Stephania Bell

  (11:03 AM)

Happy Friday everyone. What's the word? We're almost halfway through the baseball season and, as many of you know, the fantasy football draft kit has launched! It's never too soon to start thinking about football season - and our draft projections and the injury section will be updated regularly. Check it out...

Kevin (Rochester)

What is a realistic timetable before Longoria should be back in Tampa's lineup?

Stephania Bell

  (11:08 AM)

Kevin: There is no timetable now. All bets are off since the rehab clock stopped ticking when Longoria came out of that rehab game with soreness in that hammy. In fact, Maddon said it will probably be a couple days before they know what the revised timetable for Longoria will be. And my two cents on that is that even if they issue one, they don't really know. It is simply a matter of going from one level to the next - obviously he wasn't quite ready for rehab games so you drop back to the prior level for a while, then try to test it again. It won't be the next two weeks, but whether it takes 3, 4, 6...we'll see.

MICHAEL (NYC)

What about Joe Mauer's health situation? Can Papa Grande injury linger especially since I was able to grab Benoit and already paying dividends?

Stephania Bell

  (11:09 AM)

Michael: Turns out that Mauer's quad is still sore, more than what he expected. No DL plans but it looks like he'll sit for a few more days at least.

Gene (Maryland)

Hi Stephania! Storen to start throwing live BP so if all goes well,and no setbacks from here on, when is a reasonable return date for him?

Stephania Bell

  (11:10 AM)

Gene: It seems as if they're targeting just after the A-S break for him. The question becomes how does he come back. Closer right away? Prob not. Set-up with close option? Maybe. Obviously they'll want him to get a few rehab outings before he's fully back but so far, that first week or two post break looks like the target.

Matt (Texas)

When is Utley coming back? Is it worth my leagues DL spot to hang on to him?

Stephania Bell

  (11:12 AM)

Matt: If you still have him, then absolutely! It looks like he'll be activated this week. Based on how he's done through his rehab (very linear progression, no setbacks), there is every reason to be encouraged. Granted, we have to see how he does in games, especially as that workload continues to build. But don't get rid of him now!

Gary (Omaha)

Crawford and Ellsbury. I'm sure you are getting tons of questions about these two. Any best guesses as to when we see each in Boston?

Stephania Bell

  (11:17 AM)

Gary: Always. But that's OK - it's understandable why. Crawford could DH in minor leagues this Saturday. Good step but he will need to play the field, show he can make the throws before they can talk about him returning. Not clear how long that will take. Ellsbury clearly progressing by taking live BP, doing drills, etc but no talk yet of when rehab games might come. I think one of the biggest hurdles for him is being completely unrestricted on defensive play (he'll need to dive with arm outstretched, etc without hesitation). Not clear how far away he is from being cleared to completely let it go. Until then, no formal timetable. Sounds like they hope to have him after All-Star but whether that's immediately or couple weeks later, hard to know.

Andrew (SF)

Been thinking about picking up Stephen Drew - should he be returning soon - and when could he be full time? In the end, I just want him to be 100% for the second half of the season if I pick him up

Stephania Bell

  (11:19 AM)

Andrew: Drew could be activated Weds in Atlanta according to the D-Backs GM yesterday. But they don't plan to use him every day out of the gate. He just put together 3 back to back days for the first time since the injury and they have to not overload him right away. I'm not sure his ankle gets to 100% this season. Doesn't mean he won't be a great contributor and he might be playing daily eventually. But this is still a work in progress.

Grant (In a chair rocking a sleeping baby)

Hey Stephania! Brandon Morrow, Ted Lilly, Sergio Santos: three guys who are making my daughter and I cranky. Any timetables at all?

Stephania Bell

  (11:23 AM)

Grant: Love the multitasking. Santos has no timetable after having a setback with his sore shoulder. Morrow went on the DL because of an oblique mid-June and these average about a month, give or take. Lilly we haven't had too much info on - just that he was making some progress - but apparently there's a chance he resumes throwing soon.

Steve (IL)

Ms. Bell, hearing anything about Felipe Paulino? He was a nice surprise before he went down with a groin strain. How significantly will recovering from that impact a pitcher?

Stephania Bell

  (11:26 AM)

Steve: He is expected to rejoin the rotation Monday. He had a rehab outing, wasn't stellar but he felt fine physically which was the most important test. If he's not feeling the groin at all, then we shouldn't see much effect in his delivery (other than a little rust after being out a while).

Duff (Chicago)

Is there any reason to hold on to Drabek in a Dyansty League? What is the possibility that he comes back after a second surgery?

