Post by #1 Jays Fan on Mar 20, 2008 21:00:24 GMT -5
DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Toronto Blue Jays closer B.J. Ryan complained of soreness in his throwing arm and will be held out of games for at least a few days.
Ryan, who pitched in only five games last year before having Tommy John elbow surgery in May, threw his second scoreless inning of the spring Monday.
He later reported minor soreness in his biceps and forearm.
"I'm always the type of guy who would get a second-day soreness," Ryan said Thursday. "Hopefully it's just a little tightness in there and we can get it calmed down."
There is no timetable for Ryan's return to spring action, making it unlikely that he'll be ready for opening day March 31. General manager J.P. Ricciardi said Ryan will only head north if he's capable of pitching regularly.
"We're not going to take him unless he can be B.J., where we use him three or four times a week," said Ricciardi. "If he can't do that, then we'll just let him stay down here, let him keep pitching and eventually he'll be ready at some point.
"When he's ready, we'll take him."
The Jays are saying Ryan's soreness is normal and manager John Gibbons is optimistic Ryan will be OK.
"It might be in a couple of days," said Gibbons, "When he is ready to go we will get him in a game."
Ryan will throw only off flat ground in the interim.
"He is throwing every day and we are monitoring him," said Ricciardi. "I don't think this is a setback; he is ahead of schedule.
"We need to have B.J. for the whole year, not half a year. So we are treating it with kid gloves."
If Ryan isn't ready for the start of the season Jeremy Accardo, saved 30 games last season, would take his place.
Ryan, who pitched in only five games last year before having Tommy John elbow surgery in May, threw his second scoreless inning of the spring Monday.
He later reported minor soreness in his biceps and forearm.
"I'm always the type of guy who would get a second-day soreness," Ryan said Thursday. "Hopefully it's just a little tightness in there and we can get it calmed down."
There is no timetable for Ryan's return to spring action, making it unlikely that he'll be ready for opening day March 31. General manager J.P. Ricciardi said Ryan will only head north if he's capable of pitching regularly.
"We're not going to take him unless he can be B.J., where we use him three or four times a week," said Ricciardi. "If he can't do that, then we'll just let him stay down here, let him keep pitching and eventually he'll be ready at some point.
"When he's ready, we'll take him."
The Jays are saying Ryan's soreness is normal and manager John Gibbons is optimistic Ryan will be OK.
"It might be in a couple of days," said Gibbons, "When he is ready to go we will get him in a game."
Ryan will throw only off flat ground in the interim.
"He is throwing every day and we are monitoring him," said Ricciardi. "I don't think this is a setback; he is ahead of schedule.
"We need to have B.J. for the whole year, not half a year. So we are treating it with kid gloves."
If Ryan isn't ready for the start of the season Jeremy Accardo, saved 30 games last season, would take his place.
