That's What Cheesehead: 38.37 - Injuries Up the Middle Jeopardize Offense

[7teen]

Just when it looks like the Wolves might be able to turn the corner and at least get back to the .500 mark on the season it seems bad strikes. After a solid June and a month of July that sees the Wolves still winning games, injuries have started piling up which will most likely end any chances the Wolves have of climbing into the post-season race.

The most major injury to strike was to Wolves starting second baseman and all-starMons Raider. Raider, who was having yet another solid season with an on-base percentage of .426 and more stolen bases, will miss the rest of the 2019 season with a torn ACL that occurred against Vancouver on July 17. The injury caused Wolves General Manager Chris Wilson to go into a tirade after the game.

"This nonsense should not be allowed. We travel way up here to this damn country and play on a field that looks like a cow pasture. This whole franchise in Vancouver is a damn disgrace to the league. They're going to lose 100 games again and play on this mess of a field. After this injury, which I'm convinced is because Mons stepped in a hole out there, I'm petitioning the league to play all games against Vancouver next year in Madison."

Raider did not comment after the game. He'll begin next season just 17 steals away from the 1,000 mark. Only three other players have surpassed the 1,000 stolen base mark for their career. He'll be 202 shy of the all-time record.

To make matters worse for Madison, Raider's replacement at 2B Jharod Thealer went down with an injury the next week. Thealer, who shifted over from SS to a more comfortable 2B spot, injured his back in a game against California this week. He's expected to miss the next 3 weeks.

"It's tough to replace these two guys" said Wolves manager Millard Davis. Thealer had an OBP of .416 so we've lost our top 2 guys at getting on base in the span of a few weeks. Not to mention they play up the middle on defense." While the offense will definitely suffer for a bit with the losses of Raider and Thealer, the defense may improve as Oliver Burrell will take over at SS and Ton Kouda will take over at 2B.

Despite the injuries, Wolves GM Chris Wilson did emphatically state that super prospect Rafael Gutierrez will not be called up this season to fill any vacancies in the Wolves' lineup.

[Ted]

I HATE that this is a significant leg injury for Raider.

[ae37jr]

I wonder if this injury spells the end of his 2B days?

[RonCo]

Technically, that point passed a couple years ago.