Back Spasms

Offensive guard Joe Jacoby suffered severe back spasms during the Washington Redskins' intrasquad scrimmage last night at Carlisle High School and will likely be sidelined about a week.That means he'll miss Saturday night's exhibition game against the New England Patriots. Mark Adickes and Russ Grimm will fill in for him at left guard.Quarterback Mark Rypien (stiff back) and running back Ricky Ervins (bruised thigh) were held out of the scrimmage, but are expected to play against the Patriots.

On Friday, Ravens coach John Harbaugh didn't sound optimistic that Matt Birk would be available for Thursday night's preseason opener at the Atlanta Falcons. But the 36-year-old center said Saturday that he is holding out hope that he might be able to play Thursday. “I hope I don't” miss the game, Birk said after the team's practice at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday. “We talked today, and although you can't predict the future, I hope I don't. My goal is to be out there.” Birk confirmed Harbaugh's diagnosis that back spasms have shelved him for the past six days.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Orioles third baseman Cal Ripken returned to Baltimore yesterday because of back spasms, and the club has begun making contingency plans in case he is forced on the disabled list for the second time this season.Ripken, 38, will be examined today by the club orthopedist, Dr. Michael Jacobs. He also may visit Dr. Henry Bohlman, a professor of orthopedics at Case Western University who gave him a cortisone shot earlier this season when a similar condition forced the first trip to the DL in his 18-year major-league career.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh just met with reporters following practice and provided an update on several of his injured players: Cornerback Jimmy Smith, who left practice early yesterday, had his back lock up on him. Harbaugh said that it is a muscular issue that Smith also dealt with while playing at the University of Colorado. "It takes a couple of days usually for that to resolve," Harbaugh said. Center Matt Birk missed his fifth straight practice today and Harbaugh essentially ruled him out from next Thursday's preseason opener in Atlanta.

VIERA, Fla. -- Though manager Ray Miller isn't expected to make public his 25-man roster until after Sunday's exhibition game at Camden Yards, infielder Ozzie Guillen has been given every indication that he has made the club."

Randy Johnson will miss his final regular-season turn in the New York Yankees' rotation because of back spasms. The left-hander had been scheduled to start Thursday night against the Orioles. The Yankees hope he will be ready for the postseason. Mike Mussina will be moved up one day to make that start. "It's been a progression thing," Johnson said last night. "Let's get it taken care of, and obviously the regular-season start doesn't mean much. So we'll get ready for the postseason game."

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Though he is scheduled to pitch today against the St. Louis Cardinals in Jupiter, Fla., Orioles left-hander Buddy Groom might not be available because of back spasms that kept him in the trainer's room for most of yesterday's pre-game workout. Groom had to leave the field after experiencing pain in his lower back while running sprints. He wore an elastic brace for support after receiving treatment and moved slowly through the clubhouse, taking short strides and being careful not to bend at the waist.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - A dark horse has emerged in the Orioles' starting rotation derby, and he's sneaking up on people with a new pitch. Rick Bauer, who played a key role in the bullpen the past two seasons, will have his innings stretched out this spring like a starter, Orioles pitching coach Mark Wiley said. And early in camp, Bauer has made team officials take notice with some impressive throwing sessions. Bauer, 27, was used mostly as a starter earlier in his professional career, but most Orioles officials felt he needed a third pitch to complement his sinker and slider combination in order to become an effective big league starter.

ASHBURN, Va. - Back spasms kept the Washington Redskins' flashiest player, Deion Sanders, from practicing yesterday. But Sanders' absence did not take away the flare from a team practice that included two halfback passes, five wide receiver formations, safety blitzes and receivers posing as running backs. All that was in preparation for tonight's scrimmage against the Ravens at FedEx Field. The scrimmage is a sellout and will be followed by a concert. "One of the things you do in training camp, you want to see as many things as you can," Redskins coach Norv Turner said.

SEATTLE - Baseball's All-Star selection Sunday came and went last weekend, and no one said a word about Orioles third baseman Tony Batista. One year after serving as the team's lone representative at the midsummer classic, Batista became somewhat of a forgotten man. When his name's not mentioned in trade rumor these days, it's hardly mentioned at all. And then, every once in a while, he has a game like last night's, when you wonder how the Orioles would...

