Right-hander has partial MCL tear in right elbow By Alyson Footer / MLB.com Brian Moehler will have to decide between extensive rehab and Tommy John surgery. (Tony Dejak/AP) HOUSTON -- Brian Moehler described Wednesday as "one of my darker days in baseball" after receiving the news that an MRI revealed a partial tear of the medial collateral ligament in his right elbow. The right-hander must now decide to either undergo an extensive rehab period or have Tommy John surgery. "Tommy John surgery would not only finish his season this year but next year as well," GM Gerry Hunsicker said. "That's a long haul. The other option is starting the conservative rehab, but that probably doesn't have great odds and the best case scenario is six to eight weeks before he can compete." Moehler hopes to have a decision in the next day or so. "I want to decide as quick as possible," he said. "If I'm going to have surgery I want to do it right away. I don't want to keep waiting. I'll go home and think about it tonight and in the next couple days I'll have a decision." Moehler, two years removed from undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery, has plans to speak with a number of players who have had the Tommy John procedure before he makes his decision. "You can walk into a room and talk to two or three guys who had it," Moehler said. "It's not as scary as shoulder surgery. Kerry Wood's had it, (Matt) Morris has had it. The list goes on and on. "If it's not going to get any better than we'll just have to wait and see if surgery is an option. I really don't know right now. I just have to think about it."
Don't let Shane's 4-1 record fool you. The Braves have averaged 8.3 runs a game in games Shane has started. He has a 5.05 era, which is even higher (6.35) at Turner Field, a (relatively speaking) pitcher's park. His era in one game at MMP this year? 8.44 At a cost of 6 million, I'd have cut him too. Redding has been a far better pitcher than Reynolds, Robertson has looked really good his last two times out, and you couldn't forsee Moehler's injury.
Don't let Shane's 4-1 record fool you. The Braves have averaged 8.3 runs a game in games Shane has started. He has a 5.05 era, Which makes him better than 4 of our "starters" (Munro, Saarloos, Miller, and Robertson). I'm not sure exactly who our actual starters are right now since 3 of those guys have mixed into the bullpen at times. At a cost of 6 million, I'd have cut him too. He didn't cost 6 million. He cost $1 million -- which was guaranteed and already paid -- and only cost more if he reached various incentives. In other words, he would only cost 6 million if he kicked ass for us, in which case it would have been worth it.
The incentives were # of games started. No matter how bad he sucked, the more he pitched, the more he would have made.
Behad, dont let the numbers fool you, or the run support. Take out one of Shane's starts in which he gave up 10 runs in 3 innings and you get the following numbers: 43 innings pitched and 16 earned runs = 3.35 ERA Im no rocket scientist, but thats pretty good.
