Rangers McCarthy headed to the DL

[That funky motion]

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP)—Rangers starter Brandon McCarthy likely will start the season on the disabled list because of inflammation in his forearm.

 

While an initial MRI showed no ligament damage, McCarthy is expected to be sidelined 4-6 weeks because of the problem that has bothered him throughout spring training and cut short his only appearance. The 6-foot-7 right-hander apparently won’t need surgery.

 

Rookie right-hander Luis Mendoza could replace McCarthy in the rotation. Mendoza, who was 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in three September starts and three relief appearances for the Rangers, as to start Thursday’s spring training game against Colorado.

 

Another option could be 31-year-old right-hander Sidney Ponson, who agreed to a minor league contract Sunday and was in camp for the first time Monday. Ponson last pitched in the major leagues May 12 for Minnesota before being released. Since winning a combined 17 games for Baltimore and San Francisco in 2003, Ponson is 24-36 with a 5.86 ERA.

 

McCarthy threw only one inning after Jason Jennings in Friday’s game against Milwaukee. McCarthy finished his inning, though he felt more pain in the muscle near his elbow after throwing a curveball.

 

“We thought he was healthy and all of a sudden, he felt it again,” manager Ron Washington said.

 

Texas had already scratched McCarthy from two spring training starts.

 

“This is definitely something that is kind of depressing,” McCarthy said. “I felt like I put in the work to come in healthy and only have to worry about pitching, and not have to worry about how everything felt. To be going through this again is definitely tough.”

 

McCarthy had two stints on the disabled list in his first season last year for Texas. He was on the DL for three weeks in June because of a blister on his finger, and nearly a month later in the season because of a stress fracture in his shoulder blade.

 

McCarthy was 5-10 with a 4.87 ERA in 23 games last season. He came to the Rangers in the December 2006 trade that sent first-round pick John Danks to the Chicago White Sox.

[knightni]

SURPRISE, McCarthy will start on the disabled list because of inflammation in his forearm.

 

McCarthy has a fairly wild throwing motion ala MacDougal.

 

No surprise there.

 

[DBAHO]

Right now, you'd say the trade hasn't really paid off for either team at this point.

 

Still right now, at least Danks is healthy.

[Steve9347]

Right now, you'd say the trade hasn't really paid off for either team at this point.

 

Still right now, at least Danks is healthy.

Danks is only 22 and has a big league season under him... I'll take him 8 days a week.

[southsider2k5]

Damn. Get well soon Brandon!!!

[DBAHO]

Danks is only 22 and has a big league season under him... I'll take him 8 days a week.

Yeah, and that 1 season wasn't very good.

 

If B-Mac was 100% healthy, I'd take him over Danks right now.

 

Of course, John could come out and have a good season, and then I'd look like an idiot if someone bumps this and B-Mac is on the shelf.

[Steve9347]

Yeah, and that 1 season wasn't very good.

 

If B-Mac was 100% healthy, I'd take him over Danks right now.

 

Of course, John could come out and have a good season, and then I'd look like an idiot if someone bumps this and B-Mac is on the shelf.

bookmarked.

[Whitewashed in '05]

Damn. Get well soon Brandon!!!

^^^^

[RME JICO]

Has any former White Sox pitcher ever stayed healthy?

[watchtower41]

Has any former White Sox pitcher ever stayed healthy?

 

 

Marte??

[CanOfCorn]

Sad to see McCarthy injured again...still think the Sox got the better end of the deal.

[RockRaines]

Yeah, and that 1 season wasn't very good.

 

If B-Mac was 100% healthy, I'd take him over Danks right now.

 

Of course, John could come out and have a good season, and then I'd look like an idiot if someone bumps this and B-Mac is on the shelf.

And BMAC's havent been either, 1 bad year out of the pen and 1 injury filled year. Danks comes up a year before expected and performs well until he hits a giant wall. Danks over BMAC in a heartbeat.

[bigruss]

And BMAC's havent been either, 1 bad year out of the pen and 1 injury filled year. Danks comes up a year before expected and performs well until he hits a giant wall. Danks over BMAC in a heartbeat.

Plus you wouldnt have that sweet sig

[DBAHO]

And BMAC's havent been either, 1 bad year out of the pen and 1 injury filled year. Danks comes up a year before expected and performs well until he hits a giant wall. Danks over BMAC in a heartbeat.

You're forgetting the 2nd half of 2005, where B-Mac pretty much dominated. Do you remember the game in Boston for example?

