Ben Sheets: done for year? (Merged: Sheets with a torn flexor mass muscle? / reply#15ish)

[rluzinski]

That being said, I still think you can look at Ben as *more* of a risk than someone who's been relatively healthy. Some people have pointed out that because all of his injuries are to different parts of his body that he's just been unlucky, and not necessarily "injury prone". I disagree with that, but I can at least see the merit of the argument.

 

Well, I don't think it's smart to assume even 175 innings from him next year, so I obviously agree to some degree about him being injury prone. I'm just not sure if he has a higher probability of blowing out his arm, that's all. For a 1 year deal, I'd love to find out.

[jjfanec]

If Sheets was willing to do a one year deal I think you have to take. heck, Melvin gave Gagne 10 million after a terrible end to a season. I just think some team will give him more years and good money. The only way we get him is he decides to take a one year deal to prove he can stay healthy and then cash in, but I dont see that happening.

[logan82]

Everyone seems to be assuming he'll be ready to go for OD next season. Is this the case? It sounds like he could be out longer than that, hence my assumption that arbitration is a route we won't take.

Why would it be a problem if he isn't ready for opening day? As long as he would be ready by May, I think we should offer arbitration. Unless we can spend that money on improving our team in another area that would be better than having Sheets for 5 months.

 

I don't think at any point next year we will have 5 starters better than Sheets. If we have $70M commited and $20M to spend, we might as well spend it to make our team better. It doens't hurt our team the next year if we make a bad one year signing.

[sbrylski]

But is it May? I have yet to see any type of timetable for this injury. Are we looking at him being back for ST? OD? AS-Break? September '09?

[Ennder]

No way to know just yet how serious it is. My sinking suspicion is that pitching him in September made things worse and now it is something serious instead of a just rest it type of injury. The fact it went from discomfirt to intense pain during the process worries me a lot.

 

I'm no physical trainer myself but it sounds like this was all mishandled on the Brewer side of things.

[Fatter than Joey]

I'm no physical trainer myself but it sounds like this was all mishandled on the Brewer side of things.

 

Yeah -- I don't think he has "tired arm". I still think you offer him Arby's -- and if it is clear he is out for the year (2009) his salary isn't guaranteed.

[naivin]

I'm no physical trainer myself but it sounds like this was all mishandled on the Brewer side of things.

I am always skeptical of the Brewers where injuries are concerned, but even I have a hard time believing the medical staff is that incometent, negligent, _________, etc. I will accept the position that it ia a short-term rest type of injury, because the alternative is just too mind boggling.

[BADGERJOBOB]

I would love to have Sheeter back but his injuries are too much of a problem considering the money we would need to dish out. I would probably offer him arbitration so we can get the picks (Sheets is looking for a long term deal and will get one). I would prefer spending the money on Derrick Lowe (Sheets type money). A money pitcher with a sinker, who has a ton of playoff and MLB experience and stays healthy all year. CC is a pipedream but a nice one to have. Go into next year with Gallardo, Lowe, Parra, Bush and Suppan with Villanueva and McClung as fillins in case of injuries.

 

Oh and without Sheets, we are not in position to make the playoffs this year.

[joepepsi]

I've always thought Sheets compared well to Schilling. Schilling had two great seasons in his mid 20's then battled injuries for 3 seasons. Once he hit 30 he did a better job staying healthy and really hit his stride.

 

With this injury it's tough to argue Sheets in not injury prone. However, like Schilling or Molitor, the injuries have been unrelated for the most part. And this is really the only one that's been directly related to his arm. So while he may battle injuries his whole career, it's just as possible he'll start stringing together injury free All Star caliber seasons for the next several years.

[DonMoney4Mgr]

Although I would lean towards going with a one year deal, it's hard to ignore the fact that Sheets does not win often enough. He puts up decent number for sure, except in the win column. You can argue run support, bad luck, whatever, but this has gone on his whole career. Lincecome and Lee put up pretty good win totals this year for bad teams.

[Schlitz001]

The only real influence Ben Sheets has toward his team's run support is his own batting, which as everyone knows stinks. Other than that I don't see how you can blame Ben Sheets for not winning more games.

 

The negativity towards Sheets I don't quite understand. The only argument against him is that he is injury prone, but most of his injuries have been unrelated and none of them have prevented him from putting in less than 100 IP/year. As was stated above he has averaged more than 175 IP/year since 2001. On top of that we saw him get his fastball up to 97 this year at times, so he clearly still has his velocity. He is a competitor and has the ability to finish out a game when given the opportunity. If anything, this current injury and his "low win total" will help the Brewers chances to sign Sheets, which no one can argue would be a bad thing.

[Ennder]

Sheets pitched 29 healthy games this year and 20 healthy starts last year. In those 49 starts he is 25-12. Put that into a standard 34 start season and he is 17-8.

 

Lincecum has 57 career starts and in those 57 starts he is 25-10.

 

Not really seeing the point.

[TooLiveBrew]

it's hard to ignore the fact that Sheets does not win often enough. He puts up decent number for sure, except in the win column. You can argue run support, bad luck, whatever, but this has gone on his whole career.

 

Oh man, not this again. W-L record to analyze pitchers is like using W-L to analyze a QB -- a total waste of time.

[logan82]

But is it May? I have yet to see any type of timetable for this injury. Are we looking at him being back for ST? OD? AS-Break? September '09?

Not sure how long the injury will keep him out, but I would assume that would be taken into consideration when negotiationg his contract. I just don't think we can say that we shouldn't offer arbitration if he isn't ready by opening day. Even a half season of Sheets over our 5th best starter is likely to have more impact then anything else we could do with the money over one year.

 

You can argue run support, bad luck, whatever, but this has gone on his whole career.

You are right, he has had bad run support over most of his career.