2005 Injury Update Thread

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Borowski's simulated game went well today. He'll go to Iowa on Monday and pitch Tuesday. They want to get back-to-back outings in over there and at least one two-inning stint. He'll likely throw four or five times with the I-Cubs before he rejoins the team.

 

I spoke to Borowski on Friday. He signed a nice picture for me. Said he was feeling really good but needed to get his arm back in shape. He says he's anxious to get back, but he isn't going to rush it.

 

Todd Walker was out during pre-game drills, but was wearing a knee brace. I asked him Friday night how his knee was as he was leaving the park, and he said "lots better, thanks for asking." Not much else to tell.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Kerry will at least miss one start: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2051642

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

The Des Moines Register had a few quotes on Borowski's rehab. Limk

 

Chicago closer Joe Borowski was sparkling in his first rehab appearance with the triple-A Iowa Cubs Tuesday night, tossing a perfect inning of relief. The burly right-hander fanned two of the three Nashville batters he faced in the top of the sixth, the last one swinging.

 

"Now," said Borowski, who's rehabbing a broken bone in his right wrist, "it's just a matter of getting some innings under my belt."

 

Eleven pitches, seven strikes, zero pain. Borowski's fastball was clocked in the high 80s. His slider was tighter than a James Brown groove.

 

 

Get well soon, Joe!

[jyoung55]

Found some more good news on Joe here

 

May 5 According to The Chicago Tribune, Chicago Cubs RP Joe Borowski (wrist) threw one inning of relief for Triple-A Iowa Tuesday, May 3, striking out two in an 11-pitch outing. Borowski will make his second appearance for Iowa on May 5, and the Cubs may bring him up as early as the following week if he continues to pitch well.

 

I am not sure what the following week is in the context but if it is next week hopefully in a week or two we have some idea of a set bullpen

[Jon]

Found some more good news on Joe here

 

May 5 According to The Chicago Tribune, Chicago Cubs RP Joe Borowski (wrist) threw one inning of relief for Triple-A Iowa Tuesday, May 3, striking out two in an 11-pitch outing. Borowski will make his second appearance for Iowa on May 5, and the Cubs may bring him up as early as the following week if he continues to pitch well.

 

I am not sure what the following week is in the context but if it is next week hopefully in a week or two we have some idea of a set bullpen

The current plan is for him to throw tonight, take two days off, throw on both Sunday and Monday, rest, and then throw multiple innings. If all goes well, it's quite possible that he could be done after those five outings and then join the big league club in Washington.

[NCCubFan]

I'm going to the second and third games of the Washington series, so maybe I'll see his debut.

[Jon]

Borowski with an easy 7-pitch inning. A pop up to third, a ground out to second, and a fly ball to shallow center. I wonder if they'll be tempted to rush him a little bit more now.

[USSoccer]

Borowski with an easy 7-pitch inning. A pop up to third, a ground out to second, and a fly ball to shallow center. I wonder if they'll be tempted to rush him a little bit more now.

 

They'd need a lead for him to hold. :?

 

But I'm really glad he's doing well. Maybe his return will be a shot in the arm.

[E.J.]

Some more crappy news for us:

 

Nomar at Least a Month Away From Starting Rehab

 

Garciaparra said the doctors told him the tear was worse than anticipated, but wouldn't take any longer to heal. The ruptured tendon is expected to heal on its own.

 

"They told me there was damage to the abdominal muscle that connects to the same area where the tendon pulled off," he said. "When they went in there, they found out there was more damage than they thought. The muscle came off pretty good. They repaired the lower area and stitched it up."

 

The 31-year-old former All-Star said his doctor originally told him he could start rehab two weeks after surgery, but that was changed to four weeks.

[Jon]

Walker was out there taking ground balls again and felt good. He's still wearing the brace and isn't 100%. He hopes to go back to Arizona for extended spring training on Wednesday to get about 10 bats a day for three or four days before joining Iowa. They're looking at a return for the White Sox series.

[Jon]

As posted in the minor league forum:

 

5th inning (10-9 I-Cubs):

 

Borowski vs. Luna (0-2)

-fastball low, 1-0

-fastball taken high in the zone, 1-1

-grounded to first, 3-1 on the putout

 

Borowski vs. Gonzalez (1-3)

-lined off of Borowski's leg, deflected to first, 1-3 on the putout

 

Injury delay. The ball hit Joe's left leg near his knee, but after throwing a couple of warmup tosses, he seemed fine.

 

Borowski vs. Seabol (1-2)

-low, 1-0

-taken on the outside corner, 1-1

-grounded to short

 

Easy 1-2-3 inning for Joe.

