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Friday, March 7, 2008
Braves relievers (and Pujols) are achin’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Things could be a lot worse for relievers Rafael Soriano and Peter Moylan. They could have Albert Pujols’ elbow.
But seriously … Soriano and Moylan, the Braves’ best two relievers, are both nursing sore elbows, though all parties are calling it typical spring soreness or tenderness or whatever.
We should know in a few days, if either or both are still out. Moylan told me this morning that he’s had some slight soreness on the inside of his elbow for a couple of weeks, and they decided now to rest and rehab a few days to knock it out rather than keeping pitching with it.
When I asked him if it’s just typical soreness, nothing to be concerned about, as the Braves have indicated, Moylan said, “I think so.”
He also pointed out that the soreness hasn’t been in one spot, but moved a few inches up or down his elbow. That’s generally a good sign, indicating inflammation rather than torn tissue of any kind. So we’ll see.
Blogmeister note: I’m adding a new paragraph here, subbing for original one after getting back from clubhouse with update on Soriano.
He threw in the bullpen this morning — “Soriano threw really well; we’ll see how he feels tomorrow,” said Bobby Cox, who said he threw hard and without difficulty. If all goes well, Soriano will make his spring debut next Tuesday or Wednesday.
“If it’s the middle of next week, it’s fine,” Cox said of Soriano’s timetable. “He’s not going to lose his control. He’s fine.”
The Braves believed all along that he’s only had minor inflammation in the back of the elbow, near bottom of the triceps muscle.
If it lingers and he’s not pitched by this time next week, well, then you’ve got serious cause for concern, I’d say.
By the way, in case you missed the news, Cardinals slugger Pujols has an elbow that’s ready to implode at any time. He’s been diagnosed with a high-grade ligament tear, bone spurs, inflammation, arthritis, and malaria.
OK, kidding about the malaria. But he does have all of those other conditions in his right elbow, and is apparently going to keep playing until it blows, then have total reconstructive surgery. Yikes.
Yeah, Buddy: Talked to the Budster this morning, journeyman pitcher Buddy Carlyle. Gotta tell you, he’s one you can’t help but pull for, such a down-to-earth fella, bounced around for a dozen years before really getting his first opportunity to stick with a major league club.
He’s got the best attitude imaginable, isn’t getting carried away with his four perfect innings in his first two appearances, and says he’ll “go with the flow” no matter where he’s pitching, Atlanta or Richmond, rotation or bullpen.
He’ll get his first start of the spring on Saturday in a split-squad game against Cincinnati over at Sarasota.
At 30, he said he feels like a new pitcher after adding a cutter a couple years ago, smoothing out his delivery some last year in his return to starting, and then adding a splitter this winter and further simplifying his mechanics.
He’s pounding the strike zone and has four strikeouts with no walks or hits allowed. And Carlyle said he doesn’t feel like it’s flukey at all - he feels that good out there, that smooth in his delivery, that confident.
“I think I learned more last year than the previous seven years,” he said.
Last year’s eight wins and early success when the Braves needed him in an emergency reinforced in his mind that he could be a successful big league pitcher, after all these years.
His wife Jessicia is thrilled that the family (they have two kids, 1 and 4) gets to be back at the same spring training site two years in a row and then probably another city they’re familiar with, be it Richmond or Atlanta.
In my mind I had Jeff Bennett penciled in for that long relief/spot starter role coming into spring. But Bennett missed more than a week with the flu, and Carlyle has probably put his own hat squarely in that competition with his performance so far.
Carlyle has a ton of experience in both roles through the years, and has the perfect attitude for it. He can easily move from three weeks in the ‘pen to making a spot start, and takes pride in that fact. “The more things you can do, the better,” he said, smiling. “A utility pitcher, if you want to put it that way.”
Renteria back with Braves: Funny scene in the clubhouse this morning. I’m talking to Chipper (he’s playing today, by the way) and I see him glance across the room and smile. I turned and there’s Edgar Renteria, putting down his Detroit Tigers equipment bag in front of a locker and starting to take out the clothes that were hanging in it.
He’s doing this with a straight face, until the laughter of several former Braves teammates is too much, and he breaks into a laugh himself. Edgar exchanged hugs and handshakes with everyone, including his pupil Yunel Escobar, who worked out with the veteran all winter in Miami and will now try to fill his shoes.
Kotsay leading off: For a day, at least. Today’s lineup goes like this — 1. Mark Kotsay, CF; 2. Escobar, SS; 3. Hoss, 3B; 4. Teixiera, 1B; 5. Francoeur, RF; 6. Diaz, LF; 7. McCann, C; 8. Prado, 2B; 9. Lopez, DH.
Mike Hampton making his highly anticipated second start today vs. Tigers lefty Kenny Rogers.
Split-squad games tomorrow vs. Reds in Sarasota and vs. Houston here at Dark Star. I’ll be at the place that doesn’t involve 3-4 hours of driving, and where the manager will be.
Francoeur, Diaz and McCann are going to Sarasota, other regulars will stay here to face Houston.
Jo-Jo Reyes is to face Astros lefty Wandy Rodriguez, and Carlyle faces Reds lefty Jeremy Affeldt.
”ACHIN’ TO BE” by Paul Westerberg
Well she’s kind of like an artist
Sittin’ on the floor
Never finishes, she abandons
Never shows a soul
And she’s kind of like a movie
Everyone rushes to see
And no one understands it
Sittin’ in their seats
She opens her mouth to speak and
What comes out’s a mystery
Thought about, not understood
She’s achin’ to be
Well she dances alone in nightclubs
Every other day of the week
People look right through her
Baby doll, check your cheek
And she’s kind of like a poet
Who finds it hard to speak
Poems come so slowly
Like the colors down a sheet
She opens her mouth to speak and
What comes out’s a mystery
Thought about, not understood
She’s achin’ to be
I’ve been achin’ for a while now, friend
I’ve been achin’ hard for years
Well she’s kind of like an artist
Who uses paints no more
You never show me what you’re doing
Never show a soul
Well, I saw one of your pictures
There was nothin’ that I could see
If no one’s on your canvas
Well, I’m achin’ to be
She closes her mouth to speak and
Closes her eyes to see
Thought about an’ only loved
She’s achin’ to be
Just like me
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