 08/18/2002 1:48 pm ET
MLBeat: Easley rests wrists
Return hoped for next week
By Becky Dubin Jenkins / MLB.com
BALTIMORE -- Damion Easley again did not make an appearance in the Tigers
lineup Sunday, as he continues to rest his sore left and right wrists.
Sunday's game was the eighth straight game Easley has missed, though he did take brief batting practice before Saturday's game at Camden Yards. He hit nine pitches, about which manager Luis Pujols was pleased.
Damion Easley
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"He hit extra again. You like that," Pujols said.
Though Pujols didn't know anything definite, he said it was a possibility Easley could be back in the lineup sometime this coming week. Easley met with a Southern California hand specialist, who took MRIs of the wrists, last Monday.
Anderson update: The rehab exercises that Matt Anderson has been
following since going on the DL for the first time in early May end on Sept.
1. This means team head trainer Russ Miller will have the right-hander
throwing off the mound then.
Pujols said Anderson, who has a right shoulder muscle injury, won't throw
batting practice. Doing so would cause too much strain on the muscle.
Because Anderson is a closer and would only make one-inning appearances --
with more than that being an exception -- if he returned to the team, Pujols
wants to get him more time to get back on track.
"He's going to need innings," Pujols said.
Matt Anderson
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That being said, it's likely Anderson will head down to the Gulf Coast League
Tigers and make a few starts. Logging time in the Instructional League is
the best way for him to face hitters in a game, Pujols said.
Anderson, who threw long toss without pain in the outfield on Aug. 5, made
five appearances this season, going 2-1 with a 4.73 ERA.
Young to be evaluated: There have been enough updates on Dmitri
Young's health this season to give him a transaction page all to himself.
Add one more tidbit: The Tigers' first baseman/designated hitter will be
examined Tuesday by a doctor as he continues to heal from July 17 hernia
surgery.
Pujols isn't sure what the doctor's prognosis will be, but he hopes Young
will be allowed to hit during batting practice and take ground balls.
"Hopefully he'll be cleared to have some activity on the field," Pujols
said.
Young, a switch-hitter, has played in only 54 games this season, hitting
.284 with 57 hits and 27 RBIs.
Fantasy Edge: No matter whom you start against Jamie Moyer, don't
expect any high-octane offense. Carlos Peña, who faced the Mariners 13 times
while with the A's earlier this season, racked up a .571 average after
homering and driving in three RBIs. Other than Peña, Craig Paquette is the
only other Tigers player who has fared well against the changeup artist.
Paquette, whom Pujols said would definitely start Monday, hit .370 in 27
at-bats against Moyer. He has 10 hits and seven RBIs.
Becky Dubin Jenkins is an editorial producer for MLB.com. This story was
not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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