GaryMrMets
03-19-2002, 10:35 PM
http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/phi/news/phi_news_story.jsp?article_id=mlb_20020319_turkw_n ews&team_id=phi
News
3/19/2002 6:47 pm ET
Wendell out four to six weeks
By Ken Mandel
MLB.com
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The setback suffered by reliever Turk Wendell during Sunday's throwing session will keep him out for four to six weeks, and possibly longer, though it will not require surgery, the team said.
The MRI results and examination by Dr. Michael Ciccotti confirms tendinitis in Wendell's right elbow "swelling around the tendons." The reliever will begin a program that includes medication and continuous treatment. He won't throw for at least three to four weeks and probably won't pitch for at least four to six weeks, not including a probable minor league rehabilitation stint.
Wendell, 34, has bothered all spring by tendinitis in his right elbow. He threw to hitters Sunday, but ended the session after five batters and 24 pitches at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium. It was supposed to be the next step toward returning to the mound and resuming his role as a top setup man. Instead it sent him to Philadelphia for an MRI with team doctor Michael Ciccotti.
"When he was trying to add a little bit at the end he felt like there was a little tugging on the elbow in the same area, and some irritation," pitching coach Vern Ruhle said after Sunday's session. "It didn't sound like there was anything more than that to me, but it could be all kinds of things.
This isn't the worst case scenario -- surgery -- that manager Larry Bowa imagined, but it will leave the team in search of a reliable setup man for closer Jose Mesa. The good that may come from it, however, is that it may allow the Phillies to keep all three pitchers who are out of options -- Nelson Figueroa, Cliff Politte and David Coggin -- and award the fifth-starter job to Vicente Padilla.
Among the candidates are Figueroa, Politte, who were both recently taken out of contention for the fifth starter job, and Rheal Cormier, Ricky Bottalico, Jose Santiago and perhaps Carlos Silva. If Bowa decides on carrying 12 pitchers, David Coggin could end up in the pen too if his bid to be the fifth starter fails.
"Every one of those guys, when they're pitching good, is capable of being a good setup man," said Bowa, before learning of the extent of Wendell's injury. "I just need to see them pitch a little more."
The Phillies acquired Wendell and reliever Dennis Cook from the Mets in a trade for starter Bruce Chen and prospect Adam Walker. He began his Phillies career serving up a game-winning home run to Robin Ventura, and staggered to a 0-2 record with a 7.47 ERA with Philadelphia. That didn't endear him to fans.
Wendell is in the second year of a three-year deal worth $9.3 million, with incentives that could push the deal to $9.9 million. As a player traded in the middle of a multiyear deal, Wendell could have requested a trade. However, he missed a deadline that he and his agent said they didn't know existed.
He came up lame early in the spring and now may not return before his 35th birthday, on May 19.
PHILLING IN
Jose, can you save
Bowa feels that closer Jose Mesa has picked up where he left off last season, throwing well in preparation for the 2002 season.
"Jose had a real good year," Bowa said. "He had a lot to do with our success. Without a bona fide closer, you don't have a winning season, obviously. He was very consistent last year. Hopefully, he can do exactly the same thing."
Mesa saved 42 games and had a 2.34 ERA for the Phillies last season, both the second-highest totals to his best season with Cleveland in 1995, when he saved 46 games and compiled an ERA of 1.13.
The closer's resurgent season is attributable to the way he was used last season. Bowa pitched him two innings once all season, and less than an inning in 65 of his 71 appearances. His five outings that lasted less than an inning resulted in seven earned runs, a loss, a blown save and two saves.
"It's just a mindset, knowing they're just going to pitch one inning," said Bowa. "I don't want to pitch him more than an inning. I'm not going to say I won't do that but I don't want to.
"I think Jose likes the idea that he knows when he's gonna pitch and he knows the situation. The mindset takes over sometimes. I don't think he's one of those guys who likes to pitch to get work. He'd rather have the game on the line."
As Seattle's third-base coach in 2000, Bowa watched Mesa lose his job to Kazuhiro Sasaki, and liked the idea of bringing him to Philadelphia.
"He still had his velocity, in Seattle," said Bowa. "They had Sasaki and he lost his job, but it was just the way he handled it. He didn't complain, he just went out and pitched. I mean you can see he was hurt. He thought he should have had the job.
Happy 75th!
