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Associated Press Chad Tracy took a pitch off his right arm yesterday afternoon. |
Tracy took a fourth-inning fastball from Jonathan Albaladejo above his right elbow, at the base of the triceps muscle. Chris Marrero then entered to replace Tracy, though the veteran was scheduled to come out of the game regardless.
One of the majors' most-productive pinch-hitter last season, Tracy had his elbow wrapped this morning and said he'd take a couple days off to let the bruise heal, though he didn't consider the injury serious at all.
"If this was the regular season, I'd be back in there today," he said. "But no sense pushing it right now."
Tracy actually was looking forward to a rare couple days off. He appeared in a team-high 29 exhibition games last spring while trying to crack the Nationals' Opening Day roster as a minor-league invitee and started each of the first two Grapefruit League games this spring.
"First road trip I've ever not made as a National," he joked.
27 comments:
Thanks. If this and Garcia's sore forearm are the worst type of injuries we have in the next month, we will be VERY lucky. Boz made a great point in his chat--Davey's teams often have good Aprils because he doesn't wear them out in March.
You have a fine line between getting into "game shape" and not letting your competitive instincts lead to injuries or just being worn out. The Grapefruit League means nothing!!
I talk about Brooks Baseball a lot and Harry Pavlidis who is a contributor to Brooks will now be a contributor to the Nats coverage for the Washington Post.
Sounds like the Post is really beefing up for the Nats season.
Interesting post on Kris Medlen pre- and post- TJ surgery. He thinks he's a better pitcher now.
Medlen
http://www.ajc.com/weblogs/atlanta-braves/2013/feb/25/medlens-better-pitcher-elbow-surgery/
He's certainly not worse!!! ;-)
Doc said...
Good stuff, Ghost!
I'm constatntly amazed by some of the execellent research guys like you do on NI. I know that it is readily available, but putting it together takes some time and effort.
Always enjoy it!
Using JZim and Det examples, it seems that pitching coaches and managers, like Cat and Davey, need to take a more direct approach to what their pitchers throw.
Last season I constantly wondered why Davey/Cat weren't more direct with Det and his failure to mix in his off-speed.
February 25, 2013 12:51 PM
Its my pleasure doing it because posters like you are kind enough to acknowledge the usefulness.
The reason it moved to a front burner for me was the mention in early training camp when Davey Johnson said Detwiler has "all of these pitches and doesn't use them".
I think it was a swipe at the young guy but was intended to resonate with Det, JZim and Gio. All 3 have secondary pitches they don't throw enough. Like I said, JZim worked on the changeup last ST and then basically abandoned it. Nows the time to work on it.
For a really good fastball pitcher, a well thrown changeup is your best complimentary pitch which is why Tyler Clippard as a reliever can make a living on it. As a starter, that's just 2 pitches and Davey is right, the other 3 pitchers need to use what they have.
Take it easy, heal up, get ready for April
Here's some good WaPo on Detwiler from last week:
“He has an idea what he wants to do,” pitching coach Steve McCatty said. “Sometimes, he can be stubborn. But he’s learned how to change what his game plan is, because he’s seeing what’s going on, reading the situation of the games.”
The Nationals, especially Johnson, want Detwiler to throw more curves and change-ups, to keep hitters guessing and to set them up for later in the game. “I don’t think it’s about developing. I think it’s about trust,” Suzuki said. “He’s got it. It’s there. You have to be confident when you’re throwing it. I think towards the end of the year, he’s got more success with it, which allows him to be more confident. If he mixes some off-speed pitches in, I think it’ll put him over the top.”
Kristina Akra is gone.
Yah, one and done for Kristina. She had dodged all questions of returning in the off-season and seemed to be looking for a better opportunity for her skill-set.
Sounds like John Wall in College ;)
Sounds like she might be heading to MLB Network. If so, good for her.
Bring back Debbi Taylor!!! People don't seem to understand that the best way to ask a question is to make an obvious statement with a questioning inflection at the end of the sentence.
Kristina is leaving because Ghost of Steve M. won't let her get a word in edgewise.
Apologies if this has been posted before, but nice feature on Chad Cordero, who is in minor league camp with the Angels.
Is that the same Jonathan Albaladejo that we traded to the Yankees for Tyler Clippard?
So where does Kristina land now and who takes her place? Can MASN please once and for all spare us another season of Johnny Holiday????
Knoxville, heard possibly MLB Network.
Thanks Michele....good spot for her. Enjoyed her work far more than Ms. Taylor's.
But is there some reason the sideline reporter has to be an attractive female? Why? How about someone who knows the game, is articulate, and is good with interviewing the players? Just seems a bit sexist and shallow. The men on tv can be atrocious looking but that sideline person has to be young , female and attractive. Spare me.
Last year MASN replaced Amber Theoharis's postgame clubhouse interviews with Gary Thorne doing them. So perhaps now that Kristina is leaving, Bob Carpenter will take over her duties. Tell me again why you wouldn't prefer a bimbo?
The Kristina Akra job is perfect job for an ex-Nat similar to what Doc Walker does for the Redskins.
Where's Brian Schneider?
Is that the same Jonathan Albaladejo that we traded to the Yankees for Tyler Clippard?
Grandstander, yup, that would be him. Info now added to the NIDO spreadsheet.
MLB question.. So Carlos Ruiz goes to spring training and the when it's opening day he just stays in Florida until 50 games are over? He has to go home and get off the team's property? He has contact with the trainers, coaches, other players? Or he doesn't ? Hope we never find out, personally, but just curious as I watched him on tv.
It's probably wrong how much I enjoyed seeing Papelbon get destroyed by the Tigers' line-up. It's certainly not an indicator for the actual season, but it was still pretty satisfying.
Wish I had seen that. He is one annoying guy.
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Swami, I believe the Ruiz suspension is 25 games.
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