Baseball

A's closer to defy advice, have surgery

By wire services
Published June 3, 2005

OAKLAND, Calif. - Athletics