Francisco Liriano report

[>TC<]

Same old story for Liriano

MRI shows mild tear of ulnar collateral ligament in lefthander's elbow

Those who feared the worst with Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano's arm injury could breathe a little easier Thursday.

Liriano's magnetic resonance imaging exam, taken Wednesday, showed no new damage to the ligament and no new structural damage to his left elbow.

"There was no change in his MRI," Ryan said, noting that Liriano's MRI results were very similar to the results from early August, which showed a mild tear of his ulnar collateral ligament.

Ryan said they would give Liriano a week to rest and then reevaluate. He might undergo exploratory arthroscopic surgery, but the Twins would prefer to avoid it.

"I think it's safe to say we are going to shut him down [for the season]," Ryan said. "He helped get us to this point. Now we have to make sure we take care of him."

At the time, the Twins said that was an old injury for Liriano. After resting the elbow and strengthening his shoulder, Liriano began a throwing program that led to Wednesday's return, which he cut short in the third inning against Oakland.

After being examined by the Twins' medical staff Wednesday, Liriano, 22, could be headed for a second opinion.

Speculation mounted Wednesday that Liriano could need the ligament reconstructive procedure commonly known as "Tommy John surgery."

The recommended rehabilitation time from Tommy John surgery is 12-18 months.

If the early reports hold true, Liriano would hold a much better chance of being at full strength for the start of spring training.

[Durango53]

Well that is better news than first thought.

[Baseball Guru]

Well I guess thats good... I assume this is something that gets better with rest?

[>TC<]

Supposedly, it can be rehabbed. They might have to change his mechanics to relieve the stress the slider puts on his arm.

[I Are Baboon]

The report from ESPN says it's a strain, not a tear.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2587796

[Durango53]

The Twins' worst fears about Francisco Liriano's elbow injury were alleviated Thursday, but General Manager Terry Ryan said the lefthander won't pitch again this season with the team still trying to discover exactly what is wrong. Ryan said the results of Liriano's latest magnetic resonance imaging exam, taken Wednesday, showed no structural damage. Liriano's ulnar collateral ligament is still intact, Ryan said, so the rookie All-Star won't need the reconstructive "Tommy John" surgery, which could have kept him from pitching again until 2008. Ryan said the team should know if Liriano, 22, needs less invasive arthroscopic surgery within a week.

[bama45]

I wish him the best. What a great young talent.

[Durango53]

Twins rookie pitcher Francisco Liriano received a second opinion on his injured left elbow Monday, visiting orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., and there were still no definitive answers about what is causing him pain. Liriano underwent another MRI exam, and Twins General Manager Terry Ryan said the results again showed no structural damage in the elbow. Ryan said Liriano will continue with therapy and rehabilitation, and within about 10 days, the team will know if he's going to have exploratory arthroscopic surgery.

[Durango53]

The Twins have decided, for now, that lefthander Francisco Liriano will not have surgery on his left elbow, opting for rehabilitation that hopefully will get him ready for the 2007 season. General Manager Terry Ryan said the decision was made recently after conferring with the team's medical staff. Noted Alabama surgeon Dr. James Andrews also had input. Liriano, 12-3 with a 2.16 ERA, will be put on a six-week rehab program. But no one believes surgery is needed right now. "We are going to put him through rehab and get him ready for next season," Ryan said.

[Durango53]

Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano said he's willing to remain in Minnesota in the cold this winter rather than return home to the Dominican Republic if that's what is required for him to rehabilitate his injured left elbow.

[brandonwarne52]

Francisco Liriano is now considering surgery on his elbow.

The original prescription of rest and rehabilitation is frustrating him as he's still in pain, so he's left the team's Florida facility and has travelled to Miami, where Dr. John Uribe is situated. Dr. Uribe is among those who have examined Liriano, but it's not clear whether Liriano has specifically gone there to meet with him. "Francisco continued to experience pain while taking part in a throwing session, and at this point, he felt it was necessary to re-evaluate his situation," said Gene Mato, one of Liriano's agents. Mato said Liriano will decide whether he wants to have surgery or not within the next week.


Rotoworld.com

[redsfan]

I have not been paying attention other than he is having elbow pain. What kind of surgery are they talking about. Is it Tommy John or just something minor? I hope he is OK. He was a great rookie.

[Durango53]

From what I heard it will be Tommy John.....

