Tommy John Surgery

A visit to orthopedic surgeon James Andrews confirmed the Phillies' diagnosis of a bone chip and inflammation in Vance Worley's right elbow. Andrews immediately ruled out any serious problem with Worley's ulnar collateral ligament - which means no Tommy John surgery is needed. "Immediately after he grabbed my arm, he knew it wasn't Tommy John," said Worley, who visited the specialist in Pensacola, Fla. "Now I just have to go out and get it going. " Worley was not immediately sure of the plan for his return to the field.

Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain has a torn ligament in his right elbow, a startling injury that's likely to require Tommy John surgery and end his season. A test yesterday morning revealed the tear. It came a day after New York put Chamberlain on the 15-day disabled list with a stiff elbow, the latest setback for the back of the Yankees' bullpen. But Chamberlain and the Yankees said they had no idea the injury was so severe when he went for the additional checkup. Chamberlain said he was "kind of in shock" and shed a few tears at the diagnosis, and said he didn't know how or when he hurt himself.

Tests on Minnesota closer Joe Nathan's right throwing elbow revealed a significant tear in the ulnar collateral ligament, an injury that could require season-ending Tommy John surgery. General manager Bill Smith said the plan is to give Nathan time to let soreness and swelling subside before a final decision about surgery. In the meantime, a second opinion will be sought. The team said Nathan will try to pitch again in 2 weeks. If he can't, the four-time All-Star will have surgery.

Suddenly, everything seems out of whack. Phillies lefthander Randy Wolf could be lost for the year, which would be a blow to a team that has resurrected its season and returned to contention in the National League East. Phillies physician Michael Ciccotti has recommended that Wolf have season-ending Tommy John surgery because of a recurrent injury to the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow. That injury put the veteran lefthander on the disabled list twice last season.

DENVER - Jamie Moyer has agreed to terms on a minor league contract with an invite to the Colorado Rockies' spring training, pending a physical. The 49-year-old lefty didn't play last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow. Moyer has played 24 major league seasons, starting with the Chicago Cubs in 1986. He went 9-9 with a 4.84 ERA for the Phillies in 2010. Moyer, who was 56-40 in 4 1/2 seasons with the Phillies, is 267-204 in his career with a 4.24 career ERA.

The twice-a-year interleague matchups like Mets-Yankees and Cubs-White Sox could become one series a year in 2013, Adam Rubin of ESPN New York reported on Monday. That's a shame, because those are practically the only interleague series that make sense anymore. But the Houston Astros' move to the AL in 2013 will give each league 15 teams and make season-long interleague play necessary. And that has created a scheduling nightmare. Rubin cautioned that the schedule is still in the "discussion" stage.

The Phillies have signed veteran righthander Oscar Villarreal and catcher John Purdom to minor league contracts. Villarreal, 28, missed the 2009 season after having Tommy John surgery on his elbow. He isn't expected to report to spring training until the end of Feburary, his agent told MLB.com. Villarreal pitched six seasons in the big leagues, with the Diamondbacks, Braves and Astros. He is 24-15 with a 3.86 earned run average. In 2008 with the Astros, he was 1-3 with a 5.02 ERA in 35 relief appearances.

Jamie Moyer's hopes of pitching a 25th season in the major leagues have been dealt a considerable blow. The 48-year-old free agent, who has been a Phillie since 2006, tomorrow will undergo elbow surgery that is expected to sideline him at least a year. Moyer will undergo ulnar collateral reconstruction, commonly known as Tommy John surgery, a spokesman for the pitcher said yesterday. A typical recovery from the procedure lasts from 12 to 18 months, meaning Moyer appears to have little shot at pitching next season.

THESE DAYS, you would never know that just a few years ago Jordan Ellis was a scared, hurt kid. And you can't tell that, as recently as three seasons before, he was an overthinking, frustrated reliever at the bottom of the Phillies' system. These days, Ellis is a composed, 25-year-old righthander at Double A Reading, living at home with his parents in Bryn Mawr, pitching in front of a handful of friendly faces whenever the R-Phils are at home. He has a live fastball, a slider that bites, and a cut fastball that, a year into its development, is coming along nicely as a weapon against lefthanders.

Stephen, we hardly knew ye The Daily Strasburg Report is about to go on hiatus. We're going to miss sharing our all-too-regular updates on Washington's Stephen Strasburg, our favorite Rookie Phenom, now that he has a torn elbow ligament and appears headed for Tommy John surgery and could be out of action for the next 12 to 18 months. At least Phils fans got a glimpse of him in his abbreviated final start for the Nationals last Saturday at Citizens Bank Park. Well, at least Strasburg resigned from the Brett Myers School of Really Bad Facial Hair and shaved off that horrid beard he was sporting against the Phils last week.

