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beckettRed Sox Ace is Ailing
According to manager Terry Francona, Josh Beckett started feeling tingling and numbness in his right arm last weekend. Beckett added that he slept on the arm wrong but also added he needs to find out what is going on, suggesting this may be an ongoing problem. Beckett added he has not undergone an arthrogram on his pitching arm. As of Tuesday, he still had some numbness in his ring and pinky finger is his right hand and the Red Sox are delaying his next start.

If Beckett’s problem is more serious than just sleeping on his right arm what may it be? It could range from something as serious as Thoracic Outlet Syndrome to pressure being applied on the median or ulnar nerve in his pitching arm to swelling in his wrist putting pressure on the nerves that go to the fingers.  The Red Sox have developed a reputation of taking the conservative route regarding their players, especially pitchers. If someone on the team’s medical staff felt it was a serious malady it is highly unlikely Beckett would not have been sent out for tests by now. His status bears watching to see if it clears up on its own or not. We are likely to see Boston skip over his next start to give him some extras time to get over the ailment or at least have it checked out. (8/19)

glavineGlavine's Career May be Over
Glavine’s 2008 season is over and most likely his career also. He has a torn flexor tendon in his pitching elbow. The tendon did not heal enough after two months on the disabled list and he managed just one outing before heading back to the list for the final time. He is slated to see Dr. James Andrews and have his elbow checked out shortly. If Andrews indicates he needs surgery, most likely Tommy John surgery, he will retire. If he gets the green light to rehab, he will focus on returning next season. The track record of pitchers recovering without surgery when they have a damaged flexor tendon is not good. Factor in Glavine’s age and it looks like it will be almost an impossible feat to return next season. It has been a great career Tom. (8/17)

Longoria to Miss at Least a Month
The Rays have lost a key player for the stretch run as they fight for their first playoff spot. Longoria was hit by a pitch Thursday night by J.J. Putz. Friday and over the weekend the Rays thought he had a bruised right hand and wrist. X-rays were negative. Tests later on (we are guessing it was a CT scan) revealed the non-displaced (the bones are in alignment) fracture. Because it took a second set of eyes and a hand specialist to discover the fracture we can assume it is not a complete or obvious fracture. This may be the reason the Rays believe Longoria can return in 15-21 days. While it is possible, it is rare that a player with a fractured hand, even one as small as his usually need at least a month to return to action. And of course, we cannot discount the thought that power hitters coming off fractured wrist and hand lose some power. No matter how it plays out, the Rays and Longoria owners will miss his bat as long as he is out. (Aug 11)

sorianoHas Soriano's Power Returned?
Soriano has made two trips to the disabled list this season. One was for a strained right calf muscle. The second was for a fractured 4th metacarpal in his left hand, which kept him on the DL for 41 days. Players who have significant wrist injuries, with or without surgery, tend to struggle with their power numbers because they have not regained all the strength in the hand and wrist. How has Soriano's offensive production been since being activated on July 23?

At the time of his second DL stint, Soriano had posted a .283 BA, .332 OBP and .879 OPS. His AB/HR rate was 10.9 before he suffered the fractured bone in his hand. Since returning, his AB/HR rate is 11.0. His BA of .348, .389 OBP and 1.086 OPS are better than before suffering the hand injury. So far, we have not seen any signs that the fractured bone is causing a drop in his power numbers. Soriano seems to have cleared that hurdle. But can he keep up his pace? If the wrist becomes fatigued as the season winds down, we should see it in his power numbers. (Aug 8)

Yanks Lose Chamberlain for at Least Three Weeks
For a while on Wednesday it looked like the news regarding Chamberlain’s ailing right shoulder was going to be dire. He was quickly sent out to see Dr. James Andrews in Alabama. The Yanks didn’t even wait  a day or so. Then they were hush-hush earlier in the day. Finally, Wednesday evening it was revealed he has tendintis in his rotator cuff. Whew! No talk of a torn labrum or rotator cuff. It appears the Yankees have dodged a serious injury situation. He will rest for a week before starting a throwing program. It will be interesting what role he returns to the Yankees in. Will he be moved back into a relief role to protect his shoulder or will he return as a starter with a strict pitch count. If we had to guess Chamberlain will return the last week of August or the first week of September. If he were to suffer a setback during his DL stint and we may not see him the rest of the season. (Aug 6)

