Bear-Arms
Mentor
Groin giving Podsednik trouble again</font>
BY MARK GONZALES
Published March 28, 2006
MESA, Ariz. -- Leadoff batter Scott Podsednik came out of Monday's game in the third inning as a precautionary measure after sliding into Cubs catcher Henry Blanco.
Podsednik, playing in only his seventh Cactus League game because of left-shoulder tendinitis, felt a twinge in his left groin while running to first base on a double, trainer Herm Schneider said.
Podsednik is expected to return to the lineup Tuesday, but he walked away gingerly after scoring the tying run on Jim Thome's two-out single.
Podsednik was bothered by a strained groin most of the second half of last season."Pods is like a Porsche," Schneider said. "Everything has to be running smooth, like a high-performance vehicle. When everything isn't running well, he gets a little concerned."
Podsednik was treated with ice and stretched, Schneider said. Manager Ozzie Guillen said if Podsednik is sidelined by the injury for an extended period, Pablo Ozuna and Rob Mackowiak could share the leadoff and left-field duties.
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Play opener? It's a stretch
Podsednik not sure strained groin will be OK by Sunday</font>
By Mark Gonzales
Tribune staff reporter
Published March 29, 2006
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Scott Podsednik's left groin strain is enough of a concern that he isn't sure he will be healthy enough to play in the season opener Sunday night.
"We have about six days," the White Sox's speedy leadoff hitter said Tuesday. "What's going to be important is mentally trying to visualize where I've been the last few days and try to stay as sharp as I can mentally.
"I can't get out there and perform physically, but I can go over at-bats and pitches in my mind. It's better than nothing."
Manager Ozzie Guillen isn't fretting over the possible loss of Podsednik, who had 52 stolen bases in the first four months last season before the groin injury severely limited his effectiveness.
Infielder Pablo Ozuna, who played some left field during Podsednik's absence this month, would start against Cleveland left-hander C.C. Sabathia if Podsednik can't go.
Rob Mackowiak, a left-handed hitter, is another option.
"I think we have that covered," Guillen said of Podsednik missing time. "Obviously, we want [Podsednik] in the lineup. But if there's a reason he's not 100 percent ready and we put him into play, all of a sudden it gets worse. I'd rather lose him for a couple of days, not 15 to 20 days.
"We're prepared for that. We have to go for Plan B, and hopefully Plan B works."
Podsednik hopes to return to the Sox's lineup Friday when they travel to Atlanta for a two-game exhibition series, but he admitted he might not know whether he will be ready until after the Braves' series.
"If I can get out there and if I'm anywhere close to 90, 95, 85 percent, I'm going to try to get out there," Podsednik said.
The Sox were 81-43 with Podsednik in the lineup last season and 18-20 without him. They were 28-11 when he stole a base and 42-16 when he scored a run.
"I believe in pitching," Guillen said. "We played a lot of games without him. Pods is a big part of the club. If he's not there, somebody will play there, and we'll hope for the best."
The injury is slightly below the area that nagged Podsednik for the second half of 2005.
An MRI taken after Monday's game confirmed the strain, which occurred when Podsednik was running to first on a double in the third inning.The injury is the latest setback for a frustrated Podsednik, who underwent two hernia surgeries last November and then missed 2 1/2 weeks this spring because of tendinitis in his left throwing shoulder.
Podsednik hopes this injury is merely scar tissue from his hernia operation that broke.
"As a player you put yourself through all the workouts and stretching to try to prevent this stuff," said Podsednik, who stayed in the game until he slid into Cubs catcher Henry Blanco.
"And then when it happens you're like, `What else can I do?' But like [trainer] Herm Schneider said, you can't get into game-speed action during practice. It's tough to emulate."
BY MARK GONZALES
Published March 28, 2006
MESA, Ariz. -- Leadoff batter Scott Podsednik came out of Monday's game in the third inning as a precautionary measure after sliding into Cubs catcher Henry Blanco.
Podsednik, playing in only his seventh Cactus League game because of left-shoulder tendinitis, felt a twinge in his left groin while running to first base on a double, trainer Herm Schneider said.
Podsednik is expected to return to the lineup Tuesday, but he walked away gingerly after scoring the tying run on Jim Thome's two-out single.
Podsednik was bothered by a strained groin most of the second half of last season."Pods is like a Porsche," Schneider said. "Everything has to be running smooth, like a high-performance vehicle. When everything isn't running well, he gets a little concerned."
Podsednik was treated with ice and stretched, Schneider said. Manager Ozzie Guillen said if Podsednik is sidelined by the injury for an extended period, Pablo Ozuna and Rob Mackowiak could share the leadoff and left-field duties.
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Play opener? It's a stretch
Podsednik not sure strained groin will be OK by Sunday</font>
By Mark Gonzales
Tribune staff reporter
Published March 29, 2006
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Scott Podsednik's left groin strain is enough of a concern that he isn't sure he will be healthy enough to play in the season opener Sunday night.
"We have about six days," the White Sox's speedy leadoff hitter said Tuesday. "What's going to be important is mentally trying to visualize where I've been the last few days and try to stay as sharp as I can mentally.
"I can't get out there and perform physically, but I can go over at-bats and pitches in my mind. It's better than nothing."
Manager Ozzie Guillen isn't fretting over the possible loss of Podsednik, who had 52 stolen bases in the first four months last season before the groin injury severely limited his effectiveness.
Infielder Pablo Ozuna, who played some left field during Podsednik's absence this month, would start against Cleveland left-hander C.C. Sabathia if Podsednik can't go.
Rob Mackowiak, a left-handed hitter, is another option.
"I think we have that covered," Guillen said of Podsednik missing time. "Obviously, we want [Podsednik] in the lineup. But if there's a reason he's not 100 percent ready and we put him into play, all of a sudden it gets worse. I'd rather lose him for a couple of days, not 15 to 20 days.
"We're prepared for that. We have to go for Plan B, and hopefully Plan B works."
Podsednik hopes to return to the Sox's lineup Friday when they travel to Atlanta for a two-game exhibition series, but he admitted he might not know whether he will be ready until after the Braves' series.
"If I can get out there and if I'm anywhere close to 90, 95, 85 percent, I'm going to try to get out there," Podsednik said.
The Sox were 81-43 with Podsednik in the lineup last season and 18-20 without him. They were 28-11 when he stole a base and 42-16 when he scored a run.
"I believe in pitching," Guillen said. "We played a lot of games without him. Pods is a big part of the club. If he's not there, somebody will play there, and we'll hope for the best."
The injury is slightly below the area that nagged Podsednik for the second half of 2005.
An MRI taken after Monday's game confirmed the strain, which occurred when Podsednik was running to first on a double in the third inning.The injury is the latest setback for a frustrated Podsednik, who underwent two hernia surgeries last November and then missed 2 1/2 weeks this spring because of tendinitis in his left throwing shoulder.
Podsednik hopes this injury is merely scar tissue from his hernia operation that broke.
"As a player you put yourself through all the workouts and stretching to try to prevent this stuff," said Podsednik, who stayed in the game until he slid into Cubs catcher Henry Blanco.
"And then when it happens you're like, `What else can I do?' But like [trainer] Herm Schneider said, you can't get into game-speed action during practice. It's tough to emulate."
