The White Sox opened camp with a series of unwelcome injury developments, as each of Yasmani Grandal, Lucas Giolito and Gio Gonzalez are all dealing with minor injuries (link via Daryl Van-Schouwen of the Chicago Sun Times). Grandal injured his calf in the weight room last week, and an MRI revealed a minor calf strain. Giolito is working through a strained muscle in his chest, and Gonzalez is battling some discomfort in his left shoulder. However, GM Rick Hahn expects all three to be good to go by Opening Day and referred to the injuries as “minor.” Grandal clearly isn’t overly worried about his status, as he joked with reporters that he was merely trying to get out of some running drills in Spring Training (Twitter link via MLB.com’s Scott Merkin). Giolito, meanwhile, is already throwing from 120 feet and said he’s “zero percent” concerned about his injury.
Some more health/injury notes from early on in camp…
- Diamondbacks right-hander Mike Leake is undergoing an MRI after experiencing soreness in his left wrist following a fall at his home, manager Torey Lovullo told reporters today (Twitter links via The Athletic’s Zach Buchanan). Lovullo described the MRI as precautionary in nature, so it doesn’t seem as though the organization is overly concerned at the moment. Leake, 32, landed in Arizona following a deadline swap with the Mariners and pitched to a 4.35 ERA in 60 innings (10 starts). Leake fanned just 27 hitters in those 60 frames but was quite stingy in terms of issuing free passes as well, surrendering just eight bases on balls. The ever-durable righty made at least 30 starts for the eighth consecutive season in 2019, eating up 197 innings between Seattle and Arizona.
- After missing the 2019 season due to Tommy John surgery, Royals stalwart Salvador Perez is ahead of schedule and expected to be ready for Opening Day, new manager Mike Matheny told reporters (link via MLB.com’s Jeffrey Flanagan). Perez is already throwing to second base without issue and is slated to meet with his doctors tomorrow for another check-in. Interestingly, Matheny suggested that Perez would not only see some time at designated hitter early in the season but also at first base, as the Royals look to be cautious with his throwing workload.
- Phillies right-hander Seranthony Dominguez managed to avoid Tommy John surgery last year after an elbow scare, and he now appears to be on track for Opening Day, tweets Matt Breen of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Dominguez resumed throwing in December and has now thrown three bullpen sessions — including one earlier today. The 25-year-old was lights out in his debut effort back in 2018 and took a step back in limited action in 2019 before hitting the injured list. In 82 2/3 innings between those two seasons, he’s pitched to a 3.27 ERA with 11.2 K/9, 3.7 BB/9 and 16 saves.
there will be injuries to all teams. no big deal. as long as no one blows out their elbow
Maybe baseball players ought to spend less time lifting (heavy) weights and focusing more on enhancing baseball skills.
How long until we find out what really happened to Leake’s wrist? Usually a fall in the home means that the player was doing something they shouldn’t have been doing.
Like jumping on the bed?
I’m sure the details will “leak” out soon enough..lol
When I was a HS baseball coach I would feed my pitchers the food at lunch time, carry their bags and dress them before the game because I did not want them to do anything else with their hands but throwing pitches. I asked their parents to do the same but unfortunately many did not have that professionalism and willingness to do that for their sons. Some kids got hand injuries from drawing, writing, playing with their consoles, helping elderly carry their groceries or crossing the road, helping their parents moving boxes or furniture around…. SMH
Heaven forbid that a high school kid do things like draw, write, help the elderly cross the street, or move boxes for their parents! The horror!!
The thing that concerned me the most about that comment was “dress them”
Sir, I really think you need to stop doing that asap before you’re on CNN as the next news story
Lil Johnny can pull up his own pants and cinch his own belt.
@ letsgodbacks, wow! You dressed your high school baseball players because you didn’t want them doing anything with their hands. Then questioned their parents for not having your same level of professionalism.
You guys crack me up, thanks for taking the comment seriously lol
Well played, letsgodbacks, well played indeed.
I thought it was just monkeys, who were not allowed to jump on the bed?
His wife has contusions on her butt too, appears to be a defective sex swing
Taiwan basket?
Sox have been dealt a lot of injuries the past 3 years. Forget the playoffs. 84 wins and a healthy roster would be amazing.
Forget the playoffs? I disagree. Making the playoffs is a realistic goal for this team. I, for one, would be disappointed if they missed the postseason this year.
The only 6 time all star no one has heard of..
i think most baseball fans have heard of Salvador Perez
White Sox players slipping on a bar a soap in the shower already !
Lucky if they get to 80 wins.
Why are cvbs fans so jealous of the White Sox. You’ll never see me wishing the cvbs ill. I actually want them to win despite my preference for the ChiSox.
