Schilling to Miss Entire 2008 Season?
Nick Cafardo and Gordon Edes of The Boston Globe are reporting that
Curt Schilling will not be ready for spring training due to issues with
his right shoulder (yep, that's his throwing arm). Furthermore, he is
currently engaged in disputes with the team over whether or not he
needs surgery. If Schilling does indeed need surgery on the injured
shoulder it could cost him his entire 2008 season. Assuming that
Schilling will not be ready for the start of the season, rookie Clay
Buchholz will most likely replace him in the rotation.
While this is shocking news, this could end up being a blessing in disguise. Although my professional opinion is that Curt is faking this shoulder injury so he doesn't have to get in shape (I'm only half joking on that assertion), he is still an effective pitcher and a great clubhouse presence, so he will still contribute to the team's overall success either way. But the fact remains, if "All the Way" Clay ends up taking his spot, it won't be the end of the world. In case you forgot, Buchholz is only the 19th pitcher in MLB history to toss a no-hitter as a rookie. Don't expect this to impede his growth if he does start the year in the Red Sox' rotation.
UPDATE:
2.7.2008, 8:47 PM
The Boston Globe is reporting that the injury under consideration is a torn rotator cuff and that the Sox would like Schilling to rehab the shoulder as opposed to undergoing surgery, a move that will keep him sidelined for at least half the season. Schill may elect to have surgery against the team's wishes, but that would possibly void his contract, ending his career in Boston. Others speculate that Schilling may retire instead of going through the grueling rehabilitation process. We'll keep you updated as we learn more.
UPDATE:
2.8.2008, 1:20 AM
More news on the travails of Schill's shoulder: The Boston Herald reports that Dr. Craig Morgan has deduced that the main problem is in the bicipital groove, which is the portion of the bicep tendon that connects to the outside of the shoulder. Morgan - not to be confused with the former Sox team doctor and convicted drunk-driver who shares his last name, Bill Morgan - apparently believes that corrective surgery is the best route to take, but the Sox's medical team still feels otherwise. Morgan insists that the problem is irreversible if left to heal via cortisone shots and rehab and that Schill may still be ready after the All-Star break if surgery is performed. Apparently the rotator cuff is still a concern, as well, so this seems to be a lose-lose situation. Whatever course Schill and the Sox take, it seems more and more likely that rookie phenom Clay Buchholz will start the season in the rotation.
UPDATE:
2.8.2008, 4:03 PM
Schilling was set to receive a cortisone shot today, which would seem to indicate that he has reluctantly accepted the team's proposal to undergo a treatment course of rest, rehab, and strengthening/conditioning. Sox doctors insist that surgery will impede Schill's chance to pitch at all this season, while Curt's personal physician, Dr. Craig Morgan, believes that the Sox's rehab program will be just as damaging and may potentially worsen the problem, putting Schill's career - not just the 2008 season - in jeopardy. Schilling denies that there's any problem with his rotator cuff, an injury first diagnosed by Mets' medical director Dr. David Altchek after Morgan and Sox medical director Thomas Gill could not agree on a proper course of treatment. After much deliberation (why is it so hard for the two sides - i.e. Schill and the Sox - who apparently like each other so much, to get on the same page here?), Altchek was selected to give a second opinion; after examining Schill himself, Altchek agreed with Morgan's diagnosis, but favored the conservative approach the Sox had prescribed. All medical personnel involved agree on the injury to Schill's bicep tendon; it is the ideal course of treatment everyone continues to disagree about.
It's too bad that this has been the extent of the Sox's hot-stove news so far this offseason (aside from the signings of a couple backup bench-riders and long-shot relievers), but at least this allows us to speculate upon a rotation that will likely include either Clay Buchholz or Jon Lester (or both). A trade for another starter is still not out of the question, and at this point the best bet would seem to be Joe Blanton of the Oakland A's. A's GM Billy Beane is a big Coco Crisp fan, so it is feasible that a deal could be struck if Beane and Sox GM Theo Epstein can agree on the prospects the Sox would send Oakland's way. A rotation of Beckett, Dice-K, Blanton, Wakefield, and Buchholz/Lester would certainly be fun to watch, perhaps more so than a rotation that would have Schilling in the 2 or 3 spot. Blanton finished last season at 14-10 with a 3.95 ERA, 140 K's, and a 1.22 WHIP in 230 innings. Big Joe's 230 IP was second among AL pitchers. In an injury shortened season, Schill finished at 9-8 with a 3.87 ERA, 101 K's, and a 1.25 WHIP in 151 innings. As usual, more on this as the story unfolds.
