Open Thread: A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

by Jesse on Aug 8, 2006 12:59 PM EDT in News

We wait on an official word...

But right now, things don't look good.

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Funk

I've been in a funk all day. I didn't know until I got up this morning and saw that picture on Gleeman's site. It's a dark day in Twinkie Town.

by SDfan on Aug 8, 2006 1:02 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Funk

I think Gleeman and I find our photos in the same place, because this isn't the first time we've posted identical pictures. Oh well...this photo needed to go up; it speaks volumes.

It's one of those unnerving days for Twins fans. For me, I know it's probably going to be better if he does what needs to be done, which will more than likely involve his absence from the rotation for the rest of the season. At the same time...we need him for any legitimate playoff push. Especially the way the rotation sets up right now.

Of course, the long-term picture is what's important, along with personal health. If the rest of the season is the cost of getting Liriano back and ready to go, in proper order, then so be it.

But it still sucks.

by Jesse on Aug 8, 2006 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Sheer Terror

My main point of mourning for this isn't the significant blow to the Twin's playof hopes, isn't Liriano's loss at a chance at the Cy Young, isn't his loss of esteem in the RoY race, and isn't even missing him the rest of the year.

The thought of this affecting his future in any way is terrifying to me, and there are a lot fo ways this injury, which has occurred before with him, could affect 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 Aug 8, 2006 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Yep

That would be my worry as well. And don't take Gardy's energetic assertion that it's just a 'muscle problem' as any consolation: as pointed out in the original Crystal Ball thread on Liriano on John Sickels's site (http://www.minorleagueball.com/story/2005/9/11/133650/313), Liriano had a strained latissimus dorsi in 2003 that limited him to nine innings of work in the Giants' organization that season.

The good news is that the injury in and of itself doesn't end his career; other pitchers have dealt with chronic lat issues and still managed to pitch effectively. (Tim Hudson and Rich Harden are examples pointed out in that thread on Sickels's site.) The bad news is that, like plantar fasciitis for a fielder/hitter, muscle issues for a pitcher tend to be chronic, never really go away, and can flare up without a lot of warning. Two hundred innings a year and a Hall of Fame career seem pretty unlikely for Liriano right now, though admittely anything is still possible.

--
David Wintheiser

by dwintheiser on Aug 8, 2006 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Ummm

The latissimus dorsi isn;'t anywhere near the elbow...

And taking away his hall of fame career and 200 IP a year seems a bit ahead at this point.

"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 Aug 8, 2006 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions

This is why we got him

...from the Giants for AJ. Injuries, were we too clever for our own good?

I wonder how much of this is a result of him throwing so few fastballs.

by MNPundit on Aug 8, 2006 7:32 PM EDT reply actions

we don't know

that the injury now is in any way related to the injury then.

We have kids in our Little League program who have sore arms because growth plates haven't caught up with arm strength, etc. One kid grew 6 inches in a year & his arm hurt because the tendons weren't up to the strain his additional size & strength put on them.

Cisco was, what, 19 when the trade was made? His arm could've hurt because he was still growing, bad mechanics, etc.

by BD57 on Aug 8, 2006 9:43 PM EDT up reply actions