Edinson Volquez News: Pro Sports Daily

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August 4

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Edinson Volquez's surgery was about as serious as "Tommy John" surgery gets. There's a chance Volquez, a 26-year-old right-hander, won't return to form until 2011. The ulnar collateral ligament was almost completely torn. He also had a tear in the flexor mass. "It's going to be approximately 12 months because he had to have the ligament reconstructed and flexor mass repaired," Reds trainer Mark Mann said. "He will come back and pitch in the second half of next year. "It will most likely be 2011 before you see the old Edinson Volquez is back." Volquez went on the disabled list June 2. The reason the surgery wasn't performed until Monday is the previous MRIs were inconclusive. "Both MRIs - ..."

Volquez making progress slowly, surely

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July 23

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Joey Votto spoke with Edinson Volquez a bit, and then wanted a report from Reds pitching coach Dick Pole. "He threw at 72 percent," Pole said of Volquez. "What's he going to be, a September call-up?" Votto said. Votto was having some fun with Volquez, but the Reds pitcher is discovering how serious an undertaking it is to come back at midseason after being shut down for six weeks because of tendinitis in his right elbow. Volquez, a 26-year-old right-hander, probably will return to the Reds in the second week of August. He had his second mound session Wednesday and .threw 45 pitches - all fastballs - at about three-quarters speed. "It felt great," Volquez said. "No pain or anything. I ..."

Tatum recalled; Volquez progressing

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July 21

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Craig Tatum thanked Reds manager Dusty Baker for all the playing time he got at spring training. "He didn't have to do that," Tatum said. But Baker's motive was not entirely altruistic. "In that catching position, there was a good chance we were going to need him," Baker said. That time came Monday when Ramon Hernandez was placed on the disabled list with inflammation in his left knee. Tatum, 26, was called up from Louisville to take Hernandez's roster spot. Tatum was the club's third-round pick in the 2004 draft. He was rated the organization's best defensive catcher last year. "I liked him a lot in spring," Baker said. "I was surprised to see his average wasn't higher at Louisville with ..."

Volquez closer to rehab assignment

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July 21

Dayton Daily News

"It was show time and Edinson Volquez was scrambling around his locker, tossing aside t-shirts and shorts and socks and mumbling, "Where's my spikes? Been so long since I work 'em I can't find 'em." He found them and was he laced them on he said, "Whoa, they feel tight. But I'll make 'em work." Then Volquez walked to the Dodger Stadium visitors' bullpen with pitching coach Dick Pole for his first on-the-mound session since he went on the disabled list June 2. "I directed him to the mound and showed him which direction to throw," said Pole. Volaquez threw 30 pitches, "At about 67 percent effort," said Pole. "He threw with no effort and no distress. I was surprised how well he located after ..."

Votto, Encarnacion, Volquez not quite ready

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June 17

Cincinnati Enquirer

"First baseman Joey Votto, third baseman Edwin Encarnacion and right-hander Edinson Volquez are closer to coming back. All took another step toward returning Tuesday. But none of the three is particularly close, i.e., they won't play on this six-game homestand. Here are the most recent updates: • Votto (stress-related issues): "He hit today," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "He's looking good, a lot better. He'll work out with the team. It's good to see him around." The next step is a minor-league assignment. Votto again declined to talk to the media, and the Reds are reluctant to put a firm timetable on his return. But Baker said Votto will begin his minor-league rehab "relatively soon." • ..."

Rehabbing Volquez starts long-tossing

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June 13

MLB.com

"Injured Reds starter Edinson Volquez has done his first throwing since going on the disabled list with right elbow tendinitis. Back in Cincinnati on Thursday, Volquez long-tossed and made 25 throws at a distance of 60 feet. He was scheduled to do likewise Friday. "He said he's had no problem with his elbow, his forearm -- nothing. He felt fine," Reds pitching coach Dick Pole said before Friday Interleague series opener with the Royals. On June 1 at St. Louis during his first start back from being on the 15-day disabled list with back spasms, Volquez lasted just 24 pitches over one inning. He felt numbness in his fingers. The next day, the 25-year-old Volquez was diagnosed with tendinitis ..."