gallardoDon't Count on Gallardo in September
Yovani Gallardo has had two surgeries to repair cartilage damage in his right knee. One was before the start of the season and a second in May. Now some three months later, there are some grumblings that he is attempting to come back in September when the rosters expand. The Brewers have been reserved in providing any updates recently regarding his progress. While it is possible he could return it seems highly unlikely. With Ben Sheets and CC Sabathia likely gone after this season, he is the staff ace next season and most valuable pitcher on the staff. They need to make sure his right knee has healed completely. Why risk his long-term health for a couple of outings when the rosters expand. It is unlikely he earns activation in September even if he is ready.  (Aug 3)


Is Greinke a Burnout Candidate? greinke
Greinke started last year working out of the pen before being inserted into the rotation. He ended up working 122 innings total. This season he started the year in the rotation and is currently on pace to throw 202 innings. That's an 80-inning jump from the prior season. Should we be concerned? Greinke is being efficient with his pitches, averaging just 15.9 per inning. This should help him down the stretch if he is able to continue to pitch as efficiently as he has to date. He is throwing just 101.4 innings per start - another positive sign. His high pitch count is just 113. Putting a damper on these positive numbers are the recent results of his pitching.

His monthly splits in June and July were alarming. In June, hitters managed to bat .255 against him, but his ERA for the month was 5.25. Nine homers allowed during the month will do that to you. In July, he got the long ball under control (only 2 HR allowed) but allowed 38 hits in 29 1/3 innings of work. Major league hitters hit .311 against him, the second highest oppBA against him since the start of the 2007 season.

We may be watching the 24-year-old Greinke struggling with the workload already this season, as he has eight more starts than all of 2007 with more to come. Those of us (I am a Greinke owner, too) waiting for a turnaround may not see it in 2008. (Aug 1)


hill Aaron Hill Struggles with Post Concussion Syndrome
The Blue Jays placed Hill on the 60-day DL due to the symptoms from a concussion. This move was a procedural one to open up a roster spot. Hill has been on the disabled list since May 30 with a concussion. The move was made back to that date, meaning, technically speaking, he could be activated on Thursday. Obviously, he is not ready and it appears he will not be for the near future. Hill is doing some light throwing on the side and in some fielding drills but nothing intense or close to game action. Toronto does not have any timetable for his return because he still is struggling with post concussion syndrome symptoms. Until the symptoms are eliminated he won't participate in BP or go out on a rehab assignment. Is he out for the season? At this point, it does not appear he is out for 2008. But if he is still on the DL come mid-August, the odds greatly increase that the Blue Jays will shut him down for the year. (July 28)

volquezWill Edinson Volquez Suffer Burnout This Season?

Currently, Volquez is ranked 23rd in pitches thrown in the majors, and he is on pace to hurl 188 innings. Last year, he worked 179 innings at four stops in the minors and majors. So the workload should not be an issue. After two months of purely dominating numbers (April - 1.23 ERA and 1.22 WHIP, May - 1.63 ERA and 1.21 WHIP), June and now July have seen both his ERA and WHIP rise noticeable. Let's face it, Volquez is not a sub-2.00 ERA caliber starter. His WHIP in both of those months suggested so. So why the rise in his numbers the past two months? Advance scouting and adjustments. This is his first season in the National League and hitters are making adjustments to his pitching style. The next two months will be his turn to make adjustments. Health wise, there appears to be no problems. (July 25)

schmidtJason Schmidt is Likely Done for the Year

If you talk to baseball people who have seen Schmidt close up, they will tell you he has one of the higher pain tolerances in the game. Sometimes that can be a good thing, but it also can be a detriment when they try to pitch through pain. Schmidt has been persistent in trying to overcome bursitis in his pitching shoulder as well as last year's surgery. The past couple of days the pain has shut him down and he received an injection in the shoulder. There comes a point when a pitcher just is not going to make it back, and that appears to be case for Schmidt in 2008. (July 22)

 
photo headshots of players courtesy of mlb.com