NewsLefty Eyre latest pitcher to sustain injury
Day-to-day with sore elbow; Romero gets cortisone shot
By Todd Zolecki / MLB.com
09/08/09 7:17 PM ET
WASHINGTON -- Get the Phillies pitchers some bubble wrap.There seems to be another injury to another pitcher every day. Left-hander Scott Eyre said Tuesday at Nationals Park that he felt a "quick and sharp" pain in his left elbow when he threw a pitch Monday in Houston. Doctors examined him before Tuesday night's game, and the Phillies said he is day-to-day with elbow soreness.
"It's just sore," Eyre said. "It gets sore all the time. It's just that the last time it got a little more sore than normal."
Phillies assistant general manager Scott Proefrock said left-hander J.A. Happ, who missed Monday's start because of a strained right intercostal muscle, will miss his scheduled start Saturday against the Mets, although he is hopeful Happ will rejoin the rotation next week. The intercostal muscle is located in the rib cage.
Eyre and Happ are on a list of injured Phillies pitchers that includes left-hander J.C. Romero and right-handers Clay Condrey.
Romero, who has been on the DL since July 20 with a strained left forearm, received a cortisone shot into his left elbow Tuesday in Philadelphia. He will be shut down for a couple days, and after that, the Phillies will see how he responds.
"He's trying to get the soreness out of there, and this was another way to approach that," Proefrock said.
Condrey, who has been on the disabled list since July 23 with a strained left oblique, has shown improvement and will begin to throw some simulated games. He could be activated if he gets through those, or begin a rehab assignment with one of the organization's remaining teams in the playoffs: Double-A Reading or Class A Lakewood.
Right-handers Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge haven't been healthy lately, either. Lidge has been bothered with a blister on his right index finger, but he said he is fine. Madson had tendinitis in his right biceps, but he said he is fine and available to pitch.
The Phillies play a doubleheader Sunday against the Mets, so losing Happ doesn't come at a good time. But Philadelphia have right-hander Kyle Kendrick available. He went 9-7 with a 3.34 ERA in 24 starts this season for Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Utility player Greg Dobbs, who has been on the DL since Aug. 22 with a strained right calf, is running at about 85 percent. Dobbs could be activated sometime in the next seven to 10 days. He also could play in some rehab games with Reading or Lakewood.
Asked if the goal is to try to get everybody ready for the playoffs, Proefrock said, "No, the goal is to get to the postseason. We have to get there first. Let's remember that."
Todd Zolecki is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
