Post by Fish Troll on Feb 8, 2008 19:25:09 GMT -5
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- The doctor who claims he knows Curt Schilling's shoulder "better than anybody who breathes on this planet" insists surgery is the only way the 20-year veteran can pitch again.
But Boston's team physician disagrees. He believes rehabilitation is the best way for Schilling to play this year.
Caught in the middle are Schilling and his $8 million contract.
"I think his chance of coming back to pitching with rehab or a conservative approach is zero," Dr. Craig Morgan said Friday in telephone interview with The Associated Press. "He might not come back after surgery, either. However, if the surgery is successful, he should be fully rehabbed by about All-Star break."
Schilling wrote on his blog, 38pitches.com, on Thursday night that he has agreed to the club's request to rely on rest and rehabilitation.
He didn't have much choice if he wanted to avoid having the Red Sox invalidate his contract, Morgan said.
"On our conference call on Wednesday it was their strong recommendation that he go with the conservative approach," Morgan said, "and, furthermore, it was their strong, how do I say this, they would not approve him having surgery. Basically, according to the collective bargaining agreement, if they don't approve it, they don't have to pay him. His contract's null and void."
But Boston's team physician disagrees. He believes rehabilitation is the best way for Schilling to play this year.
Caught in the middle are Schilling and his $8 million contract.
"I think his chance of coming back to pitching with rehab or a conservative approach is zero," Dr. Craig Morgan said Friday in telephone interview with The Associated Press. "He might not come back after surgery, either. However, if the surgery is successful, he should be fully rehabbed by about All-Star break."
Schilling wrote on his blog, 38pitches.com, on Thursday night that he has agreed to the club's request to rely on rest and rehabilitation.
He didn't have much choice if he wanted to avoid having the Red Sox invalidate his contract, Morgan said.
"On our conference call on Wednesday it was their strong recommendation that he go with the conservative approach," Morgan said, "and, furthermore, it was their strong, how do I say this, they would not approve him having surgery. Basically, according to the collective bargaining agreement, if they don't approve it, they don't have to pay him. His contract's null and void."
So why can't Boston void Schilling contract and offer him a new one while letting him get the surgery. If Schilling goes out and and have a bad season, this would look bad on Boston decision. Though Shillings is getting old and doesn't have much years left in him.
