Medic!!!
Just when players like Mike Lowell and Brad Penny are showing improvement, word arrives that Dustin Pedroia (oblique) and Julio Lugo (torn meniscus) are injured.
While the US squad faces Puerto Rico as I write this (losing 6-0 after 4) in the WBC (still not sure why Puerto Rico has its own team and I mean no disrespect in any way. In fact, I tried to research it as best I could and just don't quote get it), Pedroia is a scratch. In Florida, Lugo's knee soreness, per Saturday morning's news, has turned into a month-long rehab should he have arthroscopic surgery in the coming days.
Here's the potential impact: Jed Lowrie is the Red Sox starting shortstop and Dustin Pedroia is now questionable for the start of the regular season.
Lowrie starting over Lugo wouldn't be a shock, but Lugo was leading the team in hitting in spring training and making it a good battle. Lugo said he gained 10 lbs of muscle in the off-season, but every time I hear a player say that, I just assume it's his way of explaining why he is 10 lbs fatter...after having not worked out in the off-season. Not fair to Lugo or any player, but that's always what comes to mind.
As for Pedroia, he is obviously a key cog in the the Red Sox line-up. With Lowell no guarantee to be healthy and David Ortiz coming off his worst season as a Red Sox, losing Pedroia would be very tough. I think Nick Green would be the starting 2b if the season started today. Yikes.
While I am seriously grumpy about Pedroia getting hurt during the WBC, I have to confess, the games have had a certain dramatic and compelling element. Watching the Dutch beat the Dominican Republic team (caught about 5 innings of the combine 2 games) twice, was amazing and seeing Canada lose to Italy (only caught highlights) was equally entertaining. Not that I prefer any of those countries over the others, but seeing a deep-underdog win is always a thrill...unless it is in the 2008 Superbowl...sniffles.
We'll know more about Pedroia and Lugo by Monday.
Comments
do you think the NFL would ever allow it's players to go off in a tournament during training camp to play full contact games based on what State they grew up in or went to school? Nope.
The NHL and NBA both allow it for the Olympics, noted. This however is not the Olympics, never will be no matter what the talking heads say ("give it a few years to build the history, etc").
Scrap this thing or make it minor league players only. No need to have players go down with any injuries because of playing a senseless exhibition schedule.
Posted by: blmeanie![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
|
March 15, 2009 08:19 AM
|
BL? Agreed !
Posted by: Mitchell![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
|
March 15, 2009 09:43 AM
|
That is a good idea blmeanie. Minor leaguers or free agents looking to audition (Pedro, Ivan, etc.).
It turns out that somehow, an oblique strain was confused with an abdominal strain for Pedroia. I have to assume an abdominal strain is better as I hear article after article about how bad oblique strains can be.
BTW, have you seen the MLB2009 playstation baseball ad with Pedroia? That actor who plays the Sony executive is one of the funniest actors alive (at least in ads). He has done several ads that make me laugh just looking at him. And to boot he replies to Pedroia when asked what other MVPs can't hit the high, inside heat "apart from you..."
Posted by: andy![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
|
March 15, 2009 09:52 PM
|
The NFL isn't a fair analogy because that is a violent sport where you can get hurt on every play. The way to do this is to make it an in season thing. Compress the schedule to 154 games in WBC years and shut things down for a week or so in July. Will that ever happen? Absolutely not, but it's the way to do it. As BL says (paraphrasing his words), this is definitely not the way to do it.
BTW Andy, Jerry Lambert is the actor in those ads and he has held bit roles in a number of comedies on TV, but also does a lot of stand up. He actually did ads before that were baseball related- he was the guy in the Holiday Inn ads with Cal Ripken who didn't know who Cal Ripken was.
Posted by: Peter![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
|
March 16, 2009 12:33 AM
|
Peter? I have to disagree with you on this one. Football is truly a violent sport, it's worse because it's a contact sport. But swinging a bat is a violent thing to do and can cause serious damage if your body isn't properly toned (or timed) to do it - hence Spring training. Think Ortiz's wrist issues as an example, think about what's involved in a checked swing.
Even worse is pitching - that's a hugely violent motion throwing a ball in the 90s. It's also a motion that can ruin a season with one bad elbow or wrist motion on a slider or cutter. These guys need to ease into their seasons, not come out of the box at full tilt in March.
A player knows that ST games don't mean squat. Get some of these kids amped up in a game playing for their flag and its a recipe for problems.
Posted by: Mitchell![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
|
March 16, 2009 08:10 PM
|
Mitchell
I don't think we disagree much. See my post at the top of the page- I think the tourney needs to be overhauled if it is going to survive.
Posted by: Peter![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
|
March 16, 2009 10:05 PM
|
You're right Peter. I missed your entire new thread. My error ...
Posted by: Mitchell![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
|
March 16, 2009 10:32 PM
|