Felix Status, Per Dr. Khalfayan

by Jeff Sullivan on Apr 19, 2007 3:12 PM PDT in Seattle Mariners News, Regular

MRI shows a flexor-pronator strain, "as good a news as you can expect from an injury (to the elbow)." Nothing related to the UCL. He won't throw for five days, after which he'll be re-evaluated. Khalfayan doesn't expect him to miss much action, although he was reluctant to give a timetable for Felix's return (update: sounds like 10-20 days, could go to a month if given a rehab assignment). Also said it's similar to what Putz was dealing with a few weeks ago.

I am happy.

Another update: "This is a very common pitcher injury," Khalfayan said. "Felix's injury is minor. We are optimistic he won't miss too much time."

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Wow.

Unbelievable relief has washed over me.

I reject your reality and substitute my own!

by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Apr 19, 2007 3:13 PM PDT reply actions

Maybe

the season is not quite over yet!

by dz on Apr 19, 2007 3:14 PM PDT reply actions

What the hell

is a flexor-pronator strain, and what are other examples of this in other pitchers?

by Fett42 on Apr 19, 2007 3:14 PM PDT reply actions

Long-list

Tommy John
Francisco Liriano
Eddie Guardado
Arthur Rhodes
AJ Burnett
Rafael Soriano

...

I keed, I keed.

I reject your reality and substitute my own!

by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Apr 19, 2007 3:17 PM PDT up reply actions

JJ Putz circa this March, for one.

(Just updated the post above.)

by Jeff Sullivan on Apr 19, 2007 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions

Basically

he hurt the muscle he uses to bend his elbow.

Come on! I've had better runs in my shorts!-Rip Torn, Dodgeball.

by Coach Owens on Apr 19, 2007 3:36 PM PDT up reply actions

Whoa, Nelly - reality check here.

Hey Landers - I'm a Cardinals fan - I regularly post about injuries there, as I'm a physical therapist.

Just so you know, the flexor/pronator muscle group helps to stabilize the medial elbow. Yes, the same area where the UCL (Tommy John) ligament lies. So a flexor/pronator strain is related to medial elbow strain - the same strain that can blow out the ulnar collateral ligament. I would say that Felix is not out of the woods just yet. The call for the abandoning of the slider just might not be a bad one.

I care because I drafted Felix on 2 of my 3 fantasy teams - watched him pitch against the Sox, and I'm hooked. The kid is a freak.

That being said - it is a great sign that there is no ligament damage. But remember that Francisco Liriano had NO LIGAMENT TEAR show up on the MRI. He ended up having continued pain and, of course, undergoing Tommy John.

I wish him and you guys the best of luck.

Look on the bright side, Jeff Weaver moves up in the rotation. Gnarly, dude.

by SilentBob on Apr 19, 2007 5:04 PM PDT up reply actions

Don't crush my hope.

Please.

New Federal Holiday-Every 5 days is Felix day.

by Coach Owens on Apr 19, 2007 6:34 PM PDT up reply actions

They should still skip his next start

And start Morrow or some other prospect worth watching.

by JLC on Apr 19, 2007 3:15 PM PDT reply actions

Well, since he's not touching a ball for five days

I think it's safe to say he's skipping his next start. Probably two.

by Jeff Sullivan on Apr 19, 2007 3:17 PM PDT up reply actions

so far so good....

I would still be VERY VERY cautious, but this is excellent news.

by MFAN on Apr 19, 2007 3:16 PM PDT reply actions

Time for the rest of the M's

to prove they are worthy of the King's return.

by manyoso on Apr 19, 2007 3:16 PM PDT reply actions

Count your lucky stars, Grover

Your ass was just saved for a little bit longer.

by oneiric232 on Apr 19, 2007 3:20 PM PDT reply actions

You know, all we need now

is for Skip Bayless to tear his labrum.

by Jeff Sullivan on Apr 19, 2007 3:21 PM PDT reply actions

Or to tear his groin

while in a compromising position with a transvestite. In front of an amateur photographer who also runs a photography website.

by Gomez on Apr 19, 2007 3:24 PM PDT up reply actions

To adapt a Monty Python bit:

"Skip Bayless has had an asshole transplant...the asshole's rejected him!"

I reject your reality and substitute my own!

by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Apr 19, 2007 3:24 PM PDT up reply actions

His name is Skip

Enough said.

by Fett42 on Apr 19, 2007 3:31 PM PDT up reply actions

Thank God, FSM, whatever.

