Corey Patterson wanted to come back, but Orioles manager Dave Trembley felt it didn?t make sense for the center fielder to risk further injury to his sprained left ankle.
“Corey wanted to play, but I said to him, if this were during the regular season I would have to send you out on a minor league rehab and he?d miss 20 games,” Trembley said. “And I wouldn?t think it would be fair to him or to the team for me to put him out there.”
Patterson batted .269 with 8 home runs, 45 RBIs and 37 stolen bases in 132 games. His last appearance was Sept. 5, when he injured the ankle running into the outfield fence in Tampa Bay.
He?s been close to returning forthe past week, but he hasn?t been able to run the bases like he?d hoped. As a player whose skills revolve around his speed, it?s been a frustrating month, Patterson said.
“I can tell it is getting better the past few days,” he said. “It?s not going to be an injury that?s going to months and months into the off-season.”
Patterson, 28, is a free agent at season?s end.
“Like I?ve said a hundred times, I hope things work out here,” Patterson said. “I?ve already expressed that. If not, I?ll have to look at my options.”
FAN APPRECIATION NOTES
» The Orioles will kick off Fan Appreciation Weekend today with the series-opener against the Yankees. Fans will be selected to accompany players onto the field for the National Anthem and receive the “shirt off the back” of an Orioles? player, before a post-game fireworks show.
» The Orioles will select five fans today and Saturday for special prizes ? including vacations, tickets, memorabilia and a 50-inch HD plasma TV. On Sunday, the Orioles? will introduce their “Most Valuable Fan,” who will be awarded a Caribbean vacation.
