Rodney to toss in bullpen Thursday - 04/03/2008

04/03/2008 1:04 PM ET
Rodney to toss in bullpen Thursday
Tigers to evaluate reliever's right shoulder after session
By Scott McNeish / MLB.com

DETROIT -- Fernando Rodney will throw a bullpen session Thursday in Lakeland, Fla., the first the injured Tigers reliever has thrown since being put on the 15-day disabled list late in Spring Training.

Rodney, who came down with tendinitis in his throwing shoulder in late February, will not throw much. The Tigers want to be extra careful with a player that also spent a good chunk of time on the DL last season, and a player that could give a big boost to their scrutinized bullpen.

The Tigers will evaluate Rodney's session Thursday before making any further decisions.

"We'll have to wait and see how that all plays out," manager Jim Leyland said. "I'm not going to get all excited and rush it."

Rodney threw three bullpen sessions during Spring Training, with encouraging results after the first two. But the third one on March 15 lasted several minutes less than the previous ones, and the Tigers eventually placed him on the DL for the start of the season.

Like last year, Rodney will have rehab assignments in the Minors once he returns, Leyland said, before making any appearances with the big club.

"Oh, there's no question," Leyland said. "No question about that. He'll have to go back-to-back [games]; we'll make sure he's ready."

History says the Tigers could greatly benefit from Rodney's recovery. After being shelved twice last season with biceps tendinitis and a sore forearm and shoulder, he was lights-out when he returned. He posted a 2.82 ERA with 29 strikeouts, 16 hits and no home runs over 22 1/3 innings.

However, the Tigers are in no hurry to get him back. They want to take it slow and not risk further injury.

Scott McNeish is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

No more injuries!

GO :rodney:

take it slow and steady!

God it would be nice to get Fernando back!! And Joel, Grandy, sheff, vance, etc.....

It would be nice to get some experience back soon, cant wait for Zoom, but Rodney would be good

U are gonna be waiting awhile for zoom...maybe years. Rodney is a huge question as well but it couldn't hurt.

i wont be waiting years for zoom, a while yeah, he should be coming back around the all star break

In a perfect world...course he was suppose to do the same thing last year. Don't get me wrong I hope for the best but I am telling you we can't bank on Zoom this year.

Get Rick Porcello!

Rodney out longer than anticipated
Tigers call up right-hander Beltran from Triple-A Toledo
By Scott McNeish / MLB.com

DETROIT -- There has been a change of plans in the Tigers' bullpen situation.

Reliever Fernando Rodney's bullpen session in Lakeland, Fla., on Friday did not go well, and he will be out longer than originally anticipated. So the Tigers responded by purchasing the Minor League contract of right-hander Francis Beltran and optioning utility player Ryan Raburn to Triple-A Toledo.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland said before Saturday's game against the White Sox that Rodney, who has been sidelined with tendinitis in his throwing shoulder, felt a substantial amount of pain during his session.

"Sometimes when it rains, it pours," Leyland said. "I thought Rodney, about a week or 10 days into the season, would be ready to go, but the report [Friday] was not good."

Rodney, who did not pitch at all during Spring Training and threw just his fourth bullpen session, will rest his arm until the Tigers' training staff clears him to throw again. Leyland could not comment on specific steps for his recovery, but he said the right-hander might see a specialist.

The move was not a response to Jason Grilli's poor outing on Friday, in which he gave up three runs on five hits in one inning.

Leyland said calling up Beltran, considered the best relief pitcher not to make the team out of Spring Training, was "a no-brainer." With Rodney out, reliever Joel Zumaya "light years" away from returning and a powerful offense at his disposal, Leyland said adding a pitcher helps the team more than keeping an extra position player.

Also, Leyland noted the versatility of his bench, including Ramon Santiago, Marcus Thames and Brandon Inge, made the loss of Raburn endurable.

"The fact of the matter is, with Rodney out for a matter of time, we had no other choice," Leyland said. "Our offense is supposed to be a good offense -- and it is a good offense -- and I believe there's no question we'll hit. So we have to go this route. I don't like to do it. But when push comes to shove, you have to look at what gives us a better chance to win a game -- an extra pitcher or an extra player. It's a no-brainer that it's an extra pitcher. It's that simple."

Beltran appeared in one game for Toledo this season, striking out one batter in an inning of relief. Raburn saw his only action this season on Friday as a pinch-runner for Miguel Cabrera.

After arriving in Detroit in the morning, Beltran will be available for Saturday afternoon's game. Leyland said the righty should get opportunities soon.

"I'm not going to sugarcoat stuff. People have to step up when they get an opportunity, and I'm not talking about anybody in particular," Leyland said. "The guys that do the best are staying, and the guys that do the worst are probably going."

not good at all we need some help in the pen, fast!

That's a moronic move by Leyland. Add a pitcher then get rid of one. What if a guy gets hurt or something? You have no bench with this move. If Inge leaves a game injured and Cabrera's quad still hurts who plays 3B? Santiago has played all of 2 innings there in his career.

yeah, im not sure what he's doing, but i hope it works!!!

He'd better know what he's doing--he's got Ilitch to answer to!

yeah, and the last thing we need now is a great manager getting fired, or quitting, leyland is a GREAT manager!

I'll bet Zumaya comes back before 'Nando.

'Nando and Grilli can just go...... :puke2:

they can go to Toledo! It won't hurt 'em!