Brian34Cook

01/20/2008 7:07 PM ET
Notes: Kinney begins throwing program
Elbow injuries sidelined right-handed reliever for 2007 season
By Matthew Leach / MLB.com



ST. LOUIS -- Reliever Josh Kinney, who sustained a broken bone in his elbow while rehabilitating from Tommy John surgery, has begun a throwing program again. Kinney hopes to be able to pitch in Spring Training games by mid-March, he said on Sunday.

"It's 100 percent healed up," Kinney told reporters at the Cardinals' annual Winter Warm-Up. "It was a broken bone. It feels great. Right now I'm in the middle of a throwing program. I'm long-tossing 150 feet every other day. Next week I'll bump it up to 180 feet. I'm scheduled to get off a mound come February."

Kinney emerged as a vital setup man for the Cardinals late in 2006, but missed the entire '07 season. It's unclear when he might be ready to pitch in Major League regular season games, but if he is available to work Grapefruit League contests, it would be encouraging.

"We'll see how it goes," he said. "I said earlier, I'm not going to push it. My goal is just to be 100 percent healthy. I haven't set a date, whether it's Opening Day or not, that I'm ready. It's important for me, if I'm going to help the club out, I know I need to be 100 percent."

The Official Site of Major League Baseball: News: Major League Baseball News

He was a big loss.. cant wait to get him back sometime whenever that will be!

Brian34Cook

A new season hopefully means a new outlook to Josh Kinney's career.

Recovering from both Tommy John surgery and a broken bone in his right elbow, the St. Louis Cardinals reliever and former QU standout could be back on the mound by mid-March.

Kinney was one of several current and former Cardinals in Hannibal on Saturday for the annual Cards Caravan. He missed all of last season but plans on returning to the bullpen this season. Kinney hopes to throw off a mound in a few weeks in preparations of being ready for opening day.

Sports::Kinney Optimistic About Future

Pujolsfan91

He would boost our bullpen some more which i believe is the strong point of the team. Be good to have him back by the season starts.

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Sig from a diff site.

Rasmus future CF of the Cards!!

Kyle

I'm suprised his arm hasn't fallen off lol

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Brian34Cook

Reliever Josh Kinney also took to the mound, though Duncan acknowledged he doesn't expect the righthander to be ready and with the big-league club out of spring as he recovers from elbow surgery.

STLtoday - Sports - Cardinals

JohnDoolittle

Kinney has shown a lot of guts, hope his surgery fixed his problems. He could be needed big time.

Brian34Cook

Josh Kinney, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery and an elbow fracture that set him back several weeks, is considered a week behind Mark Mulder in his throwing program. Kinney would be treated to the same evaluation about a week later.

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JohnDoolittle

That should make him ready about July if past overly optimistic predictions by the Cards are any indication of where Josh stands. His arm will tell him when he is ready to cut loose, if he ever can again.

Brian34Cook

Kinney not Springfield-bound
By Kary Booher
kbooher@news-leader.com

He underwent “Tommy John” elbow ligament replacement surgery on March 13, 2007, and then suffered a fracture of the elbow during rehabilitation, leading to an Aug. 17 surgery.

But Kinney is close to returning to the mound. He said he will face hitters on April 2, and that will come after throwing every other day. He threw about 50 pitches on Friday and expects to be allotted 50 pitches today.

Asked if he will politic to join the Springfield club on an injury rehab assignment at some point in April, Kinney said, “You better believe it. I know I’ll be down here for a little while and a stop back home would be real nice.”

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JohnDoolittle

They will need him sound before the end of this season. I just don't believe Franklin will be as good as last season. He could be an Achilles heel for the Cardinals this season.