It's a good thing he didn't pitch in the WBC

by Jeff Sackmann on Mar 9, 2006 6:19 PM CST in Milwaukee Brewers News

Starter Ben Sheets left the game with irritation in his right shoulder -- the same area which led to a season-ending injury last season. He allowed five runs on six hits in 1/3 inning.

I hope that he isn't really hurt, and he just pretended to be because he was horrified that people would think Ben Sheets could give up 5 runs in one third of an inning. Then again, I hope he is hurt, because that's the only comforting explanation for a performance like that.

In case it isn't obvious, I want to point out that my headline is a joke. Injuries, even minor ones like this, are a good reminder that when you throw a baseball really hard, it doesn't matter whether you're pitching against a bunch of guys getting ready for the season or against a bunch of guys who are...basically doing the same thing, but are a bit more serious about it.

I hope Ben comes back for his next turn as scheduled, or if not, the one after that. But it's a good time to remember that the Brewers have tons of pitching depth--even without Sheets, we may well have a league-average starting rotation. But I hope it doesn't come to that.

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Sheets

Saw that on the ESPN bottom line and cringed. We cannot go through another season where Sheets is sometimes healthy, sometimes not, on again off again. That said, I think we'll be in a better position than last year should any of our top of hte rotation guys go down, and even last year we did pretty well last year with our ace out half the year.

"Hardy to Weeks to Fielder for the double play!"

by Griswald on Mar 9, 2006 9:56 PM CST reply actions

uh-oh

This one has me worried.

He threw a few curveballs early in spring training, didn't like the way it felt, and threw only fastballs and changeups in his first outing.

Yesterday, he threw a few curveballs which got tagged, gave up on it and just heaved fastballs down the middle until the staff came out to get him.

I hope it is just a mental issue, not trusting his shoulder, trying to be cautious, taking it slow, etc. But even that can be damaging, at some point before spring training ends he has to be throwing his full repetoire without caution, or he won't be in shape for the season.

This one has me worried. Especially Moeller's comments.

"Put it this way," catcher Chad Moeller said. "[Sheets'] demeanor was not what it normally would be under the circumstances."

No one Brewer is more important to the 2006 season than Sheets at this point.

I'm overreacting, yes, but the ramifications here are disastrous for the '06 Brewers.

Bring Back The Old Logo!

by jacob on Mar 10, 2006 9:34 AM CST reply actions

i don't hope he is hurt.

Then again, I hope he is hurt, because that's the only comforting explanation for a performance like that.

Also, it's the first time he threw curveballs to live hitters since tearing a muscle in his back.

My biggest fear is that the "back muscle" issue was really a shoulder issue. And the club has been hiding this since he got hurt.

Or that it was originally mis-diagnosed and he isn't any better than he was after he got hurt.

Or that he is fine but thinks he isn't and nothing will convince him otherwise.

Or that it's nothing but his body is different enough now that he just won't be the same pitcher.

Oh man, there are so many different ways this could be bad...

Quick someone convince me he'll be fine, the brewers will be fine.

Bring Back The Old Logo!

by jacob on Mar 10, 2006 9:37 AM CST reply actions

a little bit of optimism

"Roger said that Ben describes it not as pain, but as (an) uncomfortable feeling," Brewers assistant general manager Gord Ash said. "(Caplinger) did some manual testing and feels like there is still strength in the shoulder. He doesn't feel like there has been any reoccurrence of the old injury."

It's something, at least. It being the same muscle as last year is troubling, however.

"Hardy to Weeks to Fielder for the double play!"

by Griswald on Mar 10, 2006 4:02 PM CST up reply actions

thanks

that is something.

unfortunately, that's gord ash, repeating what the trainer said that ben said.

aaaye.

but the non-re-occurence theme is nice.

aaaye, not good.

Bring Back The Old Logo!

by jacob on Mar 10, 2006 4:27 PM CST up reply actions

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