Jenkins might start on the DL

Outfielder's left wrist still a little tender

By DREW OLSON dolson@journalsentinel.com, Journal Sentinel

Sunday, March 23, 2003

Phoenix -- Milwaukee Brewers leftfielder Geoff Jenkins, sidelined three weeks with an injured left wrist, may have to open the season on the disabled list.

Jenkins, who missed much of last season with a dislocated right ankle, has not played since March 1, when he suffered a bone bruise while diving for a line drive.

"Right now, I don't know if he'll be ready," manager Ned Yost said. "He's played -- what -- three games in about eight months?"

Brewers doctor William Raasch said Jenkins was experiencing more discomfort while catching the ball than swinging the bat. In order to help alleviate the problem, the team has asked Rawlings to install a custom-made pad into Jenkins' glove.

"Structurally, there is no damage," Raasch said of Jenkins' wrist. "It's irritated by what he does in baseball. If you imagine having a bruise to your shin and every day you tap on it and pound on it, it's going to be irritated.

"He does well batting, though the vibration can irritate it. The most discomfort he feels is when he catches the ball."

Jenkins, who is taking strong anti-inflammatory medication, will take batting practice Monday and see how the wrist responds.

"He's made progress," Raasch said. "The problem is, we're all impatient. Geoff is impatient, too. He wants to get back. Instead of us focusing on the improvement, we say, 'He's not perfect yet.' "

Even if Jenkins makes a quick recovery, the Brewers probably will hold him out of the final four exhibition games in Arizona and the two against the Twins next weekend at Miller Park so that they can back-date his stint on the 15-day disabled list to Friday (March 21). That would make him eligible to return April 5 -- the second home game at Miller Park.

"I don't know what's going to happen," Yost said. "But time is starting to run out."

Wright stuff: Right-hander Jamey Wright, traded from Milwaukee to St. Louis last year and released by Seattle on Tuesday, signed a minor-league deal with the Brewers on Saturday.

"I'm happy as hell to be back," Wright said. "I wanted to come here because I've been talking to Ben Sheets and Curtis Leskanic and Richie Sexson and they've been telling me how awesome it is here this year with Ned (Yost) and the coaches.

"Now I've got to get to work. I have to get back to where I was."

Wright is halfway there already. He has moved to the other side of the clubhouse and is wearing uniform No. 23 instead of his usual 21, which belongs to catcher Keith Osik. Other than that, the only difference from last year is that Wright probably will start the season in the minor leagues.

General manager Doug Melvin said Wright has an "out" clause in his contract that will enable him to become a free agent if he is not in the big leagues by the end of April. Wright doesn't expect that to be a problem.

"If I'm not in the big leagues by May, then I've got other problems," said Wright, who threw in the bullpen Saturday morning and could pitch an inning or two in an exhibition game Monday.

"I just want to have fun and not put too much pressure on myself. With Seattle, I was working on mechanics instead of trying to get outs."

Wright is confident that bullpen coach Billy Castro, who helped him over some rough spots last year, can do it again.

"Billy has seen me for three years and he knows a lot about me," Wright said. "Already today, he's had me raise my hands back up and I think that's going to help.

"I just want to get out there and get back to basics."

Roster roulette: Left-hander Wayne Franklin gave up six runs (five earned), six hits and five walks in 3 2/3 innings in the Brewers' 11- 8 victory Saturday, but Yost was impressed by his outing and said Franklin had "taken a step forward" in winning a spot in the rotation. Franklin is set up to be the No. 4 starter, which means he'll open the season in the bullpen and start the sixth game of the season -- April 6 against San Francisco.

The key point of Franklin's outing was a three-run homer by Chicago White Sox slugger Magglio Ordonez, which came after Jose Valentin and Frank Thomas walked on close pitches.

"I thought he had those guys struck out," Yost said of Franklin, who also gave up a homer to Joe Crede. "For me, Wayne did a good job. He may have taken a step forward today."

Notebook: All eight of the Brewers' non-pitchers played all nine innings -- a first for the spring. As a result, veterans Sexson, Eric Young, Jeffrey Hammonds and Royce Clayton will not make the trip to Tucson for the game today against the Rockies.

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