Wirth likely done this season

MARION – Rob Wirth hasn't called it a season, but will be out at least another four weeks after a Friday CAT scan revealed a broken bone in his wrist.

Wirth, the Southern Illinois Miners' starting catcher for most of the season, will miss between four and six weeks after getting diagnosed with a broken hamate bone.

"I'm always optimistic, and I think we will make the playoffs. I plan on, hopefully, coming back," Wirth said as he watched Traverse City take batting practice prior to Friday's game. "Right now, I'm just trying to keep my legs in shape; trying to do anything I can to stay in good baseball shape, I guess. Right now I'm just trying to soak up this bad news."

A .298 hitter, Wirth played in 52 games before taking a cut against River City Monday at Rent One Park.

Wirth said he hurt the wrist holding the bat too hard or with an awkward swing that night. He scored 30 runs, third-best on the team, and was third on the squad in RBIs (31). Today he will be fitted with a cast, where his wrist will try to heal itself as the Miners try to get back into the wild card race.

Doctors told Wirth surgery was probably not his best option, because the bone did not shift when it broke, but the prognosis did little to lessen the blow.

"It's really a three-prong hit," Miners manager Mike Pinto said. "You're losing a guy in the middle of the order, who hit four for us most of the year. You're losing a .300 hitter and a guy who knows every one of your pitchers, knows the league and calls our games.

That's a big hit."

Pinto said the wrist would be re-examined in about three weeks.

Wirth, 26, wasn't sure if he would return to his hometown of Wonder Lake or stay with the team through its final five weeks of the regular season. Should the Miners make the postseason, the first round of the playoffs would fall in the sixth week of Wirth's rehabilitation.

"I'm just going to hang around, try to help the catcher, help these guys get to the playoffs, and see what happens," Wirth said.

Source: http://www.thesouthern.com/articles/2007/07/28/sports/20995141.txt