Vicente Padilla To Have Arm Surgery
February 23, 2011 at 7:45 am | Posted in Vicente Padilla | 16 Comments
It’s not quite Adam Wainwright possibly needing Tommy John surgery, but it’s also not good:
Vicente Padilla will undergo surgery on his pitching arm on Thursday to release a nerve that is entrapped by one of the deep muscles in his forearm.
The Dodgers have not set a timetable for his return.
You’ll remember, of course, that Padilla missed two months last year with – wait for it – nerve problems in his right arm. He was able to avoid surgery, and came back strongly, putting up a 1.80 ERA with a 52/13 K/BB in his first nine starts after returning.
It’s hard to say the full impact here until we know more details, though it should be noted that Padilla’s deal is heavily based on incentives. With Ronald Belisario still MIA, there’s now three potential openings in the pen, news which must make Blake Hawksworth, Ron Mahay, Scott Elbert, and the cast of thousands happy.
Who knew that the additional pitching depth would be tested by February 23?
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IIRC, this is the same surgery that basically presaged the end for both Brad Penny and Eric Gagne. Very unhappy to see this.
Comment by Rob McMillin— February 23, 2011 #
With Gagne though, the nerve removal surgery was an aftereffect of his second Tommy John procedure. I don’t recall if Penny or Padilla have had Tommy John surgery.
Comment by indigo27— February 23, 2011 #
Wow. I guess give it up to Ned (for once) for continuing to sign all those seemingly washed up pitchers to minor league contracts.
Comment by Mickey Hatcher— February 23, 2011 #
Very sorry for V. Padilla I really like his stuff…
Comment by D.O´Meany— February 23, 2011 #
At least the Dodgers may have “only” lost Padilla for a time. They do have 5 capable SP’s and that loss shouldn’t be felt as much as the Cardinals possible loss of Wainwright for the season. Now, that’s a loss! And I know that Padilla did have that Hall of Fame run of 8 starts in mid-season between injuries but let’s put it into perspective. This is Vicente Padilla we’re talking about, a serviceable major league pitcher but no Adam Wainwright. Yes it’s a loss but hopefully the Dodgers can overcome this!
Comment by Abner Clarke— February 23, 2011 #
So what’s the story with Garland? For such a strange interview soon after signing, I don’t think I’ve read any follow-up to the comments he made about his arm and the negative reviews he got from other teams about the life left in his arm. Padilla is out before Spring has even sprung really and yet Garland is the one talking about health issue the moment he was signed. That’s definitely worrisome. Still have to think pitching will be a big strength this season, even with injuries. The injury bug just seems like a ticking time bomb though, waiting to go off on the Dodgers.
Comment by Wil— February 23, 2011 #
As I sit here wondering if my invitation to the royal wedding got lost in the mail, I’m seeing this news on Padilla. I happen to know that rotoimbeciles.com is Kate Middleton’s second read of the day after this wonderful site. And, I believe she did have Padilla in a mixed league. It’s a shame that Padilla went down on the same day the Cardinals got bad news on Wainwright! It’s kind of like when Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer died, Cecil B. DeMille died on the same day and Alfalfa was relegated to a little blurb on page 7. It’s all about timing in life. And I do remember those 8 GS, Abbie, as I had Padilla in an expert NL-league last year. From June 25-August 4, Padilla was 4-2 in those 8 remarkable starts and 54 IP, with 30 HA, a 1.33/0.78 ERA/WHIP, and a 48/12 K/BB. You can’t make that stuff up! The problem with Padilla is to own him in a fantasy league, he costs you $60 just because of all the DL time. Sometimes I would say that he makes Ben Sheets look healthy! Hopefully he can come back because, as a swingman, he had some value to the team in multiple roles. He’s only gone 200 innings once in the last 7 seasons and is a little on the unreliable side. And, luckily for the Dodgers, he’s no Adam Wainwright.
Comment by george hubschman— February 23, 2011 #
Good to see, George, that you’re up on your Our Gang and Little Rascals knowledge. It’s unbelievable for someone so young. I remember when Sammy Davis Jr. and Jim Henson died on the same day, maybe back in 1990, I think Jamie Moyer was 32 at the time, and the newspapers split the back page with those 2 guys. They each deserved there own spread but, as you say, timing is everything in life! Padilla is going to miss time, that’s not in question, but the great teams get past that, and with better players going down. And maybe the dour Padilla will learn a little humility, how it does go fast and you just never know. To take the great advice from you live it one day at a time because you just never know. Hopefully the news on Wainwright, also, isn’t that bad, though it appears he’ll be out for awhile. Carpenter and Garcia haven’t been the healthiest guys in the world over their careers. The Cardinals could be scrambling for a guy like Kevin Millwood who was good a lifetime ago!
Comment by Pete Sweeney— February 23, 2011 #
Padilla never was the pitcher that he was in the early part of the last decade with the Phillies. Two 14 win seasons and 251 K’s vs 115 walks in 415 innings. Injuries and ineffectiveness have curtailed any momentum and after a decent year in Texas in 2006 with career highs in wins (15) and K’s (156), he’s been scuffling. He did find nirvana over those 8 starts you guys mention and maybe the time on the shelf is just what he needs. Because the elbow may need a complete overhaul and we should be seeing Padilla on the field before the All-Star break. Just get in there and clean out the elbow. I think that Padilla is more of a half season pitcher anyway, at this point!
Comment by Richard Cranium— February 23, 2011 #
That sound you heard when it was announced that Wainwright was hurt was Kevin Millwood getting by his phone. Here’s a guy that couldn’t get a major league deal yet. That should change. Not bad for 1 guy with a 4-16 record and an over 5.00 ERA. Next to Millwood, Padilla is Tom Seaver. Hopefully he’ll make it back to the land of the living before long because Padilla could be a plus in a number of roles.
Comment by TokingAsian— February 23, 2011 #
Do we still have to pay him?
Comment by @BrocNessMonster— February 23, 2011 #
I’ve actually been reading good things via SB Nation about Hawksworth, saying that his velocity is much higher than the Dodgers expected (back up to 94-96 after moving to the bullpen?) Given that he has a prospect history similar to Elbert’s, I feel good about him. He was prized back in 2004-05. Dodgers have had so much luck with helpful bullpen pieces (not named Ortiz), so I’m a little curious to see what happens.
What say you MSTI? Here good things about Hawksworth?
And also, I thought you would be angry to read Neyer’s Top Pitcher of the Next Decade article that came out today. He admitted that it’s impossible to predict the BEST pitcher because of injuries (true), and gave a list of possible players (good)… but omitted Kershaw (absurd). I love Neyer, but I was disappointed.
Comment by Real Tom— February 23, 2011 #
Neyer decided that he would only look at pitchers who have 600 IP over the last 3 years. Kershaw couldn’t possible reach that during his age 20 and 21 seasons in 2008 and 2009. I think Neyer blew it with that, because then he’s locking in to guys with at least 3 years experience as full-time starters – guys who are most likely going to be in their mid to late 30s by the end of the decade, and well over the hill.
Comment by Dave— February 23, 2011 #
Oh well, hopefully we get to see Elymania again!
Comment by DodgersKings323— February 23, 2011 #
LA Dodgers Pitcher Vincente Padilla to undergo elbow surgery on Thursday. Read more at http://footdronline.com/blog.html
Comment by footdronline— February 24, 2011 #
[...] course, he didn’t even make it out of camp before going under the knife for arm surgery; when he came back at the end of April, not only was he not a starter, he was suddenly the closer, [...]
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