Guti’s Lingering Stomach Problems
Larry LaRue points out some bad news – Franklin Gutierrez is still having problems with his undiagnosed stomach issue. When he went back to Seattle to get checked out earlier this month, the conclusion was that it was digestive related, and a change in diet would help alleviate the problems. Unfortunately, that hasn’t worked yet, and everyone is still trying to figure out what is wrong and how to fix it.
At this point, Guti’s chances of playing on Opening Day seem to be shrinking. He’s only played in nine Cactus League games, and while position players don’t need to get stretched out the same way pitchers do, there is some repetition needed to be ready to go from day one. It’s unlikely that the team will ask Gutierrez to start the season on the active roster if he can’t play everyday, as the outfield is already going to be a bit thin with Milton Bradley’s always questionable status.
Really, more than anything, they just need to figure out what this thing is, and it’s not going to be easy to do that if he’s expected to show up and play everyday. Unless they can find a cure this weekend, it’s looking more and more likely that the team will be without Gutierrez to begin the season. In that case, I’m guessing that Michael Saunders and Ryan Langerhans would both make the team and share time in center field until Gutierrez is able to return.
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If the team feels Saunders needs more time to work on his swing in a lower pressure AAA, should this change that? Obviously, there just aren’t many other good options to fill the spot.
Would the benefit of splitting time with Langerhans while getting big league coaching input be better than playing every day in Tacoma? Or is the difference too small to matter?
They don’t really have much of a choice. Saunders and Langerhans are really the only two guys in the organization (besides Gutierrez) who can handle center field, and you need two guys on the roster who are capable of playing the position.
Plus, with Bradley’s nagging health problems, there should be enough playing time to go around.
Don’t forget Ichiro is a capable centerfielder, but then that leaves a hole in right.
Hey Dave, on a tangent – have you thought about adding LaRue to your compiled Twitter list?
I’ve gone through this before where the doctors think it’s related to IBS and give you the wrong drugs.
I’m now taking the equivalent of prozac and no longer have anxiety-driven stomach pains that have been so troubling throughout my life.
Guti might want to consider if the root cause of his stomach pains are related to anxiety and consider zoloft or prozac.
I’m no doctor or anything like that, but I remember reading his symptoms (if reported accurately) and it seems to me that he may have a pinched back nerve. It seems like with the lower back pain and stomach issues that is what it is, which if it is then that would mean surgery but its not very invasive. I hope it is as simple as that.
@ Dobbs Yeah, I had stress once that instead of making my stomach bleed (like Ichiro! a year or tow back)attacked my intestines. The blood-laced/soaked stools were hard as a rock. Prilosec did wonders. My other suggestion was going to be antibiotics. They’ve been found to help in some cases.
I wonder if it’s ulcerative colitis or crohn’s disease? I had both at one point and the symptoms can linger and be quite debilitating. I don’t know much about Franklin’s issues but I wonder if they’re related to these diseases?
I’m sure the Mariners have some very competent and expensive doctors looking at Guti’s situation – I doubt he will gain anything by our attempts at diagnosing the problem. š
On the contrary–I think we should bring the man in here and operate. ; )
On a more positive note, my wife had approximately the same symptoms as described except her stomach pains were doubling her over. Hard to diagnose, they never really did diagnose it.
After multiple attempts to figure it out, they tried a silver bullet approach of prilosec, probiotics, small and less spicy meals. That did it, but it took months.
Best not to become too impatient.
As for the Mariners “very competent and expensive doctors”, well, if they haven’t yet diagnosed it close enough to suggest a viable approach, what could it hurt to offer suggestions?
Ulcerative colitis and crohn’s seem as though they’d be likely suspects, so they may have already eliminated those two.
Yep, yep … all good guesses. Without a ‘scope’ nobody will know for sure. Maybe he has already had one. I was diagnosed with diverticulitis when I was 30 after a horrendous attack. They aren’t looking for that particular disease within people of that age so it took them quite a while to correctly diagnose it. Griffey was diagnosed with it several years ago and he had to make adjustments. Apparently actual dieting wasn’t one of those adjustments. That disease can literally kick your ass with very little warning when it wants to act up, but there are usually easy remedies. Long story short (for me) – 17 years and one left side re-section later … all is well. Like everyone else above, I have no idea what Guti might have, but the big “D” has not yet been mentioned as a possibility. Bottom line: Eat and/or supplement your fiber intake.
Hey, I have an idea lets let the professionals do their job. The doctors that is not baseball bloggers!
As a nutritional therapist I would bet heavily on grains and dairy being the culprits. I or one of my colleagues could get this turned around in 30 days or sooner if given a chance. I personally would treat him for free.
That makes too much sense for people to follow that advice. Particularly those who want to make a diagnosis without examining Guiti in person or running any tests.
As a certified Lukumi witch-doctor, I would sacrifice a chicken and give Guti a really potent fetish icon to absorb all the bad juju, I’d even treat him for only 3 easy payments of Rum and the soul of his first born.
Seriously though, best thoughts, prayers and wishes to Guti and his family. I hope this turns out to be nothing of any real consequence and that the physicians can find a quick solution to this.
From the symptoms it sounds like it’s related to team chemistry… As long as we don’t lose 70% of our games it will sort itself out.
I’ve seen this before (like EVERY guy on the Mariners last year).
It can be compounded by Post Traumatic Stess Syndrome– which probably hits Guti everytime he takes the field.
I certainly know that I was sick to my stomach most of last year.
I think he’s allergic to Wedge.
Poor Guti – it does sound pretty miserable. I hope he gets feeling better soon.
I think we need Dr. Gregory House.
Adam B. wins the thread.
I had to stop five times in this one sentence because my eyes wouldn’t let me read when I was laughing so hard. djw hit the nail on the head.
Eh, I had quite a few professional doctors do tests and never figured it out. Even I didn’t know for the longest time what really was causing the pain.
Hearing all the different possibilities could actually be helpful to someone trying to figure it out.
If there is nerve interference to the stomach then there could be “idiopathic” symptoms to that area. He should be checked by a chiropractor to make sure that this is not the case.