Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Hawksworth Becomes The Latest Felled Dodger; MRI Today

Pitcher Blake Hawksworth suffered a strained right groin, depleting an already thin bullpen as he gets the groin "checked out" today:

PITTSBURGH -- Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Blake Hawksworth will undergo an MRI exam on his right groin on Wednesday morning after straining it while throwing a pitch in the eighth inning of Tuesday night's 10-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Hawksworth said he is hopeful of avoiding a trip to the 15-day disabled list.

"That would be nice," he said. "I am a quick healer, so we'll see. It's one of those things where once it settles down, I will know, after I wake up in the morning and move around on it. It's too early to tell right now."

You know who's a quick healer? Wolverine. And you're no Wolverine.

Hawksworth said he suffered the same injury last spring while with the St. Louis Cardinals and was out for only about 10 days, adding that the discomfort was more severe then after he tried to pitch through the injury.

However, even if Hawksworth's injury isn't deemed to be a two-week thing, the Dodgers still might decide to put him on the DL if they deem themselves to be short on pitching, because Hawksworth probably will be unavailable for at least a few days anyway. In that case, Hawksworth would need to go on the shelf to clear room for another reliever to be called up from the minors.

Speaking of thin relief staffs, however: did any of you watching or listening to yesterday's game gain any insight why Matt Guerrier was removed from the game after batting in the top of the eighth (and reaching on a walk), while the Dodgers extended a 5-2 lead to 10-2?

Because the subsequent decision to replace Guerrier with Lance Cormier for the last two innings (Cormier gave up one run, a HR to Andrew McCutchen), is totally bizarre to me, after Guerrier only pitched to one batter in the seventh (striking out Xavier Paul). Why run through the bullpen with an eight-run lead? (Not the first time that Donnie's moves have confounded me, but this one seemed exceptionally odd.)

17 comments:

Dodger Mom said...

Good question. I have no good answer. Why run through the bull-pen indeed?! Now I have to go and sew Guerrier's name over "Martin" on my #55 jersey before the husband and I go to a game later this month.

fostermatt said...

Because when Guerrier was hitting the Dodgers were only up by 5, hardly a safe lead wih our bullpen. By the time the inning ended it was a blowout. Cormier is only on the staff to pitch in blow outs, for or against. He needed a little extra time warming up in the pen so Guerrier did his warm up and then was pulled when Lance was ready.

Steve Sax said...

I would have saved Cormier for today, since we're drubbing Maholm for 10 runs in the first three innings (calling it now).

(Yeah, right.)

Fred's Brim said...

Please don't bring up Tronny

(cries)

Steve Sax said...

The Tigers @ Twins game today is a drug pusher's dream:

Coke vs. Baker

Discuss.

Steve Sax said...

@Jason, I think the multiple-tabs-in-one-window thing still works to register badges.

Steve Sax said...

Jorge Cantu (SD, single) becomes badge #90 for the Saxman

Steve Sax said...

(I can't believe I'm actually typing this but) SD is breaking out the whupping sticks against Randy Wolf and the Brewers. Five of the first six batters have gotten hits. 3-0 with one out...now two out.

Steve Sax said...

Wolf finally escapes the first inning, giving up three runs before his team has an AB.

Shawn Green said...

What's with the Marvel obsession lately, Sax?

Josh S. said...

He's not even Daken.

And his sister's nowhere near as hot as X-23.

MR.F said...

OMG SMONK IS HERE!!!!!!

Steve Sax said...

Mr F, we need a play by play, and pictures

MR.F said...

I don't have my camera!!! =(

I opened the box. Smonk was neatly packaged and seems to have survived his journey. The scent of liquor is faint. The change of scenery may be enough to keep him sober. He's currently hanging out with my Matt Kemp bobblehead.

MR.F said...

Anybody watch (or read) Game of Thrones? Arya would be jealous of that needlework.

MR.F said...

I also love his baseball scarf!

Steve Sax said...

@MR LA SC 10:57a: as I said, I am a Marvel guy, but it wasn't until this recent FCBD when I tapped into the fanboy genes again. I was good, though. Didn't purchase too much this time.