Injury Updates: Manny Ramirez, Dallas Braden Experience Setbacks
By Joseph Lopez
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the A’s injury woes will continue. A’s left-handed pitcher Dallas “Stay off my Mound” Braden has sustained a strained shoulder. The A’s were expecting Braden, who was recovering from surgery this offseason, back in the starting rotation at some point during May, but this latest setback will cost Braden some time on the disabled-list.
The report on the SFGate.com also notes that Braden’s throwing program was shut down and that a May return seems unlikely now. Assistant general manager David Forst announced that the team will not know the severity of the injury until after team doctors evaluate Braden’s condition. Still, for a team that is without a set starting rotation, losing Braden for any extent of time is not an ideal situation to be in.
As of now, the A’s will likely roll out with a rotation that includes Brandon McCarthy, Bartolo Colon, Tom Milone, Tyson Ross, and Graham Godfrey. The rotation will definitely look a lot different this year and will likely experience a few learning curves over the course of the season. Guys like Milone, who won the No.3 spot in the rotation after a fabulous spring, will need some time to adjust to life in the major leagues.
In another injury related story, the A’s have announced that Manny Ramirez, who was brought in on a one-year deal worth about $500K, won’t be playing in any more spring games for at least until the start of extended spring training (starts April 9). He’ll miss, then, the bay bridge series against the San Francisco Giants. A strained hamstring is listed as the primary reason for Ramirez’s recent shutdown.
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