by Jim Russo, RotoWire

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Updated: March 31, 2008, 5:38 PM EST Comment

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I'll start in the AL East, where Scott Kazmir's likely to start the season on the DL with a left elbow strain. In late February, he felt some pain there warming up to throw in an intrasquad game. An MRI revealed no major structural damage, only some inflammation and a strain, indicative of a muscle injury to the wrist flexor group, which attaches to the humerus above the inside part of the elbow. Inflammation is always going to accompany an injury, so that's no surprise. The alarm would be if his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), located in the same area, underneath the flexor group, is involved at all. That's the major structural ligament holding together the inside of the elbow - ligaments connect bone to bone, tendons connect muscle to bone. When torn, the result is Tommy John Surgery and up to a year or more rehab time.

The Rays have said the ligament is fine, but are being very cautious with his return, holding him out of games longer than originally planned despite reports that he's feeling great. The truth is the diagnosis is very difficult even with the best diagnostic equipment and the most experienced orthopedic surgeons around. I'm not saying there's an injury to his UCL, as muscle injuries in the elbow take time to heal as well and you never want to rush your number one starter back from an injury too soon, but there could be a bit of doubt in some minds. At this point, he's definitely going to miss some time this year, hopefully just enough to build up his arm strength and make his return to the Rays without any setbacks. For now, sit back and hope for the best.

From the Rays to the Red Sox, there's another staff ace who's starting late this year. Josh Beckett experienced back spasms on March 8, prompting immediate questions about whether or not he would make the trip to Japan for the season opener. An MRI again revealed no major injury; he was diagnosed with back spasms and all seemed well until the stiffness crept up again while conditioning a few days later. By the 15th, he was out of the opener and likely to start the season on the DL. Spasms are abnormal muscle contractions that don't relax and can be very painful and limiting to athletes.

There are many different reasons why they occur, from fatigue to dehydration to muscle weakness or inflexibility. Disc problems and other bony abnormalities in the spine can also cause them, so teams often use "spasms" as a blanket term to describe any number of back injuries. Rest is the first treatment prescribed, usually followed by heat applications and stretching exercises along with flexibility training for the low back and the lower extremities. For the Red Sox sake, you hope it's a spasm and nothing else, and that he's starting the season, like Kazmir, on the DL simply to build arm strength. For Red Sox fans, rest easy. Andy Pettitte's having similar symptoms. It doesn't look right now that the DL is in his future, but he may be moved back a turn. As always, with starting pitching, it's caution first.

New Phillies closer Brad Lidge didn't wait too long into his tenure with his new team to find out where the training room was. His right knee buckled with the first pitch he threw this spring, and two days later he had arthroscopic surgery to clean up his medial meniscus. He had a more invasive surgery after last season to repair the same cartilage that sits between his femur and tibia. This time, he just irritated what was fixed previously, so some cartilage had to be removed. Rehab time is usually about three to four weeks with this operation. He's thrown a few bullpens, is taking part in pitchers fielding practice, and apparently looked great in his first game action of the season last Thursday, so he figures to be on pace to start the season in the Phils' pen. Treatment now is simple. Control any swelling with ice and stretching exercises and continue to strengthen the muscles surrounding his knee. The Phillies announced on Monday that he'll start the year on the DL to build back his arm strength, but don't expect this to be a long term problem.

Article first appeared 3/26/08