MASH Report (3/10/13)

• Kris Medlen experienced a right forearm strain during his last outing. He was not yet to the 400-600 IP point  where Tommy John pitchers begin having a second round of injuries (2013 The Hardball Times Annual).  More information on the injuries extent will be available later today.

• It looks like the Mets are hoping for at least one healthy first baseman.

Ike has a walking boot on his right Leg.

— Matt Ehalt (@MattEhalt) March 10, 2014

and

Lucas Duda’s hamstring has quieted down. #mets tentatively believe he will be back this weekend.

— Kristie Ackert (@AckertNYDN) March 10, 2014

I am a more worried about Davis more right now.

• Matt Kemp has increased his baseball activities, but he is far from 100% healthy.

Batting second each inning for both teams, Kemp’s first ball put in play was an infield grounder and he ran about three-quarter speed to first base and returned to the dugout smiling. On his second groundout, he appeared to have his normal gait…..He said he has been making turns the last few days and made one Sunday at half-speed. He said sliding “might be the last thing I do” because “you don’t practice that, you can’t really go out and simulate” sliding.

I have always been worried about how his ankles will heal. He “appears to be within a month of rejoining the Major League club.”

• Jose Inglesias has been dealing with shin splints for about three weeks.

Iglesias has missed a week and a half and counting with shin splints. Opening Day arrives three weeks from Monday, with 2 1/2 weeks of Grapefruit League play still to go. However, Iglesias’ absence is nearing the point where his readiness for Opening Day is a topic for Ausmus, who brought up the matter himself when a question about Iglesias’ timetable came up Sunday morning.

“We’re going to hit that point in Spring Training where there won’t be enough games for him to get at-bats to be ready for the season,” Ausmus said. “We’ve talked about it internally. We haven’t set a firm date on that, but there is going to be a point where if he can’t get on the field because of the injury, we’re going to have to make a decision.”

He may miss some regular season time if he doesn’t get on the field within a week. Even though he has a great glove, he is not really fantasy relevant except in deep or AL-only leagues,

• Doug Fister is dealing with an inflamed elbow. I looked at his injury chances back when the Tigers and Nationals made the trade and found no glaring indications. The team is waiting to see when he can pitch again. Fantasy owners should wait to draft him until he gets a clean bill of health.

• Justin Verlander talks about how injuries led to his sub-optimal 2013 results.

It’s the plurality of the injuries that have him now suspecting he was pitching injured last season. When he had the surgery, he said a few weeks ago, it took care of injuries on both sides. The left side was injured in offseason workouts. The right side was injured at some other point, and was almost as bad, when Dr. William Meyers examined him.

“Everything I felt when I injured myself was on my left side,” Verlander said. “There was nothing [felt] on my right side. We went through all the physical exams, and when he told me I needed surgery on my right, that was kind of the indicator. And he said my right [side] was almost as bad as my left — the abdominal part, not the groin. That could very well, and most likely, gone back a little bit of ways.

For Verlander, I see his value going up and down. He still may miss some time recovering from the surgery. On the other hand, he should pitch better than he did in 2013 once he is back.

• Luke Hochevar will officially miss the 2014 season because of Tommy John surgery.

Players on or Probably on the DL to Start the 2014 Season

(*) 15 Day Disabled List
(**) 60 Day Disabled List
(***) 7 Day Concussion List
(****) Free Agent
Red colored entries are updates since last report.

Major League Report

On DL

Probably on DL

Minor League Report