Steroid May Push Chipper Jones' Knee to LImit

Doctors' treatment of Chipper Jones' left knee with topically applied cortisone -- a legal steroid sometimes referred to as a "miracle drug" for its ability to reduce inflammation -- is having a predictable, immediate beneficial effect on the Atlanta Braves third baseman's lingering injury, but time may be short.

The greater amount of cortisone and the longer Jones uses it exposes him to an inherent risk of cumulative brittleness of fibrous tendons, and may hasten Jones' departure toward a point of no return.

Jones' case is aggravated by the fact that this is his second, catastrophic, left knee ACL tear since he was the Braves No. 1 overall draft pick in 1992, the first tear having come during spring training in 1994 when he was trying to beat out a grounder to first base. As a result he missed the entire season.

To accelerate his rehabilitation, the 38-year-old future Hall-of-Famer plans to present himself to trainers in spring camp in just two weeks. He has been swinging the bat in the cage for more than six weeks in Atlanta, but is taking it easy before returning to work around the bag, an activity which caused this most recent ACL injury six months ago.

Jones' recovery will be eight months along by the time the season starts, making it possible but questionable whether Jones will be ready to take the field by opening day. He will be required to undergo extensive strengthening and limbering exercises, including bench work, stationary bike and pool activity.

Even if Jones is able to return to play without a setback due to the cortisone, it's only a matter of time before multiple trauma leads to the onset of arthritic discomfort, if it hasn't started already.

One-time A's Future Closer Joey Devine on Mend

Struggling young pitcher Joey Devine, the one-time closer-of-the-future for the Oakland Athletics, has told a teammate that his recovery from "Tommy John surgery" is on schedule and that he looks forward to game action early next season.

"He thinks that by the end of spring training he'll be ready to face live batters," said former A's closer and now setup man Brad Ziegler in an interview with Sirrius/XM MLB radio channel 175.

Devine, 27, had been given Oakland's closer job during last year's spring camp but underwent elbow surgery in April, after having sustained discomfort likely related to that which interrupted his season the year before. Twelve months is a typical recovery time from the surgical procedure in which the ulner collateral ligament is replaced.

Devine formerly had been cast in the role of future closer for the Braves, but was held back by control problems that ultimately may have manifested in disablement.

The Athletics have since found a closer in the person of Rookie of the Year Andrew Bailey.

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus Sizzles in Caracas

Standout major league shortstop Elvis Andrus -- having received permission from Texas Rangers president Nolan Ryan to delay preparations for travel to spring training in Arizona -- homered for the Mariners in a 7-3 triumph over the Lions in the fifth game of Venezuelan National Baseball League Championship Tuesday in Caracas, the nation's capital.

Play resumes Thursday.

The Mariners now lead the the Lions 3-2 in the seven-game set, with Andrus hitting at a .421 clip, or 8-19. He and brother Erold Andrus, a former prospect in the Tampa Bay Devil Rays system, both homered, the first time brothers have gone deep in the same game in the history of the series. They are Venezuelan natives.

Elvis Andrus initially was to begin preparing for his upcoming departure to Arizona after the fifth game, but received the OK from Texas to stay for the conclusion of the series. Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to the Rangers Cactus League training facility in Surprise, Ariz. on Feb. 18, with a workout scheduled the following day.

Andrus was expected to appear this week at the Ballpark at Arlington for a promotional minicamp.

At 20, the former top prospect in the Atlanta Braves organization, was acquired as part of the Mark Teixiera trade, and fairly delighted the Rangers when he finished second in the Rookie-of-the-Year voting after hitting .267 with 33 steals and 72 runs scored in his 2009 campaign.

Pal Says Clemens Faces Jail Before Cooperstown

While steroid-tarnished Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte enjoys absolution as he tries to win the American League pennant, former teammate Roger Clemens remains under a cloud that will not go away until he faces the possibility of prison by coming clean as Pettitte did, a career-long friend says.

"If he wants to go to the Hall of Fame," says Clemens' college teammate Rusty Uresti, "he's going to have to go back and tell them to 'lock me up for perjury' or whatever. He should have got his story straight with Pettitte, say that he was just trying to help the team."

While Clemens has sworn under oath that he never used performance-enhancing drugs, he could face a finding of contempt of Congress or other retribution if it is proved he is lying.

Pettitte acknowledged using a banned substance, asking and receiving understanding and forgiveness. Clemens meanwhile is sticking with his story, and has filed various motions and countersuits to save his reputation.

The irony is that if Clemens took drugs it means only that he was just doing what other players were doing at that time, given the tacit standards and norms of his era, said Uresti. As soon as bans were enforced, it was over, he said.

"He never tested positive," said the former Atlanta Braves minor league catcher and Mexican League pitcher caught Clemens in his final year at University of Texas in 1983. Now residing in the Austin area, Uresti works as a professional caddy for PGA tour members, including Robert Gamez, Frank Lickliter and others.

Uresti and Clemens have stayed acquainted over the years though neither Uresti nor other former teammates tend to discuss Clemens' legal troubles when they see him, Uresti said. The subject is pointless, as most players from Clemens' time understand that it used to be more or less acceptable to do whatever you could to stay productive,' Uresti said.

Uresti said he likely would have tested positive if he had been examined duringhis baseball playing days as he ocassionally used a topically applied type of horse linament that was commonly found in lockerrooms in the 1980s and more recently.

He thought little of it at the time.