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Papa Positivity's POV: Kazmir Injury

This might be a recurring article throughout the season depending on how this turns out. Basically, what I want this article to do, is to take negative things that happen to the team, and look and them as to how it will effect the team positively. For those that don't know, Papa Positivity is the name I came up with for Joe Maddon, who I am a fan of. Anyways, here it goes.

While Kid K going down is obviously not a good thing for the team, it will open the door for others. We already know that there is a crowd building outside the door for the 4th and 5th spots in the rotation. This injury will effect this in a couple of different ways.

Firstly, less innings in Spring Traning from Kaz equals more innings for other players. These innings will likely go to the starters competing for those last two spots in the rotation. This will give the management group even more information to come up with a decision. Obviously, Kaz would not have thrown a lot of Spring Training innings, but any extra angle to help make this decision will be more than welcome my upper-management.

It has been reported that Kaz will most likely not be available on opening day. This most likely means he would miss one or maybe two starts this season. One option the team will have is to put Kaz on the 15-day DL. If they have narrowed down the last 2 spots to three people by the end of Spring Training, they could let the extra person take Kazmir's spot, and use those 2 starts as a extended Spring Training to make the decision, with the loser getting sent down or shipped out. If he isn't on the DL, we may still have it narrowed down to 3 people, but we could guarantee a loser the spot as the long reliever. Still can use the spot starts as a test of who should remain in the rotation.

Now for the extreme optimist view. Kaz having two less starts will be beneficial to the team, since he will have pitched less innings and will have more life to his arm when we are playing in October.

UPDATE: 2:00pm (Bishoff): It looks like my whole post above may have been for nothing. According to Lancaster, Kaz expects to be back for Opening Day.

Scott Kazmir said today that he "definitely" plans to make his expected start Opening Day at Baltimore despite the strained left elbow he suffered yesterday. "That’s what we’re shooting for," he said.
Apparently the medical staff is not discouraging this idea. Here are some more Kaz quotes:
"Of course I’m not going to rush it," he said, "but the second I feel nothing – no inflammation or soreness or anything – I’m ready to get it going again. I don’t want to be set back any farther than I have to be. "It could have been a whole lot worse; I think that was the best news that could happen. I’m going to take it slow, but I think this is something that is going to heal pretty quick and the inflammation is going to go down pretty quick. I’m confident I’m going to be out there pretty soon."

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Re: Papa Positivity's POV: Kazmir Injury
Looks like Chris Mason broke Brignac's toe yesterday when he hit him.  I hope he realizes that he has no shot at making the team and there's no need to rush back.  It's not like he's not going to start in Durham.
www.lbacentral.com

by SeanDubbs on Feb 27, 2008 2:00 PM EST   0 recs

Re: Papa Positivity's POV: Kazmir Injury
No reason to push Kaz for opening day. The twins tried to rush Liriano out there and look what happened. I rather Kaz miss a few starts in April then the whole season.

by TommyR on Feb 27, 2008 3:16 PM EST   0 recs

Re: Papa Positivity's POV: Kazmir Injury
He will probably be ready and wanting to throw in a week. Why not just lay off thew slider until opening day and get back in a throwing program in a couple weeks as long as he's feeling ok? I understand the reasons to be cautious, and that missing possibly 2 weeks of the season would be perfectly ok. I just think if the tests say its ok, Kaz knows his body and he's obviously feeling good

"By the time I got to the doctor's office, I knew pretty much it wasn't going to be something too serious," Kazmir said. "A lot of the symptoms I was feeling went completely away..."

*crosses fingers*

by blazinrayz on Feb 27, 2008 3:51 PM EST   0 recs

Re: Papa Positivity's POV: Kazmir Injury
If he's still feeling uncomfortable, I don't really think that Kaz needs to rush back. Spring training is too long anyway. However, we need him to start throwing in game conditions soon so his arm gets ready for the regular season. Looks like this might open a spot for Niemann to make the opening day roster for insurance purposes.

by jacksontsmith on Feb 27, 2008 10:25 PM EST   0 recs

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