Kip

A little stiff, Paul Meyer reports.

That's not good news, of course.

Sometimes the dread "forearm stiffness" anticipates a season-ending injury. Reds "closer-in-waiting" Ryan Wagner was shut down last year with stiffness in his forearm which turned out to be tendinitis. Kevin Appier was shut down last year after having trouble with his forearm. Bobby Howry's 2004 season ended after a DL stint with the stiffness de forearm.

Sometimes it characterizes the ever-injured, such as Wilson Alvarez, who has had his shutdowns with tight forearms.

But sometimes it's just nothing or goes away. Andy Pettitte struggled last May. He had a pretty good year. Kevin Appier had some stiffness in his forearm in 2002 and came back strong.

So which is it ... maimed, brittle, or no big deal? Tune in next week. Same Bat-time, same Bat-channel ...

Get well, Kip. We need you big guy.