Angle to undergo surgery
Minor league outfielder Matt Angle will undergo surgery this week to remove a broken hamate bone in his right hand.
Angle suffered the injury during his final at-bat of spring training, and I don't mean because he no longer could play. It happened in the eighth inning of Friday's game in Tampa. He wasn't expected to make an appearance in yesterday's finale in Sarasota.
Typical of this injury, it happened when Angle swung the bat and didn't make contact. He wasn't hit by a ball and he didn't jam his wrist while diving into a base.
I've seen it happen when a player tries to check his swing. It's never a dramatic moment.
I seem to recall that broken hamate bones were all the rage a few years ago. Didn't Jay Gibbons have one? So did another player whose name escapes me (Luis Matos?).
It must not be an important bone, since it isn't repaired during surgery. Doctors just remove it.
You can read about it here. I'll be giving a quiz later.
Angle was a spring invite after batting .289 in 123 games at Single-A Frederick and .357 in eight games at Double-A Bowie. He also played in the Arizona Fall League and was a teammate of Nationals pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg.
Angle, a seventh-round pick in 2007 out of Ohio State, is expected to rejoin the Baysox at some point this summer.
Reporters noticed that Angle was wearing a splint on his right hand and wrist yesterday, our first clue that he was injured. It's hard to get anything past us - though that didn't stop me from trying to shake his hand earlier today and having him reach out with his left one. Oops.
An MRI confirmed the break. He'll probably have the surgery on Tuesday.
You can play against everyone or create your own league - and it's Free!
 |
Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko Orioles |
Roch--Are you sure this break isn't from a handshake you may have given Matt earlier in the week?
Roch,
I clicked the link in the Wikipedia article to reference baseball players who have suffered the injury. In one instance (Pena) it mentioned him missing two months. While I'm not a physician, I've broken many bones in my hand and wrist. My first three injuries were treated by one of the more highly regarded hand surgeons in the U.S. One piece of information that I carried away from those experiences was the average amount of time to wear a cast. Someone Angle's age should be in a cast no more than 4 weeks. Whether it takes 4 additional weeks to be baseball ready...I have no idea.
Jim Carter
I'm stretching the ol' memory bank on this one, but didn't Mark McGwire or Jose Canseco have the same injury at some point in his career?
The dry sarcasm of that - or wit, or whatever the word is - could have soaked up the Johnstown Flood.
Roch, do you think Brian Roberts could miss more time than people think? If so, Lugo would be the Robert Andino of this year. A guy who gets on the field more than anyone imagined and proves a shrewd pickup. I like the idea of a veteran who is still quick being in there if Roberts has to sit. What would that do to the leadoff spot? Would you put Pie in there and DH him so Reimold can still play? Has a DH ever lead off? He's the fastest guy other than Roberts we have. Jones' power potential would be wasted at leadoff, even though that seems to be where he's been tried out.
Just wondering.
-------------------------------------------------
They'll try to rest Roberts here and there, which is why they wanted Lugo over Andino. As for leadoff, could be Pie or could be Jones. Those would be two options. - Roch
Thanks for all of your hard work during Spring Training. We're all the local experts on the O's going into the season. We wouldn't be nearly so annoying to our friends without you. :)
Even with the twists and turns, I'm still thinking we can go .500. The pieces are there, and a whole lot better than maybe 10 years ago or so.
Why not?
Any interest you're hearing from the Front Office about the Mariners' release of first baseman Tommy Everidge?
He's a power hitter with the patience to stay at first or DH. (Maybe I'm wrong and he was cut, not released)
----------------------------------
Nope. I think they have a surplus of 1B/DH types right now. - Roch
Shame about Angle but at least he can come back 100% down the road...you are right, we all used to hear about that injury and not much any more. Oblique muscle pulls seem to have faded this year as well.
Thank you for an outstanding job covering the O's this spring.
Thanks for keeping us so up-to-date this spring,Roch.
This goes back a few years, but Bob Horner of the Braves may have had the most famous broken hamate bone in history. Not sure he ever recovered.
Too bad for Matt Angle. Hope he can get back by June and at least salvage half his season in good health.
If I'm not mistaken, Ken Griffey, Jr. broke his hamate bone several years ago on a checked swing.
David B... I'm with you at 79 wins. The first 28 games will be tough. I won't be surprised if they start 12-16 or 11-17 and then build momentum from there.
I'm mildly annoyed by the fact Chad Moeller will be sharing all his inside knowledge on Orioles pitchers with his new teammates. Too bad it had to work out that way.
Roch, a big thank you once again for your tremendous work during spring training. Your passion shines through on a daily basis and most of us appreciate the benefits.
It's official. Liz is a Portland Beaver. A fitting way for me to watch the team move to Tucson in 2011.
I hope the Dr. cuts it at the right angle. Thank you so much for the great job you have done.I could not make it to ST this year, but have follow your class faithfully.
Not to dump more work on you dude, but after reading your wonderful story on Cuellar might MASN allow you to do more in depth pieces? (as long as we don't lose your blog) I think all of your readers would enjoy your baseball insights with more than a blog allows. Thanks.
