Injuries around baseball

March 23, 2008 · Paul Raymond · Jump to comments

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As spring training ends, injuries tally up and some stars wind up missing opening day. Here’s a run down of some of the more notable injuries this past weekend.

Detroit Tigers – OF Curtis Granderson – What was originally believed to be just a bruise on his right hand, he wound up breaking his middle finger. Technically he has a non-displaced fracture of the metacarpal at the base of the middle finger. This injury has already sent him to the DL, so he’s guaranteed to miss the first week of the season. While Granderson is on the DL, look for Brandon Inge to be the starting centerfielder.
Atlanta Braves – SP John Smoltz – Smoltz has missed time due to a sore shoulder and it looks like the team may put him on the DL as well. If that happens he’d miss his first start of the season. The Braves could back date his DL start as he hasn’t appeared in any games, which would make him available April 6th against the New York Mets. That would also be the first time the Braves actually need a fifth starter. “I don’t know how the scenarios are going to shake out to,” Smoltz said. “But whatever it is, it is and I’m going to embrace it.”
New York Yankees – SP Andy Pettitte – The back spasms that forced Andy to miss Saturday’s start, have not gone away. “I felt real positive about how I was progressing, and I was hoping today I’d come in and feel great, but I can’t,” Pettitte said. “I’m definitely optimistic, because I think it’s going to clear up.” Pettitte had a similar situation last spring after working out, and the pain went away just a few days later. He fully feels he’ll be ready to go April 2nd in the Yankees second game against the Toronto Blue Jays. If his start gets pushed back from Thursday to Friday, you can expect him to start the Yankees 4th or 5th game instead. No DL will be needed.
Boston Red Sox – SP Josh Beckett – Beckett will not be making the trip to Japan, but should be ready for the Red Sox around April 8th. Beckett threw 2 innings in a minor league contest on Saturday, throwing 32 pitches and feeling no pain. In 5 days, he’ll pitch again this time 4 innings, and then most likely need one more start to get ready for the season. If he does make it back in time for the 8th, his first starts will be against the Yankees and Tigers.
Milwaukee Brewers – SP Chris Capuano – OUT FOR THE SEASON. Capuano needs to undergo Tommy John surgery as he has a tear in his UCL. He’s not officially out for the year, but I have a feeling he will be. Capuano has already had Tommy John in his career so this would be the second surgery of this kind for him. What it comes down to, is it a full or partial tear. If its partial, he could theoretically be ready to go in just a few months, with rehab. Definitely look for him to start on the DL, and if you have him in fantasy I’d cut him and just look at him out for the year.