The Colorado Rockies received some disappointing news Wednesday: Star outfielder Preston Wilson has torn meniscus cartilage in his left knee. The injury was discovered on April 14 after an MRI exam. He has been out with a swollen left knee and now will require surgery that puts him out indefinitely. There is a possibility he could miss the rest of the season.
The team is hopeful Wilson will be able to return in two to three months, but that still leaves a gaping hole in the Colorado outfield as well as on Fantasy owners' rosters. The team is already dealing with the absence of Larry Walker (groin), who started the season on the 15-day disabled list. With Wilson sidelined, Jeromy Burnitz will move from right field to center.
The team also recalled Matt Holliday from Triple-A Colorado Springs, although it is unlikely he will have much Fantasy impact. The player who will be the beneficiary of the most playing time until Walker or Wilson can return will likely be Rene Reyes. He has filled in in right field and is worth adding in NL-only leagues if you need an emergency replacement. Kit Pellow might also see more playing time, but he has struggled when given at-bats and does not warrant any Fantasy consideration in most formats.
Andy Pettitte to play catch
Houston starter Andy Pettitte (sore left elbow) is expected to start playing catch on Thursday. He received a cortisone shot Sunday and does not appear overly concerned about the severity of the injury. He is eligible to come off of the 15-day disabled list on April 22 and said the team was being cautious with him or he could have made his scheduled start on April 12.
Pettitte was replaced by Triple-A recall Jared Fernandez, who was pounded in the start, able to retire only one batter before getting a quick hook and demotion back to New Orleans. It appears Brandon Duckworth might be next in line for the spot start in Pettitte's absence, but he's not worth using for only one assignment. Barring any setbacks, it looks like Pettitte will be on the hill next Thursday when the Cardinals visit Minute Maid Park.
Rumors swirling around Prior
It appears Mark Prior (Achilles', elbow) and manager Dusty Baker are getting a little bit sawed off concerning all of the rumors surrounding the star pitcher's injured elbow. According to published reports, Prior might require "Tommy John" surgery, which would sideline him for the remainder of the season. Baker was said to have confided in close friends, which the manager refuted this week.
"That's bad journalism. That makes no sense. That's as far from the truth as anything I've ever been associated with," Baker told the Joliet Herald News. "This is a crazy rumor... That's just wrong. The only thing I can say is that's wrong. For someone to start something like that and for us to even have to answer it ... it doesn't get any more wrong than that."
Prior was able to throw from a mound on Wednesday for the first time since March 22. He tossed about 10 pitches and called the progress a "baby step." The appearance of Prior on the mound might suggest that the story reported in the Newark Star-Ledger is a bit off base. The team is still shooting for Prior to return in mid-May, although that timetable is believed to be very optimistic at best. The possibility exists he could be sidelined until after the All-Star break.
Expos lose Everett for a month
The Montreal Expos will have to make do without outfielder Carl Everett for at least three to four weeks after he injured his right shoulder. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Thursday after a hard slide caused the damage. An MRI exam revealed a torn labrum in the back of the shoulder and a contusion in the front.
With Everett on the shelf, Ron Calloway got the start in right field. Manager Frank Robinson would not commit to Calloway as the permanent replacement, although he filled in last season when Vladimir Guerrero went down with a back injury. He might be worth using in NL-only leagues, but keep an eye on the whole team. The player who creates a spark on offense and emerges from the team-wide hitting slump will be the one Robinson turns to on a regular basis in right.
