Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Blake's Elbow Infection May Cause Trip to DL

This isn't Casey Blake's elbow per se, but this elbow joint looks pretty infected, too.

Casey Blake's body is falling apart this season, and what's worse, Stan Conte's explanation of what may have caused this sounds like he's grasping at straws:

MIAMI -- Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Casey Blake is likely headed to the 15-day disabled list due to an infection in his elbow, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly indicated Wednesday.

Blake made a middle-of-the-night trip to a South Florida hospital when symptoms from a bursa infection in his left elbow worsened. The Dodgers play the Florida Marlins Wednesday.

Blake received an IV and antibiotics and was released from the hospital. He was expected to fly back to Los Angeles with the team following the game and receive further treatment when he arrived there.

Blake declined to give Dodgers trainer Stan Conte permission to discuss his condition with the media, but Mattingly said Conte told him Blake could miss significant time, possibly in the four-week range.

"We have to be careful," Mattingly said. "Obviously, it's some type of infection. It's one of those situations you can't really play around with. I think Stan feels good that we got started on this yesterday and didn't let anything get out of hand. I'm not quite sure when we'll get him back, but there is a possibility of this thing being long term."

It isn't entirely clear how the infection developed, but Conte said earlier this week that injuries like this typically occur as a result of banging an elbow on something, which Blake said he doesn't remember doing. In Sunday's game in Chicago, Blake was hit by a pitch in the first inning and also dived for a ball at third base, either of which presumably could have been the cause of the injury.

I don't think "banging on elbow on something" is exactly medical terminology, so I hope Conte had a more scientific approach. In any event, Russ Mitchell, who batted .143 in 15 games with the Dodgers last year (OPS+ of 14) is the likely call up.

Sigh.

3 comments:

Fred's Brim said...

I thought Barajas messed up his elbow vs the Cubs. Maybe he gave it to Casey

spank said...

He should have worn a condom.

Dean H. said...

The Blake for Santana trade looks better and better, doesn't it?

It would've been tolerable if the Dodgers had spent the money on another season of Russell Martin, but it is a disaster as it is.

Plus, how much happier would we be if Josh Bell were in Albuquerque posting a .325/.368/.564 line?

McCourt and Trader Ned screwed the franchise with a series of short-sighted deals that featured high-value prospects going out and middling vets coming back without the Dodgers taking on any money.

At least Frank and Jamie got yo live like celebrities for a couple years ...