Postgame update: Blackburn might not miss a start
Posted on June 1st, 2008 – 5:10 PMBy Joe Christensen
Twins pitcher Nick Blackburn might not have to miss a start after being hit in the nose and upper lip with a line drive from the Yankees’ Bobby Abreu in Sunday’s 5-1 victory.
“I would doubt it,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhrie said, when asked if Blackburn would miss any time. “He’s just got a big lip out there. He seems pretty upbeat. He’ll be pretty sore the next couple days. I think he’s going to be fine. He’s a pretty tough guy.”
Blackburn’s upper lip is swollen, and his nose is red. But under the circumstances, he was very lucky.
Asked if he thinks the scary moment will affect him next time he pitches, Blackburn said, “I don’t think so. You can’t let it bother you. You’ve gotta go back out and keep pitching the way you were before. I might be a little gun-shy. I don’t think I will. We’ll see. That’ll be something that gets answered next time I go back out there.”
43 Responses to "Postgame update: Blackburn might not miss a start"
Pitchers should have some type of face protection. ! ! !
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d76/GreatAdthulhu/JasonColor.jpg
Looks like jason is wearing a cup for protection also.
re: Mudcat
I don’t get it. What would you do with a machete on the mound?
I wish a line drive would strike Bonser in the face.
GREENMACHINE:
Having a machete handy would sure take the fight out of a batter rushing the mound after a beanball.
jeez eric, a little harsh, don’t you think? Fatman gonna be back. He looked like he was on the verge of being decent a couple years ago.
that doesn’t sound right. i think i mean “charging” the mound.
was thinking of infield choppers and flies slicing foul.
machete in hand = not that big of a gambler!
Get well, Blackburn!
He took the pitch off the face, so it’s just a matter of if his face still hurts. Can’t picture it taking him down for the count.
Good to see the bullpen step in and pick up the team after that happened too.
Thank god. I wish Blackie all the best. (that really is uncomfortable saying…) Here’s hoping he returns quickly and maintains form, he’s been a force this season.
If he was really that tough he’d have stayed in the game. Now that would have been impressive, but stupid. Head injuries are nothing to mess with.
I remember when that catcher (what was him name?) from St. Louis got hit in the face by a pitch. His teeth were littered all over the ground and he was spitting out blood profusely, and he never even went down. He stood the whole time. Now that’s the meaning of toughness right there. To get drilled like that and never leave your feet.
Is Macri going down to Rochester when Baker is activated? The Twins staff looks like they need another arm right now but that would make the bench pretty thin. 13 pitchers seems like a little overkill, though.
Off topic, but recall on Howard’s blog a little over a week ago he featured a hypothesis which said that Gogo is more valuable then Santana (thus far) and we had a debate…
I was thinking about it as I’m watching Santana pitch tonight…Gogo is a fun guy to watch, but there are a lot of leadoff hitters who have a .285 avg., .340 OBP (or whatever it is) and a couple HRs…but Santana has 2 Cy Youngs…I don’t think there’s a lot of Johan Santanas in baseball (this said as we realize he has yet to fully dominate this year). Therefore, though it clearly remains to be seen who got the better end of the bargain, I think it’s safe to say at this point Santana is the more valuable player.
Rincon released or traded. Bass attempted to be sent down. Oof Onser traded. Livan traded. These are all more likely moves instead of carrying 13 pitchers ( I hope). Tolbert when healthy could be new 2nd Base with Casilla moving to SS. THAT would be a fast, athletic middle infield. Atkins from Rockies or La Roche from Dodgers could be the answer at 3rd. Punto utility infielder. Lamb back up 3rd, 1st & lefty pinch hitter Come on Mr. Smith, solidify defense, offense & bench with one trade. 
I wish a line drive would strike Bonser in the face.
You can’t really believe that. Of all the stupid things I’ve seen on this blog, that has to be the stupidest.
