A couple key player injury updates today, as we persist in something of a limbo space with respect to both Kris Bryant and Yu Darvish.
The news is not explicitly bad on these guys, but it certainly doesn’t offer you any kind of encouragement about the proximity of their returns. First, on Bryant:
Joe Maddon said Kris Bryant is still feeling discomfort in his shoulder . He said Bryant will test it again Friday .( Bryant has been on the DL 12 days)
— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) July 4, 2018
Kris Bryant basically day to day. Unsure about Friday activation. He’s better but not fully healed.
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) July 4, 2018
Maddon, on Bryant’s shoulder injury: “I don’t think it’s long-term debilitating.” Admits he’s frustrated, today serves as maintenance day, will re-test on Friday.
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) July 4, 2018
If the Cubs and Bryant are determined to get him back to 100% discomfort-free before he returns to game action, it could still be a while yet if he’s feeling discomfort after 10+ days of rest and then some swings. The pro here is that, unlike with a pitcher, there’s less need to slowly build back to game action, in terms of readiness to play high-level baseball. When Bryant feels OK physically, he’ll probably be ready to face live pitching almost that same day (unless we’re talking about him out for another two or more weeks, I suppose).
The con, obviously, is that no one seems to know what’s gonna make the discomfort go away. This is quite a bummer, and I’d be lying if I said I was optimistic that Bryant will return on Friday.
The Yu Darvish update is also quite a bummer:
#Cubs Maddon talked to Darvish today and says they're trying to come up with a plan to get him on the field as soon as possible
— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) July 4, 2018
No news on Darvish day 5 post cortisone shot, Maddon indicated Darvish felt better but no info on throwing program, etc.
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) July 4, 2018
Joe Maddon said that there is plan for Yu Darvish to get with trainers and continue rehab . Maddon said there is not a plan yet for him to throw . Asked if Darvish must start from scratch “ I just don t know”
— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) July 4, 2018
Five days of no throwing after a cortisone shot to address the pain in the elbow caused by an impingement, and there is still no sense about anything. That’s … not great. It also makes me think that, yes, Darvish will very much be starting from scratch whenever he is able to start throwing again.
Any hopes you had of seeing him again before the All-Star break should be completely foreclosed for your own sanity, and let’s just hope he’s able to pitch for a meaningful chunk of the second half.