Lowry has bone spur, hopes for no surgery

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Sep 19, 2007 | by Andrew BaggarlySTAFF

PHOENIX -- Noah Lowry has a bone spur in his left elbow, but he and the Giants are optimistic they will avoid surgery.

The spur contributed to a forearm issue that forced Lowry to cut short his season after 26 starts and 156 innings.

Lowry hasn't picked up a ball since his last start Aug.29. He is scheduled to play catch on Thursday and called it "a real test."

"Obviously, if it goes badly, I guess you've got to get it opened up," Lowry said. "But we started doing range-of-motion stuff with the medicine balls, aggressive force movements, and I'm getting full extension. I feel good."

Lowry stressed that the spur showed up on an MRI exam last year, so it is not a new development.

"My opinion, not that it holds any weight in the medical world, is that it's not any bit of a concern," Lowry said. "I think I'd know based on how my arm feels."

Though shaving down the spur would be a simple procedure, the Giants are hoping to avoid surgery because of the wild-card element. It took Joe Nathan two years to recover from a simple shoulder cleanup, and Scott Munter hasn't been the same since having arthroscopic elbow surgery after the 2005 season.

Lowry, who led the staff with 14 victories, is considered a key member of a young Giants rotation that also includes Barry Zito, Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum.

Giants officials are coming to the realization they will have to trade at least one of their young pitchers to reconstruct the lineup this winter.

If healthy, Lowry would have trade value. If not, it would be tougher for the Giants to justify trading another young pitcher, such as Jonathan Sanchez. Club officials said they continue to consider Cain and Lincecum untouchable.

BONDS UPDATE: Barry Bonds remained unavailable because of a sprained big toe on his right foot. Manager Bruce Bochy said there was a chance Bonds could return sometime during the four-game series against the Cincinnati Reds that begins at AT&T Park on Monday.

The seven-game homestand is expected to be Bonds' last opportunity to play as a Giant in San Francisco.

"Hopefully, we get back home, and he's able to turn a corner," Bochy said.

SHORT HOP: Outfielder Fred Lewis missed Monday's deciding game of the California League championship series at San Jose because he fouled a ball off his foot. The injury isn't serious, and Lewis will rejoin the big league club Monday.