F-Bomb

by vagabond on Oct 25, 2006 10:39 AM EDT Comment 11 comments

According to LEN at the Strib, Liriano stopped his rehab down in Ft. Myers because of continued elbow pain. http://www.startribune.com/509/story/764508.html

It looks as if he'll be meeting with a few surgeons in the near future to decide the best course of action. Whether it means exploratory arthroscopic surgery or Tommy John surgery, I don't think anyone knows yet. I am just hoping some real answers can be found. Personally, I don't buy the idea that rest and rehab can fix this problem. Something is going on inside that elbow that needs to be addressed. Liriano appears obviously frustrated, which is only compounded by not having a clear answer to what is going on with him. The 2007 season shouldn't be the biggest concern for this kid or the Twins because he can/will be a stud for years to come, but lets at least get a game plan for what is going to happen.

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Good timing

I was just about to post a diary on this - good thing I hit "Preview" before hitting "Submit", so I saw yours on the sidebar.

I'm personally with you on the elbow - at this point, even if he is able to rehab it into submission somehow, I'm going to be skittish about it for the rest of his career.

by BeefMaster on Oct 25, 2006 10:43 AM EDT reply actions

Liriano's confidence

After failing to recover with the same program twice during th season, I'm sure he lacks the confidence in the trainers to get this thing fixed. So he's doing the right thing. Getting third and fourth opinions, perhaps exploratory surgery. And making a choice for a long career, not just ofr next year.

Joe Mauer for MVP.

by cmathewson on Oct 25, 2006 11:04 AM EDT reply actions

Ya...

A small part of me is kind of happy about this. I still hope he has exploratory surgery first to see if there is a minor chance it's something that doesn't require TJ. But otherwise, I'm sort of happy that he can get this fully resolved and have a dominant 10 years vs. becoming the next Kerry Wood.

by djskilbr on Oct 25, 2006 12:28 PM EDT reply actions

I agree.....

If surgery will ultimately correct this so he doesn't have to worry about it...so be it. And sooner ratehr than later.

Yes, in the apst (Koufax, for example) pitchers did pitch thru pain, with it happening as the season goes on. You do stretch that muscle when you throw hard and/or fast.

But Liriano ahs the abilty to mix things up more than the really hard throwing guys.

Get better, Francisco.

by twintown on Oct 25, 2006 1:37 PM EDT reply actions

This news is a good test for optimist / pessimist

The optimist says "At least it's moving toward a decision point - and I hear the surgery is usually very successful."

The pessimist says "Why couldn't it be rehab-able? Now our rotation for 2007 is in shambles. Oh, and what if the surgery isn't successful?"

It'll be interesting to see what the Twins do in 2007 to fill the rotation - some choices have ramifications beyond just next season.

by BD57 on Oct 25, 2006 4:19 PM EDT reply actions

Or both

I'm a bit of both. I'm glad something is finally happening. honestly, I thought SOMETHING should be done, even if it isn't neccesarily full blown Tommy John.

But, People come back from Tommy John in like 9 months now. Even make that a slow ten, and he'd have just enough time to build arm strength to make a difference in the playoffs and down the stretch.

"Baseball is great because you can't take a knee or kill the clock. You have to put the ball over the plate and give the other guy his damn chance." C Stengel

by AdamOnFirst on Oct 25, 2006 9:44 PM EDT reply actions

I am not blamging the Twins org...

...because this was a problem we KNEW he had before coming here. Chance we took, and it didn't pan out quite as well as we wished it would though I am not complaining about the results, just the wasting of the opportunity by the rest of team in October.

"The 2007 season shouldn't be the biggest concern for this kid or the Twins because he can/will be a stud for years to come, but lets at least get a game plan for what is going to happen."

I don't know, right now there's no evidence that he can ever be a stud again. I said it when he went down again. He was babied along in rehab and his arm still couldn't get better. He needs at the least, exploratory surgery. I won't say TJ because we don't KNOW that will fix the problem.

But... if I knew TJ surgery would fix the problem I would say get him in there before Thanksgiving. The sooner he gets his arm sewn up the sooner he gets better and the sooner we see if he remains any good or not.

by MNPundit on Oct 26, 2006 6:10 PM EDT reply actions

umm

"I don't know, right now there's no evidence that he can ever be a stud again."

um no, how about all teh stories of pitcher in teh last 15 years who have come out of TJ losing nothing at all stages in their career?

Right now, we have no reason to believe he WONT be a stud again. Let's keep it that way. i view this more as HUGE blow for next year than his future.

"Baseball is great because you can't take a knee or kill the clock. You have to put the ball over the plate and give the other guy his damn chance." C Stengel

by AdamOnFirst on Oct 27, 2006 1:20 AM EDT up reply actions

Exactly...

I think Cisco's gonna be just fine. This just might delay our dynasty run by 1 year, that's all.

by djskilbr on Oct 27, 2006 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Mistake

I guess I was wrong. I went and found several medical sources that say the comeback chances for pitchers are TJ is about 90% so that's a little more comforting. I thought the chance of being as successful as before was about 50/50.

Still pointing out that there are numerous stories about pitchers coming back proves... well not a lot. It's anecdotal evidence.

by MNPundit on Oct 29, 2006 10:44 PM EST up reply actions