Tendinitis

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- First, the good news on Orioles pitcher Ben McDonald, examined in Baltimore yesterday because of shoulder soreness: He has no major damage, no tears.But there's bad news, as well. McDonald continues to suffer mild tendinitis, which is causing stiffness in his shoulder, and the Orioles really have no idea when he'll be able to pitch or how effective he'll be or if the tendinitis will go away this season."It's just a continuation of what he had," said Orioles manager Phil Regan.

The Orioles sent Derrek Lee to a hand specialist in Sarasota on Tuesday and he'll have an MRI on his right wrist there Wednesday, raising further doubt about whether the veteran first baseman will be ready for Opening Day. Lee, who hasn't played in a Grapefruit League game after having surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb in November, started experiencing right wrist soreness within the past week. He attributes the soreness to atrophy in his wrist after having his thumb in a cast for an extended period.

Antoine Brockington can still go out every night for Coppin State and average close to 20 points a game and put on a good show with the basketball in his hands.But this is not the same Brockington high-wire act that played in Columbia, Mo., Ames, Iowa, Tucson, Ariz., Madison, Wis., and Oklahoma City in December.The 6-foot-2 senior guard just hasn't been exploding to the basket or soaring as high on his dunks against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foes as he did against schools such as defending national champion Arizona and Missouri.

At times last season, Matt Katula was surrounded by news cameras, took up sizable amounts of newsprint and was the subject of Internet message boards. And he hated every moment of it. Katula is a long snapper, and his job is to snap the football during punting and kicking situations, impede a wall of rushers intent on blocking the ball, and get off the field. Last year, those tasks sometimes included dealing with the media after Katula was responsible for off-target snaps that contributed to a few missed field-goal attempts by Billy Cundiff.

I'm a tennis player with tendinitis of the foot. I've been taking Celebrex but it's hard on my stomach and I'm worried about long-term effects. What other ways can I treat it? My brother has the same problem. Can it be genetic? We posed your question to Michael Mont, director of the Center for Joint Preservation and Reconstruction at Sinai Hospital. While about 90 percent to 95 percent of the population can stomach anti-inflammatory drugs such as Celebrex without problems, says Mont, more than 15,000 Americans die each year from gastrointestinal problems related to such medicine.

There is a strong chance that Rochester Red Wings outfielder Tony Tarasco will miss the rest of the year because of tendinitis in his right shoulder, Orioles officials said yesterday.Tarasco, who was acquired from the Montreal Expos in spring training, was examined earlier this week and will be in Los Angeles on Friday to get a second opinion by Dr. Frank Jobe."It's serious," assistant general manager Kevin Malone said. "We're hoping it's not season-ending, but that is a possibility. At this point we don't know the extent of it. We'll have to wait and see until after the second examination."

The Orioles barely had time to savor Tuesday night's electrifying comeback victory before the bad news started rolling in. The club announced yesterday that outfielder Brady Anderson had contracted the chickenpox and right-hander Mike Mussina is suffering from biceps tendinitis in his pitching arm.Anderson was sent home Tuesday night and told not to return to the ballpark for at least three days. He will be re-evaluated tomorrow, but could be lost for as much as a week.Mussina, whose physical condition came into question after he lasted just 1 2/3 innings in the series opener against the Detroit Tigers, told club officials he has experienced increasing shoulder stiffness since his 14-strikeout performance against the Tigers May 16. He still is scheduled to start Sunday against the New York Yankees, but that is subject to change.

The Orioles confirmed that Sidney Ponson's problems extend beyond erratic control and diminished velocity by placing the pitcher on the 15-day disabled list with elbow tendinitis yesterday. Chad Paronto, the last right-handed pitcher cut by the Orioles in spring training, will be promoted from Triple-A Rochester to fill Ponson's roster spot. Manager Mike Hargrove said Willis Roberts will make Ponson's next start Friday against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, with Paronto taking Roberts' place in the bullpen as a long reliever.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A magnetic resonance imaging test yesterday on Kris Benson's right elbow revealed that the soreness the Orioles pitcher is experiencing is because of tendinitis, and Benson will miss at least his next start Sunday against the Chicago White Sox. The Orioles will evaluate Benson, who left the team after his start here Tuesday to be examined by team doctor Andy Cosgarea, this weekend to decide if a trip to the disabled list is necessary....

Jason Johnson's availability for his next start is in jeopardy after a magnetic resonance imaging test revealed tendinitis in the Orioles pitcher's right shoulder. Johnson was examined Tuesday, one day after allowing four home runs and losing velocity on his fastball in a 6-3 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. He also couldn't locate his breaking ball and changeup while suffering his eighth loss in 11 decisions. Manager Mike Hargrove wasn't certain whether Johnson would take his turn Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, though this week's rainout and today's open date give him more time between starts.

