Elbow

Though his visit to an orthopedic specialist won't occur for three weeks, Orioles pitcher Pat Hentgen said yesterday that he anticipates having season-ending surgery on his right elbow that also would limit his availability in 2002. Hentgen indicated that he's braced for the worst, which would be ligament-transplant surgery, though he won't know until seeing Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., on Aug. 21. Anointed the Orioles' No. 1 starter out of spring training, he hasn't pitched since May 16 because of a sprained ligament.

Baltimore Orioles right-hander Ben McDonald pitched well in his most recent start and his arm strength appears to be improving, but he said he still is experiencing persistent soreness in his right elbow.The elbow problem forced him to start the season on the disabled list. Now, the plan is to see if he can pitch through it. He's scheduled to start tonight against the California Angels at Memorial Stadium."It's pretty uncomfortable until I get it loose," McDonald said. "They tell me that sometimes you just have to work through these things, but you have to think about it. Any time you're talking about a running back's knee or a pitcher's arm, you've got to be concerned."

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Armando Benitez, who reinjured his elbow in Friday night's game against the Texas Rangers, was placed on the 15-day disabled list yesterday. He flew back to Baltimore to have his elbow examined by team doctor Michael Jacobs."I'm really concerned about Armando," said manager Davey Johnson.To replace Benitez, the Orioles called up reliever Brian Sackinsky, who pitched four innings in relief last night.After delivering a pitch to Texas first baseman Will Clark, Benitez dropped his glove to the mound, bent over at the waist and grabbed his elbow.

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- If Ben McDonald happened to be a minor-leaguer grasping for a spot on the Orioles' Opening Day roster, his hopes would have been dashed by his performance against Philadelphia yesterday.He threw his fastball with little knowledge of its exact destination. His pitch selection was awful; at one point, McDonald said, he threw 21 straight fastballs. The Phillies beat him up for three hits, two walks and two runs in two innings on their way to a 6-5 exhibition victory.But McDonald is no minor-leaguer, and in the big picture, his outing was rated a success by those who really care, his manager and pitching coach.

Vinny Castilla couldn't contain the ear-to-ear grin. He smiled as photos were snapped, and grinned when he answered questions. Castilla was elated to be back with the Colorado Rockies, agreeing to terms on a minor league contract yesterday for his third stint with the franchise. He previously played for the Rockies from 1993 to 1999, and again in 2004. Castilla will spend a few weeks with Triple-A Colorado Springs as a designated hitter to work on his swing and test his sore knee. If everything goes as scheduled, Castilla will be brought up Sept.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Chris Hoiles got an early day off, and the Orioles had a mild scare before last night's game against the Minnesota Twins.A bruised right elbow, the result of a first-inning foul tip the night before, put Hoiles on the bench for last night's game. Jeff Tackett, originally scheduled to catch this afternoon, made his second start of the season.Hoiles' arm stiffened overnight, influencing the Orioles' decision to get precautionary X-rays, which revealed only a bad bruise."Last night [Monday]

Bothered by a condition that Orioles manager Mike Hargrove compared to 'tennis elbow," Sidney Ponson is expected to miss at least two starts after being examined yesterday by team orthopedist Dr. Michael Jacobs. Ponson has been diagnosed with extensor tendinitis, the muscle that runs from the forearm to the elbow. He met with Jacobs after batting practice. "In talking to Mike Jacobs, it's nothing serious by any stretch of the, imagination. It's just going to take awhile to calm down," Hargrove said.

When the Orioles drafted Adam Loewen with the fourth overall pick in the 2002 draft, they envisioned the left-hander being at the top of their rotation for years. Now, they are left with the fleeting hope that he will eventually contribute somewhere in their lineup. Attempting to make a comeback after elbow surgery last year, Loewen re-fractured his elbow, ending his career as a pitcher after 29 career outings. Loewen, 24, was told by doctors that if he decided on another surgery - he had a screw inserted in his elbow last June - he likely wouldn't be able to return to the mound for another year and a half.

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Little more than a month after undergoing ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow, Scott Erickson is considered ahead of schedule by the Orioles' medical staff. Erickson has shed the splint placed on the elbow after Aug. 8 "Tommy John surgery" and, after visiting Los Angeles orthopedic Dr. Lewis Yocum Friday, has been given reason to believe he may be able to toss next spring training. Noticeably lighter and encouraged by his progress, Erickson will accompany the Orioles for the balance of their schedule.

Toronto -- The Orioles knew closer Chris Ray probably would be out for the season, but they expected to have him back next year. However, that changed Thursday when what started as a procedure to remove a bone spur from Ray's right elbow revealed the need for more extensive ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery. Renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews performed the procedure, commonly known as Tommy John surgery, Thursday in Birmingham, Ala., and Ray likely will be sidelined for all of 2008.