Berardino: Colabello played injured

[Seth Stohs]

Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press writes that Chris Colabello played with an injury through most of 2014. He has nerve damage in his right thumb. 

 

He exchanged text messages with Chris Colabello's agent and quoted a Colabello from a local newspaper article. The injury apparently happened on April 23 against Tampa Bay, but he said he was hitting so well and taking good at bats that he didn't want out of the lineup. Commendable, but we have seen so often what happens when injuries linger.

 

 

“I don’t like to make excuses,” Colabello told the Telegram. “I chose to play and I’ll deal with the consequences.”

 

One of those consequences could be heading overseas. Colabello admirably turned down the offer to play in Korea for a million dollars last offseason, but could that decision change this year? He may be more open to it.

 

 

[Otto von Ballpark]

He exchanged text messages with Chris Colabello's agent and quoted a Colabello from a local newspaper article. The injury apparently happened on April 23 against Tampa Bay, but he said he was hitting so well and taking good at bats that he didn't want out of the lineup. Commendable, but we have seen so often what happens when injuries linger.

Is it really commendable if he hid the injury?  That's what the article implies ("suffering in silence" through an 0-for-5 the next day).  I don't think an injured player deserves commendation unless they report the injury and the team says "we still need you to play."  Nobody would have blamed Colabello for taking a few days off or even going to the DL.

 

On the other hand, perhaps Twins trainers should have detected this?  I would think any HBP to the hand or wrist would warrant immediate intensive tests and scrutiny, especially when followed by a sudden performance drop.  Basically, don't let your players hide injuries (at least not obvious ones).

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

“I don’t like to make excuses,” Colabello told the Telegram. “I chose to play and I’ll deal with the consequences.”

He doesn't like to make excuses... but will gladly disclose an injury only AFTER a stretch of poor performance.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

That's too bad - I think it is likely that he will be one of the next few cuts from the 40 Man roster. If he had disclosed the injury right away, maybe he would have hit better over the course of the season and been in line for a job out of Spring Training.  

 

He's kind of redundant on the roster now that Kennys Vargas is up. So maybe it doesn't really matter at this point.

[RealTwinsFan357]

Part of me feels bad for him, but after two or three days of not being able to hit, he should have come clean about the injury. It's hard to say whether allowing this injury to heal would have made his season better-maybe we could have traded him at some point had his numbers stayed strong. As is, I don't think the Twins have room for him, but maybe this information means he'll get a minor league deal with a club looking for help at 1B (like the Brewers, for example).

[Boom Boom]

I just don't get it.  I'm not questioning whether or not he was hurt, and I'm sure he wanted to keep his spot on the roster.  

 

What I don't get is why he didn't report it after he was sent down.  If the injury was the problem he had plenty of time to get his season back on track.

[nicksaviking]

I don't mean to be overly critical, but I fail to see how a thumb injury would affect his pitch selection.

[Dman]

i really like Cola and thought he would prove people wrong.  Really thought he was going to be special.  The thing is his window to make it was very, very, small.  He needed to have a great year last year it was make or break for him.  He is just too old to wait on any longer.  I'm not saying he still can't do it but I don't see a fit for him and the Twins anymore.  Maybe I will be wrong about him yet again but right now I think we are better off with a younger player on the 40 man.

[jay]

I'm a big Colabello booster, but this sounds like agent spin. Can't blame the guy. I'm sure there's at least some level of truth to it though.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

I bet there are several teams that could use some competition at 1st Base and his skill set in particular should be appealing.

 

It just seems like the Twins are not one of those teams heading into 2015.

[DJL44]

The Brewers have nothing at 1B. If they miss out on LaRoche they might be interested. I think Ryan can get something for Colabello even if it is just cash.