TUCSON — Precaution turned to optimism Saturday morning regarding the health of key reliever Jose Vizcaino and starter Aaron Cook, while Jason Hirsh’s shoulder remains sore, creating the possibility he won’t be ready for the regular season.
Vizcaino was scheduled to pitch Friday in Surprise but was scratched with elbow pain. The 33-year-old reliever said Saturday that he experienced tightness in his elbow, prompting him to head to the trainer’s room rather than the mound. He felt “good” Saturday morning and, after another day of rest, expects to pitch in Sunday’s game. Evidence that the injury is not serious: Vizcaino would have been available to pitch if this were the regular season.
Cook’s sore shoulder has healed quickly. He could have pitched Friday, but was advised to take a conservative route. He played catch at a 100 feet Friday. He will long toss Saturday and plans to throw a side session Sunday.
“I hope that I just miss that one turn and step right back into the rotation (either Tuesday or Wednesday),” Cook said. “I haven’t missed any throwing so I don’t feel like I am behind at all.”
That isn’t the case for Hirsh who continued to feel slight discomfort during long toss on Friday. He has been shut down for a few days. The injury protocol creates a time challenge for the right-hander, who is competing for one of the final two positions in the rotation. He must throw without pain, then move to a side session before advancing to a game. If he doesn’t pitch in a game this coming week, he will be hard-pressed to get enough innings to build up arm strength for the start of the regular season.
No one has separated themselves in the competition for the fourth and fifth starter’s spots. Franklin Morales, Mark Redman, Josh Towers and Kip Wells all struggled with command in the last starts.
Footnotes
The black-and-blue bruise doesn’t look as nasty anymore, but infielder Omar Quintanilla will be rest his injured right quad one more day before returning to game action. “I have been cleared to do all the drills, thankfully, but to play yet. It’s so boring in the trainer’s room,” he said. Reliever Jose Capellan, who has been out with a sprained right ankle, has begun throwing bullpen sessions as he inches closer to pitching in a game.
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
-30-
