18 Mar 2055
Buenos Aires, Argentina
**********************************
by Fish McWilliams
Complaining about injuries is a bad light, so we'll say the Brisas are recording more time on the IL than they did at this time last year. No, we won't say that. Injuries suck and both the preseason and Spring Training exposed the roster as not immune to short-term damage. GM Ben Teague says, "[The rate of injuries] is concerning but not troubling yet as we haven't had anything come along that we couldn't cover. But you do lose a margin of error and you can't help fearing the next time something goes '"pop!'"
CF Garry Burr
2055: (AAA) 34 G, 89 AB, 1 2B, 5 RBI, .247/.340/.258, -0.0 WAR
Inj: 2/26 - torn miniscus (knee), 4-5 months
This one is a deep wound. With Burr patrolling center field, the Brisas gained a large amount of room for defensive shortcomings at the corners. This is an "upset the apple cart" issue as it forces the squad to reevaluate guys playing LF and RF. Gary is also a speedy guy with elite instincts and that's tough to find in FA. The timeline could have him back for the latter half of the season.
27yo SP Richard Balgera
2055: 33 G, 33 GS, 215.2 IP, 4.72 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, +3.2 WAR
Inj: 3/1 - elbow tendinitis, 6 weeks
Balgera was penciled in at the #3 spot in the rotation. Now he's resting for 6 weeks and treating elbow tendinitis - not a good injury for a pitcher to have right at the beginning of the season. He only pitched 1 inning when the training staff shut him down. He'll need lengthy rehab because rust will be mixed in as well.
24yo LF Bartolomej Lorinc
2055: (AAA) 49 G, 172 AB, 8 2B, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 1 SB, +0.9 WAR
Inj: 3/3 - hip strain, 4 weeks
The minor ones can pile up, too. This will just cost Lorinc the first week or two of the year. He was in a position battle for LF so that race narrows.
32yo 1B Talbot Purcell
2055: (AAA) 142 G, 25 2B, 4 3B, 28 HR, 81 RBI, 5 SB, +3.8 WAR
Inj: 3/11 - fractured finger, 2-3 months
Purcell, in the latter side of his career, signed with Buenos Aires on 1/27 and was the odds-on favorite to emerge from a fairly large field of 1B/DH players. On the 11th of this month, he caught a 101 mph fastball right off his ring finger. Purcell could return before the All-Star Game but will definitely be playing a role down the stretch.
31yo 2B Roberto Aguilar
(A) 18 G, 56 AB, 5 2B, 4 RBI, .268/.377/.357, +0.5 WAR
Inj: 3/13 - strained oblique, d2d for 4 weeks
Aguilar is vying to be the infield version of Burr bringing elite defense across the field. He is also an elite base stealer. It's most likely that we see him in May, but he may remain in the minors depending on how things unfold after Opening Day.