The 2023 Injury Thread

[Red(s)HawksFan]

Arroyo/Chang/Valdez is going to require some decision making. Then you need to factor in Mondasi, but honestly I'm not overly concerned with that decision. I think Mondasi makes Arroyo expendable, Chang gets sent down and perhaps there is room for Valdez on the bench. With the positional flexibility of Hernandez, Story, Mondesi there should some sort of workable rotation for there to be plenty of ABs to go around, give guys semi regular days off and in some respect strengthen the bench.

Chang does not have options. My guess is that if everyone's healthy, Arroyo is on the bench, Valdez is in Worcester and Chang is DFA (and maybe slips through waivers so they can outright him). If Mondesi is back as well, I think the odd man out is actually Tapia. Then they carry Arroyo and Kike on the bench with Kike splitting time between the infield and outfield.

Fortunately, I doubt very much there's going to be a point where all of these guys (and let's not forget Duvall) will be healthy and available. And if they are, someone else will be banged up or slumping and things will sort themselves out.

 

[geoflin]

When Story and Duvall come back I could see Refsnyder getting dfa'ed. He did get 3 hits today but before that was hitting .224 which is much more in line with his career average than last year was. I think last year was the outlier and when more of the players currently on the IL get healthy he becomes redundant. If Duran keeps playing well he should stay in CF at least against righties. Against lefties either Duvall or Kike plays there and the other becomes DH or whatever (maybe Kike at 2B or SS depending on who else is healthy and/or playing well).

 

[nvalvo]

Chang does not have options. My guess is that if everyone's healthy, Arroyo is on the bench, Valdez is in Worcester and Chang is DFA (and maybe slips through waivers so they can outright him). If Mondesi is back as well, I think the odd man out is actually Tapia. Then they carry Arroyo and Kike on the bench with Kike splitting time between the infield and outfield.

Fortunately, I doubt very much there's going to be a point where all of these guys (and let's not forget Duvall) will be healthy and available. And if they are, someone else will be banged up or slumping and things will sort themselves out.

Chang has shown enough this season that I'd expect a bad team to snap him up if exposed to waivers. He's a good shortstop, and the offensive upside is tantalizing.

The A's are currently starting a guy with a good glove and a 10 wRC+. Not a typo.

 

[Petagine in a Bottle]

Chang has hit a few dramatic homers, but his overall line of 136/174/341 doesn’t seem worth thinking overly hard about, especially since he’s not particularly young.

 

[AB in DC]

We’re going to have too many 2B eventually

If only one of them could play SS.

 

[Ale Xander]

If only one of them could play SS.

Story can
Or at least used to

 

[cantor44]

Right, and the stopgaps to me are a very clear indicator of their actual plan. They are waiting. Whether it's internal development or free agents, they haven't wanted to go all in. Next winter will be a good time to go all-in on pitching. this year the top guy was Carlos Rodon. The support down on the farm is building but not especially ripe. It will take time.I wish more people could acknowledge the time scale that baseball works on. It's not like other sports.

I think this is right. I've been critical of Bloom generally, with the caveat of acknowledging that he has done some things well. But if the organization has stuck with him this long, then they really should see his work through the 2024 season. I think - I hope - that next off season he will feel his "plan" justifies being more aggressive on the FA or trade front to acquire some blue chip arms. And the expectation for 2024 should be the team makes and advances in the post season (I suppose they could make the post season this season, though I'm still skeptical they will, given the age and fragility of their starting staff). And if they don't then the organization's gotta pivot.

 

[Heating up in the bullpen]

Lots of updates in The Athletic today. (https://theathletic.com/4519860/2023/05/15/red-sox-notes-ryan-brasier-done/)
- Duvall got the cast off but hasn't started baseball activities yet
- Chang is hitting off a tee
- Mondesi "had a check-up in Boston last week, and all was OK but he’s still not doing much more than ramping up. Structurally everything is good for Mondesi, but he’s not bouncing back as quickly as the Red Sox thought he would."
- Arroyo "has tracked pitches, but isn’t taking grounders yet and likely will need longer than 10 days."
- Whitlock "is scheduled for rehab starts on Tuesday and Sunday for Triple-A Worcester."
- Crawford "threw live batting practice Saturday at Fenway and will make a rehab appearance Tuesday in Worcester following Whitlock. The plan is for Crawford to pitch three innings after Whitlock. If all goes well, Crawford will be activated during the Red Sox trip to San Diego this weekend."

 

[chrisfont9]

I think this is right. I've been critical of Bloom generally, with the caveat of acknowledging that he has done some things well. But if the organization has stuck with him this long, then they really should see his work through the 2024 season. I think - I hope - that next off season he will feel his "plan" justifies being more aggressive on the FA or trade front to acquire some blue chip arms. And the expectation for 2024 should be the team makes and advances in the post season (I suppose they could make the post season this season, though I'm still skeptical they will, given the age and fragility of their starting staff). And if they don't then the organization's gotta pivot.

You mean push in more chips a la Dombro? Maybe. I don't know if it's a pivot so much as a difference of degree. I also don't know if they would ever blame Bloom for prospects working out or not. There's a lot less "the GM should have known better" in baseball than in other sports. But hopefully it doesn't come anywhere near that.

 

[Benj4ever]

Lots of updates in The Athletic today. (https://theathletic.com/4519860/2023/05/15/red-sox-notes-ryan-brasier-done/)
- Duvall got the cast off but hasn't started baseball activities yet
- Chang is hitting off a tee
- Mondesi "had a check-up in Boston last week, and all was OK but he’s still not doing much more than ramping up. Structurally everything is good for Mondesi, but he’s not bouncing back as quickly as the Red Sox thought he would."
- Arroyo "has tracked pitches, but isn’t taking grounders yet and likely will need longer than 10 days."
- Whitlock "is scheduled for rehab starts on Tuesday and Sunday for Triple-A Worcester."
- Crawford "threw live batting practice Saturday at Fenway and will make a rehab appearance Tuesday in Worcester following Whitlock. The plan is for Crawford to pitch three innings after Whitlock. If all goes well, Crawford will be activated during the Red Sox trip to San Diego this weekend."

My bet is on Bleier being traded/DFA'd when Crawford gets back, with Bernardino sitting in a strong second place.

 

[YTF]

My bet is on Bleier being traded/DFA'd when Crawford gets back, with Bernardino sitting in a strong second place.

I think Bernandino has options remaining and while he's 31 years old he's still a rookie me. aning he's never going to get paid. He may end up a casualty of the 40 man numbers game, but I'd love if there's a way to keep him around a little longer to see if he might be able to contribute.