Grant Balfour, Francisco Liriano, Pat Neshek, Kyle Gibson, Zumaya to a lesser extent, now maybe Baker?? all misdiagnosed or slow diagnosed

 

I really dont think the track record is particularly good.

Were there any off-season changes to the medical staff personnel? I don't remember hearing of any...only that they would change how injuries were reported to the press or lip-service about "accountability".

 

As Ted Nugent said "Heads will roll..."

So he has been having issues with the elbow most of the spring, they diagnosed it as 'tendonitis' and 'treated it' without an MRI?

Nuts!

I am baffled by this. Completely baffled. So let me get this straight....Baker takes himself out of a game at the beginning of March, complains about not being able to get loose, complains about having a sore elbow.....and no MRI. INstead, they rest it, have him pitch a bit more, and then...Baker takes himself out of a game at the beginning of April, complains about not being able to get loose, complains about having a sore elbow...and now they'll give him an MRI.

 

That makes sense. Don't want to rush these invasive procedures.

I don't get the slowness in general to get an MRI. If I am investing millions into these guys, I don't see the harm in routine MRI's just to check what is going on in the elbow. Again, what does it hurt?!?

Looks like the results are out. Joe C said that the MRI looked just like the one he had about a year ago (and nothing else). Rhett Bollinger confirms and adds "no NEW injury" (emphasis mine). He will seek a second opinion.

 

So something must be going on since last summer and a. they did not say much and b. they did not fix it.

 

I guess we'll find out

I'll admit - I'm losing track. Was it reported that Baker had any elbow surgery this offseason? I know he did before 2011. Last summer, when he was shut down in August and most of September, it was for a right flexor strain.

 

It sounds like a right flexor strain can have a lot of similar symptoms to a torn ulnar collateral ligament, so an MRI is used to confirm that it is one and not the other. It also sounds like the "cure" is just more rest.

I'm shocked that they hadn't done an MRI previous to yesterday. Maybe it was a smart career decision for Baker to leave yesterday after 11 pitches to force the MRI.

I wouldn't be surprised if soon the Twins plant something in the media about Baker being uncooperative and finding a way to blame this on him.

My guess is the FO waits patiently until After the home opening series to become more transparent.. that is, if transparency is needed. Hope that isn't the case.

Bring on Liam!

Liam has food poisoning. Swarzak will start on Sunday.