Randy Johnson will miss his final regular-season turn in the New York Yankees' rotation because of back spasms. The left-hander had been scheduled to start Thursday night against the Orioles. The Yankees hope he will be ready for the postseason. Mike Mussina will be moved up one day to make that start. "It's been a progression thing," Johnson said last night. "Let's get it taken care of, and obviously the regular-season start doesn't mean much. So we'll get ready for the postseason game."

LEE TREVINO was always one of the most entertaining players in professional golf, but now - at the age of 65 - he's also a miracle of modern science. The "Merry Mex" has returned to the Champions Tour after a lengthy layoff, choosing the Constellation Energy Classic at Hayfields Country Club to put his bionic lower back to its first real test since he underwent revolutionary surgery in Germany four months ago. The procedure involves the insertion of small titanium rollers to create space between the discs and reduce the likelihood of nerve inflammation and painful back spasms.

The comeback of Glen Burnie's Tony Saunders took a bad turn on Saturday when the left-hander's back "locked up on him due to back spasms," said David Stockstill, the Orioles' director of minor league operations. Saunders, who is at extended spring training in Sarasota, Fla., was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where he is expected to remain for a few days. "Tony should be released in a couple of days," said Stockstill, who expects Saunders to stay in Sarasota for another month as he attempts to overcome his misfortunes, which include breaking his left arm twice.

Moves Baseball ASTROS: Re-signed OF Lance Berkman to six-year, $85 million contract with option for 2011. BLUE JAYS: Optioned IF Eric Crozier and OF John-Ford Griffin to Triple-A Syracuse. DEVIL RAYS: Announced retirement of former Orioles 2B Roberto Alomar and OF Danny Bautista. Signed OF Alex Sanchez. RANGERS: Reassigned P Wilfredo Rodriguez, P Jason Standridge and C Justin Hatcher to minor league camp. TWINS: Optioned P Boof Bonser and P J.D. Durbin to Triple-A Rochester. Assigned P Trey Hodges to minor league camp.

Wayne Levi equaled both the Hayfields Country Club and tournament record by carding an 8-under-par 64 yesterday to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the Constellation Energy Classic. In ideal weather on a course softened recently by the remnants of Hurricane Jeanne, Levi recorded eight birdies and just missed a record-breaking effort when his 12-foot putt on the 18th strayed to the right. The round matched his previous low on the Champions Tour, in the 2003 Columbus Southern Open.

I've been having back spasms and have a five-hour plane trip coming up. Other than getting up and walking around, what stretches or exercises can I do to make myself more comfortable on the plane? We posed your question to Mike Clune, physical therapist and site coordinator at Health South Rehabilitation in Annapolis. Before you get on the plane, Clune suggests doing trunk twists and standing side bends -- with your arms at your sides, lean to one side, sliding your arm down your leg. On the plane, slip a lumbar roll or rolled towel between your seat and the small of your back.

A strained shoulder and tendinitis forced Texas' Nolan Ryan onto the disabled list yesterday. Ryan, who also has been bothered by cracked skin and back spasms, rebutted the notion he's breaking down at age 44."I've been expected to do that for the last six or eight years," said Ryan. "It hasn't happened."

Athletics: Tony Phillips' walk in the second was his 1,262nd, tying him for 29th all-time with Jack Clark and Ken Singleton.Red Sox: The last time Tim Wakefield faced another knuckleballer was Aug. 16, 1996, against the Angels' Dennis Springer. First baseman Mike Stanley was scratched from the lineup because of back spasms.Pub Date: 5/03/99

Walking through the clubhouse yesterday, Orioles right fielder Jay Gibbons looked like he had two-by-fours strapped to both legs. His movements were stiff and deliberate, the most obvious signs that his lower-back spasms hadn't subsided enough to let him play. Gibbons underwent a magnetic resonance imaging test, and the Orioles were waiting for the results last night. He has missed two straight games and remains day-to-day, but he could return to the lineup tonight when the team begins a three-city trip in Detroit.

Imagine if Lee Mazzilli and Joe Torre were just two old friends meeting at a ballgame last night. They'd reminisce about old times, tell each other a story or two, maybe even pull out some pictures of the kids. This game had that feel, as Torre's New York Yankees pounded Mazzilli's Orioles, 11-3, before 42,846 at Camden Yards. If these two wanted to really find out how the other was doing these days, this gave them a chance to spend nine innings in opposing dugouts, so they could watch for themselves.