 

6th inning (10-9 I-Cubs):

 

Borowski vs. Berger (3-3)

-foul, 0-1

-low and away, 1-1

-low, 2-1

-fastball high, 3-1

-taken, 3-2

-grounded to short

 

Borowski vs. Gall (2-3)

-taken at the knees, 0-1

-ball, 1-1

-ball, 2-1

-grounded to short

 

Borowski vs. Nelson (1-2)

-ball, 1-0

-HR to left

 

Borowski vs. Cardona (1-1)

-high, 1-0

-taken, 1-1

-lined to second

 

 

15 pitches. Joe went 3 2/3 innings before allowing a baserunner. He'll rest a couple of days before throwing in back-to-back games.

[Jon]

X-rays came back negative for Dempster:

Cubs.com[/url]"]CHICAGO -- Precautionary X-rays on Chicago Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster's right forearm came back negative following Wednesday's game, although Dempster suffered a deep bruise after fielding a comebacker by New York's Mike Piazza to end the 10th inning.

 

Dr. Stephen Gryzlo, the Cubs orthopedic specialist, examined Dempster at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The Cubs will know more about Dempster's injury on Thursday.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Today in a driving rain, Joe Borowski came in in a 2-out, bases loaded jam:

 

Choo Freeman up:

 

Ball 1.

Ball 2.

Strike 1 swinging.

Ball 3.

Strike 2 swinging.

Strike 3 looking.

 

Joe likely would have pitched in the 8th had it not been for an ensuing rain delay.

 

0.1 IP, 1 K, 1 batter faced.

[E.J.]

X-rays came back negative for Dempster:

Cubs.com[/url]"]CHICAGO -- Precautionary X-rays on Chicago Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster's right forearm came back negative following Wednesday's game, although Dempster suffered a deep bruise after fielding a comebacker by New York's Mike Piazza to end the 10th inning.

 

Dr. Stephen Gryzlo, the Cubs orthopedic specialist, examined Dempster at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The Cubs will know more about Dempster's injury on Thursday.

 

*sigh of relief*

 

Dempster isn't a great pitcher, but we can't afford to lose another pitcher to the DL. Is it bad that I'm always nervous when I see this thread has a new post in it?

[Jon]

Looks like Dempster will be fine:

Cubs.com[/url]"]CHICAGO -- Chicago Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster received treatment Thursday for his bruised right forearm and could be available to pitch by Saturday.

 

Dempster was injured by a comebacker by New York's Mike Piazza to end the 10th inning Wednesday. X-rays of Dempster's forearm were negative.

 

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said Thursday there was a "50-50 chance" that Dempster could pitch on Friday when the team opens a three-game series against the Washington Nationals. It was more likely that Dempster would be available on Saturday.

[Jon]

According to Bruce Miles, Borowski will likely throw in one or two more games at Iowa. That makes sense since his last two outings consisted of giving up 3 runs (1 earned) in .2 innings and then facing just one batter in a complete downpour. I'd guess that one solid outing is all that it should take, although with days off on Monday and Thursday, he may get in two more appearances if the Cubs don't think he'd be ready until Sunday or so.

[Laura]

The Daily Southtown[/url]"] Manager Dusty Baker said rehabbing relief pitcher Joe Borowski wasn't thrilled about spending extra time at Triple-A Iowa.

 

"He's not happy about it," Baker said. "Joe wants to be here. But our reports say he is not ready."

 

Borowski, who is recovering from a fractured right wrist, had hoped to be back with the Cubs this weekend after attempting back-to-back appearances. He struggled Tuesday night against Colorado Springs, giving up three runs on two hits in two-thirds of an inning, and faced just one batter Wednesday before Iowa's game was halted because of rain.

 

He will throw today against Salt Lake. The Cubs want Borowski to make back-to-back appearances during the week.

 

Cubs reports say Borowski's pitch velocity is in the mid- to upper 80s (mph) and that the ball is not coming out of his hand the same way it was during earlier rehab appearances.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Also, Todd Walker will be playing today in Salt Lake City. He'll play the whole 4-game series between Iowa and Salt Lake City.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Todd Walker is batting second and playing second base today for Iowa. He's expecting to play 4 or 5 innings today and get about 3 ABs. He's wearing a knee brace today.

 

His first AB, in the first inning, against LHP Corey Lee:

 

Fastball strike taken on the inside corner.

Fouled back, 0-2 count.

Todd Walker swings and misses. Strike out on 3 pitches.

