Listen, we know it’s tough to catch up on everything happening in the baseball world each morning. There are all kinds of stories, rumors, game coverage, and Vines of dudes getting hit in the beans every day. Trying to find all of it while on your way to work or sitting at your desk just isn’t easy. It’s okay, though, we’re going to do the heavy lifting for you each morning, and find the things you need to see from within the SB Nation baseball network as well as from elsewhere. Please hold your applause until the end, or at least until after you subscribe to the newsletter.
Say hey, baseball: Victor Martinez knee injury would be trouble for Detroit
Sunday morning’s baseball includes Victor Martinez’s troublesome kneecap, scoreboard malfunctions and Russell Wilson’s MLB career. Subscribe for your daily Say Hey!
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
★★★
A knee injury would be cause for alarm in most major leaguers, but for Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez, it could spell an especially lengthy hiatus on the disabled list. The 36-year-old exited Saturday's game against the Indians after wrenching his knee on a swing-and-miss during the seventh inning. Martinez finished his at-bat with an RBI single, but was in obvious pain as he trotted out to first base, and consulted with manager Brad Ausmus and athletic trainer Kevin Rand before leaving the game. While the Tigers initially reported a slight pinch in Martinez's left leg, they later revealed that the swing had aggravated an existing injury in the hitter's left kneecap.
Prior to the start of the season, Martinez underwent surgery for a torn medial meniscus in his left knee after injuring himself during a game of catch in late January. The projected recovery time ranged from four to six weeks, but the slugger was just relieved that he wouldn't miss another year after suffering a season-ending ACL tear in 2012. Now, despite some preseason talk of Martinez moving to first base -- or worse, to catcher -- any plans the Tigers might have will be restricted to a few pinch-hitting opportunities until the veteran's knee returns to full strength.
"He really took a hellacious hack and it kind of grabbed him, but it calmed down pretty quickly and we don't think it's anything serious," Ausmus reassured Chris Iott of MLive.com following the game. Martinez is expected to return on Sunday afternoon for the series finale against Cleveland before taking a planned few days off while the Tigers play in a National League park at Pittsburgh.
In other news, there is a petition going around for the phrase "hellacious hack" to be instated into the lexicon of baseball jargon.
(Update: Martinez is in the lineup.)
- The Cubs requested a road opener for their 2015 season and were denied because the White Sox didn’t want to open with a home game for the fourth time in five years.
- The costs of player insurance influence the way teams use their rosters, sometimes to the detriment of the game itself.
- Cardinals fans tell you why the Cardinals’ rotation is poised to be the best in the NL Central.
- Believe it or not, Friday night’s Red Sox-Yankees 19-inning marathon was not the first six-hour game between the two.
- Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has not ruled out a career in baseball. This time, the Rangers could actually use his help.
- After dominating Cactus League competition and receiving a call-up on Friday, Indians outfielder Jerry Sands played to a standing ovation on Saturday, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and four RBI.
- Is MLB’s declining offense a cause for concern, or will it right itself without the drastic measures proposed by commissioner Rob Manfred?
- Angels starter C.J. Wilson weighed in on the ongoing contract dispute between outfielder Josh Hamilton and the Angels.
- Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon wants to give Nelson Cruz more time in the outfield. The 34-year-old hasn’t played a full season in the field since 2012, but appears up to the task. “DHing is boring,” he told the Tacoma News-Tribune.
- After this snafu during a Charlotte Knights game on Saturday, the White Sox affiliate might want to take a trip to the Apple store.
See More:
