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| STL Aces: Early injuries, one lost for season |
Injuries happen. At times they're unavoidable. But these injuries have me a bit confused.
"It was kind-of head scratching," Tony La Russa said.
I'll say. I don't want to question a major leaguers workouts or preparation for the season but I'm just wondering how someone blows out an elbow ligament in a spring training bullpen session. An injury requiring Tommy John surgery typically doesn't happen on one pitch, especially during a bullpen.
Wainwright has been one of the best in the game over the past two years. Perhaps the innings logged over the past few years caught up with him. It just seems like this type of injury shouldn't sneak up on you after one bullpen session.
Carpenter, a Tommy John patient himself, tweaked his hamstring, which happens, but I can't help but wonder about his off-season training.
Nothing is longer than a Major League baseball season. Pitchers report mid-February and can possibly play into November. Spring training is a time to get ready for the season, I get that, I've done that. Why not use the six weeks of training to prepare? Use the three-month off-season to relax from the grind that is baseball.
In my experiences, going from inactivity to practice is the leading cause of soreness and injuries. During one spring training I had to battle through what may have been a strained/pulled groin muscle because I wasn't going to acknowledge I'd "tweaked" a muscle during the first few weeks of practice. To me, that's admitting you haven't properly prepared yourself for spring training. I got through it and was fine. That's why I've raised an eyebrow at some of these injuries. But as I've said before, injuries can happen to the most in-shape, best-trained athletes in the world. Both Cardinals injuries could have been coincidental.
However, the facts remain. If you barely throw for a couple months, then try to hit spots in a bullpen, you're arm is going to get sore. If you've barely ran in two months, then start doing conditioning drills, you're legs and muscles will be sore and more susceptible to injury. If you get injured during spring training, you've cost your team time and money. You have to be in shape enough to allow yourself to get ready.
Other Injuries:
Padres closer Heath Bell appears to be a prime example of the inactivity theory. He strained a calf muscle during the FIRST DRILL on the first day. That's impressive. As a closer, no one expects Bell to be in tip-top shape but that's taking it to a new level.
He was on Jim Rome is Burning a couple weeks ago and even said about the injury, "It gives me an excuse not to do any running and just hop on the exercise bike." That's what got you in this position, Heath. But Bell, like many pitchers, isn't concerned with being ready for spring training, especially when you've reached the level of high-performing closer. If he goes down with a minor injury like the calf strain, or Carpenter's hamstring, it's just less work and travel during spring training. In a sense, he played it perfectly. Do little-to-nothing during spring training. Checkmate.
BP Injury: The Red Sox should be in the market for a new coach to hit fly-ball fungos during batting practice after Josh Beckett got drilled in the back of the head by a Boston assistant coach, causing a mild concussion and at least one missed start. That's bad luck. Shagging balls in the outfield is how a pitcher spends most of his time during spring training. Rule one is pay attention. Nothing is more embarrassing or painful than getting hit, unexpectedly, by a batted ball. It's just you're usually paying attention to the batter, not the coach. Beckett will keep an eye on him from now on, I guarantee it.
(Photo credit: Dave Einsell, USA Today)
Sounds like you're pumped for baseball season. Quick food for thought.....I wonder if Tommy John can hire a lawyer to get him a small cut of every Tommy John surgery that is performed. And I wonder if Dr. Jobe gets a cut of every Tommy John that is performed since he created it.
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