Z's MRI: Rotator Cuff Tendinitis; Could be back 9/12

[jersey cubs fan]

this is all just a smoke screen to stop people from getting too carried away about the inevitability of the Cubs winning the world series.

[soapy]

this is all just a smoke screen to stop people from getting too carried away about the inevitability of the Cubs winning the world series.

 

i actually (dillusionally) thought about this last night, particularly with Harden. i just pictured Harden and Lou laughing about it.

 

Rich: "Skip, I'm fine. It's just normal soreness from pitching this time of year. It's not really how you described it. I can pitch."

Lou: "Oh well. Let's let them squirm for a while and think you're injured. Who really cares what they think? We were going to skip you anyway. You'll show them you're fine when you pitch next week."

Rich: "Word."

 

it's what got me through the game last night. i'll just stay in this little fantasy land until i'm confronted with reality.

[Guest]

Chicago sports media is awful. How many different stories are out there? Ridiculous.

[IowaCubsFan]

They said on the Score 670 that Big Z didn't want to take the injection the MRI requires because it would shelve him for two starts. Does an injection from an MRI cause stiffness or discomfort? Supposedly the treatment needs time to wear off for 10 days or so.

 

If they are doing an arthrogram, they have to inject dye directly into the joint. I had one done earlier this year, and there was increased discomfort for about a week. I'm sure it's different for everyone, but at a minimum, they would probably have him miss two starts as a precaution following that procedure.

 

I had this done as well once when I felt something give in my right shoulder doing a pushup, and then felt some tremendous pain. They use a 3 or 4-inch needle to inject the dye directly in your joint, and have to numb you up first with a good bit of lidocaine. You can feel the needle scratching against your bone and then feel the dye around your shoulder joint. It hurt for quite a while after the procedure, almost a week or so, due 1.) to the trauma of the needle itself, and 2.) the fluid on your joint. Luckily I only had a mild strain, so hopefully that's the case for Zambrano as well.

 

Regardless, he's going to miss one or two starts just from the MRI alone.

[UMFan83]

I'm still not honestly worried that this is any worse than what he had before. Last time he missed 2 weeks and came back and dominated for a month.

[Little Slide Rooter]

If he misses 2 starts, he misses 2 starts. Judging by his past 4 or 5, thats just whats her needs, and hopefully he can come back like he did last time.

[UMFan83]

From Will Carrol. Not sure if it was posted

 

Carlos Zambrano (10 DXL)

The Big Z isn't feeling good, and even Lou Piniella, just days after insisting that Zambrano was fine, is admitting that something is wrong. After five innings of bad baseball, the Cubs are sending Zambrano to see the team orthopedist and will likely be shutting him down. This can be hard to manage at this time of year; if Zambrano is shut down for two weeks, he'll have to come back ready to go in order to get in a couple of starts before the playoffs. Would the Cubs be willing to put Zambrano out there in the Division Series without at least one good regular season start? Zambrano is clearly the ace of this staff, so this isn't exactly an Aaron Cook situation. The most worrisome aspects of Zambrano's start were the arm angle and the quick drop in velocity. By the third inning, he was down from 93 to 90, and by the fourth and fifth he was exerting more effort just to stay in the 90 range. The extra time off might have made him stronger in the early going, but it didn't last time out. The Cubs are going to have to make some some tough decisions soon, but they'll be waiting for word from the doctors first. I don't anticipate good news, and there is late word that Zambrano refused to have an MRI Wednesday, perhaps anticipating a visit elsewhere.

 

He seems pessimistic, but also gave him the time table of 10 days (isn't that what DXL means)

[Little Slide Rooter]

Anyone know if we'll be hearing any results today or if we'll have to wait until tommorow?

[David]

The "clearly the ace of this staff" line is pretty funny, especially given all the talk there had been lately.

[17 Seconds]

Carlos Zambrano has undergone an MRI today on his right arm, and indications are he will not miss the rest of the season as some have feared.

 

The Cubs' right-hander was supposed to take the exam yesterday, but he couldn't do it because of family reasons.

 

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/1145318,earlyzam090408.article

 

I'm holding my breath until we hear more, but so far so good.

[wade]

Carlos Zambrano has undergone an MRI today on his right arm, and indications are he will not miss the rest of the season as some have feared.

 

The Cubs' right-hander was supposed to take the exam yesterday, but he couldn't do it because of family reasons.

 

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/1145318,earlyzam090408.article

 

I'm holding my breath until we hear more, but so far so good.

 

Wow, this is pretty good news. Tendonitis is not a quick healer usually and sometimes they'll do a cortisone shot or somthing, but if this is what it is I'm cautiously optmisitic.

