SBNation.com - Cory Luebke Settles On Tommy John Surgeryhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46737/sbn-fave.png2012-05-21T15:58:48-04:00http://www.sbnation.com/rss/stream/27891762012-05-21T15:58:48-04:002012-05-21T15:58:48-04:00Cory Luebke Undergoing Tommy John Surgery
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/DZVeAriPWccCRFErxceBxV0sPWY=/0x27:400x294/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828145/large_sb_nation_final.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>This is a message from the very beginning of May:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p><span>Cory Luebke</span> will be pushed back one start; no MRI on elbow. <span>Jeff Suppan</span> to start tomorrow. Move after game. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%2523Padres">#Padres</a></p>
— Dan Hayes (@NCT<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a>) <a href="https://twitter.com/NCTPadres/status/197458647335436288" data-datetime="2012-05-01T22:53:04+00:00">May 1, 2012</a>
</blockquote>
<p>Padres starter Cory Luebke had some discomfort in his elbow, but it wasn't a big deal. He'd just miss a start, and the Padres weren't going to bother with an expensive exam. Luebke would be back soon, no problem.</p>
<p>You've read the headline already. Luebke will not be back soon. Shortly after that tweet, Luebke was placed on the DL with elbow soreness. Shortly after that, there were whispers of Tommy John surgery. Shortly after <i>that</i>, it was discovered that Luebke had a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament. Luebke thought about rehab so as to avoid season-ending surgery, but attempted rehab doesn't guarantee that one will avoid season-ending surgery, so Luebke's settled on the season-ending surgery:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Cory Luebke to have reconstructive elbow surgery on Wednesday. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%2523Padres">#Padres</a></p>
— Dan Hayes (@NCTPadres) <a href="https://twitter.com/NCTPadres/status/204648331681603584" data-datetime="2012-05-21T19:02:19+00:00">May 21, 2012</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
As such, Luebke is done for 2012, and he probably won't pitch for the Padres until at least May 2013. Had Luebke tried to rehab and failed, it would've pushed him back even longer, so he's getting things taken care of now. It's a bummer, but, as always, Tommy John surgery isn't so daunting these days. It's a serious procedure and the rehab's a bitch, but Luebke should make it back in time.</p>
<p>A note on the state of things for the Padres: Jeff Suppan has started four games. <span>Anthony Bass</span> is helping to make up for the loss of Luebke by turning in what might be a breakthrough season, but Jeff Suppan has started four games.</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/2012/5/21/3034728/cory-luebke-tommy-john-surgery-injury-padresJeff Sullivan2012-05-16T18:31:36-04:002012-05-16T18:31:36-04:00Cory Luebke Thinking About Tommy John Surgery
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/DZVeAriPWccCRFErxceBxV0sPWY=/0x27:400x294/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828145/large_sb_nation_final.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>Jeff Suppan has started three games for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">San Diego Padres</a> - the 2012 San Diego Padres - and that sort of thing doesn't happen unless other things have gone wrong. Other things have gone wrong, and among them is that <span>Cory Luebke</span> went on the disabled list with elbow discomfort. The great hope was that Luebke would be fine after a little time off. That is not the case, because the Padres aren't allowed to have anything go their way. Aside from <span>Jeff Suppan's</span> 1.69 ERA. Padres baseball! Back to Cory Luebke now.</p>
<p>Luebke was examined, and evidence pointed to ligament damage. Luebke was examined further, and:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%2523Padres">#Padres</a> Cory Luebke said exam showed partial tear of elbow ligament. Deciding between having surgery or pitching with it.</p>
— Sarah Trotto (@sarahtrotto) <a href="https://twitter.com/sarahtrotto/status/202853765647314944" data-datetime="2012-05-16T20:11:21+00:00">May 16, 2012</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The UCL can have no tearing, partial tearing, and complete tearing. In the event of no tearing, a pitcher is healthy, or at least his UCL is healthy. In the event of complete tearing, a pitcher needs to undergo Tommy John surgery in order to get back on the mound. In the event of partial tearing, a pitcher can choose between surgical rehabilitation and non-surgical rehabilitation, but the latter often just leads to the former, so it is very possible, if not probable, that Luebke will go under the knife for ligament replacement. If he does that, he'll be out for the rest of 2012, and for the beginning of 2013.</p>
<p>Luebke owns a 110 career ERA+. Over 25 starts, he's posted a 3.30 ERA, with 149 strikeouts and 39 unintentional walks. In March, he signed a four-year contract with the Padres worth $12 million, with 2016 and 2017 options. Luebke is not a lucky man, on account of his injury, but he is a lucky man, on account of his injury timing, relative to his contract timing.</p>
<p>Jeff Suppan. Geez.</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/2012/5/16/3025149/cory-luebke-tommy-john-surgery-elbow-injury-padresJeff Sullivan2012-05-02T17:39:18-04:002012-05-02T17:39:18-04:00Cory Luebke Injury: Elbow Soreness Puts Padres Lefty On DL
<figure>
<img alt="DENVER, CO - Starting pitcher Cory Luebke #52 of the San Diego Padres delivers against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/9J9w_enVkPqiCrPqIxJbV0X3p1c=/2x0:997x663/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/4113898/125653638.jpg" />
