Page 1 of 1
Injury update Alvarez (MRI scheduled today)
Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 2:00 pm
by BigLeagueChew
Manager John Farrell said the move was made for precautionary reasons and remains optimistic that Alvarez won't have to miss a start.
"We don't anticipate that, but we'll make and take every precautionary measure we can to ensure all of that," Farrell said. "His health is first and foremost in our minds.
"I wouldn't categorize it as an injury right now, even though he left the game with some stiffness," Farrell said. "It's on the inside part of the forearm. I wouldn't say it's over the ligament area, but the MRI will indicate more tomorrow."
http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120625&content_id=33923180&vkey=news_tor&c_id=tor&tcid=tw_article_33923180We should know more later today.
if he had soreness of any kind though, he should probably go on the 15 day DL just to be safe(assuming theres no structural damage to his elbow)
Re: Injury update Alvarez (MRI scheduled today)
Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 4:03 pm
by Skin Blues
I wouldn't be opposed to sending him to the minors to learn a putaway pitch once he's healthy. It's nice that we have a serviceable youngster, but it'd be a lot nicer if he could boost his 2.7 K/9 to something a little more respectable. And it's hard to do that at the MLB level facing top notch hitting every game.
Re: Injury update Alvarez (MRI scheduled today)
Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 4:16 pm
by Al_Oliver
Skin Blues wrote:I wouldn't be opposed to sending him to the minors to learn a putaway pitch once he's healthy. It's nice that we have a serviceable youngster, but it'd be a lot nicer if he could boost his 2.7 K/9 to something a little more respectable. And it's hard to do that at the MLB level facing top notch hitting every game.
Lack of strikeouts is not really his problem, it's keeping the ball down in the zone.
Locating his pitches is what enables him to be effective like he was in his 10 starts last year and his first few starts this year. More groundballs, equals better success for him
Re: Injury update Alvarez (MRI scheduled today)
Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 10:37 pm
by BigLeagueChew
Mild elbow inflammation for Alvarez
Blue Jays-Official @BlueJays
Alvarez Update: Has mild elbow inflammation. Is scheduled to make his next start.
Re: Injury update Alvarez (MRI scheduled today)
Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 10:39 pm
by s e n s i
blair just said on PTS that alvarez won't even miss his next start. i mean, he's been crap, but this is great news.
Re: Injury update Alvarez (MRI scheduled today)
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 3:36 am
by Skin Blues
Al_Oliver wrote:Skin Blues wrote:I wouldn't be opposed to sending him to the minors to learn a putaway pitch once he's healthy. It's nice that we have a serviceable youngster, but it'd be a lot nicer if he could boost his 2.7 K/9 to something a little more respectable. And it's hard to do that at the MLB level facing top notch hitting every game.
Lack of strikeouts is not really his problem, it's keeping the ball down in the zone.
Locating his pitches is what enables him to be effective like he was in his 10 starts last year and his first few starts this year. More groundballs, equals better success for him
Nobody can be successful with such a low K rate. It's a huge problem. Not the
only problem, but definitely a huge one. The thing is, HR rate can be flukey. K rate is pretty much a true reflection of a pitcher's ability. He simply can't miss bats.
Re: Injury update Alvarez (MRI scheduled today)
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 4:43 am
by youreachiteach
I agree. Had we more options at the major league level, I would have sent he AND Drabek down to work on their deliveries/out pitches.
Yes, Alvarez can get on a roll, but he is so groundball dependent. I would far rather have had those guys get some reps in a non-pressure environment (even at doubla A if they didn't like vegas) and come back better and more refined products, instead of allowing them to walk the tighrope start after start.
Re: Injury update Alvarez (MRI scheduled today)
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 1:39 pm
by Al_Oliver
Skin Blues wrote:quote]
Nobody can be successful with such a low K rate. It's a huge problem. Not the only problem, but definitely a huge one. The thing is, HR rate can be flukey. K rate is pretty much a true reflection of a pitcher's ability. He simply can't miss bats.
Derek Lowe was effective with a low strikeout %.
Wild generalizations on your part. If you keep the ball down, guess what, it is hard to give up home runs...
Re: Injury update Alvarez (MRI scheduled today)
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 4:57 pm
by Schad
Al_Oliver wrote:Skin Blues wrote:quote]
Nobody can be successful with such a low K rate. It's a huge problem. Not the only problem, but definitely a huge one. The thing is, HR rate can be flukey. K rate is pretty much a true reflection of a pitcher's ability. He simply can't miss bats.
Derek Lowe was effective with a low strikeout %.
Wild generalizations on your part. If you keep the ball down, guess what, it is hard to give up home runs...
Derek Lowe has a career K/9 of 5.8; it dropped below 5.0 only twice, in 2003, and this year (when he is leading the league in hits allowed). Alvarez, by contrast, is striking out 2.7 batters per 9...it's unimaginably low. He's also giving up 1.6 HR/9, which is Wasdin-esque.
Alvarez is young, and has time to add to his repertoire. But make no mistake, he cannot be a major league pitcher long-term with peripherals like those.
Re: Injury update Alvarez (MRI scheduled today)
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 7:18 pm
by Skin Blues
Exactly. And it's hard to add a pitch to your arsenal in the AL East. It's not an environment that is conducive to experimenting and learning. He belongs in AA, in my opinion, until he can start missing bats.