Kirilloff optimistic about wrist; Really?

[Fat Calvin]

Here are a few observations made today by the MLB site's Do-Young Park on the progress of Kirilloff.  The header read: “Kirilloff ‘really optimistic’ about wrist.” In the article Park writes: though “he hasn’t begun taking swings against live pitching, there’s been a “lot of improvement” in how he feels during his measured swing progression....with continued abatement in the soreness and aches he feels in his right wrist as the bone heals.  When asked about his potential availability for Opening Day, he didn’t offer a direct answer. The greater priority in the big picture is making sure he can swing pain-free.  He also hopes that continued tweaks to his lower-half usage when swinging can take more pressure off his arms.” 

I don’t know about you, but this article does not instill an optimistic feeling in me.

[Doctor Gast]

Coming off the type of surgery that he had & only start swinging in the beginning of the year, It's only natural that he had & still has pain in his wrists as he continues to swing. Myself, I doubt he'd be able to start the season on the active roster. The pain has been subsiding and they haven't ruled out the possibility. The fact that the pain is subsiding is a good sign, It might take  some time before the pain is totally gone. As long as the pain isn't increasing I'm optimistic that Kiriloff will return at some point & compacity to make an impact.

[Blyleven2011]

1 hour ago, Doctor Gast said:

 Kiriloff will return at some point & compacity to make an impact.

I sure hope so  , it's encouraging that Gibson went through the same procedure  and came through with an outstanding career ...

[Obsvr]

8 hours ago, Fat Calvin said:

Here are a few observations made today by the MLB site's Do-Young Park on the progress of Kirilloff.  The header read: “Kirilloff ‘really optimistic’ about wrist.” In the article Park writes: though “he hasn’t begun taking swings against live pitching, there’s been a “lot of improvement” in how he feels during his measured swing progression....with continued abatement in the soreness and aches he feels in his right wrist as the bone heals.  When asked about his potential availability for Opening Day, he didn’t offer a direct answer. The greater priority in the big picture is making sure he can swing pain-free.  He also hopes that continued tweaks to his lower-half usage when swinging can take more pressure off his arms.” 

I don’t know about you, but this article does not instill an optimistic feeling in me.

I mean, doesn't he HAVE to be optimistic?  Living life with the glass half empty sounds terrible.   

[stringer bell]

In listening to Gleeman and the Geek, it does sound like Kirilloff is upbeat and he knows the wrist pain better than anyone. He's not facing live pitching and likely won't play in exhibition games for at least the next week or so. 

My recollection is that AK hasn't been pain-free for all of the last two years. Even when he was raking, he admitted to some pain. If he is saying that he is optimistic, I tend to believe him. Whatever gets him right is the best course and the half-measures the team tried previously didn't work. It is a sound medical policy to due the least invasive treatment first and if that doesn't succeed, do something more invasive (and risky).  

That he is still feeling some discomfort and that he is behind is not up for debate. Healing the injury to the point where he can swing unhindered is still possible and if he can get to that point, I believe Kirilloff can reach his potential.

[wsnydes]

I wouldn't read too much into Kirilloff's comments.  He's not only coming off a surgery and still rehabbing, but he isn't guaranteed an active roster spot anyway.  He's only got so much control on his status for opening day.

[jkcarew]

"He also hopes that continued tweaks to his lower-half usage when swinging can take more pressure off his arms."

I mean...it's probably reading way too much into one partial quote. Still, there's no way to make that sound good.

[LA VIkes Fan]

The combination of signing Solano and the reported use of Gallo, Gordon, and others at 1B in ST suggests that the team is preparing for Kirilloff not to be ready to start the season. My guess is that he starts in AAA for at least 3-4 weeks so he can get in a groove before making his mLB debut for the year. 

[rwilfong86]

Since last season I've had this fear that this injury will be career threatening.

[Fat Calvin]

2 hours ago, jkcarew said:

"He also hopes that continued tweaks to his lower-half usage when swinging can take more pressure off his arms."

I mean...it's probably reading way too much into one partial quote. Still, there's no way to make that sound good.

Yeah, this one definitely caught my eye too. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

2 hours ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

The combination of signing Solano and the reported use of Gallo, Gordon, and others at 1B in ST suggests that the team is preparing for Kirilloff not to be ready to start the season. My guess is that he starts in AAA for at least 3-4 weeks so he can get in a groove before making his mLB debut for the year. 

Possibly, but then you are wasting healthy pain-free swings if he's in AAA, and there might be a limit on how many pain-free swings he has. Maybe a game here or there during Spring Training or in AAA and then a wake up the next morning to see how it feels. Another injury, sure, a short rehab in AAA would do the trick. 

[glunn]

I pray that someone has figured out the best batting glove to minimize transmission of kinetic energy to his wrist.

