Post by Fish Troll on Mar 26, 2007 15:22:11 GMT -5
Hall may miss season with torn labrum
Veteran was to be backup catcher for White Sox
By Scott Merkin / MLB.com
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Toby Hall suffered a torn labrum in his right shoulder diving for a ground ball while playing first base in the ninth inning of Sunday's Cactus League game against Texas and the catcher believes it's an injury that will cost him the 2007 season.
"I'm just really frustrated right now," Hall said minutes after finding out the news produced by a Monday-morning MRI. "I was going to help this team this year.
"It's one of those things where you really can't put it into words.".
Hall, who hit .406 this spring, plans to leave Arizona within the next day and seek a second opinion in Los Angeles. He also may get a third opinion on the injury in Tampa.
If Hall does not play at all during the 2007 campaign, the backup catcher's job would come down to rookie Gustavo Molina, 25, and non-roster veteran Wiki Gonzalez, 32, who are both with the team in Scottsdale. Molina, who reported late to Spring Training because of visa problems in Venezuela, is known for his defense and earned praise from veteran hurlers in Spring Training 2006 for his handling of the pitchers. Gonzalez is a .239 career hitter who has played in the Major Leagues for San Diego, Seattle and Washington.
The White Sox also could travel the free agent or trade route for a strong, right-handed-hitting backstop, with Javy Lopez, released by the Rockies on March 12, one possible option. Lopez, not known at this point in his career for stellar defense, had agreed on a one-year, non-guaranteed $750,000 contract with Colorado in January.
When Hall first made the slick defensive play on Ramon Vazquez's grounder Sunday, he appeared to be in great pain as he rose to his knees. White Sox assistant athletic trainer Brian Ball worked on Hall's shoulder on the field, seemingly improving the problem on a temporary basis, and Hall was optimistic that the injury was nothing more than a dislocation after getting X-rays on Sunday. But Monday's MRI provided the bad news for the valuable reserve, who has a two-year, $3.65 million offseason deal with an option for $2.25 million in 2009.
"That little dive may have just cost me the season," Hall said.
Manager Ozzie Guillen had moved Hall to first base in the seventh inning to replace Eduardo Perez, whose right calf reportedly had begun to tighten again after originally sustaining an injury on March 14. Hall was disappointed and surprised by the possible season-ending news.
"But I knew it hurt," Hall said. "I've never been hurt, so I had no idea to what extent."
Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Veteran was to be backup catcher for White Sox
By Scott Merkin / MLB.com
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Toby Hall suffered a torn labrum in his right shoulder diving for a ground ball while playing first base in the ninth inning of Sunday's Cactus League game against Texas and the catcher believes it's an injury that will cost him the 2007 season.
"I'm just really frustrated right now," Hall said minutes after finding out the news produced by a Monday-morning MRI. "I was going to help this team this year.
"It's one of those things where you really can't put it into words.".
Hall, who hit .406 this spring, plans to leave Arizona within the next day and seek a second opinion in Los Angeles. He also may get a third opinion on the injury in Tampa.
If Hall does not play at all during the 2007 campaign, the backup catcher's job would come down to rookie Gustavo Molina, 25, and non-roster veteran Wiki Gonzalez, 32, who are both with the team in Scottsdale. Molina, who reported late to Spring Training because of visa problems in Venezuela, is known for his defense and earned praise from veteran hurlers in Spring Training 2006 for his handling of the pitchers. Gonzalez is a .239 career hitter who has played in the Major Leagues for San Diego, Seattle and Washington.
The White Sox also could travel the free agent or trade route for a strong, right-handed-hitting backstop, with Javy Lopez, released by the Rockies on March 12, one possible option. Lopez, not known at this point in his career for stellar defense, had agreed on a one-year, non-guaranteed $750,000 contract with Colorado in January.
When Hall first made the slick defensive play on Ramon Vazquez's grounder Sunday, he appeared to be in great pain as he rose to his knees. White Sox assistant athletic trainer Brian Ball worked on Hall's shoulder on the field, seemingly improving the problem on a temporary basis, and Hall was optimistic that the injury was nothing more than a dislocation after getting X-rays on Sunday. But Monday's MRI provided the bad news for the valuable reserve, who has a two-year, $3.65 million offseason deal with an option for $2.25 million in 2009.
"That little dive may have just cost me the season," Hall said.
Manager Ozzie Guillen had moved Hall to first base in the seventh inning to replace Eduardo Perez, whose right calf reportedly had begun to tighten again after originally sustaining an injury on March 14. Hall was disappointed and surprised by the possible season-ending news.
"But I knew it hurt," Hall said. "I've never been hurt, so I had no idea to what extent."
Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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