THAT HURTS BOWIES OUTFIELD AT LEAST UNTIL JULY I'M GUESSING. THE ONLY TIME I HAVE SEEN HIM PLAY IS WHEN HE GOT HURT. IS HE A BONAFIDE MAJOR LEAGUE PROSPECT IN THE O'S OR YOUR OPINION ROCH? IF SO HE COULD BE IN THE HUNT FOR THE 4TH OUTFIELD POSITION FOR THE O'S IF HE SHOWS ANYTHING.
Roch - Thanks for your Spring Training coverage. It has been awesome to read everyday. I'm sure you will be happy to be home with your daughter. I'll be gone for 7 weeks the end of April and for five weeks in August from my kids. I always hate it but sometimes it's what we have to do. Safe travels.
If BRob can't go, Lugo would be a good option for leadoff...he can handle the bat and is an intelligent, agressive baserunner. Remember 'Roch Bloggers'....Sliders on May 15 before the Indians game..we can give Roch 'what for' and have a good time. It's on a Saturday before a night game! I'm curious to see what everyone looks like in the flesh!
Roch,
I probably speak for lots of classmates:
(1) Offering much thanks for all the ST postings.
(2) Wishing a Happy Easter to you and family.
All the best - John in Conn
Thats a shame, more bad luck. I like Angle long term possibly as a 4th-5th OF.
Angle reminds me of Bigbe. Hope he has a speedy recovery.
Ken Griffey Jr.'s broken hamate bone in 1996 enabled Brady Anderson to start in the All-Star game as opposed to being a reserve. And there is your random Brady trivia for the day - you're welcome.
Baron, actually I think he's Chad Moeller Secret Agent. He's still with the Orioles, but MacPhail realized he was even more valuable to us if he had a fake break-up with us and then signed with the Yankees. Right now, he's on conference call with Kranny and Crow going over the Yankees signs and Sabathia's tendencies. Yesterday he told Jeter that Matusz is over-rated, and the best strategy against him is to take pitches since Brian has difficulty finding the strike zone.
But then, it's looking like my assessment of Palmeiro as a secret agent of Congress who staged a failed steroid test to see whether the MLB testing procedure and appeals process were rigid wasn't quite correct...
Sorry about Angle, but on another tangent ....put me down for a third place finish.
Whenever I think about Mike Cuellar it reminds me of when I was a kid. I believe Cuellar got off to a less than stellar start with the team and my older brother proclaimed " This new Cuellar guy sucks!". It was late 60's sometime.
Boy , was he wrong .
Cuellar was money in the bank for the O's and when I mentioned his passing to the bross tonight, he was genuinely shocked and saddened.
Anyway, thanks for the great preseason posts Roch and a very well written eulogy for Mike Cuellar.
That is a tough break for Matt Angle.
SWIDT?
Is it just me or was everyone else not impressed with the Yankee/ Red Sox game?
Pitching the Red Sox had the advantage but Beckett was not sharp. At times he looked like he was laboring. CC didn't give up a hit for a while but he hit a wall. Would have been nice to get to him now while he isn't full strength.
Papelbon was in midseason but I wasn't impressed with the relief effort overall. Robertson and Joba did't look good at all.
I think the outfield for the Yankees is going to be an issue all year for them. If Swisher takes angles like that on balls against us we'll win more games.
We can't go into Tampa and lay an egg. We need to get a hot start and build on it. Go get 'em guys
Roch-
Looking at the 25 man, it speaks for itself.
3 things will determine this season.
Veteran Struggles- Guthrie and Atkins.
Defense- Weak on the corners, maybe. Maybe not.
Bullpen- THe rotation at some point will have 5 really talented arms. The pen needs to win the games its supposed to. They can NOT have to many collapses, and they need to win 2-1, 3-2, 4-2 games.
Superstars need to emerge. Markakis has to take that next step into stardom now that he is entering his prime years of age 26-32.
Shock the world O's !!!!
Ian Desmond the Nat's new shortstop had the same injury a year or so ago and it put him out of commission for awhile. I'd also like to thank you for the nice article and sentiment on Mike Cuellar.
Roch:
Thanks for all your work this spring and keeping us all up to date on what was going on with the Orioles. Everything was done with class with facts and stats with some very intersting humor. Your tribute to Mike Cuellar was "first rate" and you should be applauded. Have a safe trip home. I don't know how many "hits" you got on your blog, but it had to be quite a few. I know it was more listeners than that radio station "down the dial" who has nothing but negative things to say about the Orioles. And, probably more readers than your former employers?
Thank you again for keep us informed and your hard work.
JO
Roch,
Great work this spring. You're the best.
The O's had Reimold working out at first? Have you heard about this?
--------------------------------
He took ground balls on a back field the last day of camp. - Roch
Roch,
Great job this spring as usual! Screw all this .500 talk...let's go out there and "win the whole damn thing!" LETS GO O's!!!
Roch, thank you so much for all of your hard work, and prodigious posting during spring training. I tried to keep up and post back now and again but after reading all of the posts and most of the responses I found I didn't have the time, MASN must be overjoyed with the response and seem to be taking advantage of it with more and different ads. on your page, good job security.
I'm one of the optimistic fans that see the Orioles with 84+ wins this season and with the pressure that we and the Rays put on the BoSox and Yanks I believe one of them will falter mightily at the end and second or third place will be between us and the Rays.
Some where earlier in spring training I read a post that mentioned a meeting of SOR students before the home opener. I'll be there for my first home opener and look forward to meeting you and some classmates before or during the game.