Posted on Thu, Mar. 11, 2004

MARLINS NOTEBOOK

 

Lowell's elbow to be examined

 

BY KEVIN BAXTER

 

kbaxter@herald.com

 

Mike Lowell will have a bone scan performed on his right elbow today in an effort to rule out a stress fracture as the cause of the pain that has plagued him since August.

 

''I think it's precautionary more than anything else,'' Lowell said Wednesday. ``They're just crossing the T's and dotting the I's.''

 

Lowell says the pain started after he made a strong throw to the plate during a game in August. Two weeks later, he went on the disabled list with a broken bone in his hand, but when he returned for the playoffs, the pain was so intense he could hardly throw.

 

Rest during the offseason didn't cure the problem either, and when an MRI earlier this week showed inflammation in the elbow, doctors ordered the two-time All-Star to take a week off.

 

''I'm just hoping after these six, seven days it will be gone,'' Lowell said. ``But I'm not worried about being ready for the season. I know my swing will be ready.''

 

THROWBACK PITCHING

 

Marlins manager Jack McKeon has earned his Old School credentials this spring by using a four-man rotation through the first week of Grapefruit League play and leaving his starters in for four innings.

 

''That's the way it was, obviously, for Jack back in the day,'' said left-hander Darren Oliver, who is competing for the fifth spot in the Marlins' rotation. ``You're definitely going to have a feel for the ball when you get out of here. We might be going nine [innings]by the last week.''

 

Oliver, who gave up a run in four innings against the New York Mets on Monday, will pitch again Saturday at Mexico City's Estadio Foro Sol, which sits more than 7,000 feet above sea level. After pitching in the rarefied air of Denver last season, Oliver knows what the altitude can do for a hitter. But he's looking forward to it just the same. ''Maybe they'll let me hit,'' he said.

 

Left-hander Dontrelle Willis will pitch Sunday in the second game of the two-game Mexican series with the Houston Astros.

 

Lets just hope Lowell's ok and its nothing more than some soreness.

 

 

Article

It's difficult to see how a week of rest is going to cure the problem....when the entire off-season didn't. :confused

It's difficult to see how a week of rest is going to cure the problem....when the entire off-season didn't. :confused

 

maybe we could DH him?

I hope Mike is okay.

maybe we could DH him?

i agree

DH is only where both managers agree in NL ballparks, automatic in AL ballparks.

he has been DHing

Damn Lowell, why didnt you get this checked out in the Off-Season.

 

I were Mckeon, i would rest him alot and just have him hit batting practice, and then play a few games in the end.

That's good that he is having it checked on. We don't want to lose him before the season starts.

It's difficult to see how a week of rest is going to cure the problem....when the entire off-season didn't. :confused

:thumbdown I was thinking the same thing.

i was really kidding about the DH thing, but this is serious, from RotoTimes. Nice to hear there's no stress fracture at least:

 

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Mike Lowell (3B) Fla

Mike Lowell underwent a bone scan on his sore right elbow on Thursday and the test indicated that his pain is being caused by inflammation, according to the AP. A stress fracture was ruled out. Lowell will remain shut down for several more days, but, at this point, the medical staff believes that he should be ready to play after that.

I guess you have assume Wil Cordero is our new rightfielder if Lowell is out indefintitely. Looks like a great pickup, good work Admin. If so, it may make room for Nunez after all.

 

If they are doing a bone scan they are looking for one of three things - a hairline fracture, a bone spur or a calcium deposit. The procedure is really no different than a CAT scan, MRI or an xray, it's non-invasive.

i was really kidding about the DH thing, but this is serious, from RotoTimes. Nice to hear there's no stress fracture at least:

 

----------------------------------------------------------

 

Mike Lowell (3B) Fla

Mike Lowell underwent a bone scan on his sore right elbow on Thursday and the test indicated that his pain is being caused by inflammation, according to the AP. A stress fracture was ruled out. Lowell will remain shut down for several more days, but, at this point, the medical staff believes that he should be ready to play after that.

Thats good news. Hopefully it will heal up quick but I'm not so sure.

I think that he should have it cleared up with surgery and all and then he'll miss maybe the 1st month of the season but better he misses games at the start of the season, than at the end of the year.

 

Hopefully theres nothing wrong.

Yeah, this would be a big loss so the fish have to take this as careful as it gets.

 

Glad to hear that at least it's not a stress fracture or anything.

I think that he should have it cleared up with surgery and all and then he'll miss maybe the 1st month of the season but better he misses games at the start of the season, than at the end of the year.

 

Hopefully theres nothing wrong.

I kinda agree with your logic but only if is really that bad.It doesn't appear to be that serious so let him rest.

I'm glad they're getting this out of the way now, before the season starts.

I just pray they use different doctors than the ones who kept telling A.J. his elbow was fine. If they're the same one his arm will probably fall off.

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) -- Florida Marlins third baseman Mike Lowell had a bone scan Thursday that indicated soreness in his throwing elbow was caused by inflammation.

 

The scan ruled out a stress fracture. Earlier tests revealed swelling but no structural damage to the joint, which began bothering Lowell last August.

 

Lowell plans to rest for several more days, skipping the team's trip this weekend to Mexico City, and then resume throwing Tuesday. The Marlins' medical staff doesn't believe the ailment is serious, and Lowell hopes they're right.

 

``I don't want to go six months with this,'' the All-Star third baseman said. ``No one sounds concerned, but I'm a little bit somewhat concerned, obviously, just because I feel it.''

 

The pain in Lowell's elbow subsided during the offseason but resurfaced soon after he began spring training workouts.

 

Good news on the bone scan. Still don't see how another 5 days rest is going to fix it if the entire off-season hasn't.

Strange how they can't find anything, and its still hurting. I don't know how much sitting out will help, but gotta hope he will be ok. At least this is the worst injury so far this spring (knock on wood). Noone is out for an extended period yet which is always a plus.