May 25, 200719 yr ATLANTA -- Atlanta Braves reliever Mike Gonzalez will miss the rest of the season after learning he must have elbow ligament-replacement surgery. Gonzalez, placed on the 15-day disabled list on May 16 with a left elbow strain, said Friday he has a small tear in a ligament below his left elbow. The tear was discovered in an MRI performed in New York on Thursday by Dr. Dave Altchek, the specialist who also has performed two elbow surgeries on another Braves left-handed pitcher, Mike Hampton. "This is the worst news you can get," Gonzalez said. A first MRI in Atlanta found no serious problem, but the Braves and Gonzalez remained concerned after an unusually sharp drop in the velocity of his pitches. "I hadn't thrown 82 [miles per hour] since high school," Gonzalez said. "I was feeling something uncomfortable. You just don't drop 10 or 15 miles per hour." No date has been set for the surgery, but Gonzalez said he expects to have the procedure next week. "I'm not down in the dumps or anything," Gonzalez said, adding he is bracing for a long rehabilitation. "I'm going to go out there and be as aggressive through this as I am with the hitters." Gonzalez, obtained by the Braves in an offseason trade that sent first baseman Adam LaRoche to the Pittsburgh Pirates, was 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA and two saves in 18 games this season. Gonzalez saved 24 games for the Pirates last season but was serving as a set-up reliever for Braves closer Bob Wickman. that sucks
May 25, 200719 yr Wow, Braves are starting to hurt. Andruw--Big Slump Wilson--Released Redman--Released Gonzo--Done For Year Hampton--Done For Year Soriano---DL Wickman--DL already this year
May 25, 200719 yr with all that velocity loss, i knew something was fishy. this really hurts. but we're still in second place, unless we start going on another june swoon, we're fine. and don't forget chipper jones is having injury problems...again. it's the thumbs this time. i think we could be one big injury away from another 6-21 june...
May 26, 200719 yr Wow, Braves are starting to hurt. Andruw--Big Slump Wilson--Released Redman--Released Gonzo--Done For Year Hampton--Done For Year Soriano---DL Wickman--DL already this year It isn't really affecting them that bad so far but down the road Their bullpen is definitely going to be their biggest worry. Didn't the Yankees try to aquire Gonzalez in the offseason but backed off because of "arm trouble"?
May 26, 200719 yr If Boras doesn't demand an extension when he is traded, I could see the Braves being contenders for Mark Teixeira as a (potentially big) boost.
May 26, 200719 yr Thorman has done pretty poorly there and with Andruw struggling, you're right they probably will be tempted to make a move to keep their offense going and stick with the Mets. If it is a trade then that is probably where Saltalamacchia could possibly go in a deal.
May 26, 200719 yr Nobody mentioned that Willy Aybar is off the team indefinitely because of drug problems. At least the Braves have a player in reserve as trade bait on their team that could start for several teams (Salty).
May 27, 200719 yr Nobody mentioned that Willy Aybar is off the team indefinitely because of drug problems. not to diminish aybar's situation, but he wasn't a major component to the team and was on the dl at the time as well. so it's not a big deal as the bench is concerned.
May 27, 200719 yr If Willy was around, they could start him at second (His last couple years at AAA were good, and he's done well in the majors so far), move Kelly back to CF, and have an easier time trading Jones for a starting pitcher/first baseman.
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