Cardinals' Questionable Handling of Felipe Lopez Injury
Written by Administrator
During Spring Training, Joe Strauss
MLB.com, 26 April
A right elbow strain that has bothered Lopez for two weeks finally landed him on the 15-day disabled list on Monday.
Lopez, 29, has been dealing with discomfort in his throwing elbow since the Cardinals' April 11 game in Milwaukee. However, he didn't notify the club of any problem until after he started on April 19, two days after he pitched in the 20-inning St. Louis loss to the Mets. Lopez explained that what he first felt was not pain, and the condition worsened in the days after he pitched.
"It was just tightness," Lopez said. "It wasn't what it is now."
Lopez did not point to his experience pitching as the cause for the injury, and manager Tony La Russa likewise downplayed such a direct parallel. The correlation, though, can't be dismissed entirely. Lopez first felt something when he slid headfirst into second base in that April 11 game.
Post-Dispatch, 28 April
With Lopez on the 15-day disabled list with a strained ligament, the Cardinals signed [Aaron] Miles to a minor-league deal. Miles isn't earmarked for the majors or even pegged to replace Lopez. But the Cardinals have found him playing time.
"To me, it's like insurance," general manager John Mozeliak said. "We're still very optimistic that Lopez will be just a few weeks, but should we be wrong, then ultimately we have a switch-hitter below who in the past has been successful here. ... I look at it as someone who can play all three infield positions and is a switch-hitter.
"That's exactly who just got hurt."
Post-Dispatch, 16 April
The Cardinals hope to regain infielder Felipe Lopez for tonight's series opener against the San Francisco Giants after Lopez was all but unavailable for the team's last two games this week against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Lopez insisted after Wednesday's 9-4 victory that elbow discomfort that had followed him since the team's first road trip has gradually subsided, though he did feel renewed discomfort after pitching a scoreless inning in last Saturday's marathon against the New York Mets.
"It's a lot better than it was a couple days ago," said Lopez, who iced the elbow for much of the last two days in Phoenix. "I'd be surprised if I couldn't go (tonight). It bothered me the other night, but it's improved a lot."
Lopez pulled himself from his relief appearance against the Mets, saying afterward that "I didn't want to overdo it." At the time, manager Tony La Russa and the training staff did not know Lopez had hurt himself while making a sliding defensive play in Milwaukee more than a week earlier. Lopez did not mention his discomfort until after Monday's game, in which he appeared at third base. After demonstrating a strong arm from shortstop, Lopez bounced a throw Monday that first baseman Albert Pujols plucked. Lopez has not thrown the past three days.
La Russa indicated he may have started Lopez at shortstop Thursday against Edwin Jackson had his elbow not been an issue. At the time, La Russa insisted Lopez could have played if needed.
"It's getting better and better," said La Russa, who hosted a golf tournament Thursday to benefit his Animal Rescue Foundation.
