Gonzalez says he will pace himself

By Carroll Rogers

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Braves reliever Mike Gonzalez was diagnosed with elbow tendinitis right before the All-Star break and came out of the break Thursday with continuing soreness, despite three additional days rest.

Manager Bobby Cox said after the game that Gonzalez would not be available for several days. He also said Eric O’Flaherty wasn’t available Thursday and is day-to-day because of back pain.

Cox said the Braves don’t plan to disable anyone and will make do until Gonzalez returns. He figured it would be at least three days.

“Gonzalez’s inflammation went down [lower in his arm],” Cox said. “He’s going to be out a few more days, probably, and O’Flaherty’s back acted up on him. But we’re strong right now. We’re fine. We’re just beginning the second half. All the relievers have just had days off, so we’re OK out there.”

Gonzalez has been pitching with discomfort in his surgically repaired left elbow for the past few weeks. But he had to fly home from the Braves series in Colorado before the All-Star break to have his elbow examined. An MRI revealed no structural damage.

It was both a relief and a wake-up call, that Gonzalez needs to pace himself the second half and let the coaches know when he isn’t able to go.

“Sometimes that competitive nature takes over, and it can sometimes be a negative for you,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez went 1-2 with a 10.80 ERA in his past eight outings and realized he needed to finally shut it down after giving up two runs in two-thirds of an inning to take the loss July 9 against the Rockies.

“I wasn’t helping anybody out,” Gonzalez said. “I didn’t know where the ball was going. I had no feeling in my fingertips.”

Gonzalez said the tenderness is in the back of his elbow and not in the same area that required reconstruction surgery in May 2007. He described it as similar to tennis elbow.

But he knows he needs to speak up when he feels less than his best. Entering Thursday, Gonzalez was tied for fifth in the majors with 45 appearances.

“Sometimes you try to be a hero, and you try to save the world, when sometimes it just needs a day or two,” Gonzalez said. “You just need to ask sometimes. I need to get into that habit if I’ve gone eight out 10 days, I do need a day off, and not to be embarrassed to ask for it.”

Health updates

● Super utility player Omar Infante, who has been out since late May with a broken finger, was cleared to start swinging a bat Thursday. Cox said Infante will need two weeks before he’ll be ready to go out on a minor-league rehabilitation assignment, but once there he could be ready to go after five or six games.

● Javier Vazquez, who was scratched from his previous start with a sore abdominal muscle, said the muscle was feeling good after a week of rest. He threw a bullpen session Thursday and plans to make his start Sunday against the Mets.

● Reliever Buddy Carlyle threw 10 minutes of batting practice Thursday, after throwing five minutes Friday in Colorado. He’ll be evaluated and then likely head out of a minor-league rehabilitation assignment as he begins his return from a diagnosis with Type I diabetes.

● Tim Hudson threw 40 pitches of batting practice Thursday in his final preparation for his minor-league rehabilitation assignment, which begins Sunday in Class A Myrtle Beach. Hudson is gearing up for a late August or early September return from elbow-reconstruction surgery.

● Jordan Schafer, who is now in Class AAA Gwinnett, received a second opinion from a specialist in New York on his sore left wrist. The original diagnosis was confirmed that he has a bone bruise, Braves general manager Frank Wren said. He’ll be in the cast for two weeks and out of action for at least four weeks.