 

In the bottom of the first, Todd cleanly fielded a grounder to him and threw out the leadoff hitter.

 

Todd Walker's second AB, third inning, against Lee:

 

Fastball inside, ball 1.

Fastball on the outside corner, strike 1.

Breaking ball inside, ball 2.

Groundball to second, Walker is retired 4-3.

 

Walker showed some range to make a nice play on a grounder that was destined for RF in the 4th inning. That was only his second chance in the field.

 

Todd Walker's third AB, fifth inning, against Lee:

 

Walker grounds out 1-3 on the first pitch.

 

In the sixth inning, Richard Lewis replaced Todd Walker at second base. Todd went 0 for 3 with a K and made the play on both balls hit to him at second base.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Joe Borowski in to pitch the bottom of the 8th inning for Iowa:

 

Joe Borowski vs. Casey Kotchman (3 for 3):

 

Ball 1 inside.

Ball 2 low.

Strike 1 low and away.

Ball 3 low and outside.

Ball 4, bases on balls.

 

Joe Borowski vs. Curtis Pride (3 for 3):

 

Breaking ball for an outside strike.

Ball 1 low and outside.

Flyout to Dwayne Bacon in CF, 1 out.

 

Joe Borowski vs Nick Gorneault (1 for 3):

 

Breaking ball swung on and missed, strike 1.

Popout to Bacon in shallow CF, 2 outs.

 

Joe Borowski vs. Luke Allen (0 for 3):

 

Ball 1 outside, Kotchman thrown out stealing by Geovany Soto.

 

1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 0 K, 11 pitches

[Laura]

Brenly just said Zambrano left the game with "lateral forearm tightness."

 

He and Kasper are speculating that it might be the dehydration issue again, but I don't that's any official word yet.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Todd Walker will bat third and DH today for Iowa. He said the knee feels good.

 

Todd Walker against RHP Doug Sessions in the first inning, 1 on, 1 out:

 

Walker grounds into a 3-6-1 DP on the first pitch.

 

Todd Walker against Sessions in the third inning, 2 on, 1 out:

 

Grounds into a 4-6-3 DP on the first pitch.

 

Todd Walker against Sessions in the sixth inning, 1 on, 1 out:

 

Strike 1 looking, outside corner

6-4-3 GIDP

 

Todd Walker against RHP Joel Peralta in the ninth inning, nobody on:

 

Ball 1

Strike 1 looking

Ball 2

Ball 3

Foul ball hammered down the RF line

Strike 3 looking

 

Walker goes 0-4, 3 GIPDs and a K. He's now 0 for 7 on his rehab.

Edited May 15, 2005 by CaliforniaRaisin

[UMFan83]

OOF! A couple of first pitch outs? Sounds like he's about ready to join the big league club

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Todd Walker interviewed right before the Iowa game (the interview actually happened during yesterday's rain out):

 

Todd Walker: "I felt the best the last two ABs in my last game, so we'll see."

 

Todd: "I'm seeing pitches better, could recognize the changeup. The first two ABs, I didn't think, I just went up and swung at the first two pitches. I did better in the second two ABs. Swung at my pitch, hit it on the screws, but I just fouled it. I got it to a full count in that last AB, which was good."

 

Todd: "We'll do better when Joe Borowski and I get back to the big league team. Just have to tread water now with the injuries and then we'll be fine. We're still in the division."

 

He thinks Nomar will miss another 2 months at least but Kerry will be back in a week or two. Dr. Todd Walker? :-k

 

Todd Walker will bat third and play second base in Game 1.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Todd Walker vs. RHP Dustin Moseley, runners at the corners and no outs in the first inning:

 

Fouled back, strike 1.

Ball 1, low and inside.

Grounder to third. FC, 5-4. Run scores. Might have been a DP but the third baseman bobbled it.

 

Todd Walker vs. Moseley, leading off the 3rd inning:

 

Ball 1.

Strike 1.

Flyball to deep LF, off the glove of LF Gordon for a 2-base error.

 

Walker then scores his first run of the rehab stint thanks to a David Kelton RBI triple.

 

Todd Walker vs. RHP Dustin Moseley, 1 out and no one on in the 5th:

 

Grounds out 6-3 (first pitch swinging).

 

Todd Walker facing LHP Eric Cyr with the bases loaded, 1 out in the 7th:

 

Ball 1.

Strike 1 looking.

4-6-3 DP. That would be his 5th DP for Iowa. Yeesh.

 

For the day: 0 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored.

Edited May 17, 2005 by CaliforniaRaisin