NATIONALS NOTEBOOK
Patterson Is Looking at a June 1 Return
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Wednesday, May 10, 2006
CINCINNATI, May 9 -- The more John Patterson rests his strained right forearm, the further he seems to get from pitching. The Washington Nationals' right-hander spent Monday flying to see noted orthopedist James Andrews in Birmingham and returned to the club with yet another opinion on what ails him. Andrews diagnosed tendinitis and gave him a cortisone shot aimed at quelling the inflammation.
Thus, Patterson has a new course of action that involves not even playing catch until Friday, reevaluation after that, and perhaps a bullpen session on May 18. His planned rehabilitation start for this Saturday has been scrapped, and Patterson said he is now targeting a June 1 return.
Patterson said he suggested the visit to Andrews, who performed ligament replacement surgery on him in 2003. "He knows my elbow," he said. "I've seen him throughout my career. He knows me better than anyone."
Visits to Andrews carry a connotation of a major problem. But Nationals officials insist this is, as head athletic trainer Tim Abraham said Tuesday, "a soft-tissue injury" and that the ligament is fine. In fact General Manager Jim Bowden said: "Can he pitch with this right now? Yes. He can pitch. He could pitch every fifth day, no issues. Right now. Without risking any further injury. But the reality is you're not going to get better for the rest of the year unless you rest it and get the soreness out."
Asked how much the team misses Patterson, who is 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in four starts, Manager Frank Robinson said, "Are you kidding me?"
Bowden Goes Home Again
Bowden spent much of the Reds' batting practice Tuesday night hanging out by the cage, watching the Cincinnati players -- many of whom he acquired during his 10 1/2 -year tenure as GM here. Last year, when Bowden made his first trip back since being fired by the Reds, the then-owners put up a notice saying no former Reds employees would be allowed in areas designated for the team. There were no such notices Tuesday.
"Every time I come to Cincinnati, it's wonderful because my children are here," said Bowden, who brought four of his five boys to the park.
