That's What Cheesehead: 37.20 - Injuries Piling Up
Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2019 2:03 pm
After a nice start to the 2037 season, the Wolves fell on some hard times this most recent sim as the club went 2-5 overall and was pretty much destroyed in a few of those contests. Over the last two weeks, the Wolves have had three games in which they've surrendered double digits in runs allowed and have watched their overall run differential dwindle down to just +1 as we head into June. While a variety of factors are likely to be coming into play here, one very key problem the Wolves are facing now is the amount of bodies piling up on the team's disabled list.
As the calendar rolls into June, the Wolves currently have 6 players on their original 27-man roster sitting on the DL. Headlining that list are outfielders Jose Carlos Moreno (6/8/7/5/6 Ratings) and John Garcia (7/6/9/7/6 Ratings). Many had Moreno as the Wolves' top outfielder coming into the season thanks in large part to his stellar defensive ability that saw him win a diamond glove in CF last season. A severe hip strain suffered in a game against Hawaii will likely force Moreno out well into the month of August. Garcia's injury has hurt the team on the offensive side. The team's starting LF was adding some power to the lineup as his 10 homeruns were the second most on the team up until his injury back on the 20th against San Fernando. Garcia suffered a torn back muscle in that contest and most likely won't return this season. While not an every day starter, Oliver Burrell's (6/6/4/5/7 Ratings) injury has put the team down a defensive infielder as well as a platoon option. Burrell was seeing most of his playing time late in games as a defensive replacement at shortstop for the weaker fielding Jharrod Thealer. Burrell suffered a hamstring strain against Long Beach on the 24th. He's expected to return in a couple of weeks.
"The toll on our offense has been noticeable" said Wolves manager Millard Davis. "We've dropped from 1st to 3rd overall in runs scored as we try and figure out who can replace these guys in the lineup. Our platoon play has been forced to change and we're now seeing guys play both ways that we hoped to not use."
On the pitching side, injuries are also mounting. Noonien Soong (6/6/9 Ratings) and Brandon Mant (10/5/5 Ratings) both suffered injuries earlier in the season. Soong is still nursing elbow infamation but could return before the month of June concludes. Mant, who suffered a torn UCL, is expected to begin rehabbing after the 2037 season ends. In the last sim, Jose Cavazos (7/7/7 Ratings) experienced back tightness in his start against Edmonton, a game in which the Wolves lost 19-11. It was Cavazos's second issue with back tightness this season though the first one only sidelined him for a day.
"We aren't very deep on pitching as it is" said Davis about the injuries to his arms. "It is really forcing us to get creative at this point. We were trying to be creative anyway now we really have to stretch and figure out who can start games. We'll have to continue to hunt and search our minor leagues for any viable arms at this point to try and piece together a rotation and bullpen that can hopefully end this little losing spell we're on and keep us competitive moving into the summer months."
Madison kicks off next sim with 5 pivotal games against division foes.
As the calendar rolls into June, the Wolves currently have 6 players on their original 27-man roster sitting on the DL. Headlining that list are outfielders Jose Carlos Moreno (6/8/7/5/6 Ratings) and John Garcia (7/6/9/7/6 Ratings). Many had Moreno as the Wolves' top outfielder coming into the season thanks in large part to his stellar defensive ability that saw him win a diamond glove in CF last season. A severe hip strain suffered in a game against Hawaii will likely force Moreno out well into the month of August. Garcia's injury has hurt the team on the offensive side. The team's starting LF was adding some power to the lineup as his 10 homeruns were the second most on the team up until his injury back on the 20th against San Fernando. Garcia suffered a torn back muscle in that contest and most likely won't return this season. While not an every day starter, Oliver Burrell's (6/6/4/5/7 Ratings) injury has put the team down a defensive infielder as well as a platoon option. Burrell was seeing most of his playing time late in games as a defensive replacement at shortstop for the weaker fielding Jharrod Thealer. Burrell suffered a hamstring strain against Long Beach on the 24th. He's expected to return in a couple of weeks.
"The toll on our offense has been noticeable" said Wolves manager Millard Davis. "We've dropped from 1st to 3rd overall in runs scored as we try and figure out who can replace these guys in the lineup. Our platoon play has been forced to change and we're now seeing guys play both ways that we hoped to not use."
On the pitching side, injuries are also mounting. Noonien Soong (6/6/9 Ratings) and Brandon Mant (10/5/5 Ratings) both suffered injuries earlier in the season. Soong is still nursing elbow infamation but could return before the month of June concludes. Mant, who suffered a torn UCL, is expected to begin rehabbing after the 2037 season ends. In the last sim, Jose Cavazos (7/7/7 Ratings) experienced back tightness in his start against Edmonton, a game in which the Wolves lost 19-11. It was Cavazos's second issue with back tightness this season though the first one only sidelined him for a day.
"We aren't very deep on pitching as it is" said Davis about the injuries to his arms. "It is really forcing us to get creative at this point. We were trying to be creative anyway now we really have to stretch and figure out who can start games. We'll have to continue to hunt and search our minor leagues for any viable arms at this point to try and piece together a rotation and bullpen that can hopefully end this little losing spell we're on and keep us competitive moving into the summer months."
Madison kicks off next sim with 5 pivotal games against division foes.