A visit to orthopedic surgeon James Andrews confirmed the Phillies' diagnosis of a bone chip and inflammation in Vance Worley's right elbow. Andrews immediately ruled out any serious problem with Worley's ulnar collateral ligament - which means no Tommy John surgery is needed. "Immediately after he grabbed my arm, he knew it wasn't Tommy John," said Worley, who visited the specialist in Pensacola, Fla. "Now I just have to go out and get it going. " Worley was not immediately sure of the plan for his return to the field.

A visit to renowned orthopedic surgeon James Andrews confirmed the Phillies' diagnosis of a bone chip and inflammation in Vance Worley's right elbow. The good news is that Andrews immediately ruled out any serious problem with Worley's ulnar collateral ligament. "Immediately after he grabbed my arm, he knew it wasn't Tommy John," said Worley, who visited the specialist in Pensacola, Fla. "Now I just have to go out and get it going. " Worley was not immediately sure of the plan for his return to the field.

The twice-a-year interleague matchups like Mets-Yankees and Cubs-White Sox could become one series a year in 2013, Adam Rubin of ESPN New York reported on Monday. That's a shame, because those are practically the only interleague series that make sense anymore. But the Houston Astros' move to the AL in 2013 will give each league 15 teams and make season-long interleague play necessary. And that has created a scheduling nightmare. Rubin cautioned that the schedule is still in the "discussion" stage.

SEATTLE - Philip Humber had Tommy John surgery before his career even started. He bounced around a bit as he tried to make it in the major leagues. Now, well, Humber is just perfect. Humber threw the first perfect game in the majors in almost two years, leading the Chicago White Sox to a 4-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Saturday. It was baseball's 21st perfect game and first since the Phillies' Roy Halladay threw one against the Florida Marlins on May 29, 2010.

SAN FRANCISCO - When Greg Gross looks at John Mayberry Jr. before games, he does not see a player who is pressing. The outfielder's work habits have not changed. He is not inclined to experiment during a slump. Then Mayberry steps to the plate, and he often crouches too much before a pitch is delivered. "The change creeps in when things aren't going quite right," said Gross, the Phillies hitting coach. "When the results aren't there, he has a tendency to grind it out more.

HOUSTON - On Saturday night, 49-year-old Jamie Moyer became the oldest player to appear in a game since 1980 when he started for the Rockies. "Going out to the bullpen, I had a lot of things running through my head," Moyer said. "But once I started running and playing catch, it was all baseball. It was a very good feeling to be where I'd been before and a place I love being. " But the National League's youngest team gave baseball's oldest player fits, as J.D. Martinez homered and drove in three runs for a 7-3 Astros win. Moyer was in trouble from the start.

ICHIRO SUZUKI GAVE his fans in Japan a performance to cheer about. Suzuki had four hits in his return home, Dustin Ackley homered and singled in the go-ahead run in the 11th inning, and the Seattle Mariners beat the Oakland Athletics, 3-1, Wednesday in baseball's season opener. "It was very special to open in Japan," said Suzuki, who spent nine seasons in Osaka with the Orix Blue Wave. "I wanted to have fun and give the fans something at this special time and wanted to share a special moment with them.

IT WAS NOT A good weekend if you were a former Phillies pitcher. Ryan Madson, expected to be Cincinnati's closer after leaving the Phillies and signing a 1-year deal with the Reds, will miss the 2012 season because of a torn ligament in his right elbow and will undergo Tommy John surgery, which is tentatively set for April 4. The operation will take place in Cincinnati with team medical director Dr. Tim Kremchek performing the procedure....

Kansas City Royals closer Joakim Soria decided Friday to undergo reconstructive elbow surgery, which will force him to miss the entire season. Soria left Sunday's game against Cleveland with a pain in his right elbow that was later diagnosed as ligament damage. Surgery is set for April 3 for the two-time all-star who has 160 saves the last five seasons. He also missed the 2003 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.   Chamberlain hurts ankle Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain dislocated his right ankle while playing with his son on a trampoline, jeopardizing his immediate future after yet another odd misstep for New York's bullpen at spring training.

CARDINALS ACE Chris Carpenter won't start Opening Day after a setback in his recovery from a bulging disk in his neck. The righthander returned to St. Louis on Tuesday for tests. He threw live batting practice Sunday but didn't feel right the next day. "He looked really good and felt good; the next day he just didn't respond like we had hoped," manager Mike Matheny said Wednesday. "His shoulder is just not responding and they're uncertain of the root of it. That's what they're trying to get to with tests on the neck and shoulder and trying to figure out where it's all coming from.