March 28, 2012

Collateral Damage

Clearing the Air

by Corey Dawkins and Stephani Bee

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It’s mostly Flesh Wounds today, but there are a few important things to discuss.

Sam Fuld, Tampa Bay Rays (Right Wrist Inflammation)
Fuld’s wrists have not had a good spring. First, Fuld missed about a week near the start of spring training games with right wrist inflammation, but his current wrist soreness appears to be much worse. One of the tendon sheaths in his right wrist is irritated because it’s popping in and out of place. When there is tendon instability, it loses the mechanical efficiency and strength. It’s quite painful when it subluxes.

If the inflammation persists, the injury can potentially rupture. He will see Dr. Thomas Graham at the Cleveland Clinic for an opinion as to whether he will need surgery. Fuld is almost certainly out for Opening Day.

Joba Chamberlain, New York Yankees (Ankle Dislocation Surgery)
Chamberlain spoke today to clear up the varying accounts of his trampoline incident. Contrary to previous reports, there were no fractures, although the dislocated bone did briefly pierce the skin, so it was an open dislocation. The biggest difference from published reports was that Chamberlain did not actually suffer a life-threatening blood loss.

He’s going to be in a cast for six weeks, and while there is a chance he could return this season, Chamberlain admits that would only happen if everything goes perfectly.

Logan Morrison, Miami Marlins (Locked Left Knee)
Morrison had his left knee lock up on him on Monday and needed help off the field. It’s not good when joints lock up, but some cases are worse than others. Cartilage tears or loose bodies are among the most common reasons for joints locking up. Torn cartilage or loose bodies that cause the knee to lock generally have to be removed sooner rather than later because you don’t want the cartilage to degrade any further.

Another common possibility is a piece of scar tissue near the kneecap called the plica. If it is just that painful plica, people can often play through these as long as the pain is at a tolerable level. Morrison said this has happened before, but we will have to see how he responds. His right knee has also been giving him trouble recently with the swelling and soreness.

Flesh Wounds
As we mentioned earlier, several players were placed on the disabled list recently. In an expected move, Logan Forsythe was placed on the disabled list while he recovers from a March 9 surgery on his left foot to remove a sesamoid bone. The procedure has about a two-month recovery time. This would have him being activated in early May if all goes to plan. … Dallas Braden (shoulder surgery) and Joey Devine (biceps tendinitis) were both placed on the 15-day disabled list. Braden is still a bit away from coming back, but Devine could come off the second week of April. … Blake Hawksworth was placed on the 60-day disabled list because of his two elbow surgeries in three months. While recovering from scar tissue and loose body surgeries, he developed an infection, necessitating a second surgery in early February. He won’t be back until late May at the earliest. … Zach Britton and Brian Roberts were placed on the disabled list while they recover from an inflamed left shoulder and last year’s concussion, respectively. … Jordan Schafer is traveling to see a hand specialist in Atlanta because his hand/wrist pain has not improved. He feels it may be nerve related, hence the visit to the specialist. In the last three years, Schafer has dealt with broken fingers and wrist surgery on his left hand/wrist. It looks like he will be out at least for a few more days. … Robert Fish is heading to see Dr. James Andrews because his sore left elbow has not responded to treatment. He has not been able to throw for a few weeks now. … Freddy Galvis fouled a ball off his left foot and is day-to-day with a contusion. ... Erick Aybar bent his fingernail backward, a very painful injury, but not a debilitating one in the absence of an infection. He is day-to-day. … Elvis Andrus is dealing with a tight right hip flexor and is day-to-day. … A small labrum tear is causing the inflammation in Bobby Cassevah’s shoulder, but he has been cleared to start throwing by Dr. Lewis Yocum. He will likely start the season on the disabled list. … Eric Surkamp is dealing with a strained left elbow and will likely be out at least a few weeks. … David Wright made his spring debut on Monday and did not feel any ill effects. … Chris Denorfia is now dealing with a strained finger. … Luke Gregerson is dealing with back spasms and is day-to-day… Mat Latos is day-to-day with a strained left calf. … Adam Lind is day-to-day with lower back tightness. This does not bode well for someone who dealt with back problems for about a month last year. … Curtis Granderson will have an MRI on his right elbow because of continued soreness. It’s being described as precautionary.

Corey Dawkins is an author of Baseball Prospectus. Follow @CoreyDawkinsBP
Click here to see Corey's other articles. You can contact Corey by clicking here
Stephani Bee is an author of Baseball Prospectus. 
Click here to see Stephani's other articles. You can contact Stephani by clicking here