[TomRicardo]

I haven't heard anything in more than a week about him. Tavarez is getting the start today but is it his last? What is Lester's ETA?

[Corsi Combover]

Quote

Lester improving

Jon Lester [stats]played catch for the third consecutive day prior to the game and extended from 90 to 120 feet without any difficulties. The lefty, who remains on the disabled list after experiencing cramping in his left forearm last Wednesday at Pawtucket, may be allowed to throw off a bullpen mound within the next few days, but the Sox are intentionally bringing him along at a deliberate pace.
“I think once he comes, he’ll come pretty quick,” Francona said. “I know there’s frustrations on his part and I understand it, but I say, ‘Hang with ’em because come August, you’re going to be healthy and strong.’ He can yell at me from now until his next big contract.”

Source: http://redsox.bostonherald.com/redSox/view...mat=&page=2

[Drocca]

Quote

Jon Lester (forearm) played catch Thursday for the third straight day.

Lester threw from 120 feet and could progress to throwing from a mound within a few days. "I think once he comes, he’ll come pretty quick," manager Terry Francona said. "I know there’s frustrations on his part and I understand it, but I say, ‘Hang with ’em because come August, you’re going to be healthy and strong.’ He can yell at me from now until his next big contract."

Herald

You gots to read the paper, yo.


Edit - And how, exactly, did I think I could beat Corsi to that?

This post has been edited by Drocca: 11 May 2007 - 02:10 PM

[Crazy Puppy]

Are they just being excessively cautious with him? Or are they using the forearm cramping as an excuse to start a new 30-day rehab to avoid having to option him?

He was set to throw 90-100 pitches in a rehab start on May 2. And now, 9 days later, he's days away from even throwing off a mound? That seems like a pretty big setback for something that was described as nothing more than minor cramping.

[ShoelessJoe]

Crazy Puppy, on May 11 2007, 03:50 PM, said:

Are they just being excessively cautious with him? Or are they using the forearm cramping as an excuse to start a new 30-day rehab to avoid having to option him?

He was set to throw 90-100 pitches in a rehab start on May 2. And now, 9 days later, he's days away from even throwing off a mound? That seems like a pretty big setback for something that was described as nothing more than minor cramping.

Why would they risk further injury by rushing him back? All of our other starters are healthy and pitching lights out (as is our bullpen). The team is firing on all cylinders. I think erring on the cautious side with Lester is a prudent strategy. It hurts the team far more if he returns in June and blows out his pitching arm than if he builds up his strength until July/August and can pitch through October.

[DGreenwood]

His 30 day rehab in the minors was about to expire before this latest problem. When he is able to pitch again does the clock reset and allow him 30 more days in the minors before he has to come off the DL?

[Lose Remerswaal]

DGreenwood, on May 11 2007, 05:01 PM, said:

His 30 day rehab in the minors was about to expire before this latest problem. When he is able to pitch again does the clock reset and allow him 30 more days in the minors before he has to come off the DL?

They can "re DL" him for the new arm problem, or they can option him to Pawtucket. Doesn't make a difference. If they want him to get 3 or 4 or 10 more minor league starts, optioning is the move.

[SoxScout]

Quote

Francona reported that lefthanded pitcher Jon Lester, who experienced cramping in his left forearm during his rehab assigment in Pawtucket, looked ``very good'' in his side session. ``He threw out to 120[-feet]again, brought it back in again and threw on flat ground and threw his offspeed pitches. He'll have a day of catch tomorrow and then he'll throw a bullpen on Sunday.''

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/reds...ecall_lope.html

[ragnarok725]

Lose Remerswaal, on May 11 2007, 05:10 PM, said:

They can "re DL" him for the new arm problem, or they can option him to Pawtucket. Doesn't make a difference. If they want him to get 3 or 4 or 10 more minor league starts, optioning is the move.

But re-DLing would allow for another "rehab" stint and as a result they wouldn't burn an option, correct? That was the impression I got.

[TomRicardo]

ragnarok725, on May 11 2007, 06:16 PM, said:

But re-DLing would allow for another "rehab" stint and as a result they wouldn't burn an option, correct? That was the impression I got.

