GaryMrMets
06-06-2004, 01:29 AM
http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/sports/8845527.htm
Posted on Sat, Jun. 05, 2004
As Wagner return to the bullpen nears, Bell's hip the latest casualty
By MARCUS HAYES
hayesm@phillynews.com
ATLANTA - Sure, there's good news, but by the time it affects the Phillies, the bad news will be a thing of the past...they hope.
The good news: Injured closer Billy Wagner sailed through a second bullpen session and will pitch the first inning of the Reading Phillies' Double A game in Bowie, Md., tomorrow. He then is slated to return to the bullpen Tuesday, 2 days earlier than expected, after missing 24 games with a groin strain (and two before that with back spasms).
The bad news: David Bell's hip issue of 2004 has flared again and will keep him out until Wagner returns. Bell took his second cortisone shot in 32 days in his left hip, the same one that suffered an injury that tied into his season-ruining back problems last year. He says the injuries are not related.
Wagner will pitch an inning in Bowie because the Phillies can't coordinate a simulated game tomorrow with their day game in Atlanta. He just wants to pitch to batters, and preferred pitching to big-leaguers.
Asked whether his groin displayed any lingering effects yesterday, Wagner replied, "I didn't feel anything."
Bell felt plenty the past 2 days. He initially strained the hip on a swing against the Cardinals on April 29. After missing a start on May 2, he received his first cortisone shot May 3, the Phillies revealed yesterday before the latest injection. This time, the pain is much more pinpointed, so, he says, he hopes this shot will knock out the strain.
"The last 2 days have been a struggle," said Bell, who said it bothers him most when he runs but, finally, acknowledged it also hurts when he plays third base. "I'm not moving the way I should be."
Bell entered last night with 10 errors, third in the majors and first among National League third basemen, a pace to nearly double his career high of 17. If he doesn't play tomorrow, which is the plan, he'll get 4 days off. The rest portends continued success.
After lagging to a .225 average before his first cortisone shot, Bell surged to a .344 clip - raising his average to .287 - before the pain resurfaced with teeth two games ago.
In the interim, the Phillies will lean on Tomas Perez, who also is the backup middle infielder and first baseman. Perez is even more important now since the Phillies kept six outfielders and sent corner infielder Shawn Wooten to the minors Thursday. Manager Larry Bowa said the Phillies sent Wooten down without qualm, because they didn't believe Bell was as bad off as he is.
"I didn't think [Bell] would miss 3 days," Bowa said. Wooten must spend 10 days in the minors before he's eligible to return.
This is only the latest in the Phillies' season of juggling injury nitroglycerine.
Second baseman Placido Polanco has been on the DL since May 8 with a torn quadriceps, a souvenir from last year, though he went 2-for-3 and ran well Thursday in Reading. He headed to Triple A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for rehab games yesterday and today in anticipation of rejoining the team after tomorrow's game.
Righthander Vicente Padilla, out until at least June 14 with biceps tendinitis, had his first flat-ground throwing session delayed until today. With Monday off, the Phillies will skip Padilla's spot next week, and their starters will pitch on their regular day through June 12 in Minnesota; Bowa wouldn't divulge his plan for that start.
All the while, lefthander Randy Wolf is fighting elbow tendinitis, first baseman Jim Thome has lingering hand problems and shortstop Jimmy Rollins is coming off 2 days missed last week with a bone bruise on his left foot. That's six of 25 core players out or hurting through this weekend. Maybe that helped explain the seven losses in the last 10 games entering last night, Bowa said, affecting a damsel-in-distress voice:
"Let all the people cry and groan and moan, 'Oh, they lost four games [straight]!' "
More practically, asked who the backup third baseman was last night, Bowa replied, "Todd Pratt," the backup catcher. And if Pratt got hurt or had to had to catch and if, say, shortstop Jimmy Rollins got hurt? Quipped Bowa, once a star fielder:
"Then I'd just put myself in...And hope they don't hit it to me."
