Shoulder inflammation puts closer Sherrill on DL

Shoulder inflammation puts closer Sherrill on DL
By Dan Connolly | Sun reporter
August 20, 2008

George Sherrill, the Orioles' All-Star closer who was threatening to break the club's saves record, was placed on the disabled list yesterday afternoon with left shoulder inflammation.

Sherrill, who has 31 saves in his first season as a closer, was not available for Monday night's loss to the Boston Red Sox after complaining that he couldn't get loose before the game.

Club president Andy MacPhail said a magnetic resonance imaging taken yesterday "looked identical" to one taken of Sherrill's left shoulder during spring training, meaning the club isn't too worried and he should return in September.

"There is a little inflammation, which they [treated] and prescribed rest," MacPhail said.

"We don't have any long-term concerns at the present time." Sherrill, who received a cortisone shot in the shoulder yesterday, said he expects to be ready when he is eligible to come off the DL.

"It started off as a little tendinitis thing, and it just exploded," Sherrill said. "It is a relief that it's not something structural."

MacPhail would not speculate about who would take Sherrill's spot as closer, deferring to manager Dave Trembley, who wouldn't address the issue before last night's game. The obvious option is setup man Jim Johnson.

"When you look at the amount of saves we've had and the amount of games we've won," Trembley said, "I don't think it takes a rocket scientist to figure out what a central figure [Sherrill] has been on our ballclub."

The move was retroactive to Saturday, when Sherrill pitched a scoreless inning against the Detroit Tigers. The Orioles will bring up a player to take his spot today.

Sherrill said several factors working in concert could have created the inflammation, including an increased workload and his extended All-Star Game appearance. This is Sherrill's fifth bigleague season, but he has already pitched a career high in innings (50 1/3 ). For much of his career, he has was a left-handed specialist, often facing just one batter.

Sherrill was the club's lone All-Star and pitched 2 1/3 shutout innings in the 15-inning American League victory.

It was the longest Sherrill had pitched since his fourth bigleague game, in 2004. At the time, Trembley wasn't pleased his closer had to pitch so much, but yesterday he wouldn't specifically blame that outing for Sherrill's injury.

"I'd prefer to take the high road and stay away from that," Trembley said.

MacPhail added: "The doctors tell us that stuff is cumulative. It's not something that is a function of one event." Before the break, Sherrill had 28 saves and a 4.08ERA, and opponents batted .221 against him in 37 games. In his 10 appearances since, Sherrill had three saves and a 5.91ERA, and opposing batters hit for a .295 average.

Not all news on the Orioles closer front was sobering.

Trembley announced that 2007 closer Chris Ray, who had elbow ligament-reconstruction surgery last August, will continue his rehabilitation with one-inning stints at Single-A Frederick today and Aberdeen on Friday.

Trembley wouldn't predict whether Ray would pitch for the Orioles this year.

Jones update
Center fielder Adam Jones (broken left foot) has no timetable for return, but he has been cleared by doctors to "walk around basically. I don't have to wear the boot. Soon, I don't know when, I'll be able to run around."

Trembley said the Orioles are going to be careful with Jones, 23, who hasn't played since fouling a ball off his foot Aug.2.

"He's not going to do one thing before Dr.[John] Wilckens and the medical staff allow him to."

Other injury news
Trembley said pitcher Matt Albers (right shoulder) will throw 30 pitches from a mound tomorrow and Saturday in Sarasota, Fla. For the first time since his injury, he will throw breaking balls as well as fastballs and changeups. If all goes well, he'll throw live batting practice Tuesday. … Pitcher Greg Aquino (left hamstring) is expected to throw an inning at Frederick today and another at Aberdeen on Friday.





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