Pierre's calf still troubling

By Joe Capozzi

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

 

JUPITER ? Less than two weeks from opening day, the Marlins still don't know when center fielder Juan Pierre will be ready to play.

 

Pierre was listed as day to day when he came out of a game March 7 after straining a muscle in his right calf while chasing a fly ball. He still hasn't returned.

 

The Marlins had hoped he'd be ready Friday but acknowledged he won't play until next week. Although the team says his calf is improving, Pierre was told Tuesday to restrict his activity for the next few days.

 

"I certainly thought he's be available now,'' manager Jack McKeon said Tuesday after the Marlins lost 5-3 to the Dodgers with a lineup that featured every season regular except Pierre. "When it first happened, I didn't think it was that serious, and it may not be. I don't know.''

 

Pierre, Florida's leadoff hitter, batted.326 last year and led the National League with 221 hits. He was the only player in the majors to play every inning of every game, which makes his absence from the lineup this spring all the more glaring.

 

"He's an important ingredient in that lineup,'' McKeon said. "You look at us now, you see we're not getting the leadoff guys on causing havoc. That's missing right now.''

 

The Marlins have 11 spring games left, but Pierre, when he is ready, could get more playing time in minor-league games.

 

"In terms of opening day, nobody on our medical staff has alerted us to be concerned,'' General Manager Admin Beinfest said. "It's obviously still bothering him. He's done some running on it. He can still feel it. We want to be conservative at this point.''

 

Pierre wouldn't talk to reporters about his condition Tuesday but has told teammates he expects to be ready when the season starts April 5.

 

"A big part of Juan's game is his legs and they have to be healthy,'' Beinfest said.

 

"He'd like to be in there, we'd like him to be in there, but we need to make sure his leg feels right and we still have time to do that.''

 

Juan Encarnacion played center field, and Jeff Conine played right field. Conine, who made his debut Tuesday after recovering from off-season shoulder surgeries, is still questionable for opening day.

 

If Conine and Pierre are not ready, rookie outfielder Chris Aguila could find himself in the lineup against the Atlanta Braves on April 5.

 

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/marlins/conte...rlins_0323.html

This topic is already there. Today.

Read the current postings first.

Maybe Mod's should transfer this to J.P concern existing post.

 

Too many members running up their "postings" ignornant of what is already on the table.

 

Check "When should I start worrying about JP"

Good post everlong. Chin High apparently didnt notice that the article isnt included in the other post, and that post has already been diluted with responses. In order to get more views posting it seperately was a good idea. No harm done.

Thanks for the article Everlong, this news about Pierre continues to trouble us all.

Thanks for the Article Eric

Great article...I do hope hes okay. He really affects the team alot. I hope hes back by Friday.

They should rest him as much as they can, even if it includes some regular season games....you don't want this to become a more serious injury.

Yup,definitely better to be safe than sorry.Of course we would all love to see him in the line up opening day though.Guess we will see. :confused