Post by #1 Jays Fan on Mar 25, 2008 11:32:53 GMT -5
SARASOTA, Fla. -- Third baseman Scott Rolen and closer B.J. Ryan will miss the start of the season because of injuries, leaving the Toronto Blue Jays without two key players.
Rolen and Ryan will stay behind in Florida when the Blue Jays break camp this week and head north. They open the season next Monday at Yankee Stadium.
Rolen had surgery on his broken finger Monday and will be out two weeks or more. Ryan, still recovering from elbow surgery, isn't expected back until at least mid-April.
Acquired from St. Louis in an off-season trade, Rolen got hurt during a fielding drill Sunday when he was taking grounders on a back field. He was hit in the hand by a ball, tearing the nail off his right middle finger and breaking the bone at the end of the finger.
A screw was inserted in his finger during surgery Monday.
"It will be in there for 14 days," general manager J.P. Ricciardi said. "Then they will take the screw out. Then he can start moving his hand and it's tolerance at that point."
Rolen was acquired for fellow third baseman Troy Glaus in a swap of oft-injured all-stars.
Ricciardi said Rolen probably will be sidelined longer than two weeks.
"I can't give you an exact date because once the screw comes out I don't know how he is going to respond," the GM said.
Marco Scutaro started at third base for Toronto in Monday night's exhibition game against the Cincinnati Reds and is expected to fill-in while Rolen is sidelined.
Ryan, who had season-ending elbow surgery last May, made two appearances this spring. After the second one, against Pittsburgh on March 17, he felt some soreness in his elbow, slowing his return.
The left-hander threw in the bullpen Monday.
"He isn't going north," Ricciardi said. "The best-case scenario is the middle of April. As he continues to make strides I don't want to put a date on it because I think that is unfair to the player and us."
Rolen and Ryan will stay behind in Florida when the Blue Jays break camp this week and head north. They open the season next Monday at Yankee Stadium.
Rolen had surgery on his broken finger Monday and will be out two weeks or more. Ryan, still recovering from elbow surgery, isn't expected back until at least mid-April.
Acquired from St. Louis in an off-season trade, Rolen got hurt during a fielding drill Sunday when he was taking grounders on a back field. He was hit in the hand by a ball, tearing the nail off his right middle finger and breaking the bone at the end of the finger.
A screw was inserted in his finger during surgery Monday.
"It will be in there for 14 days," general manager J.P. Ricciardi said. "Then they will take the screw out. Then he can start moving his hand and it's tolerance at that point."
Rolen was acquired for fellow third baseman Troy Glaus in a swap of oft-injured all-stars.
Ricciardi said Rolen probably will be sidelined longer than two weeks.
"I can't give you an exact date because once the screw comes out I don't know how he is going to respond," the GM said.
Marco Scutaro started at third base for Toronto in Monday night's exhibition game against the Cincinnati Reds and is expected to fill-in while Rolen is sidelined.
Ryan, who had season-ending elbow surgery last May, made two appearances this spring. After the second one, against Pittsburgh on March 17, he felt some soreness in his elbow, slowing his return.
The left-hander threw in the bullpen Monday.
"He isn't going north," Ricciardi said. "The best-case scenario is the middle of April. As he continues to make strides I don't want to put a date on it because I think that is unfair to the player and us."
