The Road Back: Joel Zumaya

It’s becoming an all too common theme for Detroit Tigers fans. Joel Zumaya on the disabled list. Joel Zumaya is being shut down for a while. Joel Zumaya is having a streak of being oft-injured. While I earlier pointed out all the injuries that Nick Johnson has sustained, he almost pales in comparison to Zumaya. I don’t believe that’s a club you want to join either.

And Zumaya’s 2011 is beginning the same way. About a week ago, the Tigers were once again in the position to where their fireballer was having to be shut down for a period of time. Today, it was announced that he would not be ready for Opening Day. Dr. James Andrews examined Zumaya’s surgically repaired elbow and found no structural damage. That’s a plus.

It’s the latest installment in a long line of health issues surrounding Zumaya. He simply cannot go a season without missing significant time. Here’s a history lesson on what “Zoom Zoom” had endured.

2006: After pitching in 62 regular season games, Zumaya was unable to particiapte in the ALCS due to a wrist injury. It was later divulged that the injury occurred while playing Guitar Hero. I’m sure that Activision was appreciative of the free pub that generated.

2007: A ruptured tendon in Zumaya’s hand required surgery and rehab of 12 weeks.

2007 (again): While attempting to help his father move a few personal possessions during the California wildfires, a box weighing about 50 pounds falls onto Zumaya’s pitching shoulder. The result is a separation and an another surgery. Zumaya would begin the 2008 campaign on the 60-day DL.

2009: Once again, there is a problem with his pitching shoulder. On two occasions, Zumaya spent stints on the 15-day DL.

2010:During an appearance against the Minnesota Twins, Zumaya would be helped off the field due to the intense pain he felt in his elbow. An MRI revealed a non-displaced fracture in his elbow. Yet another surgery followed by another season ended.

2011: Now this. Zumaya will be on the DL come Opening Day. According to Aaron Gleeman of Hardball Talk, it could be several weeks before he is ready.

I mentioned the Zumaya was in 62 games in his first season of 2006. Since then, he has never pitched in more than 31 games, and that was just last season. He was in 31 games in ’10. At one time, many people (in and out of the Tigers realm) that Zumaya could possibly become the closer. With all the injuries that have beset him, that path appears to be excessively short. The setup role would be more likely, but even then, how do you know that he can stay healthy enough to be an integral piece of your pen?

I would be surprised if we see him in more than the 31 games he appeared in last season. I would hatch a bet that we may not see him until around the All-Star break. Yes, I’m already putting that out there. I will go a little further to say there’s a chance we may not even see him in 2011. The injury bug has that type of a stranglehold on him.

Weird thing is, outside of the Guitar Hero deal, the injuries really haven’t been something he held in his control. The box falling on his shoulder was as freak an injury as the others.