http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070329/SPORTS02/70329013

This isn't the way to start the season. How is Rogers' arm already fatigued before the season hasn't started. Without Kenny, we could be in for a long season.

Apparently, it could have something to do with a blood clot?

We obviously need him but our staff is so deep, we can manage without him for a little while...

I'm interested to see how Verlander does as well...

Tigers' Rogers might have blood clot
March 29, 2007
By JOHN LOWE
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

LAKELAND, Fla. — Tigers left-hander Kenny Rogers will miss at least one start in the regular season because of “a fatigued arm,” club president and general manager Dave Dombrowski said today.

Dombrowski didn’t provide any other details on Rogers’ ailment. However, a person familiar with the situation said that a club official informed him that Rogers has a blood clot.

It is not known if the blood clot is in Rogers’ arm or how serious it might be.

Rogers left the team today to undergo tests by a specialist at an undisclosed location.

He had been scheduled to start the second game of the regular season Wednesday against Toronto. Nate Robertson will now start that game.

Right-hander Chad Durbin will come out of the bullpen to take Rogers’ place in the five-man rotation. Durbin will start the fifth game of the season April.7 in Kansas City. Left-hander Bobby Seay was recalled from the minors to take Durbin’s bullpen spot.

Rogers was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Sunday, the day after his most recent appearance. He’s eligible to come off the disabled list in time for his second scheduled start, but there’s no indication if he’ll be able to.

As the club awaited word on the tests, Dombrowski said he didn’t know how long Rogers might be out. “I don’t think it is a long-term thing,” he added.

Manager Jim Leyland, who knows injuries and ailments are inevitable, said, “You’ve got to move on. I’m more concerned that Kenny Rogers is OK. I’m not concerned about Kenny Rogers not being able to pitch the second game of the season.”

With Roger's age, I don't mind this a bit. We are so deep with our starting pitching that Zach Miner didn't even make the team after looking solid as a starter last year. We are easily 7 or 8 deep as far as starters (Ledzema, Robertson, Bondo, Verlander, Rogers, Maroth, Durbin, and Miner) so let Kenny take his time.

Didn't David Cone have a similar problem with his pitching arm?

Anybody remember how long he was out?

I think Glavine might have even had this same problem last year.

ESPN just said 3 months? Ouch.

Rogers has blood clot removed; likely out until July

Associated Press

LAKELAND, Fla. --Kenny Rogers had surgery Friday to remove a blood clot from his left shoulder and repair arteries, and the Detroit Tigers pitcher likely will be sidelined for the first half of the season.

The 42-year-old left-hander had the operation in Dallas. He is expected to start throwing in six-to-eight weeks, and Tigers president Dave Dombrowski said the earliest Rogers would return to the rotation is July.

Detroit placed Rogers on the 15-day disabled list on Thursday. Chad Durbin, who made the team as a reliever, will move into the Tigers' rotation.

Rogers is on the DL for the first time since 2001.

Rogers has gone from a hard-throwing pitcher to a crafty one during a career that began in 1989 with the Texas Rangers and included stops with Oakland, Minnesota and both teams in New York.

He went 17-8 with a 3.84 ERA last year during his first season with the Tigers, then gained notoriety during the postseason when he had a patch of dirt on his pitching hand. He won all three of his postseason starts and didn't allow a run in 23 innings.

Rogers was 2-0 with a 2.05 ERA in five exhibition starts. With Rogers out of the rotation, Nate Robertson will pitch in place of Rogers on Wednesday in Detroit's second game. Jeremy Bonderman starts Monday's opener against Toronto. Justin Verlander goes to third in the rotation, followed by Mike Maroth and Durbin.

I think if we had another capable lefty in the bullpen that Ledezma probably would have gotten the rotation spot, and if Durbin sucks, he still might.

I wonder if this would have accellerated Humberto Sanchez to the majors had he not been traded to the Yankees?

In fact, I was hearing Sanchez' name as the Yankees possible opening day starter just a few days ago until they decided on Pavano. Although I have no idea how that would even be possible with Mussina, Pettitte and a few other vets still there. I know Pettitte has been injured a bit too.

Yeah, Durbin's never been anything special, but I guess I'll have to take the wait-and-see on him. And yes, I think we would have seen Sanchez had we not traded him. But too late for that. Hopefully the fifth spot in the rotation won't kill us.

I

In fact, I was hearing Sanchez' name as the Yankees possible opening day starter just a few days ago until they decided on Pavano. .


Sanchez has arm problems and had been shut down last I heard.

Edit-He's on the extended spring team and will not join the team for a while....same elbow as he's had trouble with a couple times.

Once again, Humberto Sanchez -- the closest big-league ready prospect -- was delayed by soreness near his elbow and the club has proceeded with extreme caution.

I must have received bad information, most likely from an ill-informed talk radio host.

We will blame Huge.

We will blame Huge.

lol, before I got XM that would have been the most likely culprit for sure.

Thankfully, I'm no longer a reluctant member of the Huge Army.