Tuesday, August 02, 2011

Frustrated And Alone, Dodgers Forced To Rubby One Out

One of the few bright prospects in the Dodgers organization (and even in writing those words, I became deathly fearful that Ned Colletti would suddenly consider a trade), Rubby De La Rosa looks like his 2011 season is done, following the MRI finding of a sprained ulnar-collateral ligament in his elbow. And that's the best possible outcome:

SAN DIEGO -- Los Angeles Dodgers rookie right-hander Rubby De La Rosa faces the possibility of season-ending elbow surgery after an MRI exam on Monday revealed a sprained ulnar-collateral ligament. A team spokesman said De La Rosa and the medical staff presently are considering a handful of treatment options, one of which would be surgery.

Even if De La Rosa were to decide against surgery, he could be done for the year. The Dodgers have only 54 games remaining, and De La Rosa's innings were being closely monitored anyway because he is considered such an important part of the franchise's future. Between the minors and majors, he has pitched 100 2/3 so far this season.

De La Rosa had been placed on the 15-day disabled list earlier in the day, one day after a lackluster performance in which he never seemed to find a rhythm and was lifted after having thrown a staggering 100 pitches through four innings. [...]

Dodgers medical-services director Stan Conte said De La Rosa reported tightness in his elbow immediately after leaving the game, but that he initially had felt it while throwing a pitch in the third inning. De La Rosa saw team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who recommended he undergo an MRI exam.

Conte said the decision to put De La Rosa on the DL so quickly came because he likely would have missed his next start anyway. Mattingly said Ely initially will pitch out of the bullpen and that with an off-day on Thursday and De La Rosa's rotation spot not due to come up again until Saturday night at Arizona, the Dodgers might simply skip that spot. That would mean they wouldn't need a fifth starter again until Aug. 9 against the Philadelphia Phillies. [...]

De La Rosa, the Dodgers' Minor League Pitcher of the Year last season, is viewed as a cornerstone of the franchise's future. He has had an up-and-down rookie season since being called up for the first time on May 24, going 4-5 with a 3.71 ERA in 10 starts and three relief appearances. Even with Arizona's Ryan Roberts and Gerardo Parra connecting for back-to-back homers at Dodger Stadium, De La Rosa has given up just six home runs in 60 2/3 innings.

Get well soon, Rubby. We need you back in 2012 (and beyond).

photo: Harry How / Getty Images North America. Props to SoSG regular Josh S. for coming up with the headline pun almost a full year ago!

9 comments:

Pistol Pete Reiser said...

Getting conflicted stories up here. Is Rubby going to be getting the TJ surgery (as Giants fans up here have gleefully been telling me), or not. I've been twice-tempted this morning to unload on a Giants fan and tell them their catcher needs to learn how to block the plate properly, but, have refrained from doing so because the guy's an asshole and don't need to be associated with him...
But I digress. Worried about Rubby up here.

Steve Sax said...

As one of our Angel-hating readers said to an Angels fan last year, following Kendry Morales' misstep...

Tell them, "Break a leg!"

Josh S. said...

Headline joke seems awfully familiar.

Steve Dittmore said...

I have not read everything on this, but isn't this really the fault of his number switch? He was okay when he wore a number in the 50s.

Steve Sax said...

@Josh S: Yeah, I thought I had read that in a thread somewhere but couldn't find it. Happy to give you credit--can you locate the original?

Pistol Pete Reiser said...

The sprain is now a tear... ugh.

Josh S. said...

@Sax: Holy hell, the joke's almost a year old?

Steve Sax said...

@Josh: Nice find. Wow, almost a year old--shocking!

updated post

Steve Sax said...

@PPR: does that last word rhyme with "bear", or "beer"?

Please say the latter.