[C.C.]

Why even bring him back 12-14? Rest him longer.

[David]

Let's change the thread title with this latest encouraging information...

[C.C.]

I'm not surprised. I honestly didn't feel it was anything season ending.

[mikeyt34]

I didn't know the word "tendinitis" could sound so SEXY!!! Score 670 is reporting after just talking to Hendry that it is "minor rotator cuff tendinitis". He could miss a couple of starts but be back by the following weekend in Houston in a week in a half.

[ctcf]

Carlos Zambrano has undergone an MRI today on his right arm, and indications are he will not miss the rest of the season as some have feared.

 

The Cubs' right-hander was supposed to take the exam yesterday, but he couldn't do it because of family reasons.

 

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/1145318,earlyzam090408.article

 

I'm holding my breath until we hear more, but so far so good.

 

Wow, this is pretty good news. Tendonitis is not a quick healer usually and sometimes they'll do a cortisone shot or somthing, but if this is what it is I'm cautiously optmisitic.

 

Yayayayayayayayay

[UMFan83]

Why even bring him back 12-14? Rest him longer.

 

I want him to have 2 starts before the playoffs if at all possible.

 

Also, this is a GREAT excuse to have him pitch 3rd in our playoff rotation after Harden and Dempster, if people still want that.

 

Z can return on 9/23 against the Mets (a 21 day break between starts) and pitch again in the season finale in Milwaukee. He would then have 5 days between that game and game 3 of the NLDS.

 

9/28 - Z pitches at MIL

9/29 - Off

9/30 - Game 1

10/1 - Game 2

10/2 - Off

10/3 - Z pitches in game 3

[anabiono]

so, harden's discomfort is apparently nothing needing to be checked out???

 

why not check out Dick as well?

[David]

I didn't know the word "tendinitis" could sound so SEXY!!! Score 670 is reporting after just talking to Hendry that it is "minor rotator cuff tendinitis". He could miss a couple of starts but be back by the following weekend in Houston in a week in a half.

 

Am I crazy or would the Houston series = only missing one start... I'd sure rather wait a little and have him get about two tune-up starts in before the playoffs.

[David]

so, harden's discomfort is apparently nothing needing to be checked out???

 

why not check out Dick as well?

 

Because it's not serious. The media just loves to run with things. Harden + discomfort = instant story.

 

Giving him an unnecessary MRI would just cause him pain and cause him to miss more time.

Edited September 4, 2008 by David

[C.C.]

I didn't know the word "tendinitis" could sound so SEXY!!! Score 670 is reporting after just talking to Hendry that it is "minor rotator cuff tendinitis". He could miss a couple of starts but be back by the following weekend in Houston in a week in a half.

 

Am I crazy or would the Houston series = only missing one start... I'd sure rather wait a little and have him get about two tune-up starts in before the playoffs.

 

 

You're right that is only 1 start. Those dates have to be wrong.

[BigbadB]

Fantastic news. Looks like we will have some fresh arms for the playoffs. Meanwhile, other playoff hopefuls will be leaning on their starters with short rest to hold off other teams in the playoff hunt. Hopefully the races stay close in the NL East and West for the remainder of the year.

[C.C.]

Why even bring him back 12-14? Rest him longer.

 

I want him to have 2 starts before the playoffs if at all possible.

 

Also, this is a GREAT excuse to have him pitch 3rd in our playoff rotation after Harden and Dempster, if people still want that.

 

Z can return on 9/23 against the Mets (a 21 day break between starts) and pitch again in the season finale in Milwaukee. He would then have 5 days between that game and game 3 of the NLDS.

 

9/28 - Z pitches at MIL

9/29 - Off

9/30 - Game 1

10/1 - Game 2

10/2 - Off

10/3 - Z pitches in game 3

 

Sounds good to me. Hell, I'd give him 1 start and if he needs work do it on the side.

[mikeyt34]

I didn't know the word "tendinitis" could sound so SEXY!!! Score 670 is reporting after just talking to Hendry that it is "minor rotator cuff tendinitis". He could miss a couple of starts but be back by the following weekend in Houston in a week in a half.

 

Am I crazy or would the Houston series = only missing one start... I'd sure rather wait a little and have him get about two tune-up starts in before the playoffs.

 

I was just repeating what 670 Score said about Z being ready for the Houston series. That sounds a bit too optomistic about his return. After the dust settles they will probably wait longer to make sure he is ok. I'd say wait until at least the last home series against the Brewers or Cardinals in two weeks, if not longer.

[David]

...meanwhile, the Trib still doesn't have the story.

 

Sun Times beat them to the punch by quite a bit on this one.