Old man rant: Does Royce Lewis not know how to run?

[nolemmings]

Royce is a stud, but c’mon man! He projects at 47 HR/129 RBI/.303 per 162 games and he hit 4 grand slams in a 20 game span last year, but he friggin cannot stay on the field.

I am at least half serious. Is there something in his physiology that trainers can help him compensate? Some special nutrition or dietary needs? A review of his technique that could aid in an adjustment? I know each of us here is a fan of some team that has frustrating injuries, but between Royce and I-can’t eat-a-bowl-of-cereal-without-getting-hurt-Byron Buxton, the Twins seem specially snakebit, to me anyway.

The man is 25 years old and yet continually gets leg injuries. Opening day, rounding second he pulls a quad and is out for TWO MONTHS. Last night, pulled a groin running to second on a double. He’s 25 years old and has had two non-contact ACLs, the first causing him to miss 186 games and the second 189 games. That’s more than a full season each time for you non-math majors.

I just don’t get it. Make a couple of wild assumptions: you play every day at corner IF or DH, you get 4 ABs per game and never strikeout, walk or hit a pop-up— IOW you have to run hard 4 times a day on ground balls or drives to the gaps. So what is that— 60 seconds a day? Max?You do not have to avoid or make contact other than a stationary base– just run. You’re basically or nearly a world-class athlete with the best advisors, equipment and training available. AND YOU CANNOT DO IT WITHOUT GETTING HURT! They pull you in from the OF so that you don’t have to run out there and YOU STILL GET HURT. Surely the analytics guys can solve this– study his inches per stride or the angle of his knees in relation to each other when he rounds bases. These guys have all the answers, why can’t they give us the formula and metrics to help Royce stay healthy?

Thanks for the rant space. Have a Happy 4th.