Zimmermann Falters In Return; MRI Looming
By Will Burchfield /Follow Will @Burchie_kid
DETROIT (WWJ) - If J.D. Martinez scripted a storybook return from the disabled list, Jordan Zimmermann endured a nightmare.
Making his first big-league start in over a month, Zimmermann was knocked out of Thursday's game in the second inning after surrendering six runs on six hits. And he appears to have encountered another injury in the process, as he will undergo an MRI for tightness in his right lat muscle.
For a pitcher who entered the start with so much optimism, it has to be an agonizing turn of events.
Zimmermann looked out of sorts from the get-go. He struggled to command the ball, hitting the first batter he faced, and didn't have his typical mid-90's velocity, hovering mostly around 90-91 mph instead.
Both issues were likely related to the lat tightness, according to Brad Ausmus and Zimmermann's battery mate Jarred Saltalamacchia.
"He couldn't get extended, so not getting extended would explain the velocity being down a mile an hour or two," Ausmus explained.
The same could be said of his inability to locate the ball, Saltalamacchia said.
"In the bullpen [before the game] everything was kind of going up and in to righties, up and away to lefties so that obviously is from not being able to reach out and extend out there and get on top of the ball," the catcher explained.
Ausmus didn't say whether or not the lat issue is related to the neck strain that landed Zimmermann on the D.L. in early June, but he allowed it's a possibility. Both injuries occurred on the right side of his body.
Despite the righty's early struggles, Ausmus and trainer Kevin Rand thought Zimmermann might be able to relieve the tightness by continuing to pitch.
"The hope is that it would loosen up as he threw but that wasn't the case," Ausmus said.
Had the discomfort arisen in the area of his previous neck injury, Ausmus confirmed he would have lifted Zimmermann immediately.
"But it was a completely different area so that's why we gave him a little bit of leeway," he explained.
Just as Saltalamacchia noticed Zimmermann's limitations in the bullpen, Ian Kinsler sensed something was awry as soon as the pitcher took the mound.
"You can tell when a pitcher is not fully concentrated on executing his pitches. He was trying to make himself feel good over anything. He's trying to work without discomfort, and you can always tell when a player's doing that," said Kinsler. "It always makes things more difficult."
This was certainly evident in the top of the second, when the White Sox racked up five hits, including two home runs, and seemed to be teeing off on Zimmermann like it was batting practice. Over 53 total pitches, Zimmermann recorded just four swinging strikes.
Saltalamacchia acknowledged how discouraging it must have been for Zimmermann given his long track record of success and how hard he'd worked to come back.
"When you're used to pitching and going out there every fifth day, its frustrating. He's a competitor, he wants to win, he sees what we've been doing the past two weeks and he wants to be a part of it.
So it's frustrating, and he's just gotta know that he will be a part of it," said Saltalamacchia.
As for when he'll be a part of it, that's once again unclear. Ausmus said the Tigers will wait for his MRI results before making a decision on his next start, but haven't ruled out the possibility that he won't be available.
"Obviously we have to prepare for any contingency plans," he said.
If Zimmermann can't make his next start, it's likely that the Tigers will call up Daniel Norris in his stead. Norris pitches Thursday night for Triple-A Toledo and Ausmus confirmed he would be ready to go, if need be, five days from now.
Either way, Ausmus won't allow the Tigers to feel sorry for themselves.
"Hey, it's baseball. Stuff like that happens. We're not gonna cry over spilt milk, we'll deal with it."