WBC Did Not Cause Youk's Ankle Injury

Don't blame the WBC for Youk's ankle. According to the Projo:

his left ankle problems are related to a flare up of plantar fasciitis, and are not an injury he sustained in the World Baseball Classic.

Now in case you are not a doctor and have never heard of "plantar fasciitis," here is the definition from the Mayo Clinic:

Most commonly, heel pain is caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia — the tissue along the bottom of your foot that connects your heel bone to your toes. The condition is called plantar fasciitis (PLAN-tur fas-e-I-tis).

Plantar fasciitis causes stabbing or burning pain that's usually worse in the morning because the fascia tightens (contracts) overnight. Once your foot limbers up, the pain of plantar fasciitis normally decreases, but it may return after long periods of standing or after getting up from a seated position.

In most cases, you can overcome the pain of plantar fasciitis without surgery or other invasive treatments. And you can take steps to prevent plantar fasciitis from recurring.

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Red Sox Pitchers For Games 1-3 of ALDS

Game 1: Jon Lester

Game 2: Dice-K

Game 3: Josh Beckett

Beckett has a right oblique injury from a side session on Friday. His game 3 start is not a sure thing, he will try a side session on Thursday to see if he can go for game 3. Francona has not said if Wake or Byrd would replace him as needed.

In a short series you need 3 good starters and without Beckett the Red Sox could have a much harder time. The injury also forces Tito to pitch Lester on the road when he would have pitched at Fenway where he has been fantastic this season.

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Mike Lowell May Miss ALDS

Mike Lowell aggravated his hip injury during an at-bat last night. His status for the ALDS is up in the air. He spoke with reporters after the game:

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Potentially Devistating News For Sox

David Ortiz may have re-injured his wrist. More from the Herald:

Ortiz revealed after the game he felt a click in his left wrist early in the at-bat against Soria, choosing his words carefully in describing the sensation. “My last at-bat, it kind of pulled back a little bit,” Ortiz said of his wrist. “You feel that click and you get a little concerned about it.

This could just be a minor irritation or could mean that Ortiz will need surgery and miss the remainder of the season. Without Ortiz the Sox would have little chance of winning the A.L. East. I will post an update on the injury when it becomes available.

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Nomar Is Genetically Challenged

There is a new reason why Nomar is always hurt, which he is again if you haven't noticed, he says its due to genetics. The Dodgers were going to have Nomar move back to short until he got reinjured this week. From Scout.com:

"Dodgers infielder Nomar Garciaparra said a genetic predisposition, one he didn't know he had until it was identified by a Boston physical therapist with whom he voluntarily consulted last week, is the reason his left-calf strain has been so long in healing."

You can say what you want about Theo signing Lugo but he abosultely made the right move in shipping off Nomar. I'm sure roids had nothing to do with the bulking up followed by the breakdown of ligaments.

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Ortiz Will Be Sidelined At Least a Month

Today's MRI revealed extensor carpi ulnaris (a partially torn sheath of his left wrist) David Ortiz will wear a cast for two weeks and need at least two more for rehab. The silver lining is that Papi's knee will get some time off and he should be good for the second half. Look for Tito to juggle the lineup nightly with Manny and Casey and DHing.

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