Four players. Four different roads back to the majors.
The first of those is Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau. He made his first appearance in a game in eight months yesterday. And each of his last two seasons have ended with an injury. The latest injury from which Morneau is recovering from is one that has garnered a ton of attention over the past year or so.
That recovery would be from a concussion.
Morneau’s 2009 season ended with a stress fracture in his back. No surgery was needed, but the Twins did miss his bat during the playoffs. Someway, somehow, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, who always seems to push the right buttons, found a way for the Twins to catch the Detroit Tigers and force the one-game playoff. The Twins won despite not having Morneau in their lineup. It wsa after that game that the Twins could have used the first baseman’s stick.
For 2010, the ending to Morneau’s season held a more bizarre ending.
While attempting to break up a double play, the side of Morneau’s head collided with the knee of Toronto Blue Jays second baseman John McDonald. His head snapped to the side at impact and the result was that concussion. And all the symptoms that can possibly go with post-concussion syndrome. Dizziness, headaches, confusion. It’s not a pretty picture. You could almost call it living in a world of constant haze.
And concussions are now more under the microscope than in the past. Most of that can be attributed to the NFL’s tightening of standards in treatment of concussions. Add the studies that have been recently conducted in the area. The NHL will undoubtedly been stepping up its efforts in light of the hit just last evening by Zdeno Chara. (You haven’t seen it? You can here.) Now, it appears that baseball may be next to examine such issues.
Morneau was on his way to another MVP caliber season. He was selected to start in the All-Star Game, his first ever fan selection. Same with 2009 when the hairline fracture was discovered. This road is different from that.
Prior to last year’s playoffs, Morneau stated he was symptom-free. That announcement led to speculation that Morneau could be a member of the Twins postseason roster. It never materialized. Maybe the Twins brass took the approach of looking more at Morneau’s future rather than the present. Good decision if that was the determining factor. Injuries to the head and brain are not to be taken lightly.
Yesterday, Morneau participated in a “B” game, his first action is three-quarters a year. His numbers from the game are irrelevant. The fact that he was able to play three innings is. Another positive sign is just this morning, Morneau felt no symptoms. Encouraging news to say the least. Also, according to Phil Mackey, the Twins will play Morneau every other day and then evaluate him. Morneau hopes to be ready for opening day.
Should baseball fans expect the same from Morneau in 2011 as we have seen in 2009 and 2010? I think it might be a little optimistic to believe that can be the case. I’ll say this though. I wouldn’t be surprised if he did, but I also realize that Morneau’s road back to the field is far different this year than last year.
The buzz word of the day: baby steps.
But this step really is a little bigger than that.