Volquez back on DL, but news not all bad

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June 3

Dayton Daily News

"Manager Dusty Baker called it the best news one can get out of bad news when he heard about pitcher Edinson Volquez going on the disabled list with tendinitis in his right elbow. "It's the best news it could be for bad news because there is nothing structurally wrong, nothing in the joint," said Baker. Volquez won't touch a baseball for seven to 10 days and then will be examined again. It saved Jared Burton a trip to Louisville. Although he was optioned out Monday, with the injury to Volquez he can stay on the roster. But the Reds will need a starting pitcher Saturday night against the Chicago Cubs. "We have an idea who it will be, but we have to wait, just in case something happens," ..."

Volquez goes back on DL

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June 3

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Reds manager Dusty Baker said Tuesday that the news about Edinson Volquez could have been worse. "Well, it's not bad news," Baker said before Tuesday night's game against the Cardinals. " It's the best news it could be for bad news. Nothing structural, nothing in the joint." "He's not supposed to pick up a ball for a week to 10 days.," Baker said. "He's got some inflammation in there. The reason he had the tingling is the inflammation crowds the ulna nerve. He's going to be fine." Volquez never mentioned the problem until Monday. "He might have felt something and thought it was normal soreness," Baker said. "If every time you felt something you sat down, most of us would never play. He had ..."

Volquez to miss Saturday start

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May 21

Dayton Daily News

"The day began poorly for manager Dusty Baker. He wanted to give Edinson Volquez an extra day for his stiff back to heal, so he reluctantly moved his next start from Friday to Saturday. And he moved Bronson Arroyo from Saturday to Friday, "Even though I wanted to give Bronson an extra day of rest." Then Volquez tried to throw in a bullpen session of quickly quit. No go. And it's no go Saturday, too. "I tried, but it didn't feel good and I just threw a couple of pitches," said Volquez. "My left side is stiff a little bit. I told Dusty it would be better for me if I missed a start. I don't want to out there at 70 per cent because that's no good for me and no good for the team." His ..."

Volquez to miss Saturday start

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May 21

Dayton Daily News

"The day began poorly for manager Dusty Baker. He wanted to give Edinson Volquez an extra day for his stiff back to heal, so he reluctantly moved his next start from Friday to Saturday. And he moved Bronson Arroyo from Saturday to Friday, "Even though I wanted to give Bronson an extra day of rest." Then Volquez tried to throw in a bullpen session of quickly quit. No go. And it's no go Saturday, too. "I tried, but it didn't feel good and I just threw a couple of pitches," said Volquez. "My left side is stiff a little bit. I told Dusty it would be better for me if I missed a start. I don't want to out there at 70 per cent because that's no good for me and no good for the team." His ..."

Volquez might miss next start

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May 21

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Right-hander Edinson Volquez, who still has back problems, said it might be better if he misses his next start. Volquez is penciled in to start Saturday against Cleveland. But he will have an MRI today after an aborted attempt to throw on the side Wednesday. Volquez said he threw only a couple of pitches before stopping. Volquez left last Saturday's game at San Diego with mild spasms in his back. Volquez still felt it when he threw on the side Wednesday, and he went into manager Dusty Baker's office to tell him. "It's a lot better than last time, but ... it might be better if I missed a start," Volquez said. "I don't want to go out and feel like 70 percent. It's no good for me or the ..."

Florida Marlins fall to nemesis

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May 6

Miami Herald

"There are certain pitchers who always seem to befuddle the Marlins. Jamie Moyer is one. Jason Schmidt, Randy Johnson, John Smoltz and Livan Hernandez are others. Now comes Edinson Volquez, who is emerging as the latest in the line of Marlins killers. On Tuesday, Volquez and the Cincinnati Reds did a job on the Marlins, putting a 7-0 hurting on them in front of a sparse crowd at Dolphin Stadium. ''He made us look pretty bad,'' Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said. Gonzalez said Marlins pitching coach Mark Wiley commented to him during the game that Volquez reminded him of a recent pitching star. ''Wiley said he reminded him of Pedro Martinez when Pedro Martinez was in his heyday,'' Gonzalez ..."

