Sarfate's injury
Dennis Sarfate has posted a 1.93 ERA in eight games since returning to the bullpen, so you'd never know that he's been pitching hurt for most of the season.
That's because we weren't supposed to know.
Sarfate said he fractured his clavicle in a freak accident at home back in April, but it went unreported. The Orioles didn't announce it and we had no reason to suspect it.
Team president Andy MacPhail mentioned today during an interview on WHFS (105.7) - a link is provided on Steve Melewski's blog on MASNsports.com - that Sarfate hasn't been available because of a non-baseball injury. Sarfate hasn't pitched since Tuesday.
The fracture occurred while Sarfate was moving into his new home. He bent over to pick up a set of keys that he dropped, and the door that he swung open slammed into his shoulder.
He moved his head in time to avoid a possible concussion, but his shoulder absorbed all the impact.
"It was one of those unbelievable freak accident things," he said after today's 7-3 win over the Twins, adding that he could pitch if needed.
"They're kind of taking it easy with me. They're just being precautionary. I'm fine. You can see what my velocity has been all season. I've been pitching with it since April. But it's one of those things where I've been throwing a lot and they're just being careful."
Sarfate said he's certain that he'll pitch again.
If you were really observant, you saw him sitting in the dugout during yesterday's doubleheader, though he told me earlier todaythat he just stopped in there after going to the clubhouse for a Red Bull. He wasn't going to discuss the injury until I brought it up to him.
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Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko |
Strange story, Roch. Left or right? If it's his right, how did he even pitch from the start. The clavicle is connected to the sternum(chest) and humerus at the shoulder. Even being his left it would still affect his delivery, which may explain some of his wildness at times. And now five months later it's bothering him? Had to be a very minor fracture.
I have fractured my clavicle and there's no way I could have played anything for at least a month until it healed. Hats off to Sarfate for dealing with it like a hockey player instead of begging off or using it as an excuse after a poor outing.
And what about Liz! This is what I love about baseball. The guy comes in to today ranked 241st out of 241 Major League pitchers in WHIP (for guys who pitched at least 60 innings) and look what he does! What a confidence booster for him. Let's see if he can turn a corner now.
Back to your previous post Roch. What was unclean about Liz' first five innings? The way our starters have pitched the last month I thought he had a no-hitter after five. Try not to be too tough.
The difference between he and Olson is that Liz has electric stuff. Today that was evident. He shutout a team that scored 24 runs yesterday and is in the heat of a pennant race. His 97 mph fastball combined with the brilliant changeup was dominant today. And it's all about mechanics. Today he was not flying open.
For homework, I would suggest that you give Liz a taped copy of today's performance and have him look at it once a week during the off-season.
BTW, I totally agree with you on Salazar. he can be a valuable bat off the bench next year and as a part-time DH or lb vs. lefties.
Alan in VA - Was John Maine run out of town? Was he given a chance here?
I fractured my clavicle in 1985, when drunk driver hit me in Boston. My chest still hurts at times, hats off to Dennis "IRON CHEST" Surfate. Check this man for ___________, I won't say, though kidding.
GO DENNIS....Next year...you can play catcher or drive the team bus, anything you want man. Man....my chest is beginning to hurt again, just thinking about it...Ouch!
Roch
Today after the game I was watching Best of MLB bloopers 2008 and there were some Orioles on it alot of Kevin Millar, George with his hat then there was a thing with Dennis Sarfate and our bullpen they were sitting in the bullpen at Camden Yards and the were talking about what he had to dress up as when he was a rookie... he knew alot about what the yankees have to wear and how they have themes (ex. Wizard of Oz) I couldn't stop laughing if you have a chance to watch it you should... the Jonathan papelbon segmet is very funny...