Richie Ashburn, Hall-of-Fame outfielder and longtime Phillies announcer, would have turned 75 Tuesday.
"He would have celebrated by not being here," said Phillies announcer Chris Wheeler, who joined the Phillies in 1971 and knew Ashburn for many years. "He would enjoy the day."
"Whitey" played 15 seasons with the Phillies, Cubs and Mets, including the Mets inaugural season in 1962. He amassed 2,574 hits and a .308 lifetime batting average. He was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1995, two years before he died.
"He was my boyhood idol and used to always remind me of that," said Wheeler.
He also recalled how golf "drove him nuts, but he loved it. He used to say, 'I hate this game, I'm never going to play this game again and then he's say what time do you want to play tomorrow?' " Say hey, Sammy
Juan Samuel arrived in Clearwater where he coaches first base for the visiting Detroit Tigers.
He visited with Phillies manager Larry Bowa and some Phillies, before tossing batting practice to some of the Tigers.
Bowa immediately put one spring rumor to rest, saying there's no chance that the 41-year-old Samuel is coming out of retirement to play center field for the Phillies in 2002.
"Nah," Bowa said. "He looks good though."
Samuel began his playing career with the Phillies late in the 1983 season and starred for Philadelphia through June 18 when he was traded to the New York Mets for Lenny Dykstra, Roger McDowell and Tom Edens.
One of those things
Second baseman Marlon Anderson had two hits and a stolen base in Monday's game against the Royals, but also made four errors.
Clearly not happy about it, Bowa said it was just one of those things.
"Things happen in Spring Training," Bowa said. "Infielders are entitled to have bad games like pitchers are entitled to have bad games, like hitters are entitled to have bad games."
Anderson played a flawless second base Tuesday against the Tigers, and went 1-for-5 with an RBI at the plate.
Remember me?
Wendell Magee is hitting .416 (5-for-12) this spring in his battle for a job as a backup outfielder.
The 29-year-old played for Philadelphia in parts of four seasons, and was dealt to the Tigers prior to the 2000 season for Bobby Sismondo.
Bobby Higginson, who never played for the Phillies, but was born in Philadelphia, didn't travel to Clearwater.
Ken Mandel covers the Phillies for MLB.com and can be reached at ken.mandel@mlb.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
News
3/19/2002 6:47 pm ET
Wendell out four to six weeks
By Ken Mandel
MLB.com
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The setback suffered by reliever Turk Wendell during Sunday's throwing session will keep him out for four to six weeks, and possibly longer, though it will not require surgery, the team said.
The MRI results and examination by Dr. Michael Ciccotti confirms tendinitis in Wendell's right elbow "swelling around the tendons." The reliever will begin a program that includes medication and continuous treatment. He won't throw for at least three to four weeks and probably won't pitch for at least four to six weeks, not including a probable minor league rehabilitation stint.
Wendell, 34, has bothered all spring by tendinitis in his right elbow. He threw to hitters Sunday, but ended the session after five batters and 24 pitches at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium. It was supposed to be the next step toward returning to the mound and resuming his role as a top setup man. Instead it sent him to Philadelphia for an MRI with team doctor Michael Ciccotti.
"When he was trying to add a little bit at the end he felt like there was a little tugging on the elbow in the same area, and some irritation," pitching coach Vern Ruhle said after Sunday's session. "It didn't sound like there was anything more than that to me, but it could be all kinds of things.
This isn't the worst case scenario -- surgery -- that manager Larry Bowa imagined, but it will leave the team in search of a reliable setup man for closer Jose Mesa. The good that may come from it, however, is that it may allow the Phillies to keep all three pitchers who are out of options -- Nelson Figueroa, Cliff Politte and David Coggin -- and award the fifth-starter job to Vicente Padilla.
Among the candidates are Figueroa, Politte, who were both recently taken out of contention for the fifth starter job, and Rheal Cormier, Ricky Bottalico, Jose Santiago and perhaps Carlos Silva. If Bowa decides on carrying 12 pitchers, David Coggin could end up in the pen too if his bid to be the fifth starter fails.
"Every one of those guys, when they're pitching good, is capable of being a good setup man," said Bowa, before learning of the extent of Wendell's injury. "I just need to see them pitch a little more."