Also if you re DL him you don't have to worry about minor league roster limits.

[SoxFanPJ]

I could swear listening to the Pre-game comments from Tito on Thursday night (on the Herald website) that he said Lester only had a couple days left on his rehab assignment once he is able to pitch again, he didn't mention Re-DL ing him as a possibility. Would they not have to activate him before putting him back on the DL?

[Lucen]

ShoelessJoe, on May 11 2007, 04:38 PM, said:

Why would they risk further injury by rushing him back? All of our other starters are healthy and pitching lights out (as is our bullpen). The team is firing on all cylinders. I think erring on the cautious side with Lester is a prudent strategy. It hurts the team far more if he returns in June and blows out his pitching arm than if he builds up his strength until July/August and can pitch through October.

I think we got lucky with Tavarez a few times, and tonight was a very strong reminder that he's not a good pitcher. At least, not as a starter (I'm not convinced he's good as a reliever either.) I'm all for making sure Lester isn't rushed back... but I don't think they can or should baby him either. I'd like to see him earlier than July, that's for sure.

[paulftodd]

Crazy Puppy, on May 12 2007, 03:50 AM, said:

Are they just being excessively cautious with him? Or are they using the forearm cramping as an excuse to start a new 30-day rehab to avoid having to option him?

He was set to throw 90-100 pitches in a rehab start on May 2. And now, 9 days later, he's days away from even throwing off a mound? That seems like a pretty big setback for something that was described as nothing more than minor cramping.

I think they are being cautious. Excessively? How many times has a pitcher come out of a game due to what is called forearm cramping, then DL'ed for what is then called a forearm strain, and then eventually been diagnosed with an elbow ligament tear requiring TJ surgery. BJ Ryan, Liriano, Pavano, etc. Not saying this is the case with Lester, but you have to be cautious just in case it is something which might get worse if he comes back too soon and for which sufficient rest can allow enough recovery that surgery is not and may never be required. Despite MRI's, they can not conclusively confirm a cramp is just a cramp, and that a positive MRI means he does not have a minor tear. The only conclusive results from MRI's are BAD results. BJ Ryan last month was told he did not need surgery, then 1 month later he did. Same with Liriano. Diagnosing these things is not an exact science.

Fortunately, there is no need to rush the kid, despite some peoples concern over JT pitching like the number 5 starter that he is.

[SoxScout]

Good news:

Quote

Jon Lester threw 40 pitches in the bullpen this morning, focusing on his fastball and changeup. He'll throw another bullpen on Wednesday.

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/reds...ups_etc_13.html

[Buzzkill Pauley]

Lester on pre-game with Tina C, where he talked about the forearm cramping as "not the normal soreness from pitching, so I knew I had to get myself out of there" [quote may be off a little]. Here's praying it's nothing more serious than a muscle strain, and there isn't any ligament issue underlying it. Kid doesn't need that after the cancer...

[SoxScout]

...but he said he felt good after throwing today. Plus he has been with the big club to get the medical attention, I'm sure he checked out fine considering he is back throwing already.

[educatedcheese]

FYI, nice piece on Lester in this morning's USA Today. No real news here, but a feel-good piece is always good for a Monday.

Lester's comeback trail

[normstalls]

Lester (15-day disabled list, forearm) is expected to throw a side session on Wednesday, and could be back on the mound in a game as early as this weekend for Triple-A Pawtucket, reports the Boston Globe.

...per random news gathering site.

[sittingstill]

Quote

Francona confirmed that Jon Lester will pitch Saturday in Ottawa for the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox, thus beginning a new 30-day rehab assignment (forearm cramping).

According to Francona, Lester will throw 50-55 pitches on Saturday.

"He thinks he's ready to throw 100 [pitches], which is a great sign, but we'll take it slow."

Cafardo in Extra Bases

[Noah]

You're only allowed one rehab assignment per DL stint, so I'm guessing that when they sent Hansack back down, they activated Lester and re-DL'd him before calling up Lopez.