The Red Sox ace will need surgery and might not pitch again this postseason.
By MARC TOPKIN
Published October 14, 2004
NEW YORK - If the Red Sox are going to get to the World Series, they likely are going to have to do it without Curt Schilling.
Red Sox officials said Wednesday that Schilling won't pitch again in this series unless they can find a way to stabilize a right ankle injury - specifically a tendon snapping over the bone because of a tear in the surrounding sheath - that will require surgery.
"We're going to take another shot at it and continue to use every medical technique under the sun to try to get this tendon stabilized so he can go out there again," general manager Theo Epstein said.
"If we can get that tendon to be stabilized so he can pitch with his normal delivery, he'll be out there and then have the surgery when we are done playing. If we can't, he's done."
If Schilling isn't able to pitch in Game 5 Sunday, he is likely to be replaced by Derek Lowe, who was bumped to the bullpen for the postseason after an up-and-down season in which he went 14-12 with a 5.42 ERA and who isn't happy about it.
"I hope he does get back out there," Lowe said. "You don't want to get it by default. ... To be relegated to this role is frustrating."
Schilling pitched with a custom-made brace Tuesday that was designed to keep the tendon in the natural groove. That didn't work and, with the tendon moving and rubbing against a bone, Schilling was unable to get his usual push off the mound. Even after receiving shots of an anesthetic, he could not pitch effectively, lasting three innings with a noticeable lack of velocity and sharpness.
Now team medical officials will try to come up with a bracing technique that will keep the tendon stable out of the groove.
Team physician William Morgan said they were "relatively optimistic" they could come up with something that would work, but they felt the same about the brace Schilling wore Tuesday. "We have no guarantees," Morgan said.
Epstein said the brace not only must stabilize Schilling's ankle but allow him to pitch with his normal mechanics so there is no concern of related injuries. Schilling is expected to test the ankle in a bullpen session before Friday's game.
"We won't compromise the team by sending out a Curt Schilling who won't be effective, as we won't sacrifice Curt's long-term health, either," Epstein said.
Morgan said a nonathlete with the same condition would have his ankle in a cast. When Schilling has the surgery, he will need about three months for recovery and rehabilitation.
Schilling declined to comment Wednesday. After Tuesday's game, he said, "If I can't go out there with something better than what I had today, I won't go back out there."
