This morning, Peter Gammons made his weekly appearance on the Mut & Merloni show, and provided some rather interesting insight into the Jed Lowrie shoulder injury situation.
“They have no idea. He told me that he’s gotten two different opinions. Jed went through this with the wrist. He got two different opinions, they went with the first one, it cost him almost a year of his career. So, to say that he’s a little cynical about what goes on here, that’s kind…They don’t think it’s bad, they don’t think it will be more than two or three weeks. But until he sees Dr. [Lewis] Yocum, he basically isn’t going to believe what he hears.”
This certainly isn’t the first time we’ve heard this about the Red Sox medical staff. Last year, we dealt with the Jacoby Ellsbury rib injury saga that resulted in the speedy left fielder not only missing all but 18 games, but engaging in a war of words (so to speak) with the team regarding his injury status. Daisuke Matsuzaka also complained about the quality of the medical treatment he received from the team. He even went as far as stating he wasn’t injured despite reports coming from management disputing his claims. Then, as Gammons mentioned earlier today, Lowrie’s experience with the team’s medical staff left a bad taste in his mouth in the aftermath of a wrist injury that nearly derailed his career. Understandably, he’s a little skeptical of their diagnosis, and will await Dr. Yocum’s response before making a decision.
In related news, Gammons indicated that the Red Sox were considering the idea of promoting infield prospect Yamaico Navarro once he’s fully recovered from his oblique injury. Navarro, when healthy, has been hitting the cover off of the ball to the tune of .283/.387/.538 in AAA Pawtucket. In addition to improved plate discipline and solid pop, he’s incredibly versatile defensively. While he’ll likely play his share of innings at 2B, 3B, and SS; he’s reportedly pretty decent in LF and RF. If this is the case, it’s possible the Red Sox could afford to move one of their surplus outfielders as part of a deal at the July 31st trading deadline. Still, it’s unclear how much, if any, trade value players like Mike Cameron or Darnell McDonald have at this point.
Lastly, commenter and personal e-migo Tom-UK, posted this remark in the article I wrote on Lowrie yesterday afternoon.
“I wouldn’t read much into multiple medical opinions considering the mis-diagnosis of his wrist and his best bud Ellsbury’s latisimus.”
I don’t know Tom is clairvoyant, has insider information, or is secretly Gammons himself, but well done. Outstanding read on the situation at hand.