subject: Bailey headed to DL with shoulder impingement [print this page] Bailey headed to DL with shoulder impingement
Once considered the great strength of the roster, the Reds' rotation is suddenly leaving Spring Training very banged up and with a few question marks.
In the past week, two of the starters have suffered injuries that will prevent them from beginning the season on time. It was revealed Friday that pitcher Homer Bailey will be placed on the 15-day disabled list because of a right shoulder impingement. where to buy cheap MLB Jerseys?ujersy is a good choice.
Bailey will be shut down from throwing for a week and is expected to miss at least two starts, Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said. The decision was made after a meeting between Jocketty, manager Dusty Baker, pitching coach Bryan Price, head trainer Paul Lessard and team medical director Dr. Tim Kremchek.
"It's something he could have pitched with, but it would have lingered through the year," Jocketty said. "He feels fine and he's pitching fine. But in certain areas when he gets his arm back so far, he can feel a little something. So it's best to shut him down."
Bailey will join fellow starter Johnny Cueto on the DL to open the season. Cueto has mild inflammation in his right shoulder and is also shut down.
"I was caught completely by surprise on that one, when Paul came out and gave me the news," Baker said of the Bailey development. "There's that depth I was talking about earlier. I didn't know we'd have to call upon it so soon. We'll get them right and look at it in the positive way -- that he and Cueto will both be strong later in the year. We'll do what we can earlier in the year."
To replace Bailey, who was originally the No. 4 man in the rotation, the Reds are going to use Sam LeCure and make him the fifth starter. The right-handed LeCure has been in camp seeking a bullpen role, but he has been a starter most of his career. He was already scheduled to start on Saturday against the Giants.
The earliest the Reds would likely need LeCure is April 9 against the D-backs. recommend directory: GREINKE #23 Kansas City Royals 40TH PATCH Grey White Light Blue MLB Jersey.
That means the adjusted Reds rotation is Edinson Volquez, Bronson Arroyo, Travis Wood, Mike Leake and LeCure. The exact order behind Volquez -- the scheduled Opening Day starter -- is not known.
"We'll announce that later ... once we figure it out," Jocketty said. "We talked about it this morning. We're going to talk about it some more."
Bailey, 24, was 0-2 with a 5.93 ERA in four starts this spring. He had three walks and 12 strikeouts over 13 2/3 innings.
"There's nothing to be alarmed about," Jocketty said. "It gives him discomfort. It's not anything serious, but it's just something that would bother him all year if we don't fix it now. He felt a little something his last start out, and yesterday he felt it again. He threw fine and looked good. I think we're trying to be safe with these guys."
This is the second season in a row that a shoulder issue has sent Bailey to the DL. He was diagnosed with inflammation last May, and although it was originally considered a mild injury, Bailey missed nearly three months of the season. In 19 starts, he was 4-3 with a 4.46 ERA.
Add in the mysterious ailment for Arroyo, and it's been a difficult spring. Arroyo, who has been bothered by flu-like symptoms for over two weeks, underwent X-rays and blood tests Thursday to see if he has valley fever -- a fungus in the lungs. Results are not yet known.
"We need those guys," said Volquez. "We need Johnny and we need Homer. But we've got Woody and Leake [who] can hold them up."
Volquez hasn't had a crisp spring of pitching himself, partially because he missed two starts when his work visa was delayed by the government. His final outing of the spring -- on Friday against the Padres -- was his best, as Volquez allowed three runs and nine hits over five innings, with four walks and three strikeouts.
"This time, I have a good feeling now, close to where I was last year," said Volquez, who missed half of 2010 rehabilitating from Tommy John surgery. "My last inning, my rhythm was better, my delivery, everything."
It's also been a bumpy spring for Leake, who appeared likely to be the odd man out in a competition for the fifth spot. Leake has a 9.39 ERA in five games and was rocked for seven runs on six hits over 2 1/3 innings against Oakland on Tuesday.
Put all together, is there any concern among the Reds about the stability of the rotation?
"Not yet, but we'll see how it goes," Jocketty said. recommend directory: Brett #5 Kansas City Royals White Throwback Jersey Size 56.
