Pirates Director of Sports Medicine Todd Tomczyk knocked on a wooden table top when he was reminded that about a year ago at this time his weekly injury updates lasted 4 or 5 times as long after Wednesday's briefing was just that - brief..
Tomczyk says after two days of not throwing Chris Archer played catch this morning and will continue the next coming days. "From there, we'll get him off a mound and throw a side," Tomczyk said, "then we'll reconvene with our pitching group and go from there ... but overall good progress for Chris." Archer was a late scratch from Monday's game against the Yankees with a cervical neck strain.
Jamison Taillon, meanwhile, is throwing off flat ground from 90 feet. "He continues to make nice progress, adjustments in mechanics," which Tomczyk said Taillon identified himself in an effort to avoid arm trouble when he returns next season.
Tomczyk said infielder Erik Gonzalez, who is recovering from off-season foot surgery after he was hurt playing winter ball, is close to resuming a full baserunning program and once he does he'll be close to being cleared for game action.
And with that, Tomczyk knocked on wood.