Times wires
Sunday, March 27, 2011
LAKE BUENA VISTA — With his shoulder soreness lingering, Phillies closer Brad Lidge was scheduled for an MRI exam Tuesday in Philadelphia.
GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said the right-hander, who will open the season on the disabled list, visited team physician Michael Ciccotti on Friday and showed some improvement. The team is hoping the MRI exam rules out structural damage in the shoulder.
"He still has some posterior soreness in his shoulder," Amaro told MLB.com. "We don't have a diagnosis until we know what the MRI looks like. We'll treat it from there."
Lidge was out for two weeks because of biceps tendinitis, pitched twice last week but said Friday he felt pain in the back of his right shoulder.
HALLADAY SHARP: RHP Roy Halladay breezed through his final tuneup for the regular season, allowing two hits in three innings in the Phillies' 6-1 win over the Braves.
Yanks: No progress
FORT MYERS — LH reliever Pedro Feliciano, who hasn't pitched since March 9 because of a left triceps injury, felt some discomfort after playing catch and is almost certain to open the season on the disabled list.
"He played catch (Sunday) and didn't feel great," manager Joe Girardi told MLB.com. "It's pretty hard to think that he would start (the season) with us."
RHPs Luis Ayala, Mark Prior and Romulo Sanchez are candidates to replace Feliciano on the roster. Another option is Steve Garrison, who has a 5.59 spring ERA but has the advantage of being left-handed like Feliciano.
"We've been impressed with the way he's thrown in spring training for us," Girardi said of Garrison. "He's another guy we feel could possibly get lefties, he could give you a little distance, too, because he has been a starter."
HERO WORSHIP: Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez met 12-year-old Julianne Ramirez, the girl he invited to the game after learning she saved a friend who was drowning last summer. "It's amazing how courageous she was," Rodriguez said. "Sometimes we don't give kids the credit they deserve. They're very smart and very intuitive."
Jays: Get it over with
DUNEDIN — LHP Ricky Romero, Toronto's opening-day pitcher, ended his spring the same way he started it: getting knocked around, giving up runs and getting frustrated.
An Orioles split squad tagged Romero for eight hits and five runs in 51/3 innings before the Blue Jays rallied for a 9-5 win.
"I've said many times I hate giving up runs, especially when (I'm) going good and feeling good. I'm just glad (spring training) is over and we can move on to the season," said Romero, who allowed 17 runs and 24 hits over 191/3 innings in five starts.
"I've done everything I had to do to get my body ready, and my confidence is good. I know what I can do when the lights turn on," he said. "I'm ready for Friday. I can't be happier than it's going to be here pretty soon."