Ryan Braun: Intercostal strain, or something worse?

[Ennder]

Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to contact Geoff Jenkins at this point?

I would put money on Nelson outproducing Jenkins over 200 PAs.

[DougJones43]

Perhaps "panicking about a phantom injury" and "grasping at straws" were not an entirely accurate portrayal of this situation?

[Invader3K]

It will take more than two days sitting on the bench to decide that or not. My guess is this might be one of those nagging things Braun will have to deal with throughout the season, but hopefully it won't be something that puts him on the DL. They way he's been hitting in the last couple weeks doesn't make it seem like he's been severely hurt.

[endaround]

Its hard to say, the last three games he was 1 for 12 with no walks and 6Ks. It could be random variation or something might have popped.

[DougJones43]

It will take more than two days sitting on the bench to decide that or not.

 

Not really. You seem to be back-pedaling on your original stance that there is nothing wrong with him -- that the injury concern was just some figment of our imaginations. Braun has confirmed that the injury exists and is still bothering him. Seems like that pretty clearly means that the injury isn't and never was "phantom," but is indeed very real.

[Invader3K]

I do think people were placing an over emphasis on the injury when he was hitting poorly to start the season.

[Fatter than Joey]

I do think people were placing an over emphasis on the injury when he was hitting poorly to start the season.

 

Why? -- Being hurt is a good reason as any for struggling.

[SoCal Brew Crew Fan]

I do think people were placing an over emphasis on the injury when he was hitting poorly to start the season.

 

I'm not so sure about that. It seems that between the end of last season and early this season he's been struggling and he's been hurt. Maybe that isn't a perfect cause and effect, but it sure smells like it. I would think Ryan would want to get the MRI and if needed adjust his training regimen to help his back out. Especially if this is one of those nagging things that doesn't completely go away.

[TheCrew07]

The part about this whole thing that really bothers me is that this issue should have been 1 and done, meaning it completed healed itself over the winter. The longer this goes, the worse I feel about it because it's becomes more likely he'll just continually aggravate it, maybe risking something permanent. This injury is new to me so I'm not familiar with diagnosis or treatment, it's just unsettling the injury didn't heal properly all off season and that we're approaching a year since the initial injury and it's still an issue.

 

If Braun is thinking about the injury at the plate then it will have an effect, but I doubt he'd ever admit that to the media where we'd hear about it anyway.