Daryle Ward (and maybe Micah Hoffpauir) gets a shot
It looks like a DL stint
is in the Wardosaurus' future. The Cubs premier bat off the bench
apparently injured his low back when he took a tumble at first base
during spring training and it just kept hurting. This makes more sense regarding his slow start as he was
0-14 as a pinch hitter until his recent run of three game changing
pinch hits.
His back pain persisted so an MRI yesterday was obtained and diagnosed a herniated disc.
He's agreed to get an epidural cortisone injection to treat this. The
treatment means a few days of rest (ie. no baseball activities) and so
expect another Iowa callup, most likely power hitting lefty 1B-OF Micah Hoffpauir.
The lumbar spine has 5 bony segments or vertebrae connected by discs
which are made of fibrous tissue (the annulus fibrosis) filled by
softer gel like material (tha nucleus pulposus). When a disc herniates,
the fibrous tissue usually tears and the gel like center of the disc
pushes through the tear in the annulus, leading to pressure on
the nerve tissue nearby. Disc herniations
occur most frequently at the two lowest levels labeled by their
vertebral segments (L4-5 and L5-S1, after the 5th lumbar segment is the
Sacrum).
Treatment is based on the severity and the pattern of
pain. The term radicular is used if a nerve root is pinched and produces pain
or numbness that radiates down the leg (also generically called
sciatica, after the sciatic nerve which is formed from the most common nerve roots
involved in disc herniations at these levels) and if the nerve roots that are pinched control a muscle, weakness such as a dropfoot can occur. If the pain doesn't radiate into the leg (non-radicular) it's only lower back pain that results.
Since they want the speediest of recoveries, it appears they are going to give D. Ward an epidural steroid injection (cortisone shot, aka ESI). The epidural space
is the anatomic space just outside of the sac where all the nerve roots
are contained (the dura). Putting cortisone there theoretically works
on the inflammation/swelling produced by the disc herniation and if it
works, which it certainly can, should relieve the pain. It probably won't
get rid of the herniated disc but it's the symptoms that count as not
all disc herniations cause back or leg pain.
Of course there
are other treatments that will be used to treat this including the
usual non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication and specific back
related exercises particularly strengthening abdominal muscles but the
acute flare up needs to be addressed first and this involves a few days
of rest. If there is no leg pain or weakness, it's unlikely that surgery will be involved.
Here's to a speedy return for a professional hitter.
(drop) footnote: Micah Hoffpauir was 2-4 last night for Iowa including a 3 run HR and 5 rbi's. If you hear a knocking sound out there Micah, it's Mr. Opportunity.
Recent comments
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crunch 19 hours 27 min ago (view)
"MLB will hold its first-ever pre-draft combine from June 20-28 in Cary, North Carolina.
The combine will take place at the USA Baseball National Training Complex, with top draft-eligible college and high school players invited. As part of the combine, the top-88 prep players will take part in a tournament through June 26th consisting of eight games."
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crunch 20 hours 51 min ago (view)
cactus league officials are requesting MLB delay spring training because of elevated COVID cases + deaths.
their summer peak was 70-80 deaths a week and they're currently at 140-160 deaths a week.
things should be trending down now that most of people that wanted to kill relatives in order to have turkey dinners in NOV/DEC seems to have peaked.
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Hagsag 1 day 17 hours ago (view)
$$$$ for trump's defense fund.
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Dolorous Jon Lester 1 day 17 hours ago (view)
But they got $600 a few months back. Each! That was an unexpected windfall.
Can't wait to see us acquire a 17 year old, 16 year old, 11 year old (all in the 15-30 range of Blue Jays prospects) and one of the shitty Jays surplus OFs. Randal Grichuk jerseys will be the new hot item among Cubs fans.
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crunch 1 day 18 hours ago (view)
things are a little tight, we have to be patient with the ricketts family finances.
when TD Ameritrade was fully/completely sold in october they expected to get 26 billion dollars of value on the transaction, but it only got 22 billion dollars. the massive slew of millions that didn't fully come to realization on the ricketts side of that sale stings.
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Dolorous Jon Lester 1 day 19 hours ago (view)
Trade Hendricks? Cant be true. We're "going to be competitive this year."
Sell the team, Ricketts family.