<figcaption>DENVER, CO - Starting pitcher Cory Luebke #52 of the San Diego Padres delivers against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) | Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Cory Luebke has been one of the San Diego Padres' most reliable starting pitchers, but now he's on the disabled list with a sore elbow.</p> <p><span>Cory Luebke</span> emerged from obscurity last year to become a mainstay in the Padres' rotation, posting a strikeout-to-walk ratio that most pitchers would commit regicide for. He was off to a fine start this season too, with a 2.61 ERA and three wins in five starts.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, Luebke got sucked into the gravitational pull of the Padres' miserable season.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%2523Padres">#Padres</a> select RHP <span>Jeff Suppan</span> from @<a href="https://twitter.com/TucsonPadres">TucsonPadres</a> placed LHP Cory Luebke on 15-day DL (strained left elbow)...moved <span>Kyle Blanks</span> to 60-Day</p>
— <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">San Diego Padres</a> (@Padres) <a data-datetime="2012-05-02T20:52:23+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/Padres/status/197790663184613377">May 2, 2012</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
Oh. Hello, Jeff Suppan. Welcome to Petco Park. Here is you uniform, your locker, and your sub-4.00 ERA. Enjoy.</p>
<p>That's probably a little too glib, as Suppan hasn't appeared in a major-league game since 2010, and he's been <i>terrible</i> in the minors.</p>
<center>
<div class="sr_share_wrap">
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size:.83em; border: 1px sold #aaa;" class="sr_share" data-freeze="3">
<colgroup>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
<col>
</colgroup>
<thead><tr>
<th style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" class="tooltip sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting" align="left">Year</th>
<th style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Player’s age at midnight of June 30th of that year" class="tooltip sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting" align="center">Age</th>
<th style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" class="tooltip sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting" align="center">Tm</th>
<th style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="<b>9 * ER / IP</b><br>For recent years, leaders need 1 IP<br>per team game played" class="tooltip sort_default_asc hide_non_quals" align="center">ERA</th>
<th style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Games Started" class="tooltip" align="center">GS</th>
<th style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Innings Pitched" class="tooltip" align="center">IP</th>
<th style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Hits/Hits Allowed" class="tooltip" align="center">H</th>
<th style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Home Runs Hit/Allowed" class="tooltip" align="center">HR</th>
<th style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Bases on Balls/Walks" class="tooltip" align="center">BB</th>
<th style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;" tip="Strikeouts" class="tooltip" align="center">SO</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr data-row="13">
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="2011.11"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool&year=2011">2011</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="36.11" align="right">36</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; "><a title="Omaha Storm Chasers (Omaha, NE)" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool&id=95e46fa5">Omaha</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">4.78</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">27</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">165.2</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">186</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">23</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">51</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">94</td>
</tr>
<tr data-row="14">
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="2012.12"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool&year=2012">2012</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " csk="37.12" align="right">37</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; "><a title="Tucson Padres (Tucson, AZ)" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool&id=2cdba6e8">Tucson</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">12.15</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">2</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">6.2</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">17</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">0</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">3</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; " align="right">2</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
<tfoot></tfoot>
</table>
<div class="sr_share" style="font-size: 0.83em; ">Provided by <a href="http://www.sports-reference.com/sharing.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Baseball-Reference.com</a>:</div>
<div class="sr_share" style="font-size: 0.83em; "><br></div>
</div>
</center>
<p>But the Padres saw something they liked, and up Suppan comes. The Padres moved Kyle Blanks to the 60-day DL to make room for their new starter. </p>
<p>Petco and Suppan sure would have been something to see in the early-to-mid part of last decade, though ...</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/2012/5/2/2994899/cory-luebke-injury-san-diego-padresGrant Brisbee