Posted on Sat, Jun. 05, 2004
As Wagner return to the bullpen nears, Bell's hip the latest casualty
By MARCUS HAYES
hayesm@phillynews.com
ATLANTA - Sure, there's good news, but by the time it affects the Phillies, the bad news will be a thing of the past...they hope.
The good news: Injured closer Billy Wagner sailed through a second bullpen session and will pitch the first inning of the Reading Phillies' Double A game in Bowie, Md., tomorrow. He then is slated to return to the bullpen Tuesday, 2 days earlier than expected, after missing 24 games with a groin strain (and two before that with back spasms).
The bad news: David Bell's hip issue of 2004 has flared again and will keep him out until Wagner returns. Bell took his second cortisone shot in 32 days in his left hip, the same one that suffered an injury that tied into his season-ruining back problems last year. He says the injuries are not related.
Wagner will pitch an inning in Bowie because the Phillies can't coordinate a simulated game tomorrow with their day game in Atlanta. He just wants to pitch to batters, and preferred pitching to big-leaguers.
Asked whether his groin displayed any lingering effects yesterday, Wagner replied, "I didn't feel anything."
Bell felt plenty the past 2 days. He initially strained the hip on a swing against the Cardinals on April 29. After missing a start on May 2, he received his first cortisone shot May 3, the Phillies revealed yesterday before the latest injection. This time, the pain is much more pinpointed, so, he says, he hopes this shot will knock out the strain.
"The last 2 days have been a struggle," said Bell, who said it bothers him most when he runs but, finally, acknowledged it also hurts when he plays third base. "I'm not moving the way I should be."
Bell entered last night with 10 errors, third in the majors and first among National League third basemen, a pace to nearly double his career high of 17. If he doesn't play tomorrow, which is the plan, he'll get 4 days off. The rest portends continued success.
After lagging to a .225 average before his first cortisone shot, Bell surged to a .344 clip - raising his average to .287 - before the pain resurfaced with teeth two games ago.
In the interim, the Phillies will lean on Tomas Perez, who also is the backup middle infielder and first baseman. Perez is even more important now since the Phillies kept six outfielders and sent corner infielder Shawn Wooten to the minors Thursday. Manager Larry Bowa said the Phillies sent Wooten down without qualm, because they didn't believe Bell was as bad off as he is.
"I didn't think [Bell] would miss 3 days," Bowa said. Wooten must spend 10 days in the minors before he's eligible to return.
This is only the latest in the Phillies' season of juggling injury nitroglycerine.
Second baseman Placido Polanco has been on the DL since May 8 with a torn quadriceps, a souvenir from last year, though he went 2-for-3 and ran well Thursday in Reading. He headed to Triple A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for rehab games yesterday and today in anticipation of rejoining the team after tomorrow's game.
Righthander Vicente Padilla, out until at least June 14 with biceps tendinitis, had his first flat-ground throwing session delayed until today. With Monday off, the Phillies will skip Padilla's spot next week, and their starters will pitch on their regular day through June 12 in Minnesota; Bowa wouldn't divulge his plan for that start.
All the while, lefthander Randy Wolf is fighting elbow tendinitis, first baseman Jim Thome has lingering hand problems and shortstop Jimmy Rollins is coming off 2 days missed last week with a bone bruise on his left foot. That's six of 25 core players out or hurting through this weekend. Maybe that helped explain the seven losses in the last 10 games entering last night, Bowa said, affecting a damsel-in-distress voice:
"Let all the people cry and groan and moan, 'Oh, they lost four games [straight]!' "
More practically, asked who the backup third baseman was last night, Bowa replied, "Todd Pratt," the backup catcher. And if Pratt got hurt or had to had to catch and if, say, shortstop Jimmy Rollins got hurt? Quipped Bowa, once a star fielder:
"Then I'd just put myself in...And hope they don't hit it to me."