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crunch 1 day 19 hours ago (view)
"Scott Mitchell of TSN reports that the Blue Jays have discussed a potential trade with the Cubs involving Kris Bryant and Kyle Hendricks.
Mitchell was responding to a question on Twitter asking whether there was any truth to the rumor that the Jays had talked with the Cubs about a deal for both players, and he answered in the affirmative."
this timeline sucks.
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bradsbeard 2 days 23 hours ago (view)
International Scouting Director Louie Eljaua was just on The Score and he mentioned that COVID is causing issues with completing physicals and officially signing guys, but he said they have 24 guys unufficially signed right now.
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KingKongvsGodzilla 3 days 29 min ago (view)
These guys are a year apart in age and Miller's easily had the stronger career to date. While I'm not big on Miller, much prefer his more standard injury (TJ) than whatever it is that sapped Foltynewicz's velocity. Folty without velocity just isn't interesting and is likely a much bigger injury risk
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Cubster 3 days 38 min ago (view)
from an mlb.com article by Jordan Bastian...excerpt on Cubs free agent starting pitching options:
"Still, the Cubs need some more experienced Major League innings.
Given the way the offseason has played out for the North Siders, free-agent possibilities could include Chris Archer. Archer missed all of 2020 due to thoracic outlet syndrome, but he hopes to be ready to go by Spring Training. Free agents Mike Foltynewicz, Carlos Rodón, Rick Porcello and Trevor Williams are coming off forgettable '20 seasons but might benefit from the Cubs' analytics team.
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Charlie 3 days 18 hours ago (view)
At this rate, they will need 11 starters in 2021 but like 6 of them will be more or less Alec Mills. The defense will get plenty of practice, at least.
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crunch 3 days 21 hours ago (view)
i wouldn't be surprised to see jake arrieta come on board since no one else seems to want him and he'll probably have to take a 1yr deal...
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crunch 3 days 21 hours ago (view)
cubs get their backup catcher...hopefully not their main catcher...
austin romine 1yr/1.5m
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Dolorous Jon Lester 3 days 22 hours ago (view)
Look no further than Shelby Miller!
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crunch 3 days 23 hours ago (view)
hank aaron has died. passed away in his sleep.
we've lost a lot of HOF'rs and other notables in the past many months.
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Hagsag 4 days 4 hours ago (view)
The Cubs are now the "Little Sisters of the Poor".
Comments
Re: Daryle Ward (and maybe Micah Hoffpauir) gets a shot
Re: Daryle Ward (and maybe Micah Hoffpauir) gets a shot
A possible silver lining...
Re: Daryle Ward (and maybe Micah Hoffpauir) gets a shot
Re: Daryle Ward (and maybe Micah Hoffpauir) gets a shot
Re: Daryle Ward (and maybe Micah Hoffpauir) gets a shot
Re: Daryle Ward (and maybe Micah Hoffpauir) gets a shot
Re: Daryle Ward (and maybe Micah Hoffpauir) gets a shot
Re: Daryle Ward (and maybe Micah Hoffpauir) gets a shot
I also like it when the guy with the 2nd highest OBP on the team
Re: Daryle Ward (and maybe Micah Hoffpauir) gets a shot
Re: Daryle Ward (and maybe Micah Hoffpauir) gets a shot
Re: Daryle Ward (and maybe Micah Hoffpauir) gets a shot
Re: Daryle Ward (and maybe Micah Hoffpauir) gets a shot
Re: Daryle Ward (and maybe Micah Hoffpauir) gets a shot
Re: Daryle Ward (and maybe Micah Hoffpauir) gets a shot
Re: Daryle Ward (and maybe Micah Hoffpauir) gets a shot
Re: Daryle Ward (and maybe Micah Hoffpauir) gets a shot
Re: Daryle Ward (and maybe Micah Hoffpauir) gets a shot
Getting back to the subject of this thread, Ward's bad back
Re: Daryle Ward (and maybe Micah Hoffpauir) gets a shot
Re: Daryle Ward (and maybe Micah Hoffpauir) gets a shot
Re: Daryle Ward (and maybe Micah Hoffpauir) gets a shot
Re: Daryle Ward (and maybe Micah Hoffpauir) gets a shot
Re: Daryle Ward (and maybe Micah Hoffpauir) gets a shot