Tag: Vicente Padilla

Johan Santana Shoulder Injury Raises Questions

New York Mets starting pitcher Johan Santana throws a pitch to the Colorado Rockies in the fourth inning of their MLB National League baseball game in New York, August 12, 2010. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsWell, its that time of the season. Johan Santana has once again, for the third season in a row, been shut down and will need surgery during the off season, this time on his left shoulder. A suitable punctuation to a season highlighted by lackluster play, managerial blunders, and an overall lack of organizational accountability. Of course, this type of grim reality for the ace of a pitching staff can only exist within one franchise, the New York Mets.

Along with agony and disappointment, news of Santana’s most recent injury raises a lot of questions:

Why does the Mets’ medical staff continue to be inept?

Since being acquired prior to the ’08 season, Santana has had some kind of injury/surgery every year. First it was his knee issue, last year he had bone chips in his elbow. What other star player in the league has experienced this type of string? I can’t think of any off the top of my head. I’m no doctor, but I would have to imagine that part of correcting an injury is identifying the measures to prevent future problems. By now, I would have expected that the medical and training staffs have come up with a plan for protecting Santana’s arm. Unfortunately, this has not been the case. This apparent ineptitude has affected other players on the team as well. You have to figure that free agents around the league are probably wary of exploring opportunities with the Mets because of their seemingly shabby and, for lack of a better word, mysterious medical staff. Continue reading “Johan Santana Shoulder Injury Raises Questions”

Analysis: Brett Myers Situation From Phillies Perspective

While the Mets were busy ripping the ball all over Busch Stadium last night, I was looking toward the Mets next series in Philly. I wanted to find out what’s going on with Brett Myers from someone that watches the Phillies every day. I turned to phanatic74 from U.B.L. for the answers. This is what he had to say about the Myers situation and where the Phillies rotation will go from here:

I think that Myers being moved to the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs was the best move for him and the team.  I have no doubt that he will return to Philly some time in the 2nd half of the season.  Brett still has good stuff, he just forgot how to use it.  They discussed putting him in the bullpen, but he would not get enough playing time to work out his issues.  The Phillies will need to call on him again, but I am not sure as in what type of a capacity whether the bullpen or starting rotation.  He is a good option to keep open in case of someone going on the DL.  Jamie Moyer is not prepared to go down to a 4 man rotation at his age.  My feelings are that they are going to bring up J.A. Happ from "AAA" in Lehigh Valley.  If he falls apart like last year’s trial then they will go to Carlos Carrasco from the Reading "AA" ball club.  Of course both of these pitchers are temporary until they can acquire someone from outside of the organization.  The Phillies are very lean on quality pitchers in their farm system.  Myers length of service with the Iron Pigs depends on how cooperative he will be with the recovery.  However, he has received comments on ways to improve his pitching such as getting the ball out of his mitt sooner prior to the delivery.  He also needs keep more of his foot on the rubber.  There is no definitive time for Myers, but he will pitch again in the city of brotherly love.

It sounds like the Phillies might need to look outside of the organization as the trade deadline nears to shore up their rotation. There are a couple of ex-Phillies that are available now in Freddy Garcia and Vicente Padilla. Maybe they’ll go that route since both are known quantities in Philly. Garcia is supposed to be ready to pitch again, after recovering from shoulder surgery, in August. He’s a free agent so it wouldn’t cost any prospects to obtain his services for the rest of the season.

Thanks to phanatic74 from U.B.L. for the analysis!