Cincinnati Reds' Ryan Ludwick in precautionary mode after tightness in groin – MLB News
Cincinnati Reds' left fielder Ryan Ludwick said on Thursday, September 27, that he does not want to be in a rush as far as his return to action is concerned. Faced with tightness in his left groin, Ludwick is out of the line-up for a week now, something that is a setback for the player.
While the Reds have already made it to the National League Division Series, they will certainly want their quality and experienced players fully fit and in good form to play in the postseason games.
The very idea of being fully fit, instead of showing any rush, has kept Ludwick from making an early return.
"I want to make sure I'm right before I go out there, because I don't want it to be wrong for the next month," Ludwick said. "I feel like I'm right around the corner. I still feel a little bit in there. I don't feel it's smart with the situation we're in to push it."
On the other hand, the acting manager Chris Speier also seemed to be in precautionary mode as far as Ludwick was concerned. While speaking on the potential comeback of the player, Speier said he would first give Ludwick a pinch hitting assignment.
"I wanted to get a measurement today on how he felt after he did the work yesterday," acting manager Chris Speier said. "It's at least today and maybe tomorrow, too. Hopefully, maybe he'll get a chance for a pinch-hit first and then get him in there when he's ready."
Reds are scheduled to play the Pittsburgh Pirates this weekend. The three-game series will be followed by another which is scheduled against the St. Louis Cardinals. That will mark the formal end of the 2012 regular season for the Reds.
For the postseason games, therefore, running and agility drills for Ludwick now will be of crucial importance. It will be interesting to see if Ludwick returns this weekend, giving a hint, if not complete idea, of how fit and prepared he is at this point in time to feature in the NLDS, starting next month.
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