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Burton injured; Coffey steps in
Right side bothers pitcher again, leaving an opening for Coffey to be promoted.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
CINCINNATI — While warming up in the bullpen Friday, July 18, Cincinnati Reds reliever Jared Burton felt that familiar, painful tug on his right side. During the All-Star break, Burton thought the strain had healed, but the bullpen session proved otherwise.
"You can't replace that game intensity," Burton said. "I was warming up and started cranking it, and I could feel it."
The pain in Burton's right side, determined to be a strained right latissimus muscle, landed the right-hander on the 15-day disabled list Saturday (retroactive to July 11). To fill his spot, the Reds promoted Todd Coffey, who began his second stint with the team this season.
Burton missed time since July 6, when he first felt the pain pitching against Washington. During an argument about whether Paul Lo Duca should've been on first base, Burton did not continue throwing to stay warm. On his next pitch, after a several-minute delay, Burton felt the discomfort in his right side.
The Reds held out Burton, who is 4-1 with a 2.23 ERA this season (including a 0.85 ERA in his past 27 appearances), hoping rest would help him improve.
"It's nothing structural or anything like that," said Reds manager Dusty Baker.
Baker said Coffey would not fill the eighth-inning role Burton used to set up closer Francisco Cordero. Instead, David Weathers, who served as the team's closer last season, will work in the setup role.
Coffey, who had a 6.46 ERA in 14 games before his reassignment to Class AAA Louisville earlier this season, learned of his promotion as he was putting his kids to bed Friday night in his Northern Kentucky home, from which he commuted to Louisville.
"I was able to step back a little bit and be consistent with my pitches," Coffey said. "I feel like it's there."
Quick hits
• With a double in the third inning Saturday, Ken Griffey Jr. notched his 1,133rd career extra-base hit, which ties him with Tris Speaker for 11th all-time.
• Saturday's game was the Reds' fourth sellout of the season, following Opening Day, the May 17 matchup with Cleveland and the June 14 game against Boston. It was the 38th sellout since 2003 in Great American Ball Park.
• Scout Gene Bennett, clubhouse manager Bernie Stowe and late baseball executive Sheldon "Chief" Bender will be honored today as recipients of the new Powel Crosley Jr. Award, given to long-serving members of the team who "have exemplified the Crosley spirit of dedication."
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389 or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com.