Dude, you embarrass white Sox fans all the time with your Cubs takes
It’s embarrassing to be honest about Theo Epstein, the cvbs roster moves, and their pitching? No. No it is not. Delusional comments from cvbs groupies on every message forum about professional baseball is embarrassing.
This is why the WS team should still be looking at guys like Colin McHugh. The only pitchers with clean health records who could potentially start are Keuchel and Lopez. Cease is in his first full season, and Kopech, Dunning and Rodon are coming off TJS.
If Gonzalez can’t go, and Giolito needs rest, this rotation is in bad shape.
Btw, there is no such thing as a minor injury to a throwing shoulder, especially for a 30+ veteran who missed a large chunk of the season with a dead arm.
Dunning and Rodin’s injuries were also termed minor before both had to go under the knife eventually.
I know these injuries are minor, but to me, the worst scenario this year for the Sox is to get a rash of injuries and they lose 90. The one problem that will plague this team the next several years they are in contention is they’re not a deep team. They may end up with an incredible starting lineup and rotation and even bullpen, but if a bunch of guys get injured throughout any given season, they won’t have the guys to step in and keep the team on track (like the Yankees did last season).
This is where the lack of player development in the minors will haunt them. Guys like Engel, Delmonico, and Palka aren’t going to be able to adequately fill in for Eloy, Robert, and Mazara (and Mazara’s a huge question mark–well, technically all 3 still are).
Sure they can theoretically figure the player development problem out in the next few years, but it’s been decades since they’ve been able to develop players well consistently. So pardon me if I don’t hold my breath on that one.
I’m not trying to be Negative Nelly here. I think this team is destined for greatness very soon (hopefully next year, or by some miracle this year), but in the back of my head, I’m going to keep thinking this team is just a rash of injuries away from collapsing that particular season. And we know how hard it is to stay healthy all season for one player, let alone the majority of the team.
Despite what I’ve just said, I am looking forward to this season, and especially the (at least) 4 or 5 seasons after this season.
Just look at what happened last year to the White Sox last season when Anderson, Jiminez and Moncada were all injured at the same time for a few weeks. The White Sox had to replace these guys with scrubs where a promising young offense went from looking decent for the first few months of the season to looking like a AA team. The key is to having these three young guys along with the rest of the core to stay healthy in 2020 and beyond.
That’s not realistic.
That’s why the team needs guys in the minors to develop to provide depth. They have some leeway in infield but depth in other areas is suspect.
Injuries are part of the game and having depth is crucial to having success. As of right now, the White Sox need to have a little depth. The idea of having Collins on the roster to catch here and there to playing first base or even DH to give guys like Abreu to Grandal a day off on the field is smart. Both Abreu and Grandal are veterans who need time off early in the season to stay fresh in the stretch after All Star break.
Having a guys like Garcia who can play the infield or outfield also gives guys like Moncada to Anderson a day off in the infield or Jiminez or Robert the same as well. Let’s not forget Engel is also on the roster who play every few days or come in a defensive replacement later in games.
Meanwhile the biggest question is the White Sox’s pitching rotation staying healthy to having guys able to produce. Giolito showed big improvements while Lopez had his ups and downs last season and Cease needs to do a complete season to see if he is the real deal. Kuechel was brought in for that veteran leadership and Gonzalez is a fill in until Kopech or Rodon can step up.
In the mean time, the White Sox will watch the development of guys in the farm like Madigral to Basabe to Adolfo to Vaughn and Sanchez on the offensive side while we should watch a guy like Pinklington as a potential starter in a few years. The White Sox did well in the last few years with developing players for the MLB roster to having guys try developing in the system.
ST is important to see if under-the-radar guys like Flores/some of the BP arms and Mercedes can be worthy call-ups in the event of injuries.
Pecota has the team at 83W but that analysis is assuming little impact from Lopez, Kopech, & Rodon. That’s foolish because when healthy Rodon has proven to be an ace (#1-2) & Kopech projects to be at least #3. Come Aug & the team has the potential for 7 starters competing for 5 spots. That should lead to both an improvement in the pen & rotation, Lopez has never felt pressure to perform like he will this year. It certainly helps that the team projects to score at least 100 more runs
than it did in 2019.
I’m looking forward to Rodon’s return the most. In 2018 he didn’t just perform like an ace. He was nearly unhittable in Jul & Aug. He was very good in Sept & the start of 2019 before he got hurt & was eventually shutdown. With the added run support he has the potential to join the team after the all-star break & produce 15W.
If he does that this team will win over 90. If Kopech somehow produces another 10W
or the two of them combine for 25W this team will win over 90 games.
75-87
87-75