We often hear the diagnosis “Forearm Strain” when referring to pitching arm injuries. What does this mean? A strain implies an injury to muscle or tendon (in this case, the forearm) - but not to a ligament. A sprain refers to an injury to a ligament or joint capsule. Both strains and sprains are, in actuality, tears of the respective tissues.
There is usually a feeling of relief almost when a player is diagnosed with a “forearm strain”, as opposed to the more ominous-sounding “elbow sprain” or “torn elbow ligament.” It would be great if the former were always the case - a pure muscular “strain” - but as we have found time and time again, it can often mean something entirely different.
Such is the case of Sergio Mitre , who was diagnosed with a “forearm strain” in spring training, only to now undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery due to his torn Ulnar Collateral Ligament.
Players will end up with this diagnosis again this season, just as others have already received this diagnosis earlier this season. Jake Peavy was one of them earlier this year, though he has managed to return nicely following a rest period spent on the DL. Mitre was obviously not as lucky.
Aaron Harang is another starting pitcher to be recently diagnosed with a strained forearm , and is currently on the DL. One has to wonder, simply by looking at his production (or lack of production) this season, if something more serious is going on here. His control has been erratic at times, including his 7-walk outing on July 8. He has been hit around much more than in recent years, and has given up home runs at a higher rate as well.
This makes you wonder, are we really talking about an elbow injury here, but just in different terms? I am not saying that Harang definitely has a ligament problem here. Could it purely be a muscular injury? Of course it could.
Further bolstering my pessimism is that he was placed on the DL in 2004 with a sprained elbow ligament and missed about three weeks. Not only that, but Harang is still feeling some pain in his forearm. Said Dusty Baker, “He still feels it a little bit…Like I said, fortunately for him and us it was in the muscle and not in the joint. He’s a little bit further off.”
Harang owners and Reds fans obviously have cause for concern here. Where there is smoke, there is usually a fire. Fantasy owners should be taking preemptive measures to bolster their pitching staff if they have the roster flexibility.
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