Phillies Notes | Madson could be back for team's stretch drive
Phillies Notes CHICAGO - Ryan Madson has the same injury that forced Brett Myers to miss two months this season. However, the Phillies said yesterday that Madson's injury was not as severe. They think he could pitch again this season.
Phillies Notes
CHICAGO -
Ryan Madson
has the same injury that forced
Brett Myers
to miss two months this season.
However, the Phillies said yesterday that Madson's injury was not as severe. They think he could pitch again this season.
Madson, who was hurt in Sunday's win over Pittsburgh at Citizens Bank Park, has a strained right shoulder, the team said. Assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said the reliever would not be able to throw for two to three weeks.
"If he's down three weeks from throwing, then there's another couple weeks," Amaro said. "It's at least a month from being able to participate at the major-league level. But we can't break out the crystal ball until he's actually up and throwing and progressing."
Madson has been one of the team's most reliable pitchers this season. In 38 appearances, he is 2-2 with a 3.05 ERA. Remove his first three appearances (when he took his only two losses, against Atlanta, and allowed two runs in two innings against Florida) and he has a 2.47 ERA.
Considering that Myers and Madson suffered similar injuries, Amaro said the organization would look at what it could do to prevent more.
Garcia remains iffy
Another Phillie with a strained right shoulder,
Freddy Garcia,
has not pitched since June 8. The Phils said he would throw 25 pitches from a mound today in Clearwater, Fla.
Amaro said he could not gauge Garcia's chances of pitching again this season.
"We're hopeful that he will pitch again," Amaro said. "Right now, if he continues to go in a straight line, he'll pitch again for us. . . . If he has any hiccups, any significant hiccups at all, he'll probably be lost for the season."
But there was no telling that if Garcia remained on that straight line how many starts he could make.
Even more injuries
Rightfielder
Shane Victorino
left last night's victory over the Chicago Cubs in the top of the fourth inning when he strained his right calf. He is listed as day-to-day, but the Phillies will do more tests today. Victorino is scheduled for an MRI exam.
Outfielder Michael Bourn, who sprained his left ankle last night, has been the center of trade speculation for the last couple of weeks. In limited time this season, he has shown potential, and because he has less than a year of big-league service time a team that acquires him would have control of him for the next five seasons.
The Phillies have received a lot of interest in Bourn, but aren't willing to trade him for just anybody. (One rumor had Bourn headed to St. Louis for righthander Anthony Reyes, but that appears to be nothing more than a rumor.)
Bourn will have his ankle X-rayed today.
Extra bases
Outfielder
Jayson Werth,
who is on the disabled list with a strained left wrist, entered last night 1 for 10 in his first three rehab appearances for single-A Clearwater.
- Todd Zolecki