CARRASCO HURT AGAIN
Here’s what I wrote a month ago in the Carlos Carrasco Player Profile.
So, in an 11-year professional career Carrasco has never thrown 200-onnings. In 11-years he has two seasons of 185-innings. Just three times in 11 seasons he has thrown 180-innings. He simply cannot stay healthy and rack up innings. It’s just not in his nature.
The last three seasons he’s failed to qualify for the ERA title twice, and in that time he’s averaged just 156 innings each season.
Here we go again.
Carrasco has what is being described as a swollen elbow, but according to an MRI there is nothing structurally wrong with his wing. "He's good," manager Terry Francona said. "Structurally, it's the same as it was, which is really good news."
Carrasco also said he feels like this is just a speed bump. "I feel fine," Carrasco said Monday. "I didn't throw for five months because of my injury. So, I just want to get a feeling for my fastball. I think that's my most important pitch."
Do you believe any of that?
I don’t.
Carrasco has dropped two tiers in the Player Rankings as a result of this news, combined with his track record, of ill health. Invest with extreme caution. One more quote from his Player Profile.
It’s up to you how you want to play it with Carrasco. Are you willing to pay the cost for the skills, and the cost is a top-20 selection at the starting pitcher spot, or are you afraid to take the chance early with the injury prone righty?
KIPNIS HURT TOO
Jason Kipnis says he is fine and that if it was the regular season that he would be playing through his current shoulder issue. "Actually I was making a lot of good progression in my hitting and throwing," said Kipnis. At the same time, he’s going to start the season on the disabled list with a wonky shoulder. “...there's no disagreement whatsoever about the move. I think it's the right thing to do. I'm in total agreement with them, on the same schedule they have laid out for me." The current plan seems to be for Kipnis to be rockin’ and rollin’ by mid-April leaving this issue in his rearview mirror, even though it sounds like a DL stint is possible. That said, his absence will lead to some movement in the Indians’ infield.
After saying all offseason that Jose Ramirez was their third baseman, he might have to shift to second base to cover for Kipnis. "I've got no problem with that," said Ramirez. "I'll play anywhere." Ramirez has played second base 58 times in the big leagues. See his Player Profile.
That would leave third base open for the club with Giovanny Urshela being the most likely option to fill the role. Known more for his glove than his bat, Urshela is not someone to be paying attention to in mixed leagues. In 81 games in 2015 Urshela posted a mere .608 OPS. He didn’t have a big-league plate appearance last season.
ARM USAGE IN CAMP
Lindsey Berra has a nice article about how teams are considering changing the ways that pitchers train as teams are changing the frequency in which they have their arms throw bullpen session. Is there an “answer” as to how often, how hard a pitcher should ideally throw? The answer appears to be no, but at least teams are willing to challenge the preconceived notion that there is only one way to proceed. "You don't have 100 pitchers in your organization who throw the same way, so it doesn't make sense to have 100 guys doing the same thing," says Cubs senior vice president Jason McLeod. "We're looking to maximize the ability of every guy we have, and every guy is an individual. I think you're better in the long run if you tailor an approach to the different pitchers in your organization."
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THIS AND THAT
Jarrod Dyson is trying to run away with a job in his new home in Seattle (pun intended). "I want every at-bat I can get," Dyson said. "I've platooned my whole life, and basically, I want to take that job and run with it. That's just me. That's my mentality. I'm stingy when it comes to playing time. I'm quite sure every starter is like that, but at the same time, I've been playing and backing up for the longest time, so it'd be great to start." It’s pretty amazing to think that Dyson has never had 300 at-bats in a season and that he’s averaged 31 steals a season the past five years despite that fact. Dyson has hit just .231 against lefties in his career, so it remains unlikely that he will play daily, though I wouldn’t be shocked to see him reach 400 at-bats this season. Well, at least 300.
Kevin Kiermaier has agreed to a 6-year, $53.5 million deal with the Rays. One of the five best defensive outfielders in baseball (he’s won 2-straight Gold Gloves), KK has had a lot of starts and stops in his career because of injury. KK turns 27 in May but he does so without a season of 13 homers, 22 steals, 41 RBI or a .265 batting average. He’s an intriguing fantasy baseball option with the talent to post a 15/25 season, but for now he’s ab out potential and not production.
Derek Norris has been released opening up full-time work behind the dish for Matt Wieters. Norris can be signed by any club at this point with the Rays apparently very interested given that Wilson Ramos is going to miss time with his comeback from knee surgery.
Salvador Perez said that he will be ready for Opening Day, knee injury and all.
Chris Tillman is picking up a cortisone shot in his shoulder. Folks, he’s not going to be ready for Opening Day, and it’s starting to seem an awful lot like he isn’t going to be someone you can trust in the month of April.
Ray Flowers can be heard Monday/Tuesday and Thursday/Friday, 7 PM EDT, Wednesday 8 PM EDT on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87). You can also hear Ray Sunday nights at 9 PM EDT PM on the channel talking fantasy sports. Follow Ray’s work at Fantasy Alarm and on Twitter (@baseballguys).