In case you were unaware Mike Clevinger is an absolute freak. The Indians pitcher is already throwing again just two weeks after undergoing surgery for a partial meniscus tear. Aiming to beat the initial 4-6 week recovery time, Clevinger appears on track to do so. This would be the second consecutive year that Clev would come back earlier than expected. Mike Clevinger returned from a teres major injury significantly earlier than expected last season.
Cleveland needs to ensure that Clevinger is careful in his aggressive approach to recovery. What cannot happen is Clevinger suffering a setback. So while the fact he is throwing right now encouraging and exciting, it needs to be done in moderation. As anyone who has been injured knows it can be very tempting to speed up the process by any means necessary. This can sometimes lead to a setback or a different injury, a situation which the Tribe cannot afford.
The expectation is that Clevinger will not be able to return in time for Opening Day. If Clevinger beats the recovery timetable yet again it would certainly help the Indians cause. The Indians can weather the storm of missing a few starts from Clevinger. What they might not be able to handle is multiple months without one of their best pitchers.