The Phillies acquired Wendell and reliever Dennis Cook from the Mets in a trade for starter Bruce Chen and prospect Adam Walker. He began his Phillies career serving up a game-winning home run to Robin Ventura, and staggered to a 0-2 record with a 7.47 ERA with Philadelphia. That didn't endear him to fans.
Wendell is in the second year of a three-year deal worth $9.3 million, with incentives that could push the deal to $9.9 million. As a player traded in the middle of a multiyear deal, Wendell could have requested a trade. However, he missed a deadline that he and his agent said they didn't know existed.
He came up lame early in the spring and now may not return before his 35th birthday, on May 19.
PHILLING IN
Jose, can you save
Bowa feels that closer Jose Mesa has picked up where he left off last season, throwing well in preparation for the 2002 season.
"Jose had a real good year," Bowa said. "He had a lot to do with our success. Without a bona fide closer, you don't have a winning season, obviously. He was very consistent last year. Hopefully, he can do exactly the same thing."
Mesa saved 42 games and had a 2.34 ERA for the Phillies last season, both the second-highest totals to his best season with Cleveland in 1995, when he saved 46 games and compiled an ERA of 1.13.
The closer's resurgent season is attributable to the way he was used last season. Bowa pitched him two innings once all season, and less than an inning in 65 of his 71 appearances. His five outings that lasted less than an inning resulted in seven earned runs, a loss, a blown save and two saves.
"It's just a mindset, knowing they're just going to pitch one inning," said Bowa. "I don't want to pitch him more than an inning. I'm not going to say I won't do that but I don't want to.
"I think Jose likes the idea that he knows when he's gonna pitch and he knows the situation. The mindset takes over sometimes. I don't think he's one of those guys who likes to pitch to get work. He'd rather have the game on the line."
As Seattle's third-base coach in 2000, Bowa watched Mesa lose his job to Kazuhiro Sasaki, and liked the idea of bringing him to Philadelphia.
"He still had his velocity, in Seattle," said Bowa. "They had Sasaki and he lost his job, but it was just the way he handled it. He didn't complain, he just went out and pitched. I mean you can see he was hurt. He thought he should have had the job.
Happy 75th!
Richie Ashburn, Hall-of-Fame outfielder and longtime Phillies announcer, would have turned 75 Tuesday.
"He would have celebrated by not being here," said Phillies announcer Chris Wheeler, who joined the Phillies in 1971 and knew Ashburn for many years. "He would enjoy the day."
"Whitey" played 15 seasons with the Phillies, Cubs and Mets, including the Mets inaugural season in 1962. He amassed 2,574 hits and a .308 lifetime batting average. He was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1995, two years before he died.
"He was my boyhood idol and used to always remind me of that," said Wheeler.
He also recalled how golf "drove him nuts, but he loved it. He used to say, 'I hate this game, I'm never going to play this game again and then he's say what time do you want to play tomorrow?' " Say hey, Sammy
Juan Samuel arrived in Clearwater where he coaches first base for the visiting Detroit Tigers.
He visited with Phillies manager Larry Bowa and some Phillies, before tossing batting practice to some of the Tigers.
Bowa immediately put one spring rumor to rest, saying there's no chance that the 41-year-old Samuel is coming out of retirement to play center field for the Phillies in 2002.
"Nah," Bowa said. "He looks good though."
Samuel began his playing career with the Phillies late in the 1983 season and starred for Philadelphia through June 18 when he was traded to the New York Mets for Lenny Dykstra, Roger McDowell and Tom Edens.
One of those things
Second baseman Marlon Anderson had two hits and a stolen base in Monday's game against the Royals, but also made four errors.
Clearly not happy about it, Bowa said it was just one of those things.
"Things happen in Spring Training," Bowa said. "Infielders are entitled to have bad games like pitchers are entitled to have bad games, like hitters are entitled to have bad games."
Anderson played a flawless second base Tuesday against the Tigers, and went 1-for-5 with an RBI at the plate.
Remember me?
Wendell Magee is hitting .416 (5-for-12) this spring in his battle for a job as a backup outfielder.
The 29-year-old played for Philadelphia in parts of four seasons, and was dealt to the Tigers prior to the 2000 season for Bobby Sismondo.
Bobby Higginson, who never played for the Phillies, but was born in Philadelphia, didn't travel to Clearwater.
Ken Mandel covers the Phillies for MLB.com and can be reached at ken.mandel@mlb.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.