Rivera injured.

[Nottso]

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/40799297.html

 

Rivera out with hamstring strain

By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel

Mar. 5, 2009 3:12 p.m.

Phoenix - When it rains, it pours.

We were just told that backup catcher Mike Rivera strained his right hamstring in the Brewers' workout this morning and received a cortisone injection from team physician William Raasch. He is expected to be sidelined for five to seven days.

Suddenly, the Brewers have a catching crisis in camp. We already had been told that catching prospect Angel Salome was "day to day" with a back strain. Salome left camp earlier today for an X-ray.

Another catcher, Vinny Rottino, is away to play for Italy in the WBC. So, the Brewers now have three healthy catchers in camp -- Jason Kendall, Jonathan Lucroy and Carlos Corporan. The Brewers may have to summon catcher Martin Maldonado, who had been reassigned to the minor league camp.

[RobertR]

The Brewers may have to summon catcher Martin Maldonado, who had been reassigned to the minor league camp.

 

And this is a problem because....?

 

It's backup catcher, a none too serious injury, and Spring Training.

 

Robert

[Invader3K]

I was getting worried until I read that there are two more pitchers besides Kendall in camp. Is three really not enough at the moment?

[joepepsi]

But as Ned showed us last year, the Brewers only need ONE catcher!

[JoeHova]

I assume Hanel and some other BP catchers are also hanging around if needed. I hope Mike recovers quickly.

[SeriesFinale]

I'll believe 5 to 7 days when I see it, of course, but I'm not as concerned as I was when I first saw the thread title. For a second there I was missing Vinny Rottino!

[Dmiles23]

This is kind of off topic from this, but who is the #3 catcher if Rivera or Kendall go down during the season? Salome is on the 40-man roster, but is he ready to catch in the majors? Is Rottino ready to catch in the majors?

[joepepsi]

I'm going to guess if Kendall goes down Rivera takes over and Vinny comes up. Vinny comes up if Rivera goes down too. This seems most logical, although he would have to be added to the 40 man roster which could be problematic.

[BrewCrewForever]

Does not seem major at all. I doubt Rivera will miss much time. And I would be shocked if he had to start the season on DL. If so Rottino can fill in for a few weeks I suppose.

[BrewCrewForever]

Rottino's gone, right? He's a Mariner I thought.

Nope, he is still a Brewer. He is playing for Italy in the WBC though. Luis Pena was a Brewer who the Mariners snagged.

[SeriesFinale]

Haha, you got it before I deleted it

 

I knew Pena was gone, but for some reason I'd thought he'd been DFA'd to make room for someone

[TheCrew07]

I'm going to guess if Kendall goes down Rivera takes over and Vinny comes up. Vinny comes up if Rivera goes down too. This seems most logical, although he would have to be added to the 40 man roster which could be problematic.

It's not the most logical because it has roster implications. The length and severity of the injury would be the primary issue. If it's a week or two, Salome would get the call, if it's longer I'm not sure what the team would do. It wouldn't hurt Salome's development to ride the pine for a week or two and pinch hit/catch a game or two. If it's longterm and the team doesn't think Salome is ready, then some rosters decisions are going to have to be made, Rottino is not an automatic solution.

[BrewCrewForever]

Haha, you got it before I deleted it

 

I knew Pena was gone, but for some reason I'd thought he'd been DFA'd to make room for someone

After it showed my post it was already gone. That was weird.