Thames to DL, Raburn called up - April 22, 2009

Thames to DL, Raburn called up
FROM BECK'S BLOG

Dave Dombrowski announced immediately after the game that Marcus Thames is going onto the DL. He pulled a muscle around his rib cage doing extra hitting before the game tonight and wasn't available. That's why Adam Everett was pinch-hitting in the 9th. Ryan Raburn is being recalled from Toledo and will be available Wednesday.

Thames said after the game that he took a swing during early BP when he felt something pop. It's different than the abdominal muscle that he pulled in Spring Training, because this latest injury is higher up along his left side.

"I knew it was something that couldn't be good," Thames said, "because it took the breath away from me a little bit."

He and the Tigers were awaiting results of an MRI exam to confirm the severity of the injury, whether it's a pulled muscle or something worse, and what kind of timetable Thames is looking at for a recovery. Whatever it is, Thames was clearly frustrated after the game, because he was working hard to try to get his swing going.

"It is what it is," Thames said. "I can't control it. It's tough luck right now for me. It hasn't been a good last two months for me."

* Posted on April 22, 2009 at 12:58 AM

Injured Thames out indefinitely
Tigers outfielder severely strains rib cage during BP

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

04/22/09 8:50 PM ET

ANAHEIM -- Marcus Thames provided valuable early power surges to the Tigers for the last several seasons. That won't be happening anytime soon.

One day after Thames strained a rib cage muscle on a swing in early batting practice, the followup news wasn't good. While MRI results show no signs of a tear, the strain is severe enough that he can't do any physical work for two to four weeks before starting a rehab process.

Add to that the time Thames will need to get back to game condition, plus a likely rehab assignment, and the expected absence is long.

"He's such a big part of our team," manager Jim Leyland said. "I think he's going to be out for a while."

Though head athletic trainer Kevin Rand rarely gives a timetable on when a player could be expected to return to action, his timetable for any physical activity is severe enough. Because an athlete can't move with much intensity without using the muscles around that area, all Thames can do for now is rest and take medication.

"He's got a fairly significant left rib cage muscle strain," Rand said.

Not only was the muscle strained, Rand said, but so was the cartilage around it and the rib. That explains the pop that Thames felt when he injured it.

"I heard a pop and felt a pop," Thames said. "I knew it wasn't something good, because it took the breath out of me for a little bit."

Rand confirmed that the injury is different than the abdominal strain that hampered Thames for a good portion of Spring Training. This new injury is higher up along his left side. Whether the abdominal strain might have lingered, forcing Thames to compensate and possibly leaving him vulnerable to another injury, is another question.

At the least, the time lost in Spring Training seemed to cost him in his work.

"I didn't feel like he was finishing his swing," Leyland said. "He's a good hitter, and I just felt like he never really got in total sync. I think he was starting to come around. He was swinging good yesterday, and then all of a sudden, bang. That's a shame, because he's such a good kid."

Thames batted 4-for-18 over the season's first two weeks with a double, triple, two RBIs, a walk and six strikeouts.

Thames wasn't the full-time designated hitter in the wake of Gary Sheffield's release, and with Thames now out, the Tigers aren't going to rely on one player to replace him, either. The loss likely accentuates Leyland's efforts to rotate players in and out of the DH slot to get them rest. Magglio Ordonez started there on Wednesday, while Ryan Raburn arrived from Triple-A Toledo in time to start in right field.

"I can go a lot of different ways with it," Leyland said, "which is why we opened it up."

To fill Raburn's spot at Toledo, the Tigers acquired the contract of journeyman outfielder Jason Tyner from the Brewers. Tyner, who turns 32 on Thursday, was 2-for-21 with two runs scored and two RBIs at Triple-A Nashville.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

I hope Raburn can get some good playing time while he's up here. I like him.

Go Raburn!

Fortunately or unfortunately, a break for Ryan.