Under The Knife 5/31/23
No Ted Lasso Spoilers
Alden Gonzalez does nice work, and does again here in this article about the resurgence of Ronald Acuna Jr this season. What I have to take issue with is that the description of Acuna’s knee injury - a simple ACL sprain - is variously “gruesome”, one that “leaves an uncertain future”, and that Acuna was at one point in a wheelchair. On the first two, it’s merely an exaggeration to help tell a story. Completely forgivable, understandable, even standard.
It’s the last part that bothers me. I don’t know of any ACL patients that are in a wheelchair for any period of their recovery, aside from getting wheeled out of the hospital or surgery center due to antiquated rules. Gonzalez clearly describes Acuna as someone dealing with far more mental trauma than physical, somehow never saying the word ‘depression’ in his description.
Leaving that aside, it’s a symptom of what normally happens. Gonzalez works at ESPN, where Stephania Bell has worked for years. She’s not quoted and I doubt he consulted her. Would someone at ESPN write an article about brackets without buzzing Joe Lunardi, or about the NBA without checking with Woj? I think not. Gonzalez or any general sportswriter shouldn’t be expected to fully understand the medical angle, but he has resources. Heck, a lot of sportswriters check in with me on things and I don’t work for their outlets! I’d have done the same for Gonzalez, or anyone.
It’s awesome that Acuna has come back from his ACL injury. It’s awesome that he’s back to being one of the best players in the game. But did anyone really expect he wouldn’t be? Mickey Mantle may have been the first MLB player to have ACL surgery - it’s still debated and I’m on the other side of Jane Leavy, so I’m worried - and I’ve detailed the advances in ACL surgery that have happened in the last ten years, including Dr. Lavender’s breakthrough, with my own case study. Acuna’s injury was unfortunate, maybe preventable — which is worth its own discussion — but career threatening? No.
On to the injuries:
CEDRIC MULLINS, OF BAL (strained groin)
The Orioles had hoped to avoid it, but Cedric Mullins’ groin strain is such that he simply can’t play. Mullins isn’t a pure speed player, but he’s fast, rangy, and quick. (Yes, those are three different things.) The groin strain, noted as a Grade II, is enough to hinder him and playing would risk causing more damage and a longer time out. The standard for this is two to four weeks, so the minimum is unlikely here. It’s weeks, not months though.
One of the things key to note here is that these sorts of timelines are general. I find myself looking for players who are similar, so a Tim Anderson missing 21 days or Jon Berti missing 28 tells me more than something like Rhys Hoskins missing 15 or Nick Madrigal missing 51. Heck, even Anderson had a 10-day miss in 2020, but everything in 2020 was weird, but you can see how ranges can be both useful and not, all at once.
Mullins injured himself running out a grounder, so it’s nothing special or unusual. He’s been back to his ‘21 form, helping a ball club that’s outperforming expectations, so losing him for more than a couple weeks is problematic. I don’t think his injury crushes any hopes, but pairing this with the John Means/Dillon Tate double-barrel of bad news over the weekend tamps down some. With the expectation that the ownership issues might prevent much action at the deadline, staying healthy is even more of a key.
The move to the IL also makes it possible for newly signed Aaron Hicks to get what will amount to a ten day tryout, with the bonus of the Yankees paying him. (The O’s are on the hook for the pro-rated minimum, which is $720,000 this season.)
VLADIMIR GUERRERO JR., 1B TOR (no injury)