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March 4, 2009Shin-Soo Choo Injury Update
March 4, 2009
(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
If you’re one for Cactus League final scores, the Indians have gone 1-1-1 over the past three games. After topping the Rockies 6-4 on Sunday, the Indians have lost to the Rangers (8-7) and managed to rally to a 9-9 tie with the Kansas City Royals. Yes, they have those during Spring Training.
But we all know that the final score isn’t exactly what counts; it is what happens within the box score that truly matters.
At the plate, the Indians have seen some solid appearances by those already with the team along with those vying for a spot in the future. Jhonny Peralta hit a two-run home run (knocking in Trevor Crowe) on Sunday. He kept the power streak going through yesterday, clubbing three hits including a double and a three-run shot off of the Royals’ Zach Grienke. Peralta is currently hitting .636 (7-for-11) during spring training, and appears primed to follow up right where he left off last season.
Monday’s game was headlined by youngsters Beau Mills and Wes Hodges. In the fourth inning alone, Mills came through with an RBI triple while his third base counterpart knocked in two runs with a single. Unfortunately, Hodges was also dinged for a throwing error in the game – something that has concerned the Indians throughout his progression in the minors.
On the mound, the results have been fairly mixed. Potential fifth starters Zach Jackson and Jeremy Sowers both gave up runs in their two respective innings of work. Sowers was particularly alarming, giving up four hits and a walk during his stint. A WHIP of 2.50 rarely does the trick in the bigs. Another potential starter, Aaron Laffey, looked like he was going to be on his way to a solid outing before the abovementioned error by Hodges extended the second inning. The ultimate result was four runs on six hits. Getting his first look of the spring, Anthony Reyes had a very solid start with two scoreless innings.
On the reliever front, Jensen Lewis tossed a perfect fifth inning on Sunday. Rafael Betancourt had a rough go the following day, allowing three runs on three hits despite fanning two hitters. Yesterday, Tony Sipp went unscathed through one, but Eddie Mujica was the victim of an Alex Gordon grand slam that was a part of a seven-run inning.
Lefty prospect Scott Lewis is slated to make an appearance today along with newly acquired (and still healthy, for now) Carl Pavano before getting the day off tomorrow.
Keep an eye on this potentially devastating news on Shin-Soo Choo. I assume we’ll hear more about this in the days to come.
Twenty-seven days until the start of the regular season.
9 Comments
I cringe every time I see Eddie Mujica enter a game–always a “Riske” move. And first Grady tweaks a hammy, and now the Train has a sore arm? Once again: the WBC is MEANINGLESS: can we please get our guys out of there?
Choo-Choo better be okay. Scariest possible announcement to a Tribe fan: “Meet your starting outfielder … David Delucci!!!”
I don’t think the injury with Choo will be too serious. But, I would like to think that the Tribe brass would give a young guy the start before they would DD. He’s just awful.
“But Choo, nursing a sore left triceps while preparing with the South Korean team for the World Baseball Classic in Japan, is not under the supervision of the Tribe’s athletic training staff. And that’s caused an uncomfortable situation in the Indians’ camp….Contrary to an Associated Press report, it is not Choo’s surgically repaired left elbow that is hurting, but his condition is still a concern to the Indians.”
This is from Castrovince @ MLB.com.
Hoynes isn’t even doing his own beat work? Seriously?
@Chris: Does that really surprise you that Hoynes is being awful again? Not me.
I don’t know why I was even surprised that Hoynes would rephrase an incorrect AP story instead of making some calls.
I’ll say it again……….a Choo/Francisco corner OF is not something a contending team would enter play with. Too reminiscent of Delucci/Guiteriez. There better be an alternative plan here……..the odds of both (or even one) Choo/Francisco putting up numbers as regular full-timers is not great. The Dolan’s should have put up the money for a major league corner outfielder in the offseason, instead of sticking with their lower quartile payroll.
Not every team has a CF that goes 30/30 either, so they can afford to lack a bit in the power area. Choo has a ligit shot at 75-.300-20-75-5; not a bad consolation.
So you’re comparing Choo to Delucci? What an asinine comparison. Are you kidding me?
“The Dolan’s should have put up the money…
When have the Dolan’s ever put up any money. The Wood deal is the closest thing to spending money we’ve see out of him since he bought the team. Also, the way the economy is going, any team not named the Yankees are cutting payroll at a fast clip. How can you possibly be surprised.
Who would the corner outfielder have been? Abreu might have been ok, but he signed with LAA. Adam Dunn at $10 mil per year? Ibanez for $10.5 per year at age 36? Choo gives you better production across the board at a fraction of the cost.
Come on, at least pretend to think about these posts before you hit submit.