MASH Report (3/14/14)

• Kris Medlen looks to be out at least a couple of months for a torn ulnar collateral ligament.

Medlen underwent an MRI exam on Monday that showed damage around the ulnar collateral ligament of his right elbow. A stress X-ray conducted on Tuesday provided a stronger indication that the ligament damage will need to be surgically repaired.

A definitive decision will likely be made within the next two days. The process has been slowed due to the fact that Dr. James Andrews, who performed Medlen’s Tommy John surgery in 2010, is among the contingent of orthopedic surgeons currently attending a conference in New Orleans.

“That stress X-ray is not definitive, but it did probably confirm what he was fearing — that there is a high likelihood he will have to have another Tommy John,” Braves general manager Frank Wren said.

More information will be available today (maybe even before this article runs).

• Besides Medlen, the Braves are needing to work around an injury to Brandon Beachy.

Beachy exited Monday’s start against the Phillies after grueling through two innings during which he was burdened by tightness around his right elbow and biceps muscle.

The Braves remain hopeful that Beachy is simply dealing with normal soreness as he attempts to come back from the two elbow surgeries (Tommy John in 2012 and a cleanup procedure in September) he has undergone in the past 20 months.

Seein elbow tightness associated with a pitcher who has two recent elbow operations is not a good thing.

• According to Justin Orenduff at Baseball Rebellion, Jose Fernandez has changed his mechanics and Orenduff believes Hernandez is now more injury prone.

If we are objective,  use video analysis, and research,  we can ultimately conclude the mechanical pattern Jose Fernandez is now exhibiting is far from ideal, and he now puts himself AT RISK of potential injury.  As  mentioned prior in the article, this new movement could simply be attributed to more aggressive off-season training.  If you watch Fernandez pitch you can see his fire, tenacity, and passion for his skill.  Aggression leads to tightness and tightness in the body prior to foot strike leads to injury.

The article points out an obvious mechanical change. Now if the change leads to an injury we will have to wait and see. The one reason I think Fernandez is an injury risk is his hard throwing nature (95 mph fastball). With a small sample of starting pitching, flamethrowers are more injury prone.

• Mike Olt is finally see the ball after dealing with concussion related issues last year.

Olt was in the Rangers’ camp last spring, and he is now with the Cubs, who acquired the third baseman in July in the Matt Garza deal. He appeared in 19 games with Texas in 2013 and batted .194 while battling vision problems which started after he suffered a concussion. He’s seeing the ball just fine this spring.
“Last year, answering the questions [about my vision] every day was tough, because we didn’t know — I didn’t know — what to expect,” Olt said. “It’s a little easier to answer everything now and know that hopefully soon it won’t be [asked about].”

He is huge sleeper for this upcoming season.

• The Dodgers just about made it official that Matt Kemp will not make the roster for the team’s opening day in the states.

At this point, there are no plans for Kemp to be with the team when the Dodgers play their secondary opener against the Padres in San Diego on March 30.

“It would be a big surprise if he was,” said Stan Conte, the Dodgers’ vice president of medical services who was on hand to monitor Kemp as he played in an intrasquad game on Wednesday. “We’re not really sure how this will even work. We’re really taking this only a day at a time and a week at a time. We’ll see where we are at the end of this week, and by the time we go to Australia, we’ll have a plan.”

Adjust your roster accordingly.

• Zack Greinke’s heel injury is taking longer than expected to heal.

“I’d thought I’d be fine that day, like 100 percent in a day or two,” [Greinke] said. “It just hasn’t gotten better, it’s a 10 percent pace from what I was expecting. You know it’s there. If I did more than I’m ready to do, I’d be right back where I started. But it’s getting better every day and that’s the key.”

The injury may hamper him into the regular season.

• Doug Fister is still dealing with shoulder discomfort. Twice now. More news coming on Friday.

• Bobby Parnell is not worried about his sub-90 mph fastball. I am since he has never throw that slow over the past three seasons.

• Jason Giambi (broken rib) and J.C. Ramirez (broken thumb) will start the season on the DL.

• Jeff Keppinger will start the season on the DL because he is still unable to throw a ball.

• CC Sabathia’s “fastball velocity continued to lag, topping out in the high 80s.”

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