Luvofthegame
09-11-2006, 08:13 PM
Infielder's physical status uncertain
By TOM HAUDRICOURT
Milwaukee Journal Sentinal
Sept. 10, 2006
There will be no official announcement by the Milwaukee Brewers but third baseman Corey Koskie is done for the season.
Koskie has been on the disabled list since July 6 with post-concussion syndrome, which causes nausea and dizziness. It became apparent to the Brewers that Koskie would not return to action when he suffered a setback merely by sitting on the bench during games at the beginning of the home stand.
"It's just common sense (that Koskie won't return)," manager Ned Yost said. "He tried sitting out here for a day or two and it really set him back. He's not making progress."
Both Koskie and the Brewers hoped he would get back on the field before season's end, mostly to ensure his physical status for next season. He is signed through 2007 with a club option for 2008.
As it stands now, the Brewers won't have a good feel for Koskie's physical status until he is able to at least work out again. He suffered the concussion in freak fashion, tumbling hard to the ground chasing a pop fly but not striking his head.
"We're going to have to play it by ear and keep our fingers crossed and hope he's OK for the beginning of spring training," Yost said. "We're dealing with the unknown here. Who would have thought that he would miss the entire second half? I never dreamed that would happen."
Asked what he thought the club's plans would be at third base heading into next spring, Yost said, "We're talking about that. We better have a Plan B because of where we're at with him. Hopefully, he'll be OK."
David Bell, acquired from the Phillies on July 28 to replace Koskie, is a free agent after the season and is not expected back. In 76 games before being injured, Koskie batted .261 with 12 homers and 33 RBI.
Help coming: Outfielder Gabe Gross, who has been unable to play for nearly two weeks because of a strained left hamstring, tried running the bases before batting practice with not-so-great results.
"When I run in a straight line, I'm fine," Gross said. "When I try to make the turn on the bases, it's still a little tender. It has improved but we're not there yet. Until I can (make turns) pain-free, there's not much I can do."
With Gross ailing and Laynce Nix headed for toe surgery this week, Yost has only four healthy outfielders, plus utility man Vinny Rottino, who started Sunday at third base against Houston. But help will arrive tonight in Pittsburgh as outfielders Tony Gwynn Jr. and Drew Anderson will come up from Class AAA Nashville, which was eliminated Sunday from the Pacific Coast League playoffs.
Gwynn spent a couple of weeks with the Brewers in July and August, batting .467 (7 for 15) in limited action. He finished with a .300 average in 112 games with Nashville, with 30 stolen bases.
Anderson, a 24th-round draft pick in 2004, began the season with Class AA Huntsville, batting .291 with six homers and 43 RBI in 108 games. He was promoted to Nashville, where he batted .333 with a homer and nine RBI in 16 games.
The Brewers also are recalling right-hander Carlos Villanueva, who spent time with them in June and July and made three starts (0-1, 4.61 earned run average). Villanueva was brilliant after being assigned to Nashville, going 7-1 with a 2.71 ERA in 11 outings (nine starts).
Lasting impressions: Yost and his staff won't be able to make proper judgments on Gross and Nix before season's end but the manager said it was important for other players to finish strong.
"In our process, this is still an important time to find out which guys are capable of battling through any type of adversity," he said. "In order to be a winner, you're going to go through adversity over the course of a year. You try to find out, especially now, which kids have that make-up.
"We're finding out right now which players we want to take on for next year. To be a winner, you've got to have a winner's attitude. Which are the guys who stay after it? Which are the guys that persevere? Which are the guys that shut down and quit working? Which are the guys that don't really feel the pain of what we're going through?"
By TOM HAUDRICOURT
Milwaukee Journal Sentinal
Sept. 10, 2006
There will be no official announcement by the Milwaukee Brewers but third baseman Corey Koskie is done for the season.
Koskie has been on the disabled list since July 6 with post-concussion syndrome, which causes nausea and dizziness. It became apparent to the Brewers that Koskie would not return to action when he suffered a setback merely by sitting on the bench during games at the beginning of the home stand.
"It's just common sense (that Koskie won't return)," manager Ned Yost said. "He tried sitting out here for a day or two and it really set him back. He's not making progress."
Both Koskie and the Brewers hoped he would get back on the field before season's end, mostly to ensure his physical status for next season. He is signed through 2007 with a club option for 2008.
As it stands now, the Brewers won't have a good feel for Koskie's physical status until he is able to at least work out again. He suffered the concussion in freak fashion, tumbling hard to the ground chasing a pop fly but not striking his head.
"We're going to have to play it by ear and keep our fingers crossed and hope he's OK for the beginning of spring training," Yost said. "We're dealing with the unknown here. Who would have thought that he would miss the entire second half? I never dreamed that would happen."
Asked what he thought the club's plans would be at third base heading into next spring, Yost said, "We're talking about that. We better have a Plan B because of where we're at with him. Hopefully, he'll be OK."
David Bell, acquired from the Phillies on July 28 to replace Koskie, is a free agent after the season and is not expected back. In 76 games before being injured, Koskie batted .261 with 12 homers and 33 RBI.
Help coming: Outfielder Gabe Gross, who has been unable to play for nearly two weeks because of a strained left hamstring, tried running the bases before batting practice with not-so-great results.
"When I run in a straight line, I'm fine," Gross said. "When I try to make the turn on the bases, it's still a little tender. It has improved but we're not there yet. Until I can (make turns) pain-free, there's not much I can do."
With Gross ailing and Laynce Nix headed for toe surgery this week, Yost has only four healthy outfielders, plus utility man Vinny Rottino, who started Sunday at third base against Houston. But help will arrive tonight in Pittsburgh as outfielders Tony Gwynn Jr. and Drew Anderson will come up from Class AAA Nashville, which was eliminated Sunday from the Pacific Coast League playoffs.
Gwynn spent a couple of weeks with the Brewers in July and August, batting .467 (7 for 15) in limited action. He finished with a .300 average in 112 games with Nashville, with 30 stolen bases.
Anderson, a 24th-round draft pick in 2004, began the season with Class AA Huntsville, batting .291 with six homers and 43 RBI in 108 games. He was promoted to Nashville, where he batted .333 with a homer and nine RBI in 16 games.
The Brewers also are recalling right-hander Carlos Villanueva, who spent time with them in June and July and made three starts (0-1, 4.61 earned run average). Villanueva was brilliant after being assigned to Nashville, going 7-1 with a 2.71 ERA in 11 outings (nine starts).
Lasting impressions: Yost and his staff won't be able to make proper judgments on Gross and Nix before season's end but the manager said it was important for other players to finish strong.
"In our process, this is still an important time to find out which guys are capable of battling through any type of adversity," he said. "In order to be a winner, you're going to go through adversity over the course of a year. You try to find out, especially now, which kids have that make-up.
"We're finding out right now which players we want to take on for next year. To be a winner, you've got to have a winner's attitude. Which are the guys who stay after it? Which are the guys that persevere? Which are the guys that shut down and quit working? Which are the guys that don't really feel the pain of what we're going through?"