Dickey, a first-round draft selection by Texas in 1996, experienced a shoulder problem in 2005. After his velocity inexplicably dropped from the low 90s to the mid 80s following his return, Rangers pitching coach Orel Hershiser suggested he turn to the tricky knuckleball exclusively.
“I had to commit to something full-time if I wanted to stay in the league and keep chasing my dream,” said Dickey, 35, who was signed to a minor league deal by the Mets in late December. - link
Kiko Calero, another Met with shoulder issues, threw his first inning of the spring. There is a long way to go. He managed to make it through that inning without allowing a run, even though he gave up a single, walked a batter and hit another. "First time out, it looks like the slider is going to be his best pitch," Manuel said. "So I'll wait and see until he gets that arm in good shape to see if it's creating enough depth at this level." Calero said he cannot get in the right arm slot yet to throw the slider effectively. - link
How can something minor such as a thyroid imbalance cost a well-conditioned athlete like Jose Reyes so much time. Keith Hernandez has said on TV that he has an imbalance, and it's treated by taking pills. Can't Reyes at least get himself ready for the season so that when he is cleared, he won't have to start from scratch?
-- Ian J., Red Bank, N.J.
Reyes' problem is an overactive thyroid, Hernandez's thyroid is under-active. What the doctors have told the Mets and Reyes is this: An overactive thyroid can affect the heart no matter how well-conditioned an athlete is. Once the thyroid levels are normalized, the heart no longer is in danger. The matter is far more complex, I imagine. But that's a superficial explanation. The matter isn't minor. -
link
But center fielder Carlos Beltran, a five-time All-Star who missed 2 1/2 months because of a painful bone bruise in his right knee last season but waited until January to undergo surgery, isn’t expected to return to the lineup until May. And shortstop Jose Reyes, an All-Star who missed most of last season with a hamstring injury but was supposed to move to the No. 3 spot in the batting order, has been idled because of an overactive thyroid and could be out for up to eight weeks. Both are switch hitters who can drive the ball and run. Both were being counted on as major contributors to the Mets’ resurgence - link
360 Seconds with Jeff Francoeur: I sat down with Mets right fielder Jeff Francoeur to talk hitting. We discussed his history of streaky hitting, including a few prolonged slumps, and what he and Howard Johnson are doing this spring to develop a more consistent approach
link
No comments:
Post a Comment