelton can be on the roster at a time because they are using the Tony Giarratano exemption as neither was on the 25 man roster until after September 1st.

2006 Season, Injuries

Polanco out for the year?

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Jason Beck is reporting that Placido Polanco said he is done for the year. But Jason also points out that the training staff said there has been no decision made. As recently as a couple days ago there was speculation that Polanco may be back for the White Sox series, so this is a peculiar turn of events. It’s entirely possible he aggravated the shoulder. It also seem plausible that he may have required surgery from the beginning, but they tried the rehab route given the pennant race and all.

The conflicting reports aside, this is of course terrible news. As I mentioned earlier, the Tigers have actually gotten more production from the 2nd base position since Polanco’s injury than before it. However, the chances of Infante staying as hot as he is are probably slim. Secondly, it will mean more playing time for Perez. Thirdly, if Carlos Guillen has to miss additional time due to his hamstring, it will make it that much more difficult for the team to absorb.

UPDATE: Kurt left this update in the comments. Dombrowski says that Polanco is still on track and not done for the year.

2006 Season, Injuries, Players, Playoffs, Roster Management

Tigers claim Matt Stairs

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The Tigers today picked Matt Stairs off of the waiver wire. Considering he was one of the names the Tigers were considering at the trade deadline, the cost of free is pretty appealing.

Stairs is 38 and is on his 3rd team this season. He typically hits in the 260’s with a respectable OBP around 350. Texas picked him up at the trade deadline and he was pretty awful in limited playing time. In 81 at-bats he hit 210/273/370 with 22 K’s. The strike outs were out of line with his career numbers.

Defensively he’s a designated hitter and shouldn’t be allowed near a glove.

The move doesn’t bother me in the sense that there was nothing given up, and this is as short term a move as you can make. He won’t be eligible for the postseason. However in the aftermath of the Neifi Perez trade I’m worried that Stairs will actually be used and either a)force Marcus Thames into another platoon situation or b)take away from the already limited playing time that Chris Shelton sees.

The good news is that Jeremy Bonderman won’t have to pitch against Stairs.

In another move, Roman Colon was transferred from the 15 day to 60 day DL. This just means the Tigers can make another pitcher eligible for the post season roster.