Injury update Alvarez (MRI scheduled today)

[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_33923180

We 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)

[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.

[Al_Oliver]

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

[BigLeagueChew]

Mild elbow inflammation for Alvarez

Blue Jays-Official @BlueJays

Alvarez Update: Has mild elbow inflammation. Is scheduled to make his next start.

[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.

[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.

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.

[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.

[Al_Oliver]

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...

[Schad]

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.

[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.