Sorry if this is posted elsewhere. Not great news: Twins pitcher Anthony Swarzak to miss a month after fracturing ribs | twinsbaseball.com: News

 

"When he was up here for TwinsFest, he was messing around with a couple guys and cracked a couple ribs, so he'll be out a month," Ryan said. "He was wrestling around. It was some horseplay. He was out with a couple friends and the team and cracked a couple ribs fooling around. It wasn't a fight or anything. It was just bad judgment wrestling around."

 

bruised a rib or two last Spring, and it was a problem for a good 3-4 months. Hope he can recover quickly!

If they DL him quickly it opens up a spot on the 40-man and makes some of our current speculation a little less pointless. Is the DL even an option at this point in the offseason? But more than likely they will do their typical "let's give it some rest and make a decision later when we have a better idea about it."

Since the injury is tied to January 25 in connection with TwinsFest, I looked up who was scheduled to be there signing autographs:

http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/downloads/y2013/twinsfest_player_schedule.pdf

This shows:

4:30-4:50 pm Brian Dozier

5:15-5:35 pm Justin Morneau

6:00-6:20 pm Josh Willingham

6:45-7:05 pm Anthony Swarzak

7:20-7:40 pm Casey Fien

7:50-8:10 pm Trevor Plouffe

8:20-8:50 pm Kent Hrbek

 

I know Bollinger stated that it was specifically teammates, but wouldn't it be something if it was actually Hrbek, the wrestling aficionado, who put the body slam on him?

 

More than likely, though, the candidates would be Dozier or Plouffe, who already have spent time in Gardy's VIP Kennels, a.k.a. the doghouse. Willingham and Morneau would seem unlikely to risk aggravating their own chronic injuries, and Fien just doesn't seem the type or the size.

Edited February 7, 201313 yr by ashburyjohn

It's going to set him back, but not enough to open a roster spot unless they 60-day him, which happens first day of season...some 45-50 days from now. At the most, they can DL him and do a minor league rehab and take a longer look at Pressley or Wood before losing them to waivers of Rule 5 return.

If they DL him quickly it opens up a spot on the 40-man and makes some of our current speculation a little less pointless. Is the DL even an option at this point in the offseason? But more than likely they will do their typical "let's give it some rest and make a decision later when we have a better idea about it."

 

First, only a 60-DL stint opens up a spot on the 40-man, the standard 15-day doesn't.

Second, I think you put a player on the 15-day DL towards the end of ST, but you can't use the 60-Day DL until spring training.

Third, when using the 60-Day DL you have to fill the open 40-man spot immediately.

 

Since Swarzak is a reliever, if he is working out by the beginning of March and throwing with out pain he will probably be good to go by the time the season starts. If it isn't until mid-March he will probably be DL'ed and sent to extended ST for rehab.

A place on the 40 man won't open, but this could give the team a place to put a pitcher they'd like to stretch out but with an innings limitation. Like say, Kyle Gibson. Maybe he could start the season as the long man in the pen until Swarzak is 100%, and then move into the rotation.

 

I guess it depends on how long it takes Swarzak to recover. If he's ready at or near opening day it won't matter.

Third, when using the 60-Day DL you have to fill the open 40-man spot immediately..

 

Usually it happens the other way around: you do not place anyone on the 60-day unless you fill that spot.

 

Cracked ribs can be really hard for a pitcher and those things take time (and stillness) to heal. Former Twin Dan Slowey lost all season last year with cracked ribs.

Sorry, but he is no big loss.