Tigers#1
07-01-2003, 08:34 PM
Realistically, the earliest 1B Mike Sweeney can return from the disabled list is sometime after the All-Star break. The nerve irritation in Sweeney's upper back has not improved much, so the club shut him down for at least two weeks. The offense hasn't suffered with Sweeney out of the lineup. It scored 21 runs in last weekend's interleague series with the Cardinals, though the Royals lost twice. Ken Harvey, usually the DH, has been filling in at first, but his health is now in question after suffering a bruised left shoulder last Sunday.
Manager Tony Pena is not afraid to use any of his players at any time. Case in point: He brought rookie RHP Jason Gilfillan into a tie game in the bottom of the ninth inning last week even though Gilfillan had a 7.82 ERA at the time. Gilfillan responded with a 1-2-3 inning, and the Royals went on to defeat the Indians in 10 innings. Gilfillan says he tried to relax and not overthrow, two things he will emphasize in future appearances.
Manager Tony Pena is not afraid to use any of his players at any time. Case in point: He brought rookie RHP Jason Gilfillan into a tie game in the bottom of the ninth inning last week even though Gilfillan had a 7.82 ERA at the time. Gilfillan responded with a 1-2-3 inning, and the Royals went on to defeat the Indians in 10 innings. Gilfillan says he tried to relax and not overthrow, two things he will emphasize in future appearances.