Wednesday, September 6 Updated: September 7, 9:10 PM ET MRI reveals only bruises to Cone's shoulder Associated Press |
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- New York Yankees right-hander David Cone will rest his dislocated left shoulder until next week, and will miss at least one start.
"He's not going to do anything between now and the beginning of the week, at which time he'll hopefully start exercising that shoulder and maybe do a little throwing," manager Joe Torre said Wednesday.
Cone underwent an MRI examination Wednesday, a day after he was injured while diving to catch a bunt in the third inning of a 10-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals.
"The MRI was clean, minimal bruising -- better than I thought," said Cone, who had likened the pain of the shoulder separation to feeling "like my shoulder was up in my neck."
Cone already was in the midst of a bad season when he was injured. He is 4-11 with a 6.16 ERA, and had gone 15 starts without a victory before recently showing signs of improvement.
Torre said the sight of Cone writhing in pain brought back memories of seeing St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Bob Gibson blow out a knee while running bases during a game in 1973.
"Gibson kept saying, 'Don't touch me, don't touch me,' " Torre said. "He (Cone) kept saying to Geno (trainer Gene Monahan), 'Get off me,' and Geno wasn't even on him. I think there was so much pressure on that shoulder, he felt like someone was pushing up against it."
The Yankees have no timetable for Cone's return, Torre said.
"I don't think we're going to know anything until he starts exercising again," Torre said. "Even though that's not his throwing arm, there's still so much involved with pitching that involves the left side.
"Hopefully we can keep his (throwing) arm in shape, we can have him throw enough so that before the season's over he can get out there and pitch again."
Cone, who had won three of his last four decisions after a 1-10 start, had been scheduled to pitch for the AL East leaders on Sunday against second-place Boston.
Torre said he hadn't decided who would get the start Sunday. But he said he was leaning away from giving it to Dwight Gooden, who replaced Cone on Tuesday and went 5 1/3 innings for the win.
"I'd like to keep Doc in the bullpen, because he's done a nice job for us," Torre said. "He gives us some stability, especially not knowing (Ramiro) Mendoza's situation in the bullpen."
Mendoza, who has been plagued by tendinitis in his right shoulder and has not pitched since July 29, threw more than 50 pitches in a simulated game Monday.
Torre also has not set a definite time frame for Mendoza's return to action.
"By the weekend, maybe," he said. "A lot of it depends on how he feels. If he's not comfortable with it, then we'll do what we did the other day one more time."
The Yankees would name Sunday's starter by Thursday, Torre said. |
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