Rockies closer Street hopes for late April return

[April 01, 2010]  TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- Colorado Rockies closer Huston Street said on Sunday that shoulder stiffness that has sidelined him this spring is lingering, but he will try and throw through the problem with hopes of being able to join the active roster by the end of April.

Street said after back-to-back throwing sessions on Friday and Saturday "it didn't go any better, but we are going to stay with the throwing program, see if we work through it."

Street has already been shut down twice this spring because of the stiffness, but the rest did not alleviate the problem.

"We have set a time frame which we hope will have me back by the end of (April)," he said.

Street said the decision to try and throw through the stiffness was made because rest has not helped and because his latest MRI did not reveal any structural problems.

"I have had three MRIs since I have been here, when I was acquired, when I signed (a three-year contract during the offseason) and this spring," said Street. "The good sign is the MRI I just had actually looks better than the other two."

Street was shut down briefly on Feb. 26, and then again on March 11.

"I didn't even pick up a ball for 11 days, and we hoped the long layoff would eliminate the problem, but it didn't," said Street.

Street said there is frustration because he has never had an arm problem that has lingered like this one.

"I've had arm things that come and go," he said. "Even last year, when I had the biceps problem, after three weeks I was back and ready. That hasn't happened this time."

With Street opening the season on the disabled list, the Rockies plan to use lefty Franklin Morales as the closer. Morales was 6 for 6 in that role during Street's absence last September.

[Associated Press]

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