This article is part of our Fantasy Baseball Injury Report series.
Last week, I lectured about the dangers of the head-first slide. Less than a week later, the Mariners' Segura reminded everyone that the foot-first approach carries its own set of risks. The headfirst dive makes the individual vulnerable to head, hand and finger injuries, while foot and ankle ailments can occur with a foot-first slide. Segura's ankle violently twisted when it jammed into second base. The force resulted in a particular type of ankle sprain known as a syndesmotic or "high" ankle sprain.
Structurally speaking the ankle joint is basically three bones, the tibia and fibula of the lower leg and the talus of the foot. However, functionally the ankle is comprised of three distinct joints.
The true ankle joint is the talocrural joint that includes all three bones of the ankle. It is a hinge joint and is the site of plantar flexion (pointing the toes) and dorsiflexion (bringing the toes upward). The talocrural joint is stabilized by ligaments on both sides of the foot. On the outside or lateral area of the ankle sits three ligaments, the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL), the posterior talofibular ligament (PTFL), and the calcaneofibular ligament (CFL). These ligaments are the tissues sprained in a "normal" ankle sprain when the foot is forced into inversion.
The triangle-shaped deltoid ligament is situated on the other side of the ankle and prevents excessive inward movement or eversion. Medial ankle sprains are less common as the mechanism of injury required to stress the ligament occurs
Last week, I lectured about the dangers of the head-first slide. Less than a week later, the Mariners' Segura reminded everyone that the foot-first approach carries its own set of risks. The headfirst dive makes the individual vulnerable to head, hand and finger injuries, while foot and ankle ailments can occur with a foot-first slide. Segura's ankle violently twisted when it jammed into second base. The force resulted in a particular type of ankle sprain known as a syndesmotic or "high" ankle sprain.
Structurally speaking the ankle joint is basically three bones, the tibia and fibula of the lower leg and the talus of the foot. However, functionally the ankle is comprised of three distinct joints.
The true ankle joint is the talocrural joint that includes all three bones of the ankle. It is a hinge joint and is the site of plantar flexion (pointing the toes) and dorsiflexion (bringing the toes upward). The talocrural joint is stabilized by ligaments on both sides of the foot. On the outside or lateral area of the ankle sits three ligaments, the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL), the posterior talofibular ligament (PTFL), and the calcaneofibular ligament (CFL). These ligaments are the tissues sprained in a "normal" ankle sprain when the foot is forced into inversion.
The triangle-shaped deltoid ligament is situated on the other side of the ankle and prevents excessive inward movement or eversion. Medial ankle sprains are less common as the mechanism of injury required to stress the ligament occurs less frequently.
High ankle sprains, like the one sustained by Segura, involve a completely different joint. The distal tibiofibular joint sits at the bottom of the leg, where the tibia and fibula bridge over the top of the talus. A strong ligament known as the interosseous ligament stretches across the joint to anchor the two lower leg bones together while two more ligaments, the anterior and posterior tibiofibular ligaments, further fortify the area. A high ankle sprain occurs when these ligaments are damaged, usually following an upward and twisting force. Unfortunately for Segura owners, high ankle sprains often take longer to heal.
The Mariners initially estimated Segura would be out one to two months, though the 27-year-old infielder seems encouraged by his progress and has vowed to return ahead of schedule. However, owners invested in Segura would be wise to anticipate a lengthy recovery of at least four to six weeks.
The 2011 American League Cy Young winner made an early exit Sunday with tightness in his right groin. The Tigers are downplaying the severity of the injury, but those familiar with Verlander's injury history may remember a similar incident when a seemingly minor injury snowballed into an extended absence. In the spring of 2015 Verlander suffered what was initially described as a triceps cramp. The injury quickly progressed to a strain and a near three-month long absence. While the groin isn't quite as important as the triceps, it still plays a key role in pitching mechanics, specially weight transfer. I'm not predicting Verlander will miss a lengthy amount of time but I'll express more optimism about his short-term healthy and availability after an MRI is performed.
Check Swings
Greg Bird: Bird is finally nearing a return after missing the past few weeks rehabbing a bone contusion in his ankle. The Yankees infielder has participated in multiple games at High-A and will be back with New York when the team deems him ready. Despite his early season woes, I think Bird is worth a flier in most formats.
David Dahl: The Rockies outfielder has plateaued in his recovery from a stress reaction in his sixth rib. He's still reporting discomfort in the area and plans for a rehab assignment have been tabled. Stress injuries like this one can be tricky to manage, especially if the root of the problem remains unaddressed. A July return is looking more likely. This latest setback, coupled with a suddenly crowded Colorado outfield, may force the hand of those in shallow leagues.
Jacoby Ellsbury: Ellsbury continues to display symptoms linked to the concussion he sustained nearly two weeks ago. Per MLB's mandated concussion protocol, Ellsbury cannot perform any exertional activities until he is symptom-free at rest. Once he passes this step he must progress through an assortment of phases before he can return to action. Given that Ellsbury has yet to move past one of the earliest stages of the league's plan, don't count on him returning this week.
Cole Hamels: The Rangers left-hander threw a bullpen session over the weekend in his first bit of work since hitting the DL with an oblique strain. Although Hamels remains a month away from returning to the rotation, it's nice to see him ramp up his activity level.
Mitch Haniger: Segura's departure from the lineup will be eased by the impending return of Haniger. After a minor setback in his recovery from a strained oblique, Haniger is expected to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Tuesday and could be back with the team by the weekend.
Steven Matz: The Mets will welcome back Matz to the rotation as early as June 10. The left-hander with a history of injuries is working his way back from elbow discomfort. He'll be a risky play moving forward but has shown an ability to pitch well when healthy. He's worth a gamble if he's still sitting on the waiver wire and could prove valuable if he can put together a run of sustained good health.
Alex Wood: The Dodgers have taken a conservative approach in Wood's return from a sternoclavicular (SC) sprain. The SC joint sits where the collar bone attaches to the sternum. Movement at the SC joint is limited though it greatly influences the rhythm of the shoulder blade. As a result, any functional limitation at the SC joint can disrupt a pitcher's mechanics. Considering Wood's awkward delivery, it's not surprising to see Los Angeles slow play the situation. Fortunately, Wood's most recent visit with team doctors went well and the team is optimistic he will be back on the mound by the weekend.