Edinson Volquez: Reds' ace on the hill

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April 5

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Edinson Volquez would take another year like 2008. Volquez went 17-6 with a 3.21 ERA in his first season with the Reds. "I'd like to win 17 games," he said. "That's the idea I have right now: Do the same job like last year." But doing it again is more difficult. The scouting reports are out on him and the National League knows him. But the fact Volquez won 17 games in his first full season in the majors shows what kind of stuff he has. He and his buddy, Johnny Cueto, are likely to be mainstays of the Reds rotation for years to come. "By having a good year last year, he has to concentrate a little more," said Reds Hall of Famer Mario Soto, a Reds special assistant. "It's going to be tougher ..."

Runners, but no runs for Volquez vs. Rays

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March 19

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Edinson Volquez went three innings Wednesday and allowed nine base-runners - six hits, two walks and one reached on an error during his stint against the Tampa Bay Rays Wednesday. But he did not allow a run. "I had too much power today," said Volquez, who threw 71 pitches. "I couldn't control my pitches. I'll take the zero, though. "I was in trouble, out of trouble," he said. "I knew in the bullpen I had too much power. I didn't know where my pitches were going." Reds manager Dusty Baker thinks playing for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic will have a positive effect on Volquez. "One of the good things about it was he was around Pedro Martinez," Baker said. "Pedro is a ..."

Volquez's changeup is nasty

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February 26

Dayton Daily News

"When his fastball is erratic, Edinson Volquez smiles and calls on Old Reliable, the changeup. While his fastball sometimes takes a side trip, the changeup is his trusty sidekick. And it was with him Wednesday as the Cincinnati Reds bull-whipped the Tampa Bay Rays, 7-0, at Charlotte County Sports Complex. Volquez pitched three scoreless innings against the American League champions and gave up two hits and one walk. Good numbers, but Volquez wants a more productive fastball. His only trouble was in the third inning when the Rays put two on with two outs. "I threw two fastballs to Evan Longoria, both for balls (2-and-0), then threw three changeups and struck him out," said Volquez. Johnny ..."

Volquez, Cueto sharp in opener

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February 25

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Edinson Volquez doesn't have to pitch his way onto the Reds' roster this year. But, if he did, today's outing would have been a good first step. Volquez started the spring opener against the American League champion Tampa Bay Rays and earned the victory in the Reds' 7-0 win. Volquez, Johnny Cueto, Homer Bailey, Aaron Fultz and Jared Burton combined for a four-hit shutout. Jerry Hairston Jr.'s grand slam and Adam Rosales' two-run shot provided more than enough offense. Volquez looked a lot like he did last season: Overpowering, a bit wild and hardly hittable. Volquez went three innings, allowing two hits and a walk. He struck out three. His big moment came in the third. He was near his ..."

Volquez has developed another out pitch

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February 25

Dayton Daily News

"When his fastball is erratic, Edinson Volquez smiles and calls on Old Reliable, the changeup. While his fastball sometimes takes a side trip, the changeup is his trusty sidekick. And it was with him Wednesday as the Cincinnati Reds bull-whipped the Tampa Bay Rays, 7-0, at Charlotte County Sports Complex. Volquez pitched three scoreless innings against the American League champions and gave up two hits and one walk. Good numbers, but Volquez wants a more productive fastball. His only trouble was in the third inning when the Rays put two on with two outs. "I threw two fastballs to Evan Longoria, both for balls (2-and-0), then threw three changeups and struck him out," said Volquez. Johnny ..."

Sigh! No 'Cy' from a winner?

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September 7

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

columnist Rick Hummel

"The accepted difference between the Most Valuable Player and the Cy Young Award, both voted on at the end of the season by writers in each city in their respective league, is that the former almost always comes from a winning team and that the latter doesn't have to. Yet, only 12 of the previous 94 Cy Young Award winners have come from teams that finished under .500. This season, however, there almost surely will be one Cy winner from a sub-.500 team, Cleveland's 20-game winner Cliff Lee, and either San Francisco's Tim Lincecum or Cincinnati's Edinson Volquez could make it one in each league. That has happened just twice in major-league history, both times involving Roger Clemens. In ..."