Johan is not the same pitcher he was 2 years ago I don’t even recognize his stuff anymore. He hardly ever throws the Slider anymore and his Fastball is 90-91 very hittable. His changeup makes him a good pitcher but he is not a great pitcher anymore and he is being paid to be a great pitcher so I don’t think their is any doubt the Twins got the best of the deal. Gogo is going to be special, then you got Kevin Mulvey who will be a good 4th starter. Philip Humber was a through in, but the crown jewel was Deolis Guerra. To see a kid who is 18-19 throwing in the low 90’s with a good slider is unheard of and he will be an ace so there is no doubt we got the best of the trade.
Right Travis, I’m sure the money was somehow factored into Howard’s opinion also. But watching the Mets right now on ESPN, it seems like we should have gotten one of their big names for one of our big names. One has to remember, the trade was NOT one for one, Johan for Gogomez.
TWEETY:
(that’s kind of uncomfortable also!)
The nickname debate was answered yesterday when someone asked if Rondell White should be called “Whitey”.
Sid Hartman was funny this morning on the radio when he nick-named (or mispronounced) Nick PeeYou-nto.
Pee-You-nto.
I kinda like that.
jason,
Replay from the lineup announcement this Noon:
sane says:
June 1st, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Jason where are you?
You have been complaining all year that Mauer should not be in the 3-hole.
Somebody was listening.
You got your way.
Mauer is out of the 3-hole.
Put down the champagne bottle.
Redmond (.226BA, 0HR-3RBI) is in.
Careful what you ask for.
“If he was really that tough he’d have stayed in the game.”
He was bleeding. And since
“Rincon released or traded. Bass attempted to be sent down. Oof Onser traded. Livan traded.”
So Baker replaces Boof…and who comes up to replace Rincon and Livan?
“If he was really that tough he’d have stayed in the game.”
He was bleeding. Not to mention he had just taken a ball to the head. Regardless of how he may have felt, they had to pull him to make sure it wasn’t anything more severe than potentially a broken nose.
“Rincon released or traded. Bass attempted to be sent down. Oof Onser traded. Livan traded.”
So Baker replaces Boof…and who comes up to replace Rincon and Livan?
“I think it’s safe to say at this point Santana is the more valuable player.”
People who compare the trade as though it were Santana for Gomez straight up are very mistaken. The best assessment of the trade comes once we see how the other three players (Humber, Mulvey, Guerra) pan out.
If it had been something like Santana/Reyes or Santana/Wright it would’ve been easier to assess the trade this season.
Santana looked good last night on TV. Seven and two thirds innings,only 6 K’s but a bunch of goose eggs in the box score. He’s 7and 3. Does that mean he’s had seven strong games for Mets?
I think we’ve got seven strong games out of Gomez all by himself.
But I say never get rid of your All-Star players ’till they start stinking up the place. It’s not my money anyway.
I have to laugh at all the people who think Johan is washed up and not the pitcher he used to be at the ripe old age of 29. That reminds me of a former Red Sox pitcher whom they and a lot of other people thought was washed up at that age. What was his name again?
T,
“People who compare the trade as though it were Santana for Gomez straight up are very mistaken. The best assessment of the trade comes once we see how the other three players (Humber, Mulvey, Guerra) pan out.”
We also have to see how the $126 million that we are NOT paying Santana pans out.
bc you mean the roid guy? probably would have been washed up if it weren’t for the juice. we’ll never know!
gobble i thought about that as well but wasn’t he injured or something in his last two years with the sox? From what i understand roids help pitchers heal faster but i’m not sure if it helps there overall strength. I don’t remember Clemens having a better fastball as he got older it was more just better command of all his pitches.
Too bad we couldn’t have gotten somebody for Torii. We just finished last anyway.
At least it seemed like last place.
Maybe we could have gotten a cheap veteran starter like Livan (if there are any).
Speaking of the Roid Sox, I fell asleep listening to Manny Ramirez and his 500th homer.
I might pay more attention to Griffey Jr’s. 600th.
And what’s up with Orioles’ crowd going nuts over a Boston player’s home run?
That’s like a standing “O” for Brett Favre in the Dome.
