Lidge has cortisone injection
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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.
Ryan Madson will be fine— JPMaine- Go Brad.— stan the man too
- Hey Murph is it too early to predict what closer might be available this season for trade?— SouthJerseyRob
- Expect a lot of blown saves this year as Chollie goes with his guys who he knows what they can do.— borncynic
- Cliff Lee is actually the Easter Bunny.— stan the man too
- Just added Madson to my fantasy team. Nice.— BIG_PHILLY
- I said during spring training that the most significant player on quality teams is the closer; rarely does a team go to the playoffs, let alone the World Series without a top flight closer, Papelbon, Rivera, Broxton, Nathan [gone for the season], Jenks, Wilson, Fuentes, and Lidge. The Phillies managed to do it last season, but two years in a row without a true closer will be tough and frankly, Lidge might be done. I don't like Madson as a closer, but Baez might fit the bill, although he is up there in age. Ironically, three of the best closers, Bell, Soria, and F-Rod, are with weak teams. My biggest problem right now with Lidge is his inability to tell the truth about the health, which only hurts the club. I agree with 1980; Myers is not a solid closer and a healthy Lidge is the best option, but Lidge is NOT healthy.— chuckw
- I have been reading some of these comments, and am rather sickened by what I have read. Good grief, without Brad Lidge, 2008 doesn't happen! Some of these people need to get a life and quit whinging about nonsense!— BEMiller
- The Lights just went off— PSU DEJA BLUE
Comment removed.- Lidge has become Adam Eaton, only we will eat $24 mil in 2 years instead of 3. Add Moyer in, and they are choking on $32 mil worth of useless contracts........ This Lidge thing is serious, but who can actually say it is unexpected? The guy has had 3 good years mixed in with ABYSMAL seasons. Only thing now is, the trend has ended. He is toast and the Phillies need a real closer very, very badly.— michaelfb68
- Call up Mathieson to close.
- Holy Molee!!!— craiggo
- Where are all those posters doubting my medical and rehab and baseball knowledge last week? Anyone involved in medicine knows you don't get a cortisone injection one day and run out and throw two days later. You just don't do it. Lidge will continue to experience lost velocity and he will continue to try to throw harder to get it back, and he will continually get soreness from trying to throw harder. That's how it goes when your joint surfaces deteriorate and you can get the mph on the ball that you strive for. Keep striving, keep hurting. It's clear that whatever Lidge says, we need to believe the opposite is happening. Yesterday's "I feel good" was a load of ****.— Mark1npt
- Abandon Ship! All is lost!! The Sky is falling! Woe unto us all, 2012 is upon us! Oh, and of course, the know-it-alls told us this would happen....— stan the man too
