"If it blows out it's going to blow out, you can't control that." ... Not words that warm the hearts of the Cardinals, or their fans, or Albert Pujols owners on a cold February day.
What he was talking about was the strained ligament in his right elbow. Albert has played with right elbow issues for four season, and it is more of a throwing issue than a hitting issue, but in the NL of course, when you can't throw, you can't play. So his elbow injury becomes our issue.
Albert says that his elbow usually doesn't give him any problems until he has put some miles on the season, so he is just going to prep this spring as if he's fine. Pujols opted not to have off season surgery as it wasn't clear that a minor procedure would provide much relief.
Much has been made of Pujol's "sub par" 2007 (.327, 32, 103) and his elbow was contributor to be sure. Pujols considered last year's discomfort among the worst he's had with this injury, but there's no real indication that the injury is degenerating in a linear way. Albert probably has the best handle on things right now. It will be good, it will be bad, and hopefully it won't "blow"
That's not enough of a possibility to keep you from considering Pujols among the very best offensive players available. Look at 2007 as a cost governer. Talk up the fact that Albert's elbow could snap like a rubber band at any moment and save at least a few bucks off of what you'd expect to pay in a more "normal year"...
B.J. Ryan threw for 10 minutes on the Blue Jays' first official work day in Dunedin, his second time out since arriving. Two things were encouraging about the session. First he was mixing sliders in with his fastball, and second, he showed terrific command for where he should be on his 7th session since coming off elbow surgery. Ryan will back off for a couple of days before his next mound session.
The possibility remains that B.J. will be ready for Opening Day, but I am declaring that less than likely. The big picture however shows that B.J. looks like a fully-viable option this season barring a set back, and it doesn't look like he would miss the starting bell by that much.. Like Albert, Ryan could become a value in this year's drafts because of the surgery.
Carlos Beltran is less enthusiastic about his recovery from his knee surgeries. He doesn't expect to play in the first few exhibitions games and feels he's behind where he wants to be in his recovery. The team does expect him to be ready for Opening Day however.
In case there remains any doubt in your mind about Curt Schilling, let me put them to rest. Consider him off the radar this season. Despite what the Red Sox say, rest and rehab is not likely to allow Curt to contribute a significant number of useful innings this summer.
Dr.Craig Morgan, Schilling's personal doctor, who has twice operated on his shoulder, is adamant about his diagnosis of a split tendon and insists that surgery is the only option available. When asked of the chances for Schilling to pitch this year without surgery, he told WEEI in Boston "zero".
Dr. Morgan is a man of conviction and spoke of the matter with compelling certainty and he has me convinced. Even the best case scenario, one that makes the Red Sox management and medical staff right, means that Schilling is back after the ASB and there will be real questions as to how effective he can be.
While we are on Boston starters, both Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz have reported to camp with somewhat beefed up bodies. In Lester's case that is the result of his continued recovery from treatment. In Buchholz's case it is exactly the kind of physical development I hoped for when I wrote about him last year in AA.
We are all excited about Clay's prospects in 2008 but keep in mind that the Red Sox will likely be very firm about limiting his innings once again. They will let him go further than he went lats year, but probably not my a wide margin. Lester has been forced into a regular turn with Schilling's injury, and the Sox will certainly hand Buchholz his share of starts (which will be less than what we all want). But Clay will give up some starts to the Julian Tavarezs and Kyle Snyders of Red Sox Nation. This may even provide a couple of turns for Justin Masterson over the course of the year.
Anthony Reyes is in competition with Todd Wellemyer and Brad Thompson for the available starter slot with the Cardinals (vacated by Mark Mulder's injury). The difference is that if Reyes doesn't win the battle he probably won't start the year with the big club. Don't rule out the possibility of the Cardinals shopping him around either, whether they think he's the best pitcher for the 5th slot or not..
Randy Johnson said today that he would not go through another rehab for back surgery but he didn't speculate as to whether 2008 would be his last year at 44 years old. The rub here is that he is 16 wins shy of 300, which means he will probably need another season to reach rthat goal.
Jason Schmidt had a solid bullpen session on Saturday, using his entire range of pitches. Jason was enthused, reporting a pain-free session. This would be better news a month from now, but Schmidt owners should be encouraged.
