Mariners closer Putz has hyperextended elbow, goes on DL
CBSSports.com wire reports
SEATTLE -- All-Star closer J.J. Putz went on the 15-day disabled list Friday with a hyperextended pitching elbow, the latest setback in a season gone wrong for the Seattle Mariners.
"Very relieved that it's nothing structural," Putz said. "Just take a few days off from throwing and start over."
It's the second DL stint this season for Putz, who missed 18 games in April with a rib cage injury from which he now says he came back too soon. Knee and finger pain kept the Mariners from using him for parts of May. Then the right-hander was removed from Wednesday's win at Toronto in the ninth inning after shaking his arm following a pitch.
Numbness and tingling were shooting down Putz's prized right arm. Doctors told Putz that was caused by swelling against a nerve in his elbow.
But at the time, the sensation caused the 31-year-old to think the three words pitchers fear most: Tommy John surgery.
"My fingers went numb ... I went into it thinking the worst," he said. "Everyone I have talked to who has had Tommy John, they said the first thing they felt was the numbness in the fingers and that shooting pain. So when I had that, yesterday was miserable - until we got the (MRI) results. Knowing it's not that is a big relief."
Putz had an MRI exam Thursday, and team physician Dr. Edward Khalfayan's diagnosis was triceps tendon inflammation and an irritated ulnar nerve. Putz is to refrain from pitching this weekend and will be reevaluated on Monday. Putz said he still had "throbbing" soreness on Friday.
Mariners manager John McLaren said he will use a rotation of fill-in closers while Putz is out, primarily Brandon Morrow but also Miguel Batista, who saved 31 games for Toronto in 2005. Batista, 3-7 in 13 starts, has been moved out of the rotation for at least a couple of turns, McLaren said.
A few weeks ago the Mariners discussed moving Morrow, their fifth overall draft choice in 2006 who replaced Putz on Wednesday and got the save, into their rotation this season. They decided the hard-throwing former starter at the University of California was too valuable as Putz's primary setup man.
Seattle recalled reliever Roy Corcoran from Triple-A Tacoma to take Putz's place on the roster. The right-hander was available Friday night.
Putz has a 5.21 ERA with three blown saves in 20 games this season for the Mariners (24-42), who entered play Friday with the worst record in the major leagues. He had a 1.38 ERA with 40 saves in 42 chances last year.
When asked if he could recall when he has felt fully healthy this season, Putz deadpanned: "First day, I did."
Since then, "if it's something physical or mechanical, it seems like nothing's really been in synch."
Putz said he wasn't used to dealing with injuries. He'd never been on the disabled list before this season.
"But it's not doing anybody any good going out there and not feeling 100 percent. I need to get back to the way I know I can pitch," he said. "I just have to basically start over."
McLaren agreed that it's been a frustrating season for Putz.
"I mean, last year he was automatic. You brought him in and it was over," McLaren said. "We just want to get him healthy so he can come back and have a good rest of the season."
