Lidge has cortisone injection
Apparently, there is an explanation for Brad Lidge's poor arm strength thus far this spring. According to team doctor Michael Ciccotti, who briefed reporters this morning, the Phillies' closer has had soreness on the exterior of his elbow, which prompted the club to give him a cortisone injection yesterday.
Lidge has cortisone injection
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
Apparently, there is an explanation for Brad Lidge's poor arm strength thus far this spring. According to team doctor Michael Ciccotti, who briefed reporters this morning, the Phillies' closer has had soreness on the exterior of his elbow, which prompted the club to give him a cortisone injection yesterday.
Ciccotti stressed that the soreness was not structural, and was in no way related to the surgery Lidge underwent this offseason, which involved the interior of the elbow. Lidge is expected to long toss on Friday and throw a bullpen session either Saturday or Sunday, depending on how his elbow responds.
Ciccotti said the shot would not necessarily affect Lidge's timetable to return this season. Lidge viewed the Phillies' April 12th home opener as his target. The Phillies have said they expect him back at some point between the home opener and the end of April.
"Our goal had always been to get him back by mid-April," Ciccotti said. "Of course Brad very much wants to get back as soon as possible, but our goal had been to get him back by mid-April. And so with this, it may not necessarily change that time frame very much. Maybe the third week in April or so."
Lidge's velocity has been down throughout a handful of minor league appearances that he has made this spring. He usually experiences similar soreness in his elbow at the start of spring training, but it tends to dissipate within two to three weeks of starting his throwing program.
"It's just a matter of jump-starting him and hoping to get him over this yearly lateral elbow soreness that he has," Ciccotti said.
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I love Lidge for all he did in 2008 and for being a stand-up guy last year. Here's hoping he loves himself this year and takes his time getting healthy. I'd rather he get healthy and throw for a couple of weeks in the minor leagues before rushing back. See you in May, Brad!— frankenslade- I can't understand why the team isn't smart enough to just hire some of these posters to run the team. They obviously are brilliant successful geniuses who would win the WS every year if given the chance....or so their giant ego seems to tell them.— stan the man too
- What I don't understand is why the coaches let him work holding runners and on his secondary and/or new pitches (cutter, two seamer) as it was reported earlier when he wasn't 100%. You built your arm strength and work on being healthy. Then you take it from there. Blanton, as reported the other day, hasn’t thrown a curve ball yet or at least until his last start and he looks healthy.— EL Zorro
- Yeah, and you are Stan the Man too. Isn’t that a little bit hypocritical?— EL Zorro
Mar1inpt -- no offense, but I don't know your qualifications. Certainly, you might be one of the throngs of skilled orthopedic surgeons who spend their time on this message board. On the other hand, I do know Dr. Cicotti's qualification so, if it's OK with you, I'll take him at his word. I'm assuming he has determined that Lidge's elbow soreness is caused by inflammation. That's why he's getting a corticosteroid injection - to reduce and even eliminate the inflammation that's causing his discomfort. This type of treatment is EXTREMELY commonplace and not nearly as dire as some folks here might think. In fact, it's possible -- very possible -- that this injection could provide relief for several months.— 1980- Comment removed.
- two points: Mark1mpt is as anonymous as the rest of the posters, so whether he is an expert or not is anybody's guess. Secondly, enough of the Lidge won it for us in 2008, so we are ungrateful wretches for questioning his health; everyone appreciates what he did in 2008, but I know our little group just paid over $9,000 for our usual two season ticket seats and that this is 2010, not 2008, so we care about Lidge's health THIS year.— chuckw
- They should blast some James Brown on the speakers during his entrance of his first game of relief back.— the sichee-ation
- They should've traded for George Sherrill when they had the chance last season... i bet they can still get him from the Dodgers who may want to further pare down their payroll in the wake of the war of the mccourts.— terryharmon
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Listen to some of you morons............Wahhhhhhhhhh!!!! Lidge will never be the same......wahhhhhhh.....Amaro doesn't know what he's doing.....wahhhhhhhhMadson sucks.......wah the team made Jamie Moyer the 5th starter..........wahhhhhhhhh.......we don't have Cliff Lee........wahhhhhhh......Let's cry about the 3 time NL East Division champions, 2 time NL Champions, and 2008 WS Champs not doing what we want based upon our "expert" opinions!! Get over it idiots, put your pants on, get out of your mother's basement and get a job.- On a positive note...Brad - Thanks for 2008!— booman55
- doublyworse, i just drafted him late in my fantasy draft... can someone give me an example of a pitcher who got a cortison injection in spring training and went on to a good season?— jim715
Heath Bell, paging Heath Bell, please pick up your Phils uniform.
