Back Pain Today
Hulk Hogan Hospitalized with Back Pain
Hulk Hogan has been hospitalized with back pain, his rep tells TVGuide.com.
The 57-year-old wrestling legend (real name: Terry Bollea) was taken Monday to the Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater, Fla.
Hogan, who recently appeared on Comedy Central’s Roast of David Hasselhoff and starred on the reality series Hogan Knows Best, posted a twitvid of himself in the emergency room Monday, telling his fans: “My back went into a major spasm from hip all the way to the middle of my back — it just totally overwhelmed me.”
On Tuesday, Hogan posted another twitvid saying he was feeling better and had several tests scheduled for the day.
View original Hulk Hogan Hospitalized with Back Pain at TVGuide.com
Back pain could end season for Florida Marlins’ Josh Johnson
PHILADELPHIA — Josh Johnson’s next start is up in the air because of tightness and pain in his back, and whether he pitches again this season is uncertain as well.
Johnson will fly home to South Florida on Wednesday to have his back and throwing shoulder examined by Dr. Lee Kaplan. Manager Edwin Rodriguez said the Marlins are more concerned about Johnson’s back than his shoulder.
Johnson definitely will miss Friday’s start and it is possible that he could be shut down for the remainder of the season.
Johnson’s routine side session throwing in the bullpen Tuesday was called off and Johnson did not take part in stretching exercises with the rest of his teammates before batting practice, either.
Instead, he remained in the training room, receiving treatment. Rodriguez said the severity of the problem at this point is uncertain.
Johnson’s injury comes at a tough time for the Marlins starting rotation. The starting staff already has been crippled by the loss of Ricky Nolasco to a torn meniscus in his right knee and pending suspensions for Chris Volstad and Alex Sanabia for their roles in a benches-clearing brawl with the Washington Nationals.
A source said Johnson has been bothered by the back issue for a while.
Johnson, who pitched in the All-Star Game on July 13, has a record of 1-3 with a 4.25 ERA in his seven starts since Aug. 1. Before then, he had gone 10-3 with a 1.73 ERA.
ON A FRANCHISE-RECORD PACE
Logan Morrison has hit the major-league scene like a one-man wrecking crew, and not just because he continues to collide with his teammates on fly balls as he continues to learn a new position.
Entering Tuesday, Morrison has reached base safely in 28 consecutive games after a first-inning double Tuesday, leaving him eight games shy of Hanley Ramirez’s rookie record for the Marlins.
“Not fearing being behind in the count is a big factor,” hitting coach John Mallee said of Morrison. “He doesn’t have that fear.”
Granted, Morrison’s sample size is small since he wasn’t called up until July 27.
But, of all major league players with at least 150 plate appearances, his on-base percentage of .421 is the same as Cincinnati’s Joey Votto and ranks below only Justin Morneau (.437) of the Twins and Miguel Cabrera (.428) of the Tigers.
“Those guys are great at what they do,” Morrison said. “I’m not there yet. But, hopefully one day.”
INJURY UPDATES
• Reliever Leo Nuñez said his stiff neck is improving, but it still could be a few more days before he’s able to pitch.
• Adalberto Mendez, who won his major-league debut on Monday but left the game after pulling up lame at first following his first big-league hit, was feeling better Tuesday and should be available to start again.