Volquez quest reason to tune in

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September 2

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Looking for reasons to follow the Reds for this final month? Here's one: Edinson Volquez has a chance to become the Reds' first 20-game winner in 20 years, since Danny Jackson won 23 in 1988. Volquez (16-5, 3.04 ERA) will pitch Wednesday, Game 2 of the Reds' three-game series against Pittsburgh. He was originally scheduled to pitch Thursday. That extra day could be big: If the Reds run him out every fifth day until the end of the season, skipping the fifth starter's spot with the two remaining off days, then Volquez would get one extra start, the season finale Sept. 28 at St. Louis. If he goes every five days, Volquez would have six chances left to win four and get to 20: Wednesday vs. ..."

All-Star Volquez all struggles

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July 21

Cincinnati Enquirer

"It was hot Sunday afternoon in Great American Ball Park. Ninety degrees hot. Whether it was the heat, the sun or something else, Reds starter Edinson Volquez struggled early in the 7-5, 10-inning loss to the New York Mets. Fresh from his All-Star Game appearance, he faced seven batters and surrendered three hits and a run in the first inning alone. That early spike in his pitch count forced manager Dusty Baker to call upon his bullpen in the sixth inning. In five innings, Volquez gave up eight hits, four runs (all earned), walked three, struck out three, hit one batter, had one wild pitch and surrendered a home run. Seventy of his 110 pitches were strikes."

Volquez throws like a star

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July 13

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Edinson Volquez is going to the All-Star Game on a very positive note. Volquez had one of his better outings in the Reds' 8-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers before a crowd of 43,556 at Miller Park Saturday night. The Reds have won three straight going into today's final game before the All-Star break. Volquez, a 25-year-old right-hander, went seven innings, allowing one earned run on six hits. He walked two and struck out 10. He improved to 12-3 with a 2.29 ERA."

Swap benefited Reds and Rangers

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July 13

Philadelphia Inquirer

"On Dec. 21, the Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers made a trade that, while certainly interesting, didn't pull you away from Christmas shopping to ponder who got the best of the deal. In a swap of players high on potential but relatively short on accomplishment, the Reds sent outfielder Josh Hamilton to the Rangers for righthanded pitcher Edinson Volquez. Seldom has a deal worked out so well for both teams."

Brewers: Reds' star very bright

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July 13

Wisconsin State Journal

"The Milwaukee Brewers had yet to see Cincinnati sensation Edinson Volquez pitch this season until Saturday night. Rest assured, the Brewers now have seen more than enough of Volquez, who struck out 10 in an 8-2 victory"

Volquez named to NL All-Stars

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July 7

Cincinnati Enquirer

"The Major League Baseball All-Star Game starters were announced today, and one Reds newcomer made the National League team. Another fan-favorite was left out. Rookie pitcher Edinson Volquez was chosen to play on the NL’s team in the July 15 game at Yankee Stadium. Entering Sunday’s games against the Nationals, he led the NL in ERA (2.24), strikeouts per nine innings (9.7) and ERA in the day (1.62). Volquez earned honors stemming from player ballots. Veteran All-Star Ken Griffey Jr. didn’t make the team, although he earned the fourth-most votes among NL outfielders (2,907,746)."

Volquez for Hamilton? Texas Rangers got this one right

May 24

Dallas Morning News

columnist Kevin Sherrington

"Until the dawn of what's fast becoming an interesting season, maybe four position players in the 36-year history of the Rangers had Hall of Fame talent: Alex Rodriguez, Pudge Rodriguez, Juan Gonzalez and Rafael Palmeiro. A-Rod and Pudge await their official invitations to Cooperstown. The others may have to pay to visit, but it wasn't for a lack of talent. And when it comes to comparing the best talent the Rangers have ever assembled, none of the above except perhaps A-Rod has more five-tool ability than Josh Hamilton."

Volquez wants to teach Cueto about emotions

May 23

Cincinnati Enquirer

"You'd never know it now, but Edinson Volquez used to have trouble controlling his emotions on the mound. "He's not easily rattled," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "He doesn't panic." That's the 2008 version of Volquez. He wasn't like that in his first two stints with the Texas Rangers in 2005 and '06. "The Rangers talked to me a lot about being too emotional in the game," Volquez said. Volquez is trying to pass that knowledge onto his young rotation-mate, Johnny Cueto. Cueto gets visibly upset with himself when things go wrong."