Mudcat we did get two players for Torri but we won’t know who untill the draft and then it will be take about 3 years to see if they’ll be any good or not.
bc many baseball people have commented about the fast ball speed being down this yr and most are blaming guys getting off the juice. look how much rincon has lost after his suspension. never been the same.
probably more to do with recovery between appearances and stamina.
on another subject is there anyone out there that still thinks the twins should have taken prior instead of mauer?
I forgot that. Not a big fan of draft choices. Some teams (like the Vikings) trade them like kids with bubble gum cards (which used to REALLY be fun!)
GOBBLE:
Richard Prior? He’s a little funnier.
Tougher too, I think. Lit himself on fire freebasing coke.
not so much, richard prior died a few years back. i’m sure he lived a fun life, however.
“on another subject is there anyone out there that still thinks the twins should have taken prior instead of mauer?”
It’s easy to say that now but at the time Prior was the better player. I feel bad for that guy so much talent just ruined by Dusty Baker and company. I am happy we got Mauer though.
of course teixeira is better than both but we’d have had to trade him by now.
prior was a college guy so should have been more polished. i read somewhere that the failure rate for pitchers drafted high is much greater than position players just because of the injury problems many times even before getting to the majors.
mauer isn’t johnny bench but he is a very good player, pampered a little.
“We also have to see how the $126 million that we are NOT paying Santana pans out.”
Excellent point. Is it fair to consider that money as part of Morneau/Cuddy/Nathan this season?
I agree with that and i don’t think we’ve seen the best of Mauer just yet. The draft is a crap shoot at best if you go back and look at all the number one picks over the years you’ll be surpised at how many of them didn’t pan out.
“That’s like a standing “O” for Brett Favre in the Dome.”
I would wager both of those are for the same reason: Road fans.
Boston fans travel a LOT. Which is why it doesn’t matter which park they’re in, it always sounds like Fenway. That and because they come out of the woodwork locally.
I saw a Yankee fan on TV that reminds me why I hate them as road fans. Most road fans will cheer when they’re team is doing well…but Yankee fans seem to get this really sarcastic/smug look.
Like they get up and cheer and their face is saying: “Oh yeah…look at me! I totally am supporting my team now that they’re winning!”
These are the same types of fans that will sit on their hands for 9 innings and not say a word when they’re team is losing. Even for a big strike out or run producing hit.
New blog for MONDAY NIGHT BASEBALL! ! !
Gobble,
Actually Rincon has had three very good seasons with the Twins:
2004
2005
2006
He was suspended beginning of 2005 season for steroids and did just fine the that season and the next.
2007 was really bad and 2008 is not off to a good start. But the problem is the number of walks he is issuing - not certain how steroids help throwing the ball over the plate
Not a big fan of draft choices.
How do you think the Twins acquired Hunter in the first place? Or Mauer, Morneau, Cuddyer, Baker, Blackburn, Crain, Perkins, Slowey, etc. The draft is the lifeblood of this team. The two draft picks they get for Hunter will pay off in a few years. Several studies show that draft compensation is better than deadline trade compensation for impending free agents.
Punto was a little sore on Sunday, but he will be in there, as the everyday SS. Gardy has made his decision.
Adam Everett could change that decision when he returns. Everett should be back and able to throw normally. He has a stress reaction in his shoulder. Rest should afford him a 100% cure, according to his doctors. Everett will give Gardy some nice depth, along with Punto at SS.
Lamb can hit, but solid glove-work at 3B has been absent. I think Lamb eventually becomes the primary DH.
Gardy will have some better options at 3B, as players heal up, with Tolbert and possibly Punto, filling the 3B void. Harris also needs to play a little, somewhere.
Gardy is smart sticking Redmond in the number three slot, when Mauer rests. Redmond is a good hitter, and there’s no sense shaking up the lineup, for one game.
The Twins could go with 13 pitchers, but I doubt if they do it, unless they could find a taker for Kubel or Monroe. 13 pitchers would be a very wise move.
The Twins have too many no-field types.
Most anyone could bat in the number 3 slot and get a hit with this squad. It all hinges on having one of the speed demons on base when you bat. If Go-Go or Casilla are on, the batter’s gonna see fastballs instead of junk, in honor of the speed aboard. Most everyone in the bigs can hit the heat.
