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Published on Friday, Jun 13, 2008
Westbrook's elbow
surgery completed
CLEVELAND: Jake Westbrook underwent right elbow reconstruction Thursday in Los Angeles, with Dr. Lewis Yocum performing the operation to transplant a tendon from his right wrist to replace the ulnar collateral ligament.
Westbrook is expected to fly back to Cleveland today and begin physical therapy immediately at Progressive Field. Recovery time for Tommy John surgery usually is 10-14 months.
THE MOVES — With Victor Martinez sidelined for at least six week, Kelly Shoppach becomes the everyday catcher and Yamid Haad, called up from Buffalo, will be the backup.
Asdrubal Cabrera will not be recalled to replace Josh Barfield as the regular at second base.
''Cabrera needs to stay there and get back to where he was,'' manager Eric Wedge said.
Consequently, utility infielder Jamey Carroll will carry most of the load at second, with Jorge Velandia being summoned from Triple-A to take over as the utility infielder.
Haad, 30, was batting .159 in 25 games for the Bisons. He has been in professional baseball 14 years, appearing in 18 big-league games, with Pittsburgh in 1999 and San Francisco in 2005.
Velandia, 33, was signed by the Tribe on May 26 and played in 16 games for Buffalo, batting .235. He began the season in the Blue Jays' organization and batted .287 in 28 games with Triple-A Syracuse. He played in two major-league games this year for Toronto, both against Cleveland.
Velandia has a batting average of .182 in 166 big-league games with the Padres, Athletics, Mets, Rays and Blue Jays.
To make room on the 40-man roster for the two players, Westbrook was moved from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL, and right-hander Oneil Perez was designated for assignment.
TEMPERED EXPECTATIONS — When Travis Hafner completes strengthening his shoulder and gets some at-bats on a rehab assignment (possibly next week), he still might not be fully recovered.
Asked if Hafner would be 100 percent when he comes back, head trainer Lonnie Soloff said, ''That would be hard to speculate.''
And in speaking of Hafner on Thursday, manager Eric Wedge said, ''Hafner will be back. It's just a question of what percentage he can give us.''
NO EXCUSES — Even with four key players on the DL, Wedge has no thoughts about mailing in the rest of the season.
''We've been fortunate the last couple of years being able to stay away from injuries,'' he said. ''But now, they are hitting us all at once. But there are no excuses. And if everyone comes to the ballpark accepting what is happening, good things can still happen.''
FARM FACTS — Asdrubal Cabrera doubled and singled in Buffalo's 7-3 loss to Lehigh Valley. . . . Kelvin De La Cruz (5-3, 1.60 ERA) gave up three runs in five innings, as Lake County dropped a 3-1 decision to Delmarva.
— Sheldon Ocker
Westbrook's elbow
surgery completed
CLEVELAND: Jake Westbrook underwent right elbow reconstruction Thursday in Los Angeles, with Dr. Lewis Yocum performing the operation to transplant a tendon from his right wrist to replace the ulnar collateral ligament.
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