April 02, 2008
Injured Closer
J.J. Putz allowed that home run after injuring a rib:
Yet despite putting their All-Star closer on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday, the team was feeling lucky that his rib injury wasn't anything more serious than what it turned out to be: costochondritis, an inflammation of the area where the ribs attach to cartilage.
Throwing a third-pitch splitter to the Rangers' Michael Young on Tuesday night, Putz felt a sensation he described as "like an ice pick stabbing you in the side." He stayed in, and the next batter, Josh Hamilton, hit a two-run homer to give Texas the victory.
Putz reported the pain to head trainer Rick Griffin after the game and was looked at by team medical director Dr. Edward Khalfayan. They determined Putz should have an MRI exam Wednesday morning to rule out an injury, and that exam discovered the area of inflammation where his 10th rib attaches to a grouping of cartilage on the front of his torso.
The injury is not unusual in baseball, but for a pitcher it usually occurs on the "front" side, or the side that faces the batter as the pitcher is in his windup. For Putz, a right-hander, it is on his right, or back, side. That should make recovery a little easier since the front side takes the most strain.
McLaren is going to decide which reliever to use as closer based on the situation.
Posted by David Pinto at
10:05 PM
|
Injuries
|
TrackBack (0)