Wrist in cast another week, then what?
By Howard Ulman, Associated Press, 03/09/01
Nomar could miss opening day with his wrist injury. (Globe File Photo )
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FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Nomar Garciaparra can't even sign autographs with the right wrist that propelled so many hits.
He smiled at shouting fans Friday, showed them the cast on his wrist and said he can't write. He can't hit or throw either right now and surgery is possible, meaning he might not be ready for opening day.
The two-time defending AL batting champion hasn't played in any of Boston's nine exhibition games because of a split tendon and inflammation in his right wrist. The original plan to immobilize it in a cast for a maximum of two weeks has been changed to a minimum of two weeks.
At that point, there are three alternatives: leave the cast off and start rehabilitation, put it back on or operate.
"Surgery isn't always the answer to everything," the Red Sox shortstop said Friday before Boston's 5-1 loss to Cincinnati.
The two-week period ends next Thursday. If the cast stays off, four days of rehabilitation to strengthen atrophied muscles would end March 19.
Then he'd need a few days of batting practice before playing in a game, perhaps March 22, which would give him a chance to play in Boston's final 10 exhibition games.
That seems to be the best-case scenario.
Garciaparra got a second opinion this week from Dr. Norman Zemel, a Los Angeles hand specialist, who examined his MRI. Zemel agreed with the interpretation of Dr. Bill Morgan, Boston's team physician.
Both mentioned the possibility of surgery.
"They don't want to be aggressive and say that's what you need to do right now," Garciaparra said. "They both concurred (that) the smart thing is let's see if this works."
Garciaparra said if he has surgery, he probably would be sidelined "a month or two, hopefully."
But he said an operation would correct the problem and relieve the discomfort he felt all last season. The injury stems from Sept. 25, 1999, when he was hit on the wrist by a pitch from Baltimore's Al Reyes.
Garciaparra was unusually talkative Friday, perhaps working off some pent up energy that he can't let loose on the field.
He had arrived in training camp in excellent shape and is doing what he can to maintain that, which could minimize his rehabilitation time.
"I really don't know" if he'll be ready for the season, Red Sox manager Jimy Williams said. "He's done everything he can physically without hurting that wrist."
Even if surgery is avoided, Garciaparra doesn't know how much playing time he'll need to be able to play in the regular-season opener April 2 in Baltimore.
"It's going to be (based on) when I go out there and how I feel," he said, although he can't see himself playing April 2 without playing an exhibition game. "You can never simulate a game situation. As soon as you're in that game, your body just steps up a level. The adrenaline kicks in."
The addition of Manny Ramirez to a lineup that includes Garciaparra and Carl Everett gave Boston fans hope for an improved offense. Garciaparra doesn't think his absence would be a critical loss.
"When we play, we're a team," he said. "You don't win with one guy. Your team doesn't falter if one guy goes down."
But his fierce competitiveness has him wanting to return.
"Am I bored?" he asked. "I have a tough time watching baseball when I can't play. I love it. I want to be out there."
