Dodgers’ Jonathan Broxton Still Hurting, Return On Hold

That was in early May. A few days later, the prognosis became six weeks rather than two or three. And indeed, after (roughly) six weeks Broxton did pitch again. Sure, in the minors. But he was pitching, and racked up five strikeouts in two innings.

Let’s see ... that means Broxton won’t do much of anything except ride a stationary bike until late July, then there’s rehab and maybe if everything goes perfectly he’ll be pitching for the Dodgers in early August.

Broxton’s trip to the disabled list was perhaps the least surprising news of the 2011 season. If a pitcher can go from dominant to flammable that quickly without an injury, the game of baseball makes even less sense than it normally does. Broxton went down with elbow pain, but if there was a surprise in the news, it’s that Broxton wasn’t that hurt. He needed a DL stint, sure, but there wasn’t a tendon-eating badger living in his elbow like one might have expected based on his performance -- just a bone spur and a bruise.

He’s close to returning, and Don Mattingly wants to get him ready for ninth innings as soon as possible:

Now we have a bit more of a timetable for his return. Via Dylan Hernandez:

It makes sense when you think about it. When a pitcher doesn’t throw for 2-3 weeks, he needs to rebuild his arm strength before he’s ready to come back to the majors. And arm strength doesn’t build up overnight. Broxton will need some time to get his arm going, and then he’ll presumably go on a minor league rehab assignment, and when it’s all said and done he may have missed nearly two months.

Two essential updates about Major League Baseball’s bluest franchise, via (as usual) Dylan Hernandez:

I like that Dylan Hernandez punctuates and capitalizes. Weather balloon for him.

Instead of giving Broxton a few days, they’ll give him a few weeks, hoping that the time off allows his elbow to start feeling better. It isn’t guaranteed to work, but it stands a better chance than, say, just keeping him out for the weekend. The rest will be good for his elbow, and presumably good for his head.