While this is shocking news, this could end up being a blessing in disguise. Although my professional opinion is that Curt is faking this shoulder injury so he doesn't have to get in shape (I'm only half joking on that assertion), he is still an effective pitcher and a great clubhouse presence, so he will still contribute to the team's overall success either way. But the fact remains, if "All the Way" Clay ends up taking his spot, it won't be the end of the world. In case you forgot, Buchholz is only the 19th pitcher in MLB history to toss a no-hitter as a rookie. Don't expect this to impede his growth if he does start the year in the Red Sox' rotation.
UPDATE:
2.7.2008, 8:47 PM
The Boston Globe is reporting that the injury under consideration is a torn rotator cuff and that the Sox would like Schilling to rehab the shoulder as opposed to undergoing surgery, a move that will keep him sidelined for at least half the season. Schill may elect to have surgery against the team's wishes, but that would possibly void his contract, ending his career in Boston. Others speculate that Schilling may retire instead of going through the grueling rehabilitation process. We'll keep you updated as we learn more.
UPDATE:
2.8.2008, 1:20 AM
More news on the travails of Schill's shoulder: The Boston Herald reports that Dr. Craig Morgan has deduced that the main problem is in the bicipital groove, which is the portion of the bicep tendon that connects to the outside of the shoulder. Morgan - not to be confused with the former Sox team doctor and convicted drunk-driver who shares his last name, Bill Morgan - apparently believes that corrective surgery is the best route to take, but the Sox's medical team still feels otherwise. Morgan insists that the problem is irreversible if left to heal via cortisone shots and rehab and that Schill may still be ready after the All-Star break if surgery is performed. Apparently the rotator cuff is still a concern, as well, so this seems to be a lose-lose situation. Whatever course Schill and the Sox take, it seems more and more likely that rookie phenom Clay Buchholz will start the season in the rotation.
UPDATE:
2.8.2008, 4:03 PM
Schilling was set to receive a cortisone shot today, which would seem to indicate that he has reluctantly accepted the team's proposal to undergo a treatment course of rest, rehab, and strengthening/conditioning. Sox doctors insist that surgery will impede Schill's chance to pitch at all this season, while Curt's personal physician, Dr. Craig Morgan, believes that the Sox's rehab program will be just as damaging and may potentially worsen the problem, putting Schill's career - not just the 2008 season - in jeopardy. Schilling denies that there's any problem with his rotator cuff, an injury first diagnosed by Mets' medical director Dr. David Altchek after Morgan and Sox medical director Thomas Gill could not agree on a proper course of treatment. After much deliberation (why is it so hard for the two sides - i.e. Schill and the Sox - who apparently like each other so much, to get on the same page here?), Altchek was selected to give a second opinion; after examining Schill himself, Altchek agreed with Morgan's diagnosis, but favored the conservative approach the Sox had prescribed. All medical personnel involved agree on the injury to Schill's bicep tendon; it is the ideal course of treatment everyone continues to disagree about.
It's too bad that this has been the extent of the Sox's hot-stove news so far this offseason (aside from the signings of a couple backup bench-riders and long-shot relievers), but at least this allows us to speculate upon a rotation that will likely include either Clay Buchholz or Jon Lester (or both). A trade for another starter is still not out of the question, and at this point the best bet would seem to be Joe Blanton of the Oakland A's. A's GM Billy Beane is a big Coco Crisp fan, so it is feasible that a deal could be struck if Beane and Sox GM Theo Epstein can agree on the prospects the Sox would send Oakland's way. A rotation of Beckett, Dice-K, Blanton, Wakefield, and Buchholz/Lester would certainly be fun to watch, perhaps more so than a rotation that would have Schilling in the 2 or 3 spot. Blanton finished last season at 14-10 with a 3.95 ERA, 140 K's, and a 1.22 WHIP in 230 innings. Big Joe's 230 IP was second among AL pitchers. In an injury shortened season, Schill finished at 9-8 with a 3.87 ERA, 101 K's, and a 1.25 WHIP in 151 innings. As usual, more on this as the story unfolds.
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