Ryan Braun Leaves Game w/ Sore Thumb; DL Possible?
By Brad Rowland
The second-worst fear of any Milwaukee Brewers fan is coming into view.
No, Ryan Braun wasn’t suspended in conjunction with Biogenesis scandal, but instead, Braun left Sunday’s Milwaukee victory early with a sore right thumb. This has reportedly been an ongoing issue for Braun, but he simply couldn’t continue after his first at-bat, which resulted in a strikeout.
It hasn’t been the typical Ryan Braun season this year, as the slugger has posted “just” a .889 OPS with 9 home runs and 4 steals. Obviously, those are fantastic numbers, but each of them would represent a significant step back for Braun, and the power outage could be easily linked to the thumb trouble.
Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke was quoted before the game in saying that was trying to avoid a DL stint for Braun, but the removal of Braun in the 3rd inning certainly doesn’t turn the lights out on that scenario. After the game, Roenicke said:
"We need to get this thumb right and if he needs a day or two days, we’ll do it, or if he needs a day (off) on either side of one of the off-days, we’ ll do it, but we have to figure out how to get him back to where — he’s been productive, but he’s not the Ryan Braun that we usually know."
Roenicke will reportedly meet with GM Doug Melvin concerning the immediate future of Braun, and it would be surprising if an announcement (one way or the other) wasn’t made before Milwaukee kicks off a three-game tilt with the Marlins on Monday.
In the grand scheme of Braun’s current problems, it may seem like a thumb injury would be a small blip, but the Brewers desperately need him at full strength, and if he isn’t right physically, the whispers of steroid trouble will become even louder.