Raul Ibanez and Aramis Ramirez are both tentatively aiming to return to their respective lineups on Monday, and Alex Gordon is also likely to rejoin the Royals in the near future, perhaps as early as next week, but more likely it will be after the All-Star break. It seems almost set in stone that A-Ram will be able to return to the lineup after getting in some cuts down in the minors at Peoria. Meanwhile, Ibanez keeps having his rehab pushed back a little due to lingering groin issues that have led some to speculate that this is a labrum tear mimicking a groin strain. Sure, it is possible, but I really get the feeling that this is more of a nagging groin strain, based on what I have read and seen on broadcasts. Ibanez is actually eligible to return from the DL today, but it won’t happen.
GM Ruben Amaro, Jr. had this to say of the injury to Ibanez, further lending support that this may just be a muscle strain:
"Just like hamstrings or any other muscle pull, you do not want to put a player at risk to have a setback. We don’t want him on the field at less than 100 percent."
As for Ramirez, there is certainly nothing to guarantee that his shoulder won’t dislocate or sublux again. Once it happens, it is always more likely to happen again due to the stretching of the joint capsule and the spraining of ligaments around the shoulder. Plus, it still sounds like he will need off season surgery to tighten up the joint and to inspect for other damage such as cartilage tears. Check and see how he fares over the weekend down at Peoria, and in any event, make sure he is active for Monday’s game.
Gordon is going to spend some time this weekend at AAA and should be back relatively soon, probably after the All-Star break, though the recent move to AAA may indicate that he is going to come back sooner. If the recent flare-up of symptoms of Mike Lowell and Alex Rodriguez are an indicator, Gordon may also have some recurrence of symptoms if the Royals are not careful with his playing time. It sounds like, at least initially, it would be a great idea to rest these guys who are coming off hip labrum surgeries more often.
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