It's amazing to me that these guys don't yet consult with Dr. Muschaweck. They have yet to learn from the NHL and MLS doctors I guess. If I was a player, I would research this myself and get my ass on a plane to Munich to at least a 2nd opinion and review.
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NEW YORK — An MRI and a visit with a specialist revealed that Josh Hamilton effectively has a sports hernia, and the Texas Rangers’ center fielder could be out until September in a worst-case scenario.
For now, the Rangers have placed their All-Star on the 15-day disabled list with a right abdominal strain. The injury was originally diagnosed as a groin strain after Hamilton crashed into the center-field wall at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on May 17.
He will seek a second opinion in the coming days, assistant general manager Thad Levine said Tuesday before the Rangers were routed 12-3 in the first of three games this week at Yankee Stadium.
The hope is that the injury responds to rest and anti-inflammatory medication during the DL stint and that Hamilton can return June 16. If not, he will likely have surgery and need eight to 10 weeks to recover.
"It’s a big blow when you lose one of your best players," manager Ron Washington said. "This team has shown a lot of resiliency, and someone has to step up. I believe someone will."
Hamilton underwent an MRI on Monday and met Tuesday with Dr. John Preskitt, the internist who handled Ian Kinsler’s sports hernia last season.
Preskitt discovered Hamilton’s abdominal strain, which Levine said in essence is a sports hernia. There are varying degrees of a sports hernia, ranging from just a minor stretching of the muscles of the lower abdominal wall to a tear.
"Worst case is surgery, and there wasn’t an immediate diagnosis of that," Levine said. "The week or two will probably reveal a lot. In a week or two he could show significant improvement, so I think there’s a chance the DL stint will be exactly what he needs."
Hamilton doesn’t have a tear, and neither did Kinsler. The second baseman spent time on the DL in an attempt to give the injury time to heal on its own. Ultimately, though, he had surgery in September and didn’t resume basic running and weight-lifting for six to eight weeks.
But Kinsler said his sports hernia was easy to diagnose. That didn’t appear to be the case with Hamilton, who missed the first three games after suffering the injury but started the next nine straight.
He finally sat again Sunday. The Rangers went 0-4 in the games Hamilton missed and fell to 0-5 Tuesday. But they were 9-4 during his first stint on the disabled list last month.
Washington said he hadn’t talked with his coaches yet to see what adjustments might be made to the lineup in Hamilton’s absence. Even though he is hitting only .240 with six homers and 24 RBI, Hamilton brings a threatening presence to the lineup.
So does Andruw Jones, said Washington, and the former All-Star could get more at-bats. Brandon Boggs was recalled from Triple A Oklahoma City to give the Rangers five outfielders.
"I’ve just got to see how I can finagle it," Washington said. "Andruw might be the one we need to step up, but we’re going to have to figure out how we can do it [make up for Hamilton’s bat]."
The Rangers don’t know how long they will have to go without Hamilton. They’re hoping it isn’t until September