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| BRAVES REPORT: Elbow surgery likely for Moylan By David O'Brien The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 04/18/08 Miami —- It's likely that Braves reliever Peter Moylan will need reconstructive elbow surgery, though he will wait two weeks before a final decision is made. The Braves' top setup man was examined Wednesday by Dr. James Andrews, who concurred with an earlier diagnosis by a team doctor: There's a bone spur pressing against the ulnar collateral ligament in Moylan's pitching elbow, which has "compromised" the ligament. "We're disappointed, for both Peter and our club," Braves general manager Frank Wren said, "because he was an important part of our bullpen. "We hope that the rehab in two weeks will improve his chances of returning this year, but understand that may not be possible." Moylan gave up three runs in his first appearance of 2007. Since then the sidearming Aussie posted a 1.51 ERA in 86 appearances, and last season he ranked third in the NL with 90 relief innings. Moylan will continue treatment before being re-evaluated to determine if UCL reconstruction, commonly known as "Tommy John surgery," is necessary. "It's not good," manager Bobby Cox said of the diagnosis. "They want to wait two weeks and see how it reacts. We'll just have to wait and see." Whether Moylan has the surgery now or two weeks from now, he would miss the entire season and probably most or all of spring training. Typical recovery from Tommy John surgery is 11-13 months. "It's going to be real tough [to replace him]," said rookie reliever Blaine Boyer, who could be thrust into more pressure situations. "Pete, he's just had a rubber arm. He just threw up nasty stuff all the time. "That's just a huge loss for us. But we've got to pick him up, and I think we've got the guys to do it." The Braves have gone 10 days without closer Rafael Soriano (elbow tendinitis), who's eligible to come off the disabled list Tuesday and thinks he'll be ready. Cox said he hoped Soriano was right, but wouldn't know until he tested his arm on the mound. Soriano has only played catch since he went on the DL. He said he expects to throw this weekend off the bullpen mound at Turner Field. Wren was asked if the Braves have enough depth to pick up the slack for Moylan, or if they'll try to make a trade. "I think we do have depth in our bullpen, but we're continually looking to improve that area," he said. Cheers for Andruw expected by Braves Andruw Jones will walk to the plate at Turner Field in a Dodgers uniform for the first time tonight, and his former Braves teammates say they fully expect he'll be greeted by a chorus of cheers. "I don't think there's any doubt," third baseman Chipper Jones said. "He did a lot for this team and this organization." "It's gonna be awesome," Braves catcher Brian McCann said. "He's one of the closest friends I have. I know it's going to be special for him, coming back to Atlanta. "He'll get a great reception. They have to [applaud]. He did so much for the organization. He's the greatest center fielder who ever played, in my opinion." Jones, 30, won 10 Gold Gloves and racked up 368 home runs and 1,117 RBIs in 12 seasons for the Braves, who didn't try to re-sign him as a free agent after he hit a career-worst .222 with 26 homers and 94 RBIs last season. He signed a two-year, $36.2 million deal with the Dodgers and has hit .157 with no homers, two RBIs and 16 strikeouts in 51 at-bats. "It'll be cool just to see him back here, to have him around," right fielder Jeff Francoeur said. "I know he's scuffling out there, but he'll get it going —- hopefully after he faces us." |
| QUOTE (braveschopbraves @ Apr 27 2008, 07:58 PM) |
| drop him -_- and this story is 10 days old. |
| QUOTE (braveschopbraves @ Apr 27 2008, 08:09 PM) |
| no, Soriano will be back hopefully soon, and if he gets hurt again later in the year, Mike Gonzalez will get saves when he comes back. |
| QUOTE (braveschopbraves @ Apr 27 2008, 08:09 PM) |
| no, Soriano will be back hopefully soon, and if he gets hurt again later in the year, Mike Gonzalez will get saves when he comes back. |
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| Not looking good for Moylan today. He had to stop his bullpen session after only seven pitches (he had planned to throw 15). He’ll be examined tomorrow by doctors, but Moylan looked like a guy ready to accept the inevitable, that there will be season-ending surgery. |