Boston.com is saying he won't have surgery and he won't pitch until July. The differing medical opinions are interesting, and make me wonder if maybe the two physicians (Sox medical director Thomas Gill, and outsider Craig Morgan) don't have different goals in mind. The article says that the surgery Morgan recommends "conceivably could have ended his career". How so? Would that be because it would take him out for the whole season, and it's unlikely that Schilling has another season in him...or would it be because the repair would result in a shoulder that's functional for daily activities but not for baseball? Is it possible that Morgan is thinking, "Here's a human being who's going to have to live with that shoulder for another thirty years," and Gill thinking about how to get another season out of Schilling?
It wouldn't be the first time a Sox player has been put in an uncomfy position by the team's medical staff, but all the other incidents that spring to mind (John Valentin, etc.) pre-date the current ownership.
He said, she said.
Man, that didn't take long. Only about 72 hours after the Super Bowl, and already the Patriots are off the front pages in Boston. Speculation is that Schilling might have been pitching in the post-season with a bad shoulder. It wouldn't be the first time he has played through injury. If he can rehab, rest the arm, and make it back for the last couple of months of the season, he will be an asset to the Boston staff. In the meantime, Lester and Buchholz can pick up the slack. There may well be another arm or 2 in AAA or even AA that can come up if necessary (Buchholz began last year in AA). I don't think anyone will be crying for the Red Sox over this.
Dr. Craig Morgan, the personal physician for Curt Schilling, says the right-hander's problems stem from a ''diseased'' biceps tendon and the chances of his pitching again without surgery are almost nil.
"Diseased"? What the heck does that mean, that it's necrotic or infected or something? If that's the case, I'd think that pitching again isn't his most pressing problem.
