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Dallas Braden Has Surgery For Shoulder Tear; Out For Season

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6 Total Updates since April 18, 2011
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Dallas Braden Has Shoulder Surgery, Will Miss Rest Of Season

The Athletics’ Dallas Braden, who threw a perfect game in 2010, made three starts this season, posting a 1-1 record and 3.00 ERA, before his left shoulder began giving him trouble. The A’s first said he needed rest and there was “no structural damage”, but after a few throwing sessions, Braden suffered a setback, and Monday he underwent surgery. The surgery was performed by Mets doctor David Altchek.

Today, via tweet from John Shea, the San Francisco Chronicle’s national baseball writer, we learn that Braden is expected to miss the rest of the 2011 season.

So far, the A’s starting pitching has held up in Braden’s absence; Tyson Ross has made five starts in his place and posted a 3-2 record, a 2.32 ERA and allowed only one home run in 31 innings. The 24-year-old righthanded Ross may have to keep up this performance if the A’s, currently at 21-20, are to have any hope of contending in the AL West.

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Dallas Braden Injury Requires Surgery To Repair Shoulder Tear

When Dallas Braden's left shoulder initially started barking, it was a cause for concern, but it wasn't thought to be anything major, and an examination revealed no structural damage. So Braden got himself on a throwing program, looking to work his way back into baseball shape. However, he experienced a setback, and long story short, now he needs to go under the knife:

The #A’s announced today that Dallas Braden will undergo surgery Monday to repair a torn capsule in his left shoulder. Recovery time TBD.

The surgery will be performed next Monday by Mets doctor David Altchek. And, obviously, this is a major blow to an A's team with eyes towards making a run at the playoffs. It's unknown at this point how long Braden will be out of action, but to see him return in 2011 would be a surprise.

The good news for Oakland is that they still have a strong rotation with Brett Anderson, Gio Gonzalez, Brandon McCarthy and Trevor Cahill, and Tyson Ross has to date pitched decently well in Braden's place. But Braden's still one of the organization's top arms, so replacing him with Ross for the bulk of a full season isn't exactly an upgrade.

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Dallas Braden Has Setback In Throwing Session

While it was a good day for the Oakland A's on the field, they received some bad news on left-handed starting pitcher Dallas Braden. While it was reported today that he was making progress while recuperating from a left shoulder problem, that was based on the news that he was scheduled to throw for the first time since his injury. Problem is, no one ever said that the throwing session was going to go well. From Susan Slusser of the Chronicle:

Billy Beane says Braden's session of catch did not go well. "So-so would be kind," he says. Braden will revisit doctor.

The injury right now is only described as "right shoulder stiffness," and unfortunately, there's plenty of ambiguity to go around with that one.

The A's will continue to use Tyson Ross as their fifth starter in the place of Braden. Oakland currently leads the American League in ERA with a 2.76 mark.

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Dallas Braden To Throw For First Time Since Going On DL

Oakland Athletics right-handed starter Dallas Braden is making progress in his return from a shoulder injury. Susan Slusser of the Chronicle tweeted that Braden was going to throw today. There was no word as to how much Oakland's training staff was going to stretch him out, but this is the first word of Braden doing anything resembling a baseball activity since his injury, which was horrifically described by Braden himself.

Braden was off to a good start for the A's, with an ERA of 3.00 and a good K/BB ratio before he was pulled in the fifth inning of his April 16 start against the Detroit Tigers.

Right-hander Tyson Ross replaced Braden in the Athletics' rotation, and though he was knocked around in his first start filling in, he rebounded to throw seven scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night. There are legitimate concerns about Ross's experience and his durability, but he's got the talent to fill in nicely until Braden returns.

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Dallas Braden's Shoulder Inflamed, No Structural Damage

Good news from Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle regarding Oakland Athletics pitcher Dallas Braden:

No structural damage to Braden's shoulder. Rest and rehab for inflammation.

This is probably the best-case scenario following what was initially feared, especially by those who happened to catch Braden's tweet on his condition:

Is there a salvation army store for left shoulders? how can i pass out for the next 15 days and wake up feeling normal? fetal positon,crying

Yikes. Braden was pulled from his start on Saturday against the Detroit Tigers after only five innings. He was 1-1 over the first three games of the season, with a 3.00 ERA in 18 innings, 15 strikeouts and five walks. The A's are relying on their young starters, including Braden, as they make a run at a division title.

Tyson Ross will take Braden's spot in the rotation, beginning Friday night. Ross has started only two games in his major league career, but he pitched almost exclusively as a starter in the minors and did reasonably well in that role.

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Dallas Braden Put On Disabled List With Shoulder Stiffness

The Oakland A's have put Dallas Braden on the disabled list with a stiff left shoulder after the left-hander was removed from Saturday's game against the Detroit Tigers. Braden has had problems with his foot in the past, but he told A's beat writer Susan Slusser that he had never had this kind of discomfort in his shoulder before.

According to Jon Morosi:

Athletics clear roster space for Purcey by placing Braden on DL w/stiff left shoulder, moving Harden to 60-day DL.

Purcey refers to David Purcey, whom the A's just acquired in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays for Danny Farquhar. Farquhar will return to the Toronto organization after just eight innings in the A's organization. Hopefully, he didn't rent out his apartment there. There are no such worries for Rich Harden, who owns a luxury condo on the 60-day DL, so he can come and go as he pleases.

Purcey was a reliever for most of 2010, though he was a starter in his minor league career before that. There is no word yet on Purcey's role with the A's; he could fill in for Braden, or that slot could go to Tyson Ross.

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