Detroit Tigers going to extreme measures to help Jose Iglesias recovery

Oct 17, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias (1) runs to third base against the Boston Red Sox during the seventh inning in game five of the American League Championship Series baseball game at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

When it was announced that Jose Iglesias was injured in a game in Lakeland on February 27, it was said he’d miss “about a week.”

Apparently the Detroit Tigers were using the word “about” rather liberally.

During the two plus weeks since Iglesias went down with a recurrence of shin splints, the prognosis has gotten more and more grim. It went from Jose returning to baseball activity to doing everything fine except for having pain while running to Brad Ausmus saying that his starting shortstop needs at least 50 at-bats to be ready for Opening Day.

To receive 50 at-bats, Iglesias would likely need to get into game action this weekend with just 14 days left of Spring Training (not including the Tigers’ day off next Wednesday), but news today indicates that is not happening.

Apparently Iglesias has been seen by a couple of specialists about the tiblar stress reactions (which for all intents and purposes are shin splints or are very much like them), including one that adjusted the orthotics that he had worn since last year.

Now the Tigers have taken the young player to see a chiropractor for a pain management device.

It seems the Tigers medical staff is out of answers and are trying anything they can to get Iglesias on the field. But can you blame them? He is very important to the team this season and beyond.

As Blair Tatrault pointed out earlier today, the Tigers do have internal options to replace Jose, none of which are very appealing if a long-term DL trip is on the horizon. Chris Hannum argues for Stephen Drew, though he ultimately thinks the Tigers are unlikely to pay his inflated price tag for (hopefully) a temp job.

Something that has had me wondering as Iglesias’ condition has gone downhill: Did the Boston Red Sox know the severity of this chronic injury and not disclose it? Did the Tigers not do their due diligence because of their nervousness over losing Jhonny Peralta for last year’s stretch run?

We do know this problem flared up shortly after Jose joined Detroit last season. The problem started while he was running on a beach in 2012 as a member of the Red Sox organization.

We may never know the specifics of what the Tigers knew or the Red Sox disclosed (or if the injury was that bad at the time to warrant any of these concerns), but one thing is for sure–as Jose Iglesias continues to miss time and the Tigers see Avisail Garcia 19 times for the rival Chicago White Sox, his absence will be magnified and the questions about the trade will continue for fans who were very enamored by Garcia’s future.