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Back surgery a ‘possibility’ for Clayton Kershaw
Thursday’s Say Hey, Baseball includes potentially worrisome Kershaw news, a Jonathan Lucroy trade rumor, and a lovely Ichiro Suzuki story.
Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images
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Don’t panic just yet, but be aware: Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts is admitting that back surgery is a possibility for ace Clayton Kershaw. That doesn’t mean he will have back surgery, and it doesn’t mean the only way to fix his ailing back to is to go under the knife, but Roberts is admitting that, should Kershaw’s back not respond, it’s certainly possible. This is mostly news because managers tend to avoid speculation altogether, and Kershaw hasn’t given much in the way of details on the condition of his back. So, we end up here, with little to go on, talking about possibilities.
As Eric Stephen said at True Blue LA, though, “possibility” does not mean surgery is probable. It’s one of numerous outcomes that could result from Kershaw’s discomfort in his back — just like returning to the mound in a couple of weeks and dominating like he always does is a possibility. The nervousness surrounding Kershaw’s back is a bit new, though, mostly because the word “surgery” was introduced into the discussion at all, so we’re not saying ignore the chance of a procedure altogether. Just, as said, don’t panic or assume that’s what’s going down.
Were Kershaw to need a procedure, it would be devastating for the Dodgers in 2016. Kershaw had been the glue holding their rotation together. While the return of Brandon McCarthy helps soften the blow since he’s an actual, quality starter instead of a depth piece Los Angeles had lying around, the idea was that by midseason, the Dodgers would have both McCarthy and Kershaw. Hyun-Jin Ryu is on the DL again, Scott Kazmir has had rougher second halves the last couple of years, Kenta Maeda is a rookie in his first full MLB schedule ... there are a lot of potential problems a healthy Kershaw could help make less obvious. So, the Dodgers need to hope even more than usual that they get a healthy Kershaw.
- With Yan Gomes out, the Indians and Brewers are talking Jonathan Lucroy trade.
- The Phillies’ first-base situation continues to be weird.
- The Blue Jays have quite a few moves to make in the next few days as healthy players start returning from the disabled list.
- Here’s why the Cubs might trade Kyle Schwarber for Andrew Miller. Or why they might not do that very thing.
- The Cubs did add some bullpen help that didn’t cost them a top-tier youth, sending Dan Vogelbach to the Mariners for Mike Montgomery.
- The Mariners lost their first-round pick, Kyle Lewis, for the season, as Lewis tore his ACL and menisci.
- Red Sox prospect Brian Johnson realized that his anxiety was getting in the way of his health and happiness. The Sox worked with him, though, and now Johnson is loving the game again, and working his way back to an opportunity in the majors.
- You should read this profile of Ichiro Suzuki, especially for the portion on his love of the Negro League Museum.
- Can’t keep up with all the trade rumors as the deadline approaches? Now you can!
- Kelsie Whitmore, one of two women the independent Sonoma Stompers signed recently, recorded her first professional hit on Wednesday.
- Rajai Davis’ face after this atrocious batting practice pitch is everything.
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