J.P. Howell Could Start Season On DL

by Tommy Rancel on Mar 19, 2010 5:15 PM EDT

If you haven't noticed the RotoWorld widget update on the left sidebar, the Rays are concerned with the strength of J.P. Howell's left arm. Because of this, Howell may start the season on the DL. I wrote about his spring absence recently, but figured it was nothing more than being conservative after last season's "wall" crashing.

Howell did not rate well in pre-spring strength tests, and it seems that his arm is not where the team wants it to be. It is in the best interest of all parties involved to take it slow and not rush him back. I'm glad Steve touched on bullpen chaining as Howell's potential absence could have a big impact on the bullpen.

With Howell slotted as Rafael Soriano's set-up man, the Rays will most likely turn to a set-up man by committee. Grant Balfour seems to gain some more high-leverage work with Dan Wheeler (righties) and Randy Choate (lefties) also in the mix. As for a roster spot, if healthy Joaquin Benoit would seem like a near lock for a spot.

The Rays could keep Andy Sonnanstine and Wade Davis, but Davis is not going to the bullpen, and if the plan is to have Sonnanstine start to keep Davis' clock stalled then this news doesn't change anything. Because of his 40-man status, Dale Thayer is a likely option for the potentially vacated roster spot.

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JP :-(

by daveh33 on Mar 19, 2010 5:22 PM EDT reply actions

That is creepy

Gary Williams for President!
Jordan Williams freshman Manbeast

by terp12 on Mar 19, 2010 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Lots of keeper scenarios.

Could keep Ekstrom as the long-man and move Cormier down the line.

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 19, 2010 5:27 PM EDT reply actions

Bummer, nothing serious I hope.

Gary Williams for President!
Jordan Williams freshman Manbeast

by terp12 on Mar 19, 2010 6:45 PM EDT reply actions

Please god tell me this doesn't mean Jeff Bennett starts out with the team

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Mar 19, 2010 6:46 PM EDT reply actions

or Ekstrom for that matter

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Mar 19, 2010 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions

If we're talking about the lowest of low leverage innings. It really makes no difference who throws them.

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 19, 2010 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Except when the low leverage pitchers pave the way for the cleveland indians to make a 9 run comeback

Then it does make a difference…

by benderbrodriguez on Mar 19, 2010 6:59 PM EDT reply actions

No ice to start the year, =(

But luckily, he’s a soft-tossing lefty, so at least his stuff won’t diminish

PIZZA?!?

by Transplanted on Mar 19, 2010 7:04 PM EDT reply actions

I guess it won't matter

Since S. Rod will be good for 4 HRs a game.

Gary Williams for President!
Jordan Williams freshman Manbeast

by terp12 on Mar 19, 2010 7:10 PM EDT reply actions

2000 run offense?

PIZZA?!?

by Transplanted on Mar 19, 2010 7:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Plot thickens

J.P. meet with Dr. Koko Eaton

www.draysbay.com, www.bloombergsports.mlblogs.com, Twitter @trancel

by Tommy Rancel on Mar 19, 2010 7:15 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Also good to have Dr. Eaton and Dr. Andrews in the mix.

It may be something or it may be nothing, but good to have excellent medical eyes looking over our players.

www.draysbay.com, www.bloombergsports.mlblogs.com, Twitter @trancel

by Tommy Rancel on Mar 19, 2010 7:49 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I have no idea what the issue is...

But based on Maddon’s comments, it sounds like Howell didnt show up in shape for ST….and that’s unacceptable. I love Howell, and I k now most on this board do as well…. but this is embarrassing if true.

Pitchers need to do specific shoulder exercises to strengthen the shoulder, and if he was doing them, his shoulder would be strong. If he was injured, his shoulder would be weak, but it would be sore as well. Not to mention, Maddon would have made his deragatory comments.

This is very disappointing, because it mor then likely is do to LAZINESS.

by td32 on Mar 19, 2010 7:34 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah reading the comments it does seem like laziness

Which is bad.

From Yer Scurvy Dog SRQman

by SRQman on Mar 19, 2010 7:39 PM EDT up reply actions

It's baffling if true...

by td32 on Mar 19, 2010 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions

What comments are you guys referring to?

"It's good to have a little cushion. But it's not going to be easy."

by Andy Hellicksonstine on Mar 19, 2010 7:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Oops...

Maddon said the weakness is not from an injury but possibly from a lapse in off-season conditioning. "At the end of last season, he left in good shape, so it’s not from an injury,‘’ Maddon said. "Probably had something to do maybe with his off-season conditioning program, maybe some things that he did not do that he had done the year before, something like that.’’

by td32 on Mar 19, 2010 7:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Also

“From the very first day, we’ve been really aware of [it], obviously,” manager Joe Maddon said. "We were concerned about the strength level in his shoulder at the beginning of camp, and we backed him off to specifically address that need.

Porterfield did not like the level of strength in Howell’s shoulder when he reported to camp.

“We decided to just back off of it and try to get that thing strong before we move forward with this,” said Maddon.

Link

From Yer Scurvy Dog SRQman

by SRQman on Mar 19, 2010 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions

I wouldn't jump all over the guy and call him lazy, that's stupid.

Perhaps he didn’t want to push it over the winter and make things worse hoping rest could help. What bothers me is the lack of communication with the team about the situation if that is the case.

"It's good to have a little cushion. But it's not going to be easy."

by Andy Hellicksonstine on Mar 19, 2010 7:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Too LAZY to call.

I’m not saying he is it just looks that way from the comments. I hope it’s not though and yes communication needs to be better on stuff like this.

From Yer Scurvy Dog SRQman

by SRQman on Mar 19, 2010 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Maddon is criticizing him....

Freaking Joe Maddon! Has he criticized a player since Delmon Young left? Based off his comments, and the fact he has a weak shoulder(weak strength-wise), he was PROBABLY lazy.

Like I said earlier, there are specific shoulder excercises you do to strengthen your pitching muscles. If he had been doing those, which he should have been, he shoulder would have tested out stronger with the trainer. They test how strong a pitchers shoulder is by doing specific drills and measuring the pounds of pressure the player is exerting. You could be a bodybuilder, but if you werent doing the specific drills, your arm would show weakness in certain areas.

I love Howell, and dont take criticizing him lightly. But this appears to be a situation where he was not taking the appropriate steps in the offseason to be in shape. In fact, I hope I’m right, and you should as well. The alternative is that he is injured.

by td32 on Mar 19, 2010 8:07 PM EDT up reply actions