Pedro Alvarez has been out the last few days with discomfort in his right elbow, according to a Pittsburgh Pirates press release. The injury is a “mild hyperextension” that was caused by a swing a few days ago. The Pirates say that Alvarez will miss a few more games, but can still participate in some workouts “as tolerated.”
Corey Hart has yet to make his Spring debut, after cutting his foot in a whirlpool and needing three stitches. With Alvarez down for a few days, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Andrew Lambo getting some more time at first base. Lambo has been slumping in the early part of the Spring, and this would give him the opportunity to try and work through that.
Tim started Pirates Prospects in 2009 from his home in Virginia, which was 40 minutes from where Pedro Alvarez made his pro debut in Lynchburg. That year, the Lynchburg Hillcats won the Carolina League championship, and Pirates Prospects was born from Tim's reporting along the way. The site has grown over the years to include many more writers, and Tim has gone on to become a credentialed MLB reporter, producing Pirates Prospects each year, and will publish his 11th Prospect Guide this offseason. He has also served as the Pittsburgh Pirates correspondent for Baseball America since 2019. Behind the scenes, Tim is an avid music lover, and most of the money he gets paid to run this site goes to vinyl records.
Tim: Has Jaff Decker ever been a 1B? You mentioned that Lambo was struggling at the plate – I can see he is 1 for 13 (.077) but he has only K’d once. What type of contact is he making? Starting on March 17, the Pirates have about 13 single games where they will have to start putting a starting lineup out onto the field to get ready for the season opener. Hart and Rodriguez should get the extra work at 1B over Lambo and then Pedro should be back. In the OF, I would think Decker has earned the inside track with his .400 average, double & HR, and 4 RBI’s.
Last year the Pirates doggedly stuck with Lambo & Ish because they really did not want to make that trade for Ike Davis that resulted in us giving up LHSP Blake Taylor. The team may not be as patient this year.
It would be awesome if Jaff could play at least a passable 1B, to give them another LH option over there.
He’ll be fine . Can we get an update on Josh Harrison? How’s his ankle?
This wouldn’t have happen if he would have shown up at mini-camp and worked out with Kevin Young.
Maybe it’s just the beard but pedro looks a bit chunky this year. Extra weight leads to extra injuries. What do you think?
Extra weight leads to extra injuries….in his elbow? I know some conspiracy theorists that are like “nah, doesnt make sense”.
Carrying xtra weight makes you overcompensate in other areas leading to injuries or poor performance. Same as losing to much weight, your body takes time to a adjust to the variance in weight. Not conspiratorial just fact of nature.
Sorry, that just isnt logical. You can go ahead and argue that extra weight made him hurt his elbow, but its not logical for me. He is making less throws than usually in ST due to position, and extra weight doesnt make you throw harder. If it was a lower body injury or core injury, maybe. But if he hurts his finger after gaining weight, you dont assume its the 15 pounds (which we are totally assuming fyi) that did it.
Luke I try very hard to be nice to everybody, you however are an argumentative horses backside who just likes to be negative. To each his own I suppose, may you find peace, I will pray for you.
If that got under your skin, i wouldnt go much father into the internet blog area. Apologies for saying what you said isnt logical, but i stand by it. The idea that if i add weight im at risk for future elbow injury isnt an A=B scenario by any medical logic.
Symptomatic of a general lack of commitment to baseball.
In his elbow.
Yes.
Extra weight leads to extra injuries. In his elbow.
Actually he supposedly in the best shape he’s ever been in coming into camp
I guess if the ca-ca is going to hit the fan it’s better a sprain and a cut rather than a break and a slice. Besides it’s a good oppo for lambo to get over his stage fright or whatever his prob is.
Not good. Few to me means 2 or 3 games. I bet this lingers well past that. Pedro is poised for big year. Need him to be healthy this year.
Better now than during the season. This just illustrates the importance of having a LH bench bat who can cover 1B on the roster.
As Lambo can
A few means four, no more no less. How many games it winds up being is anybodies guess. Could be a couple could be five, maybe even three, whatever the number we shall see.
Is there any word on when/if they will start getting rid of the DH and letting pitchers hit? Since pitcher hitting is apparently somewhat of a focus, I was curious.
They’re not using a DH in today’s game.
Well dang, good timing I guess. Thanks for the info
This would be a good time to throw Tony Sanchez out there and just see what happens.
Sprains,strains and auto-dislocations.