Ray relieved as elbow passes a second test

The Baltimore Sun

A second magnetic resonance imaging on Chris Ray's right elbow, taken late last week, didn't reveal anything worse than what the Orioles already knew.

Ray still is listed as having a sprained ligament, with no tears, fractures or loose bodies in the elbow.

"There really wasn't any damage, and it's highly probable that I'll be back before the end of the year," he said. "It definitely was a relief. Whenever you hear that all it's going to take is a little rest and no kind of medical procedure or surgery or stuff like that, it helps to calm your nerves a little bit."

Andy MacPhail, president of baseball operations, confirmed the results were positive and surgery isn't being considered at this time.

"Hopefully, we'll get him back before the year is out," MacPhail said. "He's going to rest it and do some rehab, but it's not something that requires surgery."

Ray underwent an arthrogram, where dye is injected into the elbow before the MRI. He remains on a three-week rest and rehab program, and later will begin a two-week throwing regimen.

"I guess there are still tests that I can do on my arm to make sure that I'm symptom-free," he said. "Then I have to start throwing again to build up my arm and go from there. I'm not sure when that's going to be."

No special treatment

If the Orioles needed another example of how one player isn't more important than the rest of the team, it came Saturday afternoon, when shortstop Miguel Tejada sought permission to stretch later, on his own, after doing early work in the field.

Tejada hit off a machine for 20 minutes and took ground balls for 15 while his teammates were inside the clubhouse.

"He came to me and said, 'Hey, I've already been out here for half an hour working. Do I have to stretch with the group?'" interim manager Dave Trembley recalled. "And I said, 'Yeah, we all stretch together.' He said, 'OK, I'll do whatever you want.' He stretched with the group, played catch again. He stayed out here for the full hour of batting practice.

"Everybody is part of the Baltimore Orioles. Guys like Tejada have earned respect. He's a star in the game. He knows that, I know that. I think it means more for the team if guys like that are doing what everybody else does, because when guys like that are off on their own little page, then it's very difficult to pull those other guys back in.

"Tejada has been outstanding. Tejada has a passion to play the game as much or greater than anybody I've ever been around. I think everybody here knows that about him. But Tejada is a very sensitive person. Tejada wants to be respected. Tejada wants to be appreciated. He's earned that. Tejada doesn't really want to be treated any differently than anybody else, though."

Trembley gave Tejada a day's notice that he'd be the designated hitter yesterday.

"He was great with me," Trembley said. "He said, 'I'll do whatever you want.' I said, 'I hope you know what we're trying to do here,' and he said, 'I see it and I like it and whatever you need me to do, I will do for you.' "

Tejada said: "I just come ready to play. It's not like I'll be the DH a lot of times. But once in a while is good."

Mora making trip

Injured third baseman Melvin Mora will accompany the team on its road trip, but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll be activated from the disabled list.

Mora has been taking batting practice while recovering from a sprained ligament in his left foot. He wanted to run the bases, but the field was wet.

Mora said he's pain-free when he bats and fields grounders, but he'll know more about his recovery when he tries to round the bases at full speed.

The Orioles likely will request that Mora go on an injury rehab assignment before they activate him.

"When he comes back, I would hope he comes back 100 percent," Trembley said. "I'm hoping that Melvin will want to go play in a couple of games somewhere before he comes here."

Said Mora: "Whatever they want me to do, I'll do. But I feel fine. I have to think about it. If I don't feel good with my swing, I don't want to stand at home plate."

roch.kubatko@baltsun.com jeff.zrebiec@baltsun.com

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