SiouxDoo
09-27-2004, 01:32 PM
http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/min/news/min_news.jsp?ymd=20040924&content_id=869372&vkey=news_min&fext=.jsp
Notes: Mauer return not realistic
Catcher resumes jogging after positive MRI results
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/images/trans.gifhttp://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/images/trans.gif
http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/images/trans.gifJoe Mauer received good results from an MRI but is unlikely to return this season. Catcher Joe Mauer received positive results from the doctor after undergoing an MRI exam for his injured left knee Friday morning.
By Friday afternoon, Mauer was performing light jogging drills on the field. He spent 15 minutes going forward, backwards and side-to-side. It was the first running he was allowed to do for several weeks.
"I felt a little weird at first but pretty good overall," Mauer said. "We didn't want to push it. We'll see how it feels the day after."
Did Friday's good news improve chances that the 21-year-old rookie will see game action before the regular season ends?
Nope.
"I don't think that's realistic," Twins general manager Terry Ryan said. "That would be a stretch. He's got to run, sprint, slide."
How about Mauer being part of the playoff roster for pinch-hitting or DH duties in the first round?
Not likely.
"I think that's a long shot," Ryan said. "Stranger things have happened."
In the immediate future, the club preferred to concentrate more on rehabilitation and less on game preparation.
"We'll proceed from jog to run then to sprint and we can ease him into baseball activities as we go," Ryan said. "Ultimately, we'll probably ease him into catching light bullpens."
Mauer went to the Cleveland Clinic to be examined by Dr. John Bergfeld, an orthopedic surgeon who last saw him Aug. 11. At that time, Bergfeld recommended against a second arthroscopic surgery. On Friday, he saw improvement in the knee.
"He expects I should be back to normal, 100 percent catching next year," said Mauer, who originally tore meniscus cartilage in his knee April 6. "We asked him if I had to wear that (knee) brace next year and he said no. I was pretty excited about that."
Mauer has been limited to 35 games this season and hasn't played since July 15. Although not able to run until Friday, he's tried to stay sharp by throwing and taking batting practice daily.
"I want to be out there and try to contribute," Mauer said. "But I don't want to go out there hurt and not be able to give it my best. I hope this running program keeps on getting better and hopefully I'll be in there soon."
With Mauer doubtful for the playoffs, rookie outfielder Jason Kubel's chances to make the postseason roster have increased. Kubel has performed well since his Aug. 31 promotion from Triple-A Rochester.
Break for Hunter: Center fielder Torii Hunter was given the day off Friday and could get one or two more. Hunter said he was feeling fatigued since Monday's AL Central clinch, but said he'd have no problem getting revved up for the playoffs.
Hunter was 0-for-5 during Thursday's loss to Cleveland.
"He's absolutely worn out, mentally and physically," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "You could see it (Thursday) night."
Injury report: Luis Rivas reported having a sore right elbow following Thursday's game. The second baseman said it hurt to swing or throw. He was out of the starting lineup Friday but available defensively. Augie Ojeda started in place of Rivas, who is on a five-game hit streak.
First baseman Justin Morneau (left hand bruise) was back in the starting lineup for the first time since Saturday.
Taking a look: Not surprisingly, there's been a sizable presence of scouts from the Yankees and Red Sox organizations to watch the Twins the past several days in Cleveland, Chicago and Minneapolis.
Minnesota will likely play either Boston or New York in the first round. Making things interesting is that the Twins finish the current 10-game road trip with a three-game series at Yankee Stadium.
If the Twins play their regulars, New York could get a sneak peek at what's ahead in the playoffs, especially with Game 1 starter Johan Santana scheduled to make his last regular season outing. "We're not too awfully worried about what we show anyone else," Gardenhire said. "There's going to be so much information on these teams. They're going to see him anyway. It'll all come down to if they can hit him."
Notes: Mauer return not realistic
Catcher resumes jogging after positive MRI results
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/images/trans.gifhttp://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/images/trans.gif
http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/images/trans.gifJoe Mauer received good results from an MRI but is unlikely to return this season. Catcher Joe Mauer received positive results from the doctor after undergoing an MRI exam for his injured left knee Friday morning.
By Friday afternoon, Mauer was performing light jogging drills on the field. He spent 15 minutes going forward, backwards and side-to-side. It was the first running he was allowed to do for several weeks.
"I felt a little weird at first but pretty good overall," Mauer said. "We didn't want to push it. We'll see how it feels the day after."
Did Friday's good news improve chances that the 21-year-old rookie will see game action before the regular season ends?
Nope.
"I don't think that's realistic," Twins general manager Terry Ryan said. "That would be a stretch. He's got to run, sprint, slide."
How about Mauer being part of the playoff roster for pinch-hitting or DH duties in the first round?
Not likely.
"I think that's a long shot," Ryan said. "Stranger things have happened."
In the immediate future, the club preferred to concentrate more on rehabilitation and less on game preparation.
"We'll proceed from jog to run then to sprint and we can ease him into baseball activities as we go," Ryan said. "Ultimately, we'll probably ease him into catching light bullpens."
Mauer went to the Cleveland Clinic to be examined by Dr. John Bergfeld, an orthopedic surgeon who last saw him Aug. 11. At that time, Bergfeld recommended against a second arthroscopic surgery. On Friday, he saw improvement in the knee.
"He expects I should be back to normal, 100 percent catching next year," said Mauer, who originally tore meniscus cartilage in his knee April 6. "We asked him if I had to wear that (knee) brace next year and he said no. I was pretty excited about that."
Mauer has been limited to 35 games this season and hasn't played since July 15. Although not able to run until Friday, he's tried to stay sharp by throwing and taking batting practice daily.
"I want to be out there and try to contribute," Mauer said. "But I don't want to go out there hurt and not be able to give it my best. I hope this running program keeps on getting better and hopefully I'll be in there soon."
With Mauer doubtful for the playoffs, rookie outfielder Jason Kubel's chances to make the postseason roster have increased. Kubel has performed well since his Aug. 31 promotion from Triple-A Rochester.
Break for Hunter: Center fielder Torii Hunter was given the day off Friday and could get one or two more. Hunter said he was feeling fatigued since Monday's AL Central clinch, but said he'd have no problem getting revved up for the playoffs.
Hunter was 0-for-5 during Thursday's loss to Cleveland.
"He's absolutely worn out, mentally and physically," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "You could see it (Thursday) night."
Injury report: Luis Rivas reported having a sore right elbow following Thursday's game. The second baseman said it hurt to swing or throw. He was out of the starting lineup Friday but available defensively. Augie Ojeda started in place of Rivas, who is on a five-game hit streak.
First baseman Justin Morneau (left hand bruise) was back in the starting lineup for the first time since Saturday.
Taking a look: Not surprisingly, there's been a sizable presence of scouts from the Yankees and Red Sox organizations to watch the Twins the past several days in Cleveland, Chicago and Minneapolis.
Minnesota will likely play either Boston or New York in the first round. Making things interesting is that the Twins finish the current 10-game road trip with a three-game series at Yankee Stadium.
If the Twins play their regulars, New York could get a sneak peek at what's ahead in the playoffs, especially with Game 1 starter Johan Santana scheduled to make his last regular season outing. "We're not too awfully worried about what we show anyone else," Gardenhire said. "There's going to be so much information on these teams. They're going to see him anyway. It'll all come down to if they can hit him."