Cautious Warthen reschedules Pelfrey's bullpen session

CINCINNATI - Mike Pelfrey showed up at Great American Ball Park Tuesday ready for a bullpen session in preparation for his start on Friday. It would have been the first time he threw since having an MRI on his shoulder on Monday.

Pelfrey got all stretched out and was ready to begin when pitching coach Dan Warthen pulled the plug and told Pelfrey to come back Wednesday.

"It's just a common-sense thing," Warthen said. "One hundred percent me. He was ready to go. I said, 'Let's use common sense. If we get a chance to get it quiet, let's do it.' "

Pelfrey had the MRI because he felt tightness in his shoulder before, during and after his start against the Phillies on Saturday. Everyone insists he is fine, including general manager Omar Minaya, who is not on this trip but indicated a low level of concern in a telephone interview.

"I trust Danny," Minaya said. "As far as I've been told, the MRI showed nothing major and Pelfrey should be good to make his next start."

Warthen called the ailment "tendinitis" and Pelfrey called it "tightness" or "discomfort." Pelfrey said his MRI showed some inflammation but nothing structurally wrong.

"I think every pitcher would have inflammation on an MRI," Pelfrey said. "It's nothing serious."

Warthen said he wants Pelfrey to throw a lighter-than-normal bullpen session Wednesday, what he called "a touch-and-feel."

Pelfrey said he's "175 percent" sure he'll start Friday against the Giants. "Friday at 7:08 when you look out there I'll be warming up on the mound," he said. "Ready to chuck."

Minaya's gamble

The news that Kelvim Escobar will have shoulder surgery Wednesday means Minaya's gamble of giving the oft-injured righthander $1.25 million didn't work out. But Minaya said he understood the risk.

"We all take gambles in our business," he said. " . . . It was a low risk with a potential high reward. Unfortunately, it didn't work out."