Stephania Bell

  (11:30 AM)

Duff: If it were me, I would not. Not to say he can't or won't come back and be effective, it's just that the data pool is so small on these revision TJ surgeries and based on what DOES exist, the return rate is only about 30%. Not exactly encouraging. Taking it a step further, relievers seem to fare better...or starters who convert to relievers after the second procedure. Chris Capuano one of few starters who has come back to same level. So...while there's no reason to say Drabek can't do it, it's going to be an uphill climb.

Jay Y (East Longmeadow, MA)

Jaime Garcia, think he can be serviceable this season? Or should I stick a fork in him?

Stephania Bell

  (11:32 AM)

Jay: I'd be concerned. It's two months minimum that he's out (which gets to August)) and then who knows. I'd move on.

Jerry (Reno)

Any recent developements regarding Bonifacio?

Stephania Bell

  (11:34 AM)

Jerry: Buster Olney reported the Marlins are concerned about him. I have not heard anything specific in that department. We know he got his stitches out post-thumb surgery, the original anticipated return was just after All-Star. The team has been very quiet so right now not a lot to go on because we haven't seen him doing anything.

Ben (NH)

Dodgers reporting Kemp has been running sprints and feeling chipper! 2nd Half MVP!

Stephania Bell

  (11:39 AM)

Ben: Yes, several folks reporting in about the word "chipper." And he's running sprints, doing baseball drills, all good. But remember last time he felt "great" and had a couple rehab games and then -poof - air went out of the tire as soon as he came back. Not saying it will happen again, just saying there's been no real test yet. He wants to play in All-Star game, I think the team is a bit concerned. They do not want this to hang around all season. The soonest return is All-Star game, might not be until just afterward, but until he's gotten through a couple weeks of everyday playing without incident, you won't be able to relax.

Harry (Seattle)

Hi Stephania: Could Pedroia be hurt more than he is admitting? Can we anticipate better performance any time soon?

Stephania Bell

  (11:43 AM)

Harry: I definitely think the thumb is affecting him and the fact he felt it as much as he did the other night tells you it's still a factor. Apparently the team was satisfied later that he didn't truly aggravate it but he still had the next night off. If it hurts when he gets jammed at the plate, then there can't help but be an awareness of it when he goes to bat. Probably slows down the resolution of it somewhat each time it gets provoked.

Peter (Milwaukee, WI)

Stephania, what are your thoughts on Chris Carpenter when he comes back?

Stephania Bell

  (11:47 AM)

Peter: Still a ways away although looks like he could throw live BP this weekend after several bullpens have gone well. Even if they get him back not long after All-Star Break, there will be some concern about the problem recurring. Carpenter has had problems with a bulging disc in his neck, pinched nerve and now nerve related probs to the shoulder (all of which are interrelated I believe) and it's the kind of thing that will rear up every now and again. Whether he gets through the rest of the season without it bothering him will be an unknown...but given the fact he's come back before and been successful, I'd be cautiously optimistic.

Josh (Silver Spring)

almost there, just need an ETA on Brett Anderson!

Stephania Bell

  (11:50 AM)

Josh: First have to see if he can throw off the mound next week as he hopes to do. He had the setback recently with forearm soreness, not uncommon following TJ surgery, but the rehab only gets pushed to point of where athlete is ready to go. He says he wants to make a start this season, it remains a possibility but I don't see it happening before late August. And frankly, there's so much more he has to do before he gets back to major league game that the projection is lukewarm.

Pish (Massachusetts)

Is everyone over reacting about Roy Halladay? His injury isn't in the throwing arm and the guy is a stud who wants to get back to the mound to pitch

Stephania Bell

  (11:54 AM)

Pish: It absolutely is his throwing arm. It's a lat strain and the part that is strained is on the back side of his shoulder. He reportedly has no pain right now but is only back to throwing from flat ground. Downhill throwing could come in next couple weeks - but this is a guy who wants to get back, which is why they have to rein him in. If this thing lingers, he runs the risk of suffering another, potentailly worse injury. The original timetable of approx 8 weeks looks like it's still a good measure.

Rick (Toronto)

Nick Markakis? When does he return and how productive is he ROS?

Stephania Bell

  (11:57 AM)

Rick: Probably another couple weeks. Some guys have residual soreness where the tissue is healing after they remove the broken fragment of bone and that impacts how well they can swing the bat. Once that's gone, there really aren'y any lingering effects and they seem to get back to hitting like their former selves within the first few weeks.

Shawn (MO)

Any updates on Shaun Marcum? He's slated to start Sunday but haven't heard any progression on is injury.

Stephania Bell

  (11:59 AM)

Shawn: He was shut down from throwing until today. Not sure what they were going to put him through today but it hasn't happened yet. So until it does, we won't know. Hard to imagine he makes that start but nothing official yet.

Stephania Bell

  (12:00 PM)

OK everyone - have to run. Jumping to radio. Thanks so much for the questions. If we didn't get to it here, will try to get to it in blog or podcast next week. Have a great weekend!!