Second opinion soothes Sanchez

Original diagnosis of mild knee sprain upheld

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


BRADENTON, Fla. -- Freddy Sanchez got the answers he wanted, in more ways than one.

The Pirates' second baseman flew to Birmingham, Ala., to see Dr. James Andrews, the noted orthopedist, for a second opinion on his sprained right knee. And the MRI taken yesterday morning confirmed the team's diagnosis of a Grade 1 sprain -- the least severe -- of the medial collateral ligament.

Nothing more than a day-to-day annoyance.

It was, as manager Jim Tracy put it, "Great news for Freddy."

Sanchez was unavailable for comment, but his agent, Paul Cobbe, shared the sentiment.

"All that Freddy was looking for was to take that one extra step to be sure," Cobbe said. "That's all this was about."

It remains likely Sanchez will open the season on the 15-day disabled list, which, a team official confirmed yesterday, would mean he could rejoin the lineup for the fifth game of the season, April 7 in Cincinnati. That would be under the condition that he does not appear in any of the five remaining Grapefruit League games.

The immediate plan is to have Sanchez resume as much activity as he believes he can handle, possibly as soon as this morning at Pirate City. He will appear in minor-league games and bat to lead off each inning. He will run the bases, too, if the knee allows.

He might not field, though. Sanchez's chief complaint about the knee has been pain when he tries to move to his left from a defensive stance.

"It's a go-as-he-feels scenario," Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield said. "The better he feels, the quicker he'll be out there."

The team has discussed fitting Sanchez with a knee brace, Littlefield said, but not to the point of a firm commitment.

Sanchez had said Sunday he was becoming "frustrated" by the knee, which was injured while turning a double play March 6. Because of that, he informed the team he was exercising his right to a second opinion, as guaranteed by Major League Baseball's collective bargaining agreement.

"The player has that right, and we support it," Littlefield said. "In talking to Freddy, it's natural that he's frustrated. He's a competitive guy, and he wants to get out there."

Littlefield reiterated that the Pirates will not move Sanchez from second to third, where he spent most of last season, to lessen the risk of injury.

The news was equally bright for reliever John Grabow, who was told he will make his first bullpen session Thursday.

Grabow, out since March 11 because of what yesterday were described by one source as "chips" in his left elbow, still is likely to start the season on the disabled list. But throwing soon will heighten his chances of a quick return.