April 25, 2008 2:02 PM

Strop goes down

Double-A Tulsa reliever Pedro Strop is out indefinitely with a stress fracture in his right elbow.

An MRI revealed no ligament damage but unlike something more typical such as inflammation or a strain, this is an unusual injury, making it pointless to speculate on a timetable for Strop's return. He last pitched a week ago and is 0-0 with a 2.57 ERA in seven games with three saves.

Strop, who is in his third year of pitching after beginning his career in 2002 as a shortstop and was in major league camp this spring, has made six straight scoreless appearances after giving up two runs in his first outing. Ryan Mattheus has taken over the Drillers' closer duties with Casey Weathers remaining in a set-up role as the Rockies don't want to pile too much responsibility on him too soon.

High Class-A Modesto pitcher Shane Lindsay touched 97 mph and pitched at 95 mph Wednesday while giving up one hit and three walks while striking out nine in six scoreless innings.

Lindsay is 1-0 with a 3.50 ERA in four starts for the Nuts. He has allowed a mere five hits in 18 innings and has 23 strikeouts but has walked 15. Lindsay' throws a lot of pitcher and his future could be in the bullpen, but after missing the entire 2007 season following shoulder surgery, the good news is Lindsay's arm is again sound.

Chaz Roe, recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery at the outset of spring training, was 88-91 mph while throwing two innings Wednesday in extended spring training. His curveball needs work, which is to be expected since it's a feel pitch. Roe will stay in extended at least three weeks as he builds up his pitch count and then go to Tulsa.

Modesto shortstop Hector Gomez, sidelined with a stress fracture in his left shin, sustained when he fouled a ball off his leg April 3, is feeling better but could be out another six-eight weeks. He's rehabbing in Tucson, which at this point consists mainly of walking around with a bone stimulator attached to his leg.

Sean Smith is scheduled to throw a couple innings out of the bullpen Saturday for Triple-A Colorado Springs and then move into the rotation. The Rockies acquired Smith on Thursday from Cleveland to complete the Dec. 8 trade of infielder Jamey Carroll to the Indians.
Greg Reynolds and Josh Towers are locks in the Sky Sox's rotation, which means Smith could replace Jose Capellan, Victor Zambrano or left-hander Jon Koronka.

Tony Blanco, 26, a journeyman third baseman-DH signed in January, joined Modesto. He had been rehabbing his right shoulder in extended spring. The Nuts were down an infielder when Nick Haley went on the disabled list with patellar tendinitis in his left knee.

--Jack Etkin

Posted by Jack Etkin at 2:02 PM | Comments (0)