[brandonwarne52]

I have not been paying attention other than he is having elbow pain. What kind of surgery are they talking about. Is it Tommy John or just something minor? I hope he is OK. He was a great rookie.

Possibly T.J.

I'd like to see exploratory surgery done, personally.

[Durango53]

After one of Francisco Liriano's representatives suggested in the morning that news could break late in the day on the AWOL lefty's status, Liriano remained out of touch as the day passed. The team has given Liriano the go-ahead to seek a fourth medical opinion on the left elbow soreness that caused him to miss all but six innings during the final two months of the season. But 10 days after Liriano suddenly left the team's rehabilitation facility in Fort Myers, Fla., team officials have not spoken directly to him, and soon might be faced with making plans for 2007 that don't include last season's rookie sensation. "It's frustrating for all of us," pitching coach Rick Anderson said. "We're all in the dark... . You get to a point where you just can't count on him next year because you don't know. Nobody knows." Gene Mato, Liriano's representative in Miami, said Tuesday morning he might have an update on Liriano by late afternoon. But he couldn't be reached later in the day and did not return messages. Whether a sign that Liriano might be close to returning or getting the fourth opinion, a woman who answered the phone at his home in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday night said the pitcher was in Miami.

[redsfan]

If he is going to get the surgery, he better hurry up and have it done. He will miss the whole season

[Durango53]

Ya it takes about two years for this one....

[Durango53]

Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano was back in Florida from his home in the Dominican Republic on Wednesday, but the team still wasn't ready to say if he will undergo reconstructive elbow surgery. "I don't have a final decision [to announce]," General Manager Terry Ryan said. Gene Mato, one of Liriano's agents, told the Star Tribune in an e-mail that the Twins would provide an update on Liriano's situation Wednesday. But with the sides still trying to decide whether Liriano should have the surgery or continue rehabbing, Ryan didn't yet have an answer.

[LesPaul]

just heard that Liriano is going to require Tommy John surgery

confirmed it here:

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061103&content_id=1731450&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb


:(

[rockin500]

Ya it takes about two years for this one....
not really. only takes 13 months before he will be on the field throwing well (in some cases as little as 11 months). so in 2008 he should be just fine. its not a 18-24 month recovery time anymore.

[>TC<]

The Twins are concerned about this whole process.

Liriano goes AWOL after very little time in rehab. The Twins team doctor and Dr. James Andrews both think that a rehab and strengthening program should be tried first.

Then Liriano and his agents decide to get a third opinion, Dr. Jobe, (which is their right) He actually agrees with the first two diagnosis but says that Liriano should probably have TJ surgery if he still has pain and doesn't believe the rehab will help.

My observations on this:

I can't help but think that Liriano and his agents were shopping for a diagnosis of TJ surgery. If Jobe hadn't gone along with it, they would have gone to another Dr. for another opinion.

The Twins should be very concerned about how he will come back from this, given that he has shown no committment whatsoever to any rehab programs that have been prescribed in the past. If he won't follow the program and if he can't tolerate any kind of discomfort during the rehab, this could be a bad situation.


TC

[Durango53]

Twins lefthander Francisco Liriano underwent successful elbow reconstruction surgery on Monday and will miss the entire 2007 season. The 90-minute surgery took place at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles. Los Angeles Angels team physician Dr. Lewis Yocum performed the procedure with Twins team physician Dr. John Steubs. A tendon, called the palmaris longus, was removed from Liriano's left forearm and threaded through two holes drilled above and below his elbow. Surgeons used to take tendons from the opposite arm, but more are using tendons from the same arm. "It went very well," Steubs said. "The ligament was thinned and stretched and not completely torn. It really didn't appear to be as strong as we hoped. I'm pretty confident, based on what we saw, that he will do well." The real success, however, will be determined over the next several months, as Liriano will need to stick to a tough rehabilitation schedule.

[Durango53]

The Twins and agents for lefthander Francisco Liriano have agreed to have Liriano rehabilitate in Miami. Liriano, who had Tommy John elbow surgery last month and will miss the entire 2007 season, will work with Ray Jaffet. The Twins are familiar with Jaffet, who has helped Shannon Stewart with his plantar fascitis problems in recent seasons.

[Durango53]

Even if the Twins' Francisco Liriano comes back in 2008 after elbow surgery, it's unlikely he'll be the power pitcher he once was. That means he'll need to rely more on finesse and savvy, which would be completely new to him. Also, Liriano's elbow isn't the only concern; he has had a tender left shoulder, too.