“It’s definitely a tough decision. It’s one that we spent quite a few days kind of mulling over. But in the end I think it’s best for the team and best for myself to take the rest,” Desmond said. “I would hate to be two, three weeks down the road and something happened and I didn’t take the four days to rest my body and put the team first.”
Desmond has been dealing with the injury for several weeks and will take the days off to rest. He said he hasn’t received shots or any real medical treatment for the injury, that he thinks it just needs time to heal.
“I feel like I know my body pretty well. If I didn’t think that the four days rest would help I wouldn’t do it. I would just go and play and take a chance. But it’s to the point now where I feel like if I go and rest, come back, I think it’ll be okay,” he said.
Braves outfielder Michael Bourn will be his replacement in Tuesday’s game. According to a team spokesman Desmond will still keep the distinction of being an All-Star due to the nature of his absence. The team vetted the decision with the league and the MLBPA to confirm the decision.
Desmond earned the honors after breaking out as one of the Nationals' most productive hitters. In 81 games this season Desmond has a .283 average, 16 home runs, and 49 RBI. He has not missed any time due to the injury and is not expected to go on the disabled list. He played in Saturday's game and hit a home run to opposite field in his first at-bat.
His numbers don’t suggest a player that isn’t 100 percent. He is on pace to shatter career highs and franchise records for a shortstop. Still, Desmond knows something is wrong and wants to see if a few days off will work.
“By no means is this an injury where I’m at home and I’m crippled by any means. But you sneeze, you cough, I’m holding my kid. Things like that I feel it and I think in the second half it’d be nice to be going into the second half knowing that my body is 100 percent healthy, that I can give it all I’ve got for my team and we can make a run at this thing,” he said.
Desmond said he thought about going to Kansas City anyways to hang out, but eventually decided against going out there.
“I’m just going to go back to Sarasota and rest my body. I think going to the All-Star game and hanging that piece of steak in front of your face and not being able to eat it just would add insult to injury.”
11 comments:
According to a team spokesman Desmond will still keep the distinction of being an All-Star due to the nature of his absence.
A technicality, to be sure. You know he wanted to play, badly.
I think they should rest Stras also. Both those guys will get another shot, and the honor is greater than the participation, IMHO. I was at the game last night and several of us thought Stras looked really tired. I have never seem him move so slow. It was also interesting to see him pitch against Will Nieves. Will caught his first ever game in ST in Florida and they hit it off well.
Yep, I think I am fine if none of the Nats play or pitch. Not sure how the weather in KC is but I doubt it is any better than DC.
I'm OK with Desmond doesn't play, but I want to see him at the introduction of All-Stars in KC. This may be the first All-Star game that might really matter for the Nats, but I can't stay up for the whole game, as early as I get up.
With Bourne going, though, we may be one more injury from Harper getting into the game.
+1/2St.
Sofa: a technicality, to be sure. You know he wanted to play, badly.
I'd have thought he wanted to play well.
Pa dum pum
Sorry y'all. It's the heat....,
How hot was it?
good question:
http://www.yooohaaa.com/humor/itssohotjokes.htm
Harper into the ASG for Stanton.
Eh, you're still an All-Star in my book, Ian. :-)
We now have 4 all stars, Laroach should be in!!
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