Padres Mailbag: Luebke return delayed
By Bill Center
July 2, 2013
San Diego Padres' Cory Luebke works against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game on Friday, April 27, 2012, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) San Diego Padres' Cory Luebke works against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game on Friday, April 27, 2012, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) ? AP
Although few of you seem to like the Padres starting rotation as it is currently contoured, several readers this past week questioned the wisdom of trading prospects for a rental pitcher with starters Cory Luebke and Joe Wieland returning from the disabled list.
Others wondered who might be the top pitchers on the Padres wish list.
Well, the Padres are probably wishing that the left-handed Luebke would be farther along in his rehab than he is.
Originally, the Padres were hoping that Luebke, who had ?Tommy John? elbow reconstruction surgery on May 23, 2012, would be ready to return by around July 1. That is now looking more like Sept. 1.
Wieland might return before Luebke, although he had his surgery six weeks after Luebke. The Padres believe Wieland might be back by Aug. 15.
While Wieland?s rehab has gone without a hitch, Luebke has twice been shut down due to discomfort in his left elbow as he was close to getting back on the mound. Currently, Luebke is throwing from flat ground at 75 feet.
Luebke?s delays are not out of the parameters for rehabbing from ?Tommy John? surgery and famed Alabama orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews has assured Luebke and the Padres that everything looks good in the elbow.
But the time period for returning from ?Tommy John? surgery is 12 months to 18 months.
?Joe looks more like a 12-monther,? said Luebke. ?I?m just hoping it won?t be a full 18 months for me. Dr. Andrews showed me a list of the pitchers who did need 18 months. Some pretty impressive names on the list.?