SEATTLE - -The Orioles got relatively good news Monday on the status of reliever Chris Ray, who was diagnosed with right biceps tendinitis and isn't expected to be on the disabled list for much more than 15 days. "The prognosis was good news in terms of just being tendinitis," said Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, who recalled Triple-A Norfolk reliever Kam Mickolio to fill Ray's spot on the roster. "It's very encouraging that it doesn't appear to be anything serious."

Texas makes its first of two trips to Camden Yards this season, and the Rangers will be looking for a little revenge. The Orioles took two of three in Arlington, Texas, last week. As usual, the Rangers are crushing the ball. The team leads the majors in home runs, hitting 27 in its first 14 games. And the Rangers' batting average is toward the top of the American League as well, thanks in part to second baseman Ian Kinsler, who is in the top 10 in hits, total bases, doubles, RBIs and stolen bases.

It is Friday afternoon, two days before the 12th-ranked Maryland women's basketball team hosts second-ranked North Carolina, and Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood is on the sideline as the rest of her teammates run through practice. As the Maryland starters play defense against the scout-team offense, the redshirt senior rides a stationary bike. As the Terrapins sprint and sweat through a full-court, five-on-five drill, Wiley-Gatewood sits off to the side and does sit-ups and stretches her legs. Wiley-Gatewood is not injured, per se. She will play tonight against the preseason Atlantic Coast Conference favorites, either as a starter for the ninth time this season or as one of the first substitutes off the bench.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The St. Louis Cardinals had scored three runs and Adam Loewen's pitch count had swelled past 30 when Jim Johnson started to get loose in the Orioles' bullpen. It was a sight nobody associated with the Orioles wanted to see yesterday, particularly not in the first inning. Loewen got out of the inning but couldn't remain in the game much longer, done in not by elbow and shoulder pain but by an inability to throw strikes. In his first start since his turn was skipped in the rotation because of shoulder tendinitis, Loewen allowed four runs on four hits -- including a long, two-run homer by Albert Pujols -- four walks and two hit batters in just 1 2/3 innings of the Orioles' 12-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals at Fort Lauderdale Stadium.

"I blew out my flip-flop, stepped on a pop top, cut my heel, had to cruise on back home ..." -- Jimmy Buffett, "Margaritaville" When Buffett wrote those lyrics in 1977, the flip-flop was still beach attire, engineered to do no more than shield your feet from a hot boardwalk or a sharp shell. But somewhere along the line, between the advent of casual Friday and the Northwestern University lacrosse team's White House visit, the flip-flop became foot fashion de rigueur. And "flip-flop foot" became a familiar term in medical circles.

Coppin State (2-11, 0-1) Coming up -- Bethune-Cookman at Coppin Center on Wednesday (7:30 p.m.); Delaware State at Coppin Center on Saturday (4 p.m.). Comment -- The Eagles finished second in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference last season to Delaware State, the favorite again in 2006-07. Loyola (5-6, 1-1) Coming up -- Marist at Reitz Arena tomorrow (7 p.m.); Iona at Reitz Arena on Saturday (noon). Comment -- Center Hassan Fofana underwent foot surgery last week and is out indefinitely.

Ravens quarterback Jim Harbaugh, already hampered by a hyperextended ring finger on his throwing hand, pulled out of practice early in yesterday's workout, then revealed he also is suffering from tendinitis in his right elbow.Harbaugh, listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the New York Jets, said he should know by today if he is capable of playing this week. The Ravens could decide as early as today to replace him with backup Eric Zeier."You've got to be able to make the throws.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A magnetic resonance imaging test yesterday on Kris Benson's right elbow revealed that the soreness the Orioles pitcher is experiencing is because of tendinitis, and Benson will miss at least his next start Sunday against the Chicago White Sox. The Orioles will evaluate Benson, who left the team after his start here Tuesday to be examined by team doctor Andy Cosgarea, this weekend to decide if a trip to the disabled list is necessary....

Late Orioles game: Last night's game between the Orioles and Royals in Kansas City ended too late to be included in this edition. A complete report can be found in later editions or on the Internet at www.baltimoresun.com. KANSAS CITY, Mo. A magnetic resonance imaging test yesterday on Kris Benson's right elbow revealed that the soreness the Orioles pitcher is experiencing is because of tendinitis, and Benson will miss at least his next start Sunday against the Chicago White Sox. The Orioles will evaluate Benson, who left the team after his start here Tuesday to be examined by team doctor Andy Cosgarea, this weekend to decide if a trip to the disabled list is necessary.