Apr
2
2012

Francisco Battling Sore Knee All Spring?

An article by Hojo's Mojo

According to Mike Puma of the NY Post had the following blurb in a report this morning about closer Frank Francisco:

Frank Francisco limped across the parking lot and told an observer he’s battling a toe problem, but manager Terry Collins said the reliever has dealt with a sore knee all spring.

Francisco is having one of the worst springs of any player on the team and is 0-2 with a 5.54 ERA in Grapefruit League play for the Mets. That’s not exactly what you want to see from your biggest offseason signing of the Winter at two years, $12 million dollars.

This is like the third or fourth time this spring, that a poor performance is suddenly linked to a previously never reported injury. (Pelfrey, Byrdak)

It’s a bid odd and only shows that the way this team communicates player injuries hasn’t changed much in the last five years.

I also find it interesting that these players are still participating in games, drills and workouts on top of these injuries, it really makes no sense.

About the Author: Rob Johnson

12 Comments + Add Comment

Alex68 April 2, 2012 at 9:10 am

Let the excuses begin………………
stick April 2, 2012 at 9:56 am

Not sure why teams are supposed to supply all the details about every minor ailment. Why can’t they try to keep things internal? If nothing else, it keeps the competition guessing!

This isn’t the NFL where they are required to publish injury reports 9with fines if they fudge). That is only for gamblers anyway.

You want the team to announce every time a pitcher has a sore foot say, to let teams know that he can’t get off the mound well so they might want to bunt? Just one example.
- trs86 April 2, 2012 at 10:01 am
  
  Why because the media coverage is ridiculous. In the past what reporter would have even seen Frank waddling across the player parking lot in Spring Training.
- Gina April 2, 2012 at 10:17 am
  
  I disagree Stick. The last GM was clobbered incessantly over this, and other teams do report injuries and do so accurately. After all the historic injuries this team had endured, coupled with all the misdiagnoses, miscommunication, etc. they need to get their act together IMO. Why is Francisco playing games with a sore knee?
  - trs86 April 2, 2012 at 10:19 am
    
    I am guessing because it is not bad enough to warrant him missing the time needed to build up his arm. You also have to rely sometimes on the player and if a player does not tell anyone…
    - stick April 2, 2012 at 10:48 am
      
      that is my point. If a guy is out, then it makes sense to say why. But if a guy is playing, they shouldn’t have to spill the beans on every ache and pain.
srt April 2, 2012 at 10:25 am

Reading other teams blogs, I can tell you that the number one complain I read among fans deals with injuries. All fans feel their FO is never telling them the truth.

Hey…..I’ll grasp at any straws to point to the awful stats so far from Francisco.
Metsie April 2, 2012 at 10:42 am

Why is everyone making this about reporting injuries and not what SHOULD be the topic of conversation…
WHY IS AN INJURED GUY PLAYING?

Is it the same reasoning that told Beltran not to have surgery and try to slog through another year on a knee that needed surgery?

Or is it truly so Minor that he shouldn’t sit thereby making this injury a piss poor excuse for his performance and merely damage control trying to hide the fact that the one guy they DID decide to spend money on may not be worth that money?
- trs86 April 2, 2012 at 10:46 am
  
  Collins said he has dealt with a “sore” knee all spring, not an “injured” knee. Are you hurt or are you injured?
  - srt April 2, 2012 at 10:50 am
    
    And I have to assume they at least had the knee checked out….at least I would hope.
    
    Read this morning that Dickey pitched his last 20 starts last year with a shot of tramodoyl(sp?).
    Others from time to time. Still others have had that same shot so far this ST.
    
    I have to believe there is a difference between playing through soreness issues and playing with an actual injury.
  - stick April 2, 2012 at 10:51 am
    
    exactly. If you can play, you aren’t injured (or at least it is supposed to work like that!)
    
    during the season, guys play banged up/sore/achy all the time. Just part of the game. And if that is the case, no reason they should divulge all the details.
    
    and the FO really does not owe the public a full explanation on everything going on. There are still trade secrets!
MetsJets13 April 2, 2012 at 2:51 pm

Typical Mets, they’ll never change.

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