 

It's not B-Mac's fault that he was moved to the pen suddenly in 2006, something that he had never done before, and didn't get regular work, therefore he struggled.

 

Last season in Texas, when he was healthy, he had decent numbers, Texas is a horrible park to pitch in.

 

B-Mac performed better when he was up with the Sox in his 1st season than Danks did IMHO. Of course he had to make some adjustments and was down at Charlotte for a bit.

 

That's why if B-Mac was 100% healthy, I'd take him, because when he has started and he has been healthy, he has produced.

 

That's why Jon Daniels traded for him.

[knightni]

Plus you wouldnt have that sweet sig

Yeah!

 

The guy who did that one is awesome!

[RockRaines]

You're forgetting the 2nd half of 2005, where B-Mac pretty much dominated. Do you remember the game in Boston for example?

 

It's not B-Mac's fault that he was moved to the pen suddenly in 2006, something that he had never done before, and didn't get regular work, therefore he struggled.

 

Last season in Texas, when he was healthy, he had decent numbers, Texas is a horrible park to pitch in.

 

B-Mac performed better when he was up with the Sox in his 1st season than Danks did IMHO. Of course he had to make some adjustments and was down at Charlotte for a bit.

 

That's why if B-Mac was 100% healthy, I'd take him, because when he has started and he has been healthy, he has produced.

 

That's why Jon Daniels traded for him.

So, you're basing it on 5 starts in the second half of 05? Thats your prerogative then. And US Cellular is alot harder of a park to pitch in. So im not sure how thats an excuse. He still hasnt pitched an entire season in the majors, or shown he can stay healthy enough to do so. I believe Danks would have been able to if they didnt try their best to save him for his next seasons and frankly keep him healthy. I think Danks pitched extremely well a year early, in the toughest division in baseball at a hitters park and I think his apparent durability, his ability to learn new pitches for his arsenal quickly and his overall repertoire (plus curve, plus change, sneaky fastball, cutter) make him a better pitcher now and into the future, and thats why KW traded for him.

[DBAHO]

So, you're basing it on 5 starts in the second half of 05? Thats your prerogative then. And US Cellular is alot harder of a park to pitch in. So im not sure how thats an excuse. He still hasnt pitched an entire season in the majors, or shown he can stay healthy enough to do so. I believe Danks would have been able to if they didnt try their best to save him for his next seasons and frankly keep him healthy. I think Danks pitched extremely well a year early, in the toughest division in baseball at a hitters park and I think his apparent durability, his ability to learn new pitches for his arsenal quickly and his overall repertoire (plus curve, plus change, sneaky fastball, cutter) make him a better pitcher now and into the future, and thats why KW traded for him.

Post ASB in 2005 B-Mac had a 1.69 ERA. That was from 42.2 IP, with a .201 BAA, and a 0.91 WHIP. For a rookie pitcher, that's pretty damn good.

 

And no, I wouldn't say the Cell is a "lot" harder to pitch in than Texas. Texas is a gold mine for LHH power hitters, and they're likely to do good against RHP's such as B-Mac. 2007 it was league average (but that had more to do with the pitiful Texas offense IMHO). 2006 it was 5th in Park Factor for runs, the Cell was 9th, and that was the season where we really did well offensively, especially the big 3.

 

My original argument was I would take B-Mac "if he was 100% healthy". Unfortunately for him, he hasn't been. When he has, and when he has started, for Chicago or for Texas, he has pitched well. From May to August in 2007, he had ERA's of 3.55, 1.80 (only 1 start in June), 4.09 and 1.69. That's pretty good.

 

B-Mac was also learning a cutter IIRC, and he had certainly improved his changeup, which had a bit of a screwball effect, so he can learn new pitches too. Almost every young pitcher the Sox have, they try to teach them a cutter, after the success Loaiza had with it a few seasons back.

 

As for Danks, he has shown in the minors, he can pitch well in a 2nd season at the same level. That doesn't mean he's automatically going to do it in the majors. He's still got a lot to learn and prove. I just can't forget a 7.11 ERA post ASB when teams start to see him for the 2nd and 3rd time, and think that he's automatically going to be a lot better this season.

 

B-Mac has more runs on the board so far in their respective careers. Now Danks could easily pass that, but it's a wait and see for now.

[Texsox]

Hate to see anyone injured. I hope he gets back quickly. I wish he would come back and post while he's doing nothing.