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Do IT this week: Layering
Published on Sunday, Jun 08, 2008
Surgery for Westbrook, who's likely out a year
DETROIT: As Indians manager Eric Wedge succinctly put it Saturday, ''You hope for the best and prepare for everything else.''
So the Indians will go on with the season without Jake Westbrook, a key member of their rotation who probably won't pitch for a year.
''You hate to lose Jake,'' Wedge said. ''We love having him in the rotation. But it's always more than 25 [players on the roster]. Aaron Laffey already has stepped up for us, and now Jeremy Sowers will come up. It goes back to depth. We have it.''
Laffey has established himself as a reliable starter in the wake of a hip strain that put Fausto Carmona on the disabled list more than a month ago. Sowers, who will be summoned from Triple-A Buffalo to start today, will take Westbrook's spot in the rotation.
Wedge emphasized that the goals and the outlook of the team will not change because of Westbrook's absence.
Head trainer Lonnie Soloff accompanied Westbrook to Los Angeles, where he was examined Friday by Dr. Lewis Yocum, team doctor for the Angels.
''Dr. Yocum agreed with the evaluation of our doctors that Jake requires UCL [ulnar collateral ligament] reconstruction that will effectively end his season. The surgery will take place in seven to 14 days, and Jake will be out about a year.''
Westbrook's torn ligament will be replaced with a tendon from either his right or left wrist.
In other words, Westbrook will undergo Tommy John surgery, which usually has a recovery time of between 10 and 14 months for pitchers. Shin-Soo Choo returned from the DL last month after undergoing a similar operation in late September. The difference is that Choo is an outfielder and does not put constant pressure on the elbow.
It is impossible to determine exactly when or how Westbrook sustained the injury, but throwing overhand is not a natural movement of the body.
''Jake experienced it [pain] more after his most recent start May 28,'' Soloff said. ''If you pitch long enough at a high level you're going to experience some arm breakdowns, either in the elbow or the shoulder.''
The vast majority of pitchers resume their careers after undergoing Tommy John, at times throwing harder than before the surgery. Soloff said studies show that pitchers return to their previous level of proficiency 80-85 percent of the time.
DL DATA — Carmona (strained hip) is scheduled to play catch from 105 feet today and later in the week, after he has played long toss at 120 feet, he will begin to throw bullpen sessions. The first will be 35 pitches. If he suffers no setbacks, Carmona probably will begin a rehab assignment in two weeks.
Travis Hafner (weak right shoulder) took some swings Saturday after spending the week strengthening the muscles around his rotator cuff.
''He is making progress with his strength program every day,'' Soloff said. ''On Tuesday, he will be examined to determine his range of motion and strength in situations that would simulate baseball activities.''
BONDERMAN DONE — Jeremy Bonderman, one of the stalwarts of the Detroit Tigers' rotation, probably will be out for the season after undergoing two procedures to clear a blood clot from his shoulder area.
With Bonderman out of the picture, Armando Galarraga will start today and Dontrelle Willis will start Monday night.
FARM FACTS — Michael Aubrey homered and singled, driving in two runs, but Buffalo lost a 4-3 decision to Rochester. Brad Snyder also homered, and David Huff, making his first start for the Bisons, gave up one run and three hits in six innings. . . . Adam Davis had three hits, including a home run, in Kinston's 8-5 loss to Myrtle Beach in Class A. . . . Roman Pena doubled twice and homered, driving in three runs, as Lake County beat Hagerstown 11-0 in Class A. Jeffrey Hehr had three hits and two RBI. Kelvin De La Cruz (5-2, 1.29 ERA) worked five scoreless innings, striking out seven.
— Sheldon Ocker
Surgery for Westbrook, who's likely out a year
DETROIT: As Indians manager Eric Wedge succinctly put it Saturday, ''You hope for the best and prepare for everything else.''
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