Padres right-hander Dinelson Lamet left his season debut Wednesday with forearm soreness and quickly went on the 10-day injured list, leading to concerns that he could require a second Tommy John surgery. A couple days later, those worries seem to be fading. Lamet went through his typical post-start routine Friday, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune writes, and manager Jayce Tingler called it “a positive day” for the 2020 Cy Young contender. If all goes according to plan over the next week-plus, Lamet could return from the IL when he’s first eligible on May 2.
Now for a few American League updates…
- Center fielder George Springer may finally be on the cusp of his Blue Jays debut. Manager Charlie Montoyo told Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet and other reporters on Friday afternoon that there is “a chance” the Blue Jays will activate Springer on Sunday. The three-time All-Star then got through a sim game at the team’s alternate site without any problems, per Montoyo (via Shi Davidi of Sportsnet). An oblique strain and then a quad strain have prevented Springer from suiting up for Toronto, which signed the ex-Astro to a six-year, $150MM contract in free agency.
- Rays righty Chris Archer has already missed two weeks because of forearm tightness, and a return is not imminent. Archer is likely a couple more weeks from rejoining the Rays’ rotation, manager Kevin Cash revealed (via Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times). Even though he endured a disastrous 2019 with the Pirates and then missed all of last season because of thoracic outlet surgery, Tampa Bay reunited with Archer – previously a Ray from 2012-18 – on a one-year, $6.5MM deal in free agency. The gamble hasn’t paid off so far, as Archer didn’t complete three innings in either of the two starts he made before he hit the IL.
- Rangers catcher prospect Sam Huff will undergo surgery to remove a “loose body” from his right knee next Wednesday, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News relays. The injury will sideline Huff for eight weeks and could prevent him from catching this season. The 23-year-old – MLB.com’s 68th-ranked prospect – produced eye-popping results during a 10-game, 33-plate appearance major league debut in 2020, when he slashed .355/.394/.742 with three home runs. Huff hadn’t even played above the High-A level when the Rangers promoted him last September.
BasedBall
Padres and Rays are handling forearm tightness in contrasting ways.
Lamet on the fast track to return, Archer is being slower.
I hope it pays off for both.
CalcetinesBlancos
Sometimes you just have to let them play and see what happens.
oldmansteve
It’s almost like different bodies heal differently
Fever Pitch Guy
You win the day!
YankeesBleacherCreature
Also Archer is 8 years older than Lamet has a more extensive injury history. One has to take a slower rehab approach without re-aggravating another prior injury.
LordD99
And it’s almost like one strain might be more severe than another.
fishco
Rays slow play all injuries. Based on Tattis and Lamet, Padres do not
Dorothy_Mantooth
I really hope Lamet can come back from this injury but it’s really hard to trust anything San Diego says about their pitching staff. Clevinger’s injury was ‘nothing serious’ and then boom, TJS. They downplayed how serious Lamet’s injury was last season too. Until I see him make 3-4 consecutive starts with no issues, I’m not going to buy into anything the SD front office or manager says about him.
DarkSide830
this goes back to Pomeranz and the suspect medical reports too
Deleted_User
You mean how Anderson Espinoza was “totally fine” when the Red Sox traded him then needed TJ not once, but twice?
Fever Pitch Guy
You’re seriously gonna compare Dombrowski with a GM who kept two different sets of medical records? A GM who received complaints about the same thing from FOUR different teams during the same season? A GM who was suspended twice for violations, going back to his time with the Rangers? Preller’s tarnished reputation is well deserved,
Deleted_User
Preller has no tarnished reputation. Go back to watching Teletubbies kid.
cubsnomore
How about Tatis coming back like he’s all healed. That will blow up in their face.
Mynameisnoname
Lamet slowly built up with zero hiccups leaving SD thinking it was the adrenaline that caused the cramping/tightness.
So how do you better simulate game situations in rehab when you consider a couple of dudes with their arms crossed, spitting seeds off to the side isnt exactly going to get the blood pumping.
DarkSide830
did adrenaline casue him to need TJS prior?
Mynameisnoname
No, that was probably the unnatural arm path required in baseball.
So what do you guys think, baseketball style heckling, clips of giving up dingers on the video scoreboard?
clrrogers
How about they make them take all of their gold chains off and they hold them over a fire. If they don’t perform well, they get melted down. That’ll get their adrenaline pumping. Lol
Egon Spengler
That’s too bad for Huff. He’s way too tall and heavy to play catcher long-term. If he can’t play first base, he’s a future DH with that build. He’s built like Giancarlo Stanton.
ntorsky
Joe Mauer was 6′ 5″ and 225 lbs and he stayed behind the dish. Might be too early to write him off as a catcher but if the knees continue to be a problem then I’ll have to agree with you.
