MASH Report (9/22/14)

• Ryan Zimmerman returned from the DL and went 2-3 in his first game back. He is far from being 100%. He can barely run jog walk right now. Kirk Gibson’s 1988 home trot is what Zimmerman’s triple reminded me of. I have no clue why he is not resting and waiting for the post-season to force himself into the lineup.

• Stuart Wallace at the Beyond The Box Score gives us his take on Glen Perkins’s elbow.

Overall, Perkins should be ready to go for next season; with the clean bill of health in terms of the UCL, fears that a Tommy John procedure is inevitable should be allayed, even with the knowledge that 40% of baseball players presenting with UCL injuries demonstrate symptoms consistent with ulnar neuritis.

• Anibal Sanchez is close to returning to the Tigers. It will be interesting to see how the Tigers use him this last week. They would like to get him a start or a long relief appearance, but may still be fighting for the division title.

• Josh Hamilton is beyond messed up.

Hamilton felt pain in his chest, ribs and armpit in batting practice Monday. He started at designated hitter Tuesday and had a hit in three at-bats, “but as I ran, as I swung, it got worse and worse, to the point where it hurt to breathe,” he said.

When the discomfort continued Wednesday, Hamilton underwent an MRI test that showed no abnormalities. He returned to the stadium for batting practice but even-tually left.

and

So Josh Hamilton has now has 12 injections for the pain in the last 2 weeks. #Angels

— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) September 20, 2014

It will be interesting to see if he is even able to play in the post-season beyond just pinch hitting.

• Carlos Ruiz admits to playing the entire season with a shoulder injury. 

Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz revealed Thursday that he has been playing with a sore left shoulder all season. …… Ruiz, 35, said he tweaked something working out in the weight room in spring training. It has gotten more uncomfortable as the season has progressed, bothering him on certain swings and occasionally when he receives a pitch in a certain location. “It’s better after I have a little rest,” Ruiz said.

The injury seems to have bothered him just a bit. His ISO was higher than 2013, but his Contact% dropped from 89% to 84%. I guess a bounce back may be expected in 2015 …. maybe … he will be a 36-year-old catcher. 

• Some health updates on Giancarlo Stanton

Stanton did sustain an orbital fracture. But his vision was never impaired. Eye sight is fine now. #Marlins — Joe Frisaro (@JoeFrisaro) September 18, 2014

Stanton said doctors told him it would take 6-8 weeks for his facial fractures to fully heal #Marlins

— Manny Navarro (@Manny_Navarro) September 18, 2014

Everything points to a 100% healthy return in 2015.

Fastball speeds for pitchers returning from the DL

• Masahiro Tanaka’s average velocity was under 90 mph in his first game back from the DL. This value was near his season low.

I expect him to throw another game and then some bullpens. Tanaka, and the Yankees, need to know if his elbow can hold up to pitching or should he go ahead and get Tommy John surgery.

• Edwin Jackson’s velocity was at a three year high.

Players on the DL

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

Unofficial Major League Report

Official Major League Report

Minor League