WHEW! BROWN WILL RETURN SURGERY NOT NEEDED.Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer PITTSBURGH - In a season marked by one deflating event after another, the Dodgers are clinging to what might be a bit of good news: Ailing staff ace Kevin Brown The name Kevin Brown can refer to several different people, including the following:
An MRI 1. (application) MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging. 2. MRI - Measurement Requirements and Interface. revealed the flexor flexor /flex·or/ (flek´ser) 1. causing flexion. 2. a muscle that flexes a joint. flexor retina´culum see entries under retinaculum. muscle in the pitcher's right elbow has detached slightly from the bone, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. team physician Dr. Frank Jobe, who examined Brown on Monday in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. . However, surgery is not needed, at least not at this point. Jobe is recommending Brown not pitch for at least a month. The doctor said the examination, which took place at Centinela Hospital Medical Center, showed a ``very severe sprain sprain, stretching or wrenching of the ligaments and tendons of a joint, often with rupture of the tissues but without dislocation. Sprains occur most commonly at the ankle, knee, or wrist joints, causing pain, swelling, and difficulty in moving the involved joint. to the medial side of his elbow in the muscle. The ligament is intact, but he has injured the muscle that attaches to the medial side of the elbow.'' The outlook was much more bleak when Brown left his Sunday start after five innings. ``We were kind of prepared for the worst, that he was out for the year, but there still remains hope that he'll be around to help us at the end if we need help,'' Dodgers pitching coach Jim Colborn
Jobe said the third-degree strain is the result of the muscle fibers pulling off the bone. However, the outer covering of the muscle is intact. ``I'm pushing for a month and he's pushing for a week,'' Jobe said. ``That's the way Kevin Brown is. But I think he ought to consider a month and get well before he tries to pitch again.'' The injury will land Brown on the disabled list for the third time this season - but it's the first time the 36-year-old will be on the disabled list with a pitching-related arm injury. The move is expected to be made in the next 24 to 48 hours. The Dodgers haven't decided who will replace Brown in the rotation. Left-handed reliever Jeff Williams For the poker player, see . For the physician, see . For the astronaut, see . Jeff Williams (born June 6, 1972 in Canberra) is an Australian-born, left-handed pitcher for the Hanshin Tigers baseball team. is the leading candidate. The club also has actively been scouting players from other teams in hopes of adding a veteran pitcher to its staff. The Dodgers won't seek a No. 1 starter - such as the New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Mets' Al Leiter ``I still don't see us in a panic mode,'' interim general manager Dave Wallace said. ``I mean, Eric Gagne is up and pitching. I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. for sure what the time frame is on Brownie, so right now we're going to continue to do what we have to do to try and seek out a pitcher.'' Wallace added the Dodgers won't act too quickly or irrationally. The club believes Brown (8-4 with a 2.95 ERA) could return in the middle of August, but Tracy took a cautious approach. ``We're looking at more or less targeting the month of September as far as a return in order to give this a chance to re-scar itself and heal itself down,'' Tracy said. ``Obviously, it'll give us a real good indication as far as the type of progress that he's making. Having said that, we will just have to wait and see where he goes from a progress standpoint. And if he does progress to the point where we feel he can go out there and competitively throw for us in a pennant race in the month of September, then we will do so.'' The news of losing a third starting pitcher was another blow to the Dodgers' psyche. It leaves Chan Ho Park and just-recalled Gagne as the remaining members of the projected starting rotation. ``It's devastating dev·as·tate tr.v. dev·as·tat·ed, dev·as·tat·ing, dev·as·tates 1. To lay waste; destroy. 2. To overwhelm; confound; stun: was devastated by the rude remark. ,'' Dodgers second baseman Mark Grudzielanek said. ``Whenever anybody loses a guy like that, you just can't replace him. We've been trying to get by with the kind of injuries we've had. This is an opportunity for guys to go out and make a name for themselves. There's no choice. We've got to get through it.'' Jobe, who confirmed Brown suffered the injury when his spike got caught in the dirt in the fourth inning Sunday, said the pitcher will rehab by doing shoulder-strengthening exercises. However, Jobe would not rule out surgery to re-attach the muscle to the bone if physical therapy and rest doesn't work. If that were necessary, Brown would be out for the season but ready for spring training, Jobe said. CAPTION(S): 2 photos, box Photo: (1 -- color) NO FUNNY MATTER Part of a muscle in the pitching arm of Dodgers ace Kevin Brown is separated from the bone at the medial epicondyle, the inside bump of the elbow more commonly known as the ``funny bone.'' It was not a complete separation, according to Dr. Frank Jobe. Brown will not have surgery but is expected to be sidelined at least four weeks. (2 -- color) KEVIN BROWN MRI reveals detached muscle in right elbow. Dodgers ace might return in a month. Box: SURVIVORS |
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