Tigers catcher Wilson targets mid-March return

Tigers catcher Wilson targets mid-March return
Tom Gage / The Detroit News

LAKELAND, Fla. -- A month later, he's feeling a lot better.

In January, Vance Wilson's status for spring training was uncertain because of tendonitis in his right arm -- a condition that temporarily slowed his recovery from last year's surgery.

Wilson has fully recovered from the tendonitis, though, and has a much better idea of when he'll finally be able to play again.

"We're targeting the middle of March," the Tigers catcher said. "My arm feels great again. It wasn't so much a setback as it was just something everybody goes through in their rehab from something like this."

This is the specific difference a month makes, though: Instead of just being able to lob the ball at a 60-foot distance, which is how far he'd progressed when the tendonitis occurred, "I'm throwing 90 feet now with no problem," he said.

"It's a night and day difference."

Wilson had elbow surgery in June 2007 and missed the entire season.

More bad news for Brandon Inge.....

I'll believe this when I see it though, he's been gone for awfully long.

only signing autographs before games last year! Didn't even know who he was at the time!

laprimamirala wrote:

only signing autographs before games last year! Didn't even know who he was at the time!

That was one of the good things about him not playing, I got to talk to him a couple times before the games. He is really sweet!

you are married, mrs. rabelo! you shouldn't be talking to all the guys....

laprimamirala wrote:

you are married, mrs. rabelo! you shouldn't be talking to all the guys....

Well as long as no one tattles on me I'm good lol

ya wild and crazy woman!

laprimamirala wrote:

ya wild and crazy woman!

Who? Me? :looks innocent:

just remember that wonderful man you married!

Speaking of my husband... look at all of these cool picts I just found...

Spoiler:

Cool eh?

laprimamirala wrote:

you are married, mrs. rabelo! you shouldn't be talking to all the guys....

Married at 16 yrs old??? Don't tell me Mike robbed the cradle!!!

She wants us to think so!

Ohios#1TigerFan wrote:

laprimamirala wrote:

you are married, mrs. rabelo! you shouldn't be talking to all the guys....

Married at 16 yrs old??? Don't tell me Mike robbed the cradle!!!

Yes I did marry him..... in my dreams

just make sure you have a buncha kids!

Ohios#1TigerFan wrote:

laprimamirala wrote:

you are married, mrs. rabelo! you shouldn't be talking to all the guys....

Married at 16 yrs old??? Don't tell me Mike robbed the cradle!!!

She told him she was 20, fake ID, lol. Uh oh, hope her mom doesn't see this, she could be on here right now, lol

laprimamirala wrote:

you are married, mrs. rabelo! you shouldn't be talking to all the guys....

Yeah! Jeez woman... ONE player per one of us please

Otherwise I'm gonna bust out in a flash again! LOL

Wilson aiming for April return
Opening Day comeback for catcher ruled out after setback
By Jason Beck / MLB.com

LAKELAND, Fla. -- An Opening Day return has been pretty much ruled out for catcher Vance Wilson. Now, his goal is to try to make his stay on the disabled list a short one.

A bout of tendinitis that flared up last week has halted Wilson's rehab from last summer's Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery while he takes anti-inflammatory medication. Once he's cleared to work out again later this week, he'll play catch-up to get back to where he left off before resuming his long-tossing.

It's the long toss that has been the hurdle for him. Though the surgically repaired ligament has been fine, he said Monday, the tendon attached to it has become inflamed from time to time.

The setback has been disappointing, but the shock value wore off after talking with others who have been through the process.

"I did a little research and talked to some other players," Wilson said. "They said, 'Yeah, you're in that phase right now.' You take four [steps] forward and two back."

Asked about the start of the season, Wilson said, "I'm not going to be ready. I don't think so, because of the arm strength. I could probably do it and go through the pain, but I don't want to hurt the team. I want to get it right."

Wilson underwent surgery last June after doctors discovered a ligament tear in his right elbow. That puts him at nine months since a surgery that usually requires 9-12 months of rehab to get back to game action. That timetable is usually for pitchers.

The Tigers have tried to avoid a specific timetable in favor of a more general one, basing each step on how Wilson feels.

"I'm hoping it won't be too much longer, but that's the hard thing," Wilson said. "I want to set goals and work things, and [members of the medical staff] tell you to take it day-to-day. That's what the mental grind is. But hopefully once we get past this little setback, then it'll be the last one."

His outlook is based on how much progress he has made over the past month or so. If he can get back to action in April, it could affect how the Tigers approach the season in terms of a backup catcher.

Manager Jim Leyland has said he has no idea who will back up starting catcher Ivan Rodriguez when the season opens, but that he has options. Dane Sardinha is one. Brandon Inge could be another, if he isn't traded. The Tigers plan on having Ryan Raburn see some time at catcher later this spring, but he would likely be a third, or emergency, catcher.

Mike Rabelo made the jump from the Minor Leagues to backup catcher last year when Wilson was injured. What was initially expected to be a short stint for Rabelo became a season-long role once Wilson underwent surgery. Rabelo went to the Florida Marlins as part of December's trade for Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera.

A longer absence by Wilson could cause the Tigers to revisit their options, but Wilson doesn't expect it to come to that.

"I can't imagine me not being able to [play] in a month," he said, "but that's been the hard part. They tell you don't set goals and take it day-to-day. ... If I'm past May [and not catching], I'm going to have some problems."

the Comeback Kid!

bobrob2004 wrote:

Wilson aiming for April return
Opening Day comeback for catcher ruled out after setback
By Jason Beck / MLB.com

Which leads to next month's article:

Wilson Aiming For Return by All-Star Game

keeps us all guessing!

catbox_9 wrote:

bobrob2004 wrote:

Wilson aiming for April return
Opening Day comeback for catcher ruled out after setback
By Jason Beck / MLB.com

Which leads to next month's article:

Wilson Aiming For Return by All-Star Game

between him and Brandon--REALITY

fellow catcher Vance Wilson won't be ready for opener

• Leyland made it official: No. 2 catcher Vance Wilson won't be ready to open the season. Wilson is recovering from elbow surgery and hasn't played this spring. Leyland hasn't determined which catcher will replace Wilson on the Opening Day roster.

I think he and Zoom need to say bye bye.