Pitching mound in Sacramento likely led to Lopez's injury

[Ottomatic1990]

According to Zach Wheeler and Joe Ryan, it was impossible to dig in to the rock hard mound there, and they both said they were relying on arm strength to pitch, putting extra wear on the arm and shoulder.  From the Athletic's Dan Hayes 

[jorgenswest]

Might not just be pitchers. The A’s have 6 pitchers and 5 position players on the IL though three predate the season. Others have been injured and activated.

[DocBauer]

During the series, Correa tried switching cleats with Jeffers...they have the same shie size...because he was slipping in the batters box. He eneded up switching back after a brief trial. During the telecast, Plouffe commented on the difference between different spikes, metal vs plastic. 

The A's are a HORRIBLY run franchise and the owners should force them to sell, IMO. But I'm not going to blame the conditions on the field for a pair of injuries without more input and information. But when multiple players complain about the conditions, it does make me wonder where MLB steps in and starts to look at conditions.

[I Miss The Lakes]

With multiple players on record talking about the rock hard infield dirt (including mound and batters' boxes) the janky warning track and lack of any infield clubhouses. . . I am incredibly likely to think there is something to this.
MLB should have never let the slumlord owner Fisher get away with crushing the fandom, parking the team in a subpar stadium and wait for the hoped for Vegas money.  
I have friends in Vegas, not sure this will work out like the Raiders or Vegasborn G-Knights, but hey no one is saying no.

[RpR]

58 minutes ago, I Miss The Lakes said:

With multiple players on record talking about the rock hard infield dirt (including mound and batters' boxes) the janky warning track and lack of any infield clubhouses. . . I am incredibly likely to think there is something to this.
MLB should have never let the slumlord owner Fisher get away with crushing the fandom, parking the team in a subpar stadium and wait for the hoped for Vegas money.  
I have friends in Vegas, not sure this will work out like the Raiders or Vegasborn G-Knights, but hey no one is saying no.

June whine.

They are payed a lot of money to play ball; if they do not like where, get a different job.

[Patzky]

9 hours ago, RpR said:

June whine.

They are payed a lot of money to play ball; if they do not like where, get a different job.

Jeez you're a well paid pilot do you want to get a plane with temperamental electronics? Or a doctor whose office loses power three times a day.? It's not too much to expect top notch facilities for the so called Major leagues. 

https://www.si.com/mlb/twins/minnesota-twins-news/ill-say-it-twins-star-blames-as-mound-quality-pablo-lopez-injury?fbclid=IwY2xjawKxLZ5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHv97FcIYfkdz_8ciHP6rnbFpNPlUpxNa7tk2mLYoCRejMO3ht3FValzGwWvY_aem_CnBmmtWgPSChDnEeQNivqg

 

[Vanimal46]

When other leagues have these situations where teams play in a temporary site, they make sure the site is up to NFL/NHL/NBA standards. 

I understand Tampa’s situation since the Trop getting destroyed by a hurricane couldn’t be planned. The A’s, however, have no excuse. They planned this move to Sacramento and should have paid for the upgrades to be MLB caliber. 

[I Miss The Lakes]

22 hours ago, RpR said:

June whine.

They are payed a lot of money to play ball; if they do not like where, get a different job.

Didn't realize John Fisher lived in "mid-minnesota" 

[TheLeviathan]

23 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

When other leagues have these situations where teams play in a temporary site, they make sure the site is up to NFL/NHL/NBA standards. 

I understand Tampa’s situation since the Trop getting destroyed by a hurricane couldn’t be planned. The A’s, however, have no excuse. They planned this move to Sacramento and should have paid for the upgrades to be MLB caliber. 

Soldier Field, the one in Washington, and the issues last year in Brazil do take some issues with this.  

I think one of the things often unsaid/unknown is how frequently the minor league ballparks are terrible too.  You're right that the MLB needs to take this more seriously at every level of the game.

[stringer bell]

I think the headline is misleading. Perhaps it could have read "Pitching mound in Sacramento may have contributed to Lopez' injury". Neither Pablo or anyone on the Twins management team has made the claim that the mound caused the injury AFAIK.

That doesn't exonerate the Athletics. From what I've seen and heard, the park in Sacramento is not major league quality. 

[Squirrel]

On 6/7/2025 at 12:11 AM, RpR said:

June whine.

They are payed a lot of money to play ball; if they do not like where, get a different job.

If I could thumbs down this more, I would. Quit being a troll.

And it’s ‘paid’ not ‘payed’

[BiggestRoccoFan]

On 6/7/2025 at 12:11 AM, RpR said:

June whine.

They are payed a lot of money to play ball; if they do not like where, get a different job.

Typical stupid response.

[Jocko87]

10 hours ago, TheLeviathan said:

I think one of the things often unsaid/unknown is how frequently the minor league ballparks are terrible too.  You're right that the MLB needs to take this more seriously at every level of the game.

And how often does this lead to prospect injuries? 

They do a really good job here in Wichita where the summer heat can make it very difficult but I can imagine they aren't all like that. 

I'll bet it's a factor on rehab assignments from time to time as well.