Superbad Twins closer Joe Nathan, who left the game against the Red Sox on Saturday due to soreness in his surgically repared right elbow, just delivered a crushing blow to Twins Territory: he MAY be out for the season. That sound you just heard? The residents of the entire state of Minnesota simultaneously breaking out into hysterical sobs.Nathan had MRI and CT scans on Monday to determine if the tightness he was feeling in his elbow was just a kink from his surgery last October, or if it was something more serious. Turns out he has a tear in his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), and that could lead to Tommy John surgery. Ouch.
Joe is pretty optimistic at this time, hoping that a little R&R will do the trick. If the injury doesn't heal within a few weeks, they'll explore the option of surgery. Twins fans everywhere are also hoping for the best - at this time, the Twins don't have an apparent backup plan if their all-star closer is out for the season. There is the possiblity that our favorite side-armed wonderboy, Pat Neshek, may step in to fill the void.
Neshek is fresh off the DL himself after having Tommy John in 2008 and missing the entire 2009 season. So far this spring, Pat is pitching like he'd never been injured - he's pitched two innings in which he's struck out two, given up just one hit, and one walk. For now, Twins fans are still hoping Neshek is their ass kicking set up guy for Nathan this year.
Get well soon, Joe!
8 comments:
Sorry twinkies!!!!DETROIT WILL TAKE CARE OF BUSINES IN THE CENTRAL!!!!
It is sad that Joe may be lost for the season as he is one of the finest closers in the game, and seems like a genuinely nice guy. That being said, the role of closer is the most overrated, most overpaid, and most replaceable position in baseball.
The Twins will be fine.
While "closer" is very overrated, a high stikeout/low era reliever is not overrated. To suggest Nathan is replaceable because he is the Twins' closer is foolish. He is an elite relief pitcher.
The Twins wont implode without Nathan, but the kicker is that if he does have Tommy John, his career has a good chance of being all but over. Comebacks at age 37 rarely happen. Poor guy.
Yes, Nathan is an elite relief pitcher. I would never suggest otherwise. He is by far our best reliever and no one we have can match him. I've always been a big advocate for bringing him in in the 8th in clutch situations more often than Gardy does. Only 3 times in 2009 did he come in in a clutch situation in the 8th. He is too good of a pitcher to be used so limited.
That being said, my point is that the way a lot of Twins fans are reacting is as if though we lost our other Joe for the season. I'm just trying to get everyone to take a collective breath and realize that, in my opinion, having a top tier closer is not as important as it is made out to be.
Michael Peterson is right. Nathan's hosed. And while I agree with Timberhill that, technically speaking, the ninth inning is no different statistically than any other inning, it makes a big difference in the minds of lots of pitchers. Look at LaTroy Hawkins -- great reliever, but whenever he was asked to close, he went all to pieces. Pitchers are delicate little things, and not many have the mental fortitude to not have a panic attack at the end of the game. We may not have anyone who can take up that role yet. Neshek or Crain in time could do it, but Neshek needs to be treated very gently right now and Crain's still got question marks himself. Our hopes lie in Rauch, and we must pray that when his pitches aren't on, the opposing batter will simply be too scared to swing.
If you'll excuse me, it's finally after lunchtime. I'm going to go weep into a beer and rend my clothing.
I was just about to rattle off some nonsense about a silver lining,
and then I noticed my word verification is "kryin",
so that's what I'm doing.
*sigh* I'm still aching somewhere deep in my belly. It's really tough to go through something like this when you are Nathan's age. He's got a lot to think about career-wise. Do I think my Twins will start shopping the market for a new closer? No, even if Nathan is done for the year, we have the talent to start building from within for that role. Do I think that we'll have another elite closer by the end of this season? Probably not. It takes time to develope that mental tenacity - even Twitchy didn't get it overnight. But I do think there is a ferocious amount of talent in our bullpen and someone will step up to bridge the gap until my BF can rejoin the fold. *sniff*
I think the Twins will be able to find a way to fill Nathan's role if he has to opt for surgery. I mean, it hurts the team on paper (and obviously off), but they showed that they can overcome adversity when Morneau went down last season. So hopefully, this won't drag them down.
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