Something like this or better -- https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/palmgard-adult-sts-protective-batting-gloves-16plmastsprtctvxxbtg/16plmastsprtctvxxbtg?clickid=UvaUCaTizxyNR0324t0B1027UkAU13TANzy5xw0&irgwc=1&camp=AFF:mediapartner:ONLINE_TRACKING_LINK::10078::315573:Skimbit Ltd.

 

[NotAboutWinning]

10 hours ago, jkcarew said:

"He also hopes that continued tweaks to his lower-half usage when swinging can take more pressure off his arms."

I mean...it's probably reading way too much into one partial quote. Still, there's no way to make that sound good.

Seems like a very logical adaptation. In a perfect world the 2nd surgery would make AK whole and he could pick up where he left off with his batting style. But this not being a perfect world, it seems prudent to find ways to put less stress on his wrist.

[wsnydes]

13 hours ago, jkcarew said:

"He also hopes that continued tweaks to his lower-half usage when swinging can take more pressure off his arms."

I mean...it's probably reading way too much into one partial quote. Still, there's no way to make that sound good.

It seems reasonable and logical to try to take pressure off of a problem area regardless of how the surgery went in this case.  That's what you would do if it were a chronic issue, and this sounds like it has the makings of having that potential.

I think people are reading too much into this.  We knew that he may not be ready by opening day.

[jkcarew]

7 hours ago, wsnydes said:

It seems reasonable and logical to try to take pressure off of a problem area regardless of how the surgery went in this case.  That's what you would do if it were a chronic issue, and this sounds like it has the makings of having that potential.

I think people are reading too much into this.  We knew that he may not be ready by opening day.

That's what you would do if it were a chronic issue, and this sounds like it has the makings of having that potential.
 

Exactly…that’s my point. Not good. The other side of that is there’s always lasting performance risk to changing your swing. To me, it matters what he means by “tweek”

[Brady]

18 hours ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

Possibly, but then you are wasting healthy pain-free swings if he's in AAA, and there might be a limit on how many pain-free swings he has. Maybe a game here or there during Spring Training or in AAA and then a wake up the next morning to see how it feels. Another injury, sure, a short rehab in AAA would do the trick. 

If he does have some sort of physical limit on the number of pain-free swings he has, that would be pretty concerning to me. You can certainly try to manage around that (kind of like they've said their goal is to do with Buxton, valuing longevity over playing every day) but it seems like it would be difficult for him to get in any type of rhythm. You'd also run into the issue (projecting down the road) of him breaking down at the most critical part of the season.

I'm still optimistic, and it seems like most people in the organization are too, so hopefully he will turn a corner and leave this injury in the past. He's incredibly talented and I'd love to see him carve out a role for the next several years.

[wsnydes]

25 minutes ago, jkcarew said:

That's what you would do if it were a chronic issue, and this sounds like it has the makings of having that potential.
 

Exactly…that’s my point. Not good. The other side of that is there’s always lasting performance risk to changing your swing. To me, it matters what he means by “tweek”

That doesn't have to be a negative though.  Guys "tweek" their swings all of the time.  Tweek implies that it's a minor change, not a rebuild.  But yes, I'd agree that it would depend on what he means to an extent.

I still think people are reading way too much into this.

[Obsvr]

UH OH!!!

Kepler is optimistic too

https://theathletic.com/4255449/2023/02/27/max-kepler-twins-mlb-shift-rule/

What are these two guys thinking being so optimistic in spring training.

"Kepler is optimistic. Not only is he upbeat about the rules change, but he’s also added a new strategy, though he’s reluctant to reveal it."

 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

On 2/26/2023 at 3:22 PM, Brady said:

If he does have some sort of physical limit on the number of pain-free swings he has, that would be pretty concerning to me. You can certainly try to manage around that (kind of like they've said their goal is to do with Buxton, valuing longevity over playing every day) but it seems like it would be difficult for him to get in any type of rhythm. You'd also run into the issue (projecting down the road) of him breaking down at the most critical part of the season.

I'm still optimistic, and it seems like most people in the organization are too, so hopefully he will turn a corner and leave this injury in the past. He's incredibly talented and I'd love to see him carve out a role for the next several years.

There are so many bullets left in the magazine for all/any of us. Especially with athletes, their prime only lasts so long. Every pitch could be the last for any pitcher. Every swing of the bat could be the last for any hitter. No guarantees in life

[stringer bell]

Nick Nelson is speculating that Kirilloff will not be ready for Opening Day, just his impression. It would not surprise me, but there doesn’t appear to be panic or resignation from the Twins. 

[mnfireman]

Assuming he and the team are ok with discomfort he will be feeling when swinging a bat, I think he needs he to overcome two obstacle against live or in-game pitching. First, he needs to be comfortable with whatever body armor he will be wearing for protection, as teams are going to pitch him inside, and as we've seen over the last few years, MLB pitchers struggle throwing inside. He will also have to see how the wrist reacts when he has to check his swing and/or fouls a pitch off right above his hands (the "handle"). 

A plan can then be made once he gets through these.