Baseball Injury Report
by Rick WiltonAugust 08, 2006
Featured Note of the Week
Bartolo Colon (RHP, LAA)
Colon went on the disabled list July 27 with inflammation in the triceps muscle in his pitching arm. A week later and he still doesn't have a date he'll be allowed to resume throwing. He's eligible to come off the DL on August 11, but that's not going to happen. While the Angels have been quiet in providing information on the situation, inside reports hint he still feels some discomfort in his shoulder and it is still noticeably weak. This would explain why he hasn't resumed any kind of throwing. Colon owners shouldn't look for him to return before the end of August unless the inflammation disappears quickly.
From Injury Watch Notes This Past Week
Matt Clement (RHP, BOS)
It looks like Clement is done for the year. For the second time during his most recent comeback and rehab work, he’s suffered a setback regarding his shoulder. He’s not going to throw a baseball again until August 21-26. Even if he throws pain free and gets his arm strength up to where it needs to be, minor league games will be over (except the minor league playoffs), and the Red Sox aren’t going to let him work his way into game shape at the major league level. It’s time to fold up your tent and either have surgery or start looking toward 2007.
Kerry Wood (RHP, CHC)
Wood made it official by stating yesterday that he’s done for the 2006 season. He’ll spend the next six months rebuilding his shoulder after suffering a partially torn rotator cuff earlier in the year. Using players with similar situations, he believes he can avoid having surgery. Wood stated that he hopes to come back as a reliever, reducing the stress on his shoulder. This sounds like a plan, but Wood’s inability to warm up quickly will be in question because of past problems in that area and a career as a starter, not a reliever.
Kris Benson (RHP, BAL)
While recovering from what was termed minor tendonitis in his pitching elbow, Benson suffered a setback and was given a cortisone injection a couple of days ago. While throwing on Tuesday he felt pain in his elbow, obviously not a good sign. Look for the Orioles to evaluate him on Thursday and likely place him of the disabled list on Friday. Does this mean he’s done for the year? It’s too early to tell if the O’s will shut him down for the season. If he misses more than 2-3 weeks, Baltimore would be wise to start looking toward 2007 regarding Benson.
Darin Erstad (1B, LAA)
The injury saga of Erstad took another twist this week. Another round of MRIs revealed some "spurring" in the heel of his right ankle that put pressure and caused friction on the ligaments in that area of the foot. According to Erstad, surgery is now an option and shouldn't be career-ending. What happened to the ankle pain? Bone chips in the ankle? Lots of questions that still need to be answered. To top it all off, Erstad, who is in a boot and on the DL since mid June, says he wants and can still contribute this season! By the sound of it, Erstad is going to find a way to gut it out and get back on the field. If you own Erstad, don't hold your breath, the odds are against any kind of a successful return in 2006.
Rick Wilton is the Publisher of the Baseball Injury Report website, the foremost authority on injuries for fantasy baseball owners. He also published the first of its kind Baseball Injury Annual this spring.