Events Calendar
In This Section
Most Read Stories
Tallmadge man dies after motorcycle crash
Passers-by call police over topless gardener
Man on leave from Iraq war slain in Akron
Soldier on leave dies after shooting near UA
Man breaks into house, flees when owner wakes up
Teen accused of drinking, dancing topless in club
Macedonia prepares for budget cuts and layoffs
Woman accused of setting fire to 2 dogs
Blogs:
Akron Docs in Haiti:
Almost home
First Bell - On Education:
21st Century Skills and Akron’s new middle school
Pets:
Lost Mini Schnauzer around Cascade Valley Park
The Heldenfiles:
Fess Parker, R.I.P.
Akron Zips:
Looking back on the season
Tribe Matters:
Seven prospects reassigned to minor-league camp
Cleveland Browns:
Yates latest to re-sign
Balanced Ledger:
How times have changed?
Kent State Sports:
Flashes fall in WNIT
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs at Chicago Bulls (Green Mascot and All)
Buckeye Blogging:
Bucks High Seed – Turner High Praise
Varsity Letters:
Report: Ohio offers Olack
All Da King's Men:
ObamaCare To Reduce Premiums By 3000% ?
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Pathetic GOP Nullification Attempts
Akron Law Café:
More on Shaming Corporate Criminals
Car Chase:
2010 CONCOURS SEASON IS UPON US
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Deals in Miami?!.
Sound Check:
Willie Nelson & Family coming to the Akron Civic Theatre May 11
See Jane Style:
Who Wore What – The Oscars
HRLite House:
Horses of Courses
Akron Gamer:
Video: Gamers expected to 'reach' for new 'Halo'
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 09:16 p.m. EDT, Jun 30, 2009
CLEVELAND: Aaron Laffey (right oblique strain) is scheduled to make what might be his last rehab start for Columbus, when the Clippers play at Toledo on Friday night. Laffey will be expected to pitch five to six innings and throw 80-95 pitches.
It's possible that on the same night, Rafael Betancourt (strained groin) will join him at Toledo on a rehabilitation assignment. Betancourt will throw a two-inning, 35-pitch simulated game today, which will be his fifth time throwing off the mound. If everything goes well, he probably will be headed for Toledo.
IN GOOD COMPANY — As part of a Sports Illustrated poll of players that will appear in this week's edition of the magazine, Eric Wedge finished in a tie for fourth to the question, ''Which manager would you least want to play for?'' Players were not permitted to vote for their own manager.
Lou Piniella, manager of the Chicago Cubs, drew the most votes (26 percent), followed by Ozzie Guillen of the Chicago White Sox (21 percent), Tony La Russa of the St. Louis Cardinals (10 percent) with Wedge and Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre deadlocked at four percent apiece.
Wedge is the only manager among the group who has not won at least one World Series.
SURGERY COMING? — Grady Sizemore will play the rest of the season in at least a little pain.
''In our opinion, Grady will by symptomatic for the balance of the season,'' head trainer Lonnie Soloff said. ''Our hope is to keep him away from the [kind of] symptoms that would affect his performance.''
Sizemore recently came off the disabled list with inflammation of the lining of his left elbow. The condition has diminished in severity, but it's unlikely to disappear on its own.
Asked if postseason surgery was likely, Soloff said, ''There's a high index of suspicion for that.''
LEWIS SEEKS SECOND OPINION — Scott Lewis pulled himself out of his last rehab start with the Aeros after 65 pitches with soreness in his left elbow.
''He didn't feel like he was 100 percent because of his symptoms,'' Soloff said. ''He is going to visit Dr. [James] Andrews for a second opinion next week. Surgery might be an option, but in our opinion it is not the best option.''
Lewis is on the disabled list with a strained elbow, but as a collegian at Ohio State, he underwent Tommy John elbow surgery.
READY FOR A RESTART — Jake Westbrook (Tommy John surgery) has gone two weeks without throwing, and the soreness in his elbow has disappeared.
''Jake will initiate a throwing program Thursday that will last two to four weeks,'' Soloff said. ''We are still hoping to get him back around the end of July or early August.''
FARM FACTS — Jensen Lewis made his first appearance for Columbus and gave up one hit and one walk in 21/3 innings. He struck out three. . . . Cord Phelps had three hits and three RBI in Kinston's 6-5 loss to Myrtle Beach in Class A. . . . Delvi Cid and Nate Recknagel each had three hits in Lake County's 9-6 win over Hagerstown in Class A. Recknagel drove in three runs, Cid two.
CLEVELAND: Aaron Laffey (right oblique strain) is scheduled to make what might be his last rehab start for Columbus, when the Clippers play at Toledo on Friday night. Laffey will be expected to pitch five to six innings and throw 80-95 pitches.
It's possible that on the same night, Rafael Betancourt (strained groin) will join him at Toledo on a rehabilitation assignment. Betancourt will throw a two-inning, 35-pitch simulated game today, which will be his fifth time throwing off the mound. If everything goes well, he probably will be headed for Toledo.
IN GOOD COMPANY — As part of a Sports Illustrated poll of players that will appear in this week's edition of the magazine, Eric Wedge finished in a tie for fourth to the question, ''Which manager would you least want to play for?'' Players were not permitted to vote for their own manager.
Lou Piniella, manager of the Chicago Cubs, drew the most votes (26 percent), followed by Ozzie Guillen of the Chicago White Sox (21 percent), Tony La Russa of the St. Louis Cardinals (10 percent) with Wedge and Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre deadlocked at four percent apiece.
Wedge is the only manager among the group who has not won at least one World Series.
SURGERY COMING? — Grady Sizemore will play the rest of the season in at least a little pain.
''In our opinion, Grady will by symptomatic for the balance of the season,'' head trainer Lonnie Soloff said. ''Our hope is to keep him away from the [kind of] symptoms that would affect his performance.''
Sizemore recently came off the disabled list with inflammation of the lining of his left elbow. The condition has diminished in severity, but it's unlikely to disappear on its own.
Asked if postseason surgery was likely, Soloff said, ''There's a high index of suspicion for that.''
LEWIS SEEKS SECOND OPINION — Scott Lewis pulled himself out of his last rehab start with the Aeros after 65 pitches with soreness in his left elbow.
''He didn't feel like he was 100 percent because of his symptoms,'' Soloff said. ''He is going to visit Dr. [James] Andrews for a second opinion next week. Surgery might be an option, but in our opinion it is not the best option.''
Lewis is on the disabled list with a strained elbow, but as a collegian at Ohio State, he underwent Tommy John elbow surgery.
READY FOR A RESTART — Jake Westbrook (Tommy John surgery) has gone two weeks without throwing, and the soreness in his elbow has disappeared.
''Jake will initiate a throwing program Thursday that will last two to four weeks,'' Soloff said. ''We are still hoping to get him back around the end of July or early August.''
FARM FACTS — Jensen Lewis made his first appearance for Columbus and gave up one hit and one walk in 21/3 innings. He struck out three. . . . Cord Phelps had three hits and three RBI in Kinston's 6-5 loss to Myrtle Beach in Class A. . . . Delvi Cid and Nate Recknagel each had three hits in Lake County's 9-6 win over Hagerstown in Class A. Recknagel drove in three runs, Cid two.
