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Vero Beach lost another game and another important member of its team in today's game against Spokane.Ê In today's 6-3 loss, Vero Beach slipped to one game behind Binghamton, who beat Washington 4-0.
Also, middle reliever Dave Weathers, who has pitched solidly since being brought up from AAA, suffered an inflamed tricep tendon.Ê This may not sound like a serious injury, but he is expected to be out for 3-4 months, effectively missing the rest of the season.
Weathers was one of the important members of Vero Beach's generally effective bullpen, with a 3.29 ERA in 16 appearances.Ê In 27 1/3 innings, he had allowed only 28 hits, including 2 home runs, and walked only 6 batters while striking out 19.Ê Opponents were batting .264 against him.
This injury comes just in time to give Barney Berres, who just came off the DL, a spot to pitch in.
"I'm flabbergasted," exclaimed J. Lee Gohlke, Vero Beach CEO. "There's no other word for it.Ê I don't know if it was a mechanics problem, or what. Apparently the shoe thing didn't work.Ê Again, we're going to have to fill in for a regular player... this hurts our playoff chances yet again.Ê If we make it to the post-season with this rate of injury, it'll be a miracle.Ê If our team was healthy, we'd be running away with this division."
Weathers' injury is similar to the one that Dennis Springer, a long reliever for the Bums, suffered last week.Ê However, Springer is expected back within a week.
Gohlke announced that the Bums will now refuse to use the league baseballs and will buy their own from another supplier.Ê "Heck, we've tried everything else," he pointed out.
News and Notes:
SS Tony Fernandez has raised his average to .300, capably filling in for the injured Omar Vizquel, and will play every day in the leadoff spot....Ê Utility shortstop Joseph Idstein will continue to play at first base while Gregg Jefferies plays in left field.... Jefferies is filling in for Ron Gant, who continues to recover from a fractured jaw.... I should be doing homework right now....
Written by Jason Gohlke