Ryan Braun's hand 'about the same'

Miami -- The good news about Ryan Braun's injured right hand is that it hasn't gotten any worse since leaving in the third inning of Sunday's win over the Philadelphia Phillies at Miller Park.

The bad news is it hasn't really gotten much better, either, despite Braun being held out of the starting lineup for all three of the Milwaukee Brewers' games against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park.

"It's about the same," he said this afternoon.

Braun and the Brewers have tried a different approach with the injury since heading out on this nine-game road trip, with the leftfielder doing essentially nothing that might aggravate his hand even worse -- specifically, swinging a bat.

"We've tried not to," Braun said. "We're trying not to do anything that irritates it, and every time I've swung that's seemed to irritate it. So I'm trying not to swing."
Manager Ron Roenicke said coming into the series that he'd have to weigh using Braun as a pinch hitter in a game based on the situation.

Runners on, late in the game, chance to win it and perhaps Roenicke asks Braun if he wants to give it a shot. But in doing so, there's the distinct possibility that Braun further aggravates the hand and making it even more of an issue down the line.

Braun hasn't been needed in the first two games, which the Brewers have split with the Marlins, and there's an off-day looming tomorrow heading into a three-game weekend series in Cincinnati.

So has any progress been made with all the steps that have been taken?

"Maybe very minimal," Braun said. "Very minimal."

Braun was asked if he's disappointed with the situation, and how long the injury has lingered. He's been battling it for about a month now, essentially changing his swing and losing the ability to drive the ball when he has played.

The Brewers, meanwhile, have scuffled considerably.

"I don't know, man. I try not to get disappointed," he said. "I just keep an open mind and just deal with what I can. Hopefully it starts to get better.

"I'm optimistic and hopeful that it will start to improve sometime soon."

No doubt, the Brewers would love to have him back in the lineup and swinging well with an NL Central Division rival in the Reds looming next. But that decision will have to wait until Friday at Great American Ball Park.

"It's always day to day," he said. "Obviously I hope that I can play sooner than later. I just don't know."

Assuming Braun is back in the lineup Friday, Roenicke is hoping to see some marked improvement in how his leftfielder's hand is feeling. If not, the disabled list might be broached as a possibility.

"If things Friday, Saturday don't go well, then we'll see what we need to do," Roenicke said.

"It's going to get better. It's whether four days is enough. I don't know."

If Braun doesn't get an at-bat tonight, it will mark the second complete series he'll have missed this season.

He sat out April 5-7 with neck spasms against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Miller Park, a series Arizona wound up sweeping.


(jsonline.com)