Saturday, August 12, 2006

Francisco Lirano Tries Ultrasound; Races with Clock

Doctors are bombarding Twins lefty Francisco Liriano with state-of-the-art ultrasound to raise the temperature of the tissue surrounding his strained "Tommy John tendon" and injured shoulder, thus increasing circulation and promoting healing. What remains to be seen is not so much whether the treatments will be effective, but whether they will be effective soon enough that Liriano might return before the end of the season. Liriano is also undergoing mild, "range-of-motion" excercises and other heat applications, but the primary treatment for the time being is rest, rest and more rest. In rudimentary terms, Liriano has thrown out his arm, plain and simple, and the outlook for him to return before October is dubious at best. Like the California vintner who will "make no wine before it's time," Lirano's arm will be ready when it's ready, and not a moment sooner.