Now I can stop my obsessive-compulsive surfing for updates on Felix, and actually get some work done today.

by FWombat on Apr 19, 2007 3:25 PM PDT reply actions

I officially owe my soul to several evil deities

The poster formerly known as KnightofKingK

by Robert on Apr 19, 2007 3:45 PM PDT reply actions

Didn't Putz say he was still feeling sore

late in spring training? And that he would pitch through it?

I don't trust the fact that the team's two best pitchers only had such minor injuries. Not during a season in which Hargrove and Bavasi are only concerned with winning & their employment futures.

by Katal LM on Apr 19, 2007 4:04 PM PDT reply actions

Did some surfing

And most of the medical sites say that this is an overuse type of injury similar to Tennis Elbow (but in reverse).

Here is an article about Medial Epicondylitis: http://www.emedicine.com/PMR/topic74.htm , which seems to be similar, if not a bit worse.

Go M's

by OBF on Apr 19, 2007 4:23 PM PDT reply actions

Yeah

The doctor said it was a repetition injury, not a sudden freak injury.

by Jeff Sullivan on Apr 19, 2007 4:29 PM PDT up reply actions

Repetition....

Begs the question as to whether he was overworked it in his first 2 starts. Hate to go down that road but who knows....

Mariner Magic http://www.marinermagic.blogspot.com/

by BaltimoreMarinersFan on Apr 19, 2007 5:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Like shin splints of the arm or something?

Too much throwing too soon?

by Fett42 on Apr 19, 2007 5:14 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah maybe

I mean he went 110+ in both of those starts. Just interesting to me that the word repetition was used.

Mariner Magic http://www.marinermagic.blogspot.com/

by BaltimoreMarinersFan on Apr 19, 2007 5:40 PM PDT up reply actions

Repetition just means

it didn't happen on one pitch.

by Jeff Sullivan on Apr 19, 2007 5:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Flexor-Pronator

Is a muscle in the forearm, so this really a Forearm strain and NOT an Elbow strain.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2003673098_webfelix19.html?syndication=rss

I blame this all on his slider! Why didn't he just stick with FB, Curve, Change!

Go M's

by OBF on Apr 19, 2007 4:27 PM PDT reply actions

It's all connected

Forearm problems can equal ligament problems. NO MORE SLIDERS. EVER.

by Jeff Nusser on Apr 19, 2007 4:37 PM PDT up reply actions

LOL

I love how Felix's injury has turned the site into a virtual WebMD. :)

by tait644 on Apr 19, 2007 5:41 PM PDT reply actions

Man this is nothing...

go look at VEB after Chris Carpenter's injury.

Lots of people stayed at a Holliday Inn Express during the week that followed his injury.

by SilentBob on Apr 19, 2007 6:37 PM PDT up reply actions

Rumors are swirling

that he's out for the season.

by Katal LM on Apr 19, 2007 8:42 PM PDT up reply actions

I'll take it

We're not out of the (Jake) woods, but it could be so very much worse.

by jtopps on Apr 19, 2007 6:02 PM PDT reply actions

Breathing a huge sigh of relief

It may be that he saved his career by calling for the trainer as early as he did. Far too many pitchers would have just tried to pitch through it, which would only have made things worse; the kid showed a lot of maturity.
I'm an A's fan myself, but I hope King Felix and Rich Harden both come back healthy and contend for the Cy Young for the rest of the season.

by ambassador on Apr 19, 2007 6:52 PM PDT reply actions

If you let us win on Felix days

We will let you win every other game.

The poster formerly known as KnightofKingK

by Robert on Apr 19, 2007 7:20 PM PDT up reply actions

I'll make you a deal

Harden can stay healthy if Felix stays healthy.

by dz on Apr 19, 2007 7:23 PM PDT up reply actions

If Felix comes back

I don't think Harden will be contending for much of anything.

by Edgar for Pres on Apr 19, 2007 7:24 PM PDT up reply actions

Careful

Scrappy doesn't like it when you are cocky. He feeds on disappointment like its a big bag of Snausuages

The poster formerly known as KnightofKingK

by Robert on Apr 19, 2007 7:48 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah no shit.

Let's not piss that damn dog off again.

No sir, I don't like it. ~Mr.Horse

by Goose on Apr 19, 2007 7:59 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm just saying

I think a healthy Felix is much better than a healthy Harden. Don't you?

by Edgar for Pres on Apr 19, 2007 8:35 PM PDT up reply actions

Honestly, if it meant they'd both come back...

...healthy, soon, and for the duration, I'd be happy to see Felix win the Cy Young running away, while Harden just gets a nod for "guy who would have won if not for Hernandez and his twenty perfect games."

by ambassador on Apr 19, 2007 7:54 PM PDT up reply actions