Gimenez gets bad news on injury..Other Astros News Updated!

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Gimenez gets bad news on injury

Timeline: Review Astros in '06 Switch-hitting catcher Hector Gimenez, who was expected to battle for a spot on the roster this spring, could be lost for the season due to a shoulder injury.

Gimenez was examined Monday by team physician Dr. David Lintner and diagnosed with a tear of the labrum in his right shoulder.

"I think I'm going to lose the year," Gimenez said. "For me it's difficult, but it's a problem I've had for two years now. I get better and then it gets hurt again, better and then hurt again. I'd rather lose a year than my whole career."

Gimenez was in competition with Humberto Quintero and Eric Munson to be Brad Ausmus' backup. General manager Tim Purpura said it's likely Gimenez will undergo surgery, which would keep him out at least three to four months.

"I want to sit down with Hector and the trainers and doctors and see what the game plan is," Purpura said. "He's had some labrum issues that haven't gone away. He's rehabbed this a couple of times in the course of his career and each recovery period takes longer. The results aren't quite as good as the time before."

Gimenez, who is out of options, likely will be placed on the disabled list, opening a spot on the 40-man roster.

Injection for Ausmus

Catcher Brad Ausmus took Monday off after receiving a pain-killing cortisone injection in his right shoulder one day earlier. He expects to throw and hit on Tuesday.

Ausmus' shoulder began bothering him in December, and he couldn't lift his arm by January. He had an MRI and an X-ray and was diagnosed with fluid in his rotator cuff.

"It got markedly better, but I could never get it over the hump where I could let it go," Ausmus said. "I could toss, but I couldn't let it go. I asked the doctor to inject it and get it past that last hump. There's no rush, but I don't want to wait until the end of March and get a shot."

Qualls, Patton improve

Righthander Chad Qualls was the only pitcher to throw off the mound Monday.

Qualls, who has been bothered by right shoulder tendinitis, threw a bullpen session and will face live hitters for the first time Wednesday during batting practice.

"That looked like Qualls to me," manager Phil Garner said. "It's kind of like his first day. He'll face some hitters and then we'll see what we do after that."

Meanwhile, lefthander Troy Patton has made great strides in his recovery from a sprained left ankle suffered when he tripped over a sprinkler head Saturday.

"If (today) I improve as much as (Monday), I'll be in good shape," Patton said.

Looking sharp

Some of the Astros on Monday began using a pitching machine that's designed to help improve their vision.

The machine shoots balls marked with colors and numbers at speeds of up to 140 mph, and the players try to identify the markings when the ball goes past them.

Manager Phil Garner first used the device while he was managing in Milwaukee, and Mark Loretta, who played for Garner with the Brewers, helped bring the idea to the Astros.

"The one thing we don't train like we do the rest of our bodies is our eyes," Garner said. "We, in a sense, dumb down.

"When we take batting practice, the eyes are looking at the ball and it's a whole lot slower. It's a good idea."