03-04-2006, 09:46 AM
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#1
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I SeeŠ
Elite Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: The Bronx, NYC
Posts: 32,784
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Wood Opts for Surgery; Schilling on Fire
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Quote:
A healthy Curt Schilling was encouraged by his sharp spring debut - even if it came against college hitters. Kerry Wood and Jose Guillen aren't feeling quite as strong.
Schilling struck out his first two batters and allowed one hit in four shutout innings to lead a split squad of Red Sox to a 10-0 win Friday over Boston College in Fort Myers, Fla. It was a promising start for the Boston ace, who went 8-8 with a 5.69 ERA and spent 76 days on the disabled list last year.
"If I thought about how I felt last year in my best start and ranked it, today was in a different stratosphere from a physical standpoint," said Schilling, whose right ankle was never at full strength last season.
Schilling went 21-6 with a 3.24 ERA in 2004 and pitched Game 6 of the ALCS and Game 2 of the World Series with the torn sheath of his ankle tendon sutured into place so it wouldn't flop over the bone when he pitched. The Red Sox won both games and their first World Series championship since 1918.
"I think I can be better than I was in 2004 simply because I have 2004 to use as an experience. I'm a year smarter on the hitters in this league," Schilling said. "I don't go into any season looking to duplicate something I've already done. I'm trying to do something I've never done before."
Wood, however, is ailing again. The Chicago Cubs' pitcher will have minor arthroscopic surgery on his right knee next week, general manager Jim Hendry said. The 28-year-old right-hander had arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder Aug. 31 and was not expected to be ready for the start of the season.
Wood has been on the disabled list nine times in a professional career that began in 1995 after he was the fourth player chosen in the draft. He is 70-54 with a 3.67 ERA and 1,286 career strikeouts in 1,109 innings.
An All-Star in 2003, Wood was 3-4 with a 4.23 ERA in 21 games last year. He was slowed by injuries all season, missing about three months while going on the disabled list three times.
"It's better now than later," Chicago manager Dusty Baker said after a 15-8 victory over the Seattle Mariners in Peoria, Ariz. "He's been working out real hard on his lower half all winter, so fortunately this is the time of year when he shouldn't be set back too far."
The Washington Nationals could be without Guillen for three months because of a wrist injury. The outfielder was examined early Friday by a hand specialist, who diagnosed swollen tendons and a damaged tendon in his left wrist.
The doctor recommended surgery, which would likely keep Guillen out of the lineup until June. In Viera, Fla., the Nationals said Guillen will travel to Baltimore on Saturday for a second opinion.
In Jupiter, Fla., the agent for Florida second baseman Pokey Reese contacted the Marlins to let them know Reese is safe after he failed to show up for two consecutive days of spring training without explanation, the team said.
Reese, a two-time Gold Glove winner, spent all of last season on the disabled list with the Seattle Mariners following shoulder surgery. He signed with the Marlins in December
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