SalaryCapMyth
So out of all the catchers in MLB history, because you can come up with just ONE example of a catcher with measurements such as his, despite the vast, OVERWHELMING majority (all of them except 1..I guess) you currently disagree? That sounds rational.
leefieux
Jacob Stallings, Pirates, is 6’5″ and has done just fine. I bet I could find even more if I looked far enough.
Dorothy_Mantooth
Carlton Fisk was 6’ 3” and caught for 20 years in MLB
Hudson6
google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j…
google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j…
oldmansteve
Have you never seen Salvador Perez? Matt Weiters?
Also, it is more irrational to give up on a player who is performing at his position because other players haven’t at that size.
oldmansteve
Also Tyler Flowers, Sandy Alomar Jr. there are a lot of catchers with massive frames who have good careers
User 1104686089
Brian McCann was a big guy too if I remember correctly?
Brew’88
Are we seriously going to list here every catcher over 6 ft 1 inch just because of a dumb post? OKAY! Bruce Bochy. He had to manage with that tall frame too requiring frequent trips to the dugout phone and mound – I don’t know how he did it.
stymeedone
Lance Parrish.
Deleted_User
LOL
YankeesBleacherCreature
@Egon Why you do consistently give the worst takes without fail? Have you considered researching any of your positions prior to posting something foolish?
StudWinfield
Ok for some reason I found this discussion intriguing so I did in fact research all the names mentioned in bbref. With the exception of Perez, Huff is listed as taller and/or heavier than every other named catcher. Perez is 2 inches shorter but 15 lbs heavier. Additionally, only fisk and piazza caught regularly after age 31. Alomar did catch 100+ at 32 but that was it. Stallings and flowers have never been full time catchers (i.e caught 130+ games).
Now, I’m usually no big fan of what egon has to say, but in this case, his general statement appears to hold up much better than the criticisms levied against it.
Longtimecoming
Mike Piazza anyone?
MarkoRock68
I just took a look at team stats. Remember how 95 percent on here said the Jays pitching staff was horrible, awful, a disaster? Well it is early and all but…. guess who has the best team ERA in the AL. WITH a load of injuries to their pitching staff.
Now if Springer and Teoscar can give the offense a boost …..
bigdaddyt
Outside of Matz Ray and Ryu it’s a disaster. They don’t have a starter after those 3. Thornton looks good, Pearson hasn’t ever been healthy Milone has looked good but would worry about putting him in rotation, roark proved he can’t be in rotation anymore. Bullpen is taxed beyond belief right now can’t keep up this pace need another top 3 starter now
Mrivers
True their last 2 rotation spots are iffy, but so are the Yankees, Red Sox, and Rays. The division is pretty open.
MarkoRock68
Not many teams have a 1-3 with Era below 3 AND really good #4 and #5 . That is rarified air indeed.
With Pearson’s return on the not so distant horizon and Thornton in the picture the Jays need a good #4 -5 who can give innings and have an ERA /FIP in the 4>4.50 range.
Chatwood is back, sounds like Romano will be back soon – hopefully Merryweather will have positive news soon, the Bullpen will be fine.
To lose as many pitching days to injury thus far the Jays have done exceptionally well to be leading the AL in team ERA.
smuzqwpdmx
Every staff is a “disaster” outside of their top pitchers. Proof: the Blue Jays lead the league in ERA.
Having three good starters is a good situation. The ’93 Blue Jays had Guzman and Hentgen who were average, Stewart well below average, and their other starters were terrible. That worked out pretty well.
jdgoat
It was clear they had the depth to cover for a while, but the performances of almost every pitcher on the roster definitely has been a surprise. It really is amazing that they have been able to tread water with the injuries they’ve dealt with so far.
adultsagainstthedh
My mistake
I saw “Huff” and “loose” and I thought it was about Aubrey Huff, who as anyone can see has a screw loose.
Braves Butt-Head
You must like CNN
smuzqwpdmx
You must like waving your underwear in the air to crowds and calling it a rally thong.
Sideline Redwine
Archer info is incorrect. He made one start–he did not make it out of third in that start, but that was due to injury (he was not shelled or beaten up). I personally am cheering for Arch, and hope he can prove the doubters wrong.
theodore glass
It’s crazy that Lamet had TJS in 2018 and might need another one even tho he hasn’t pitched much since then.
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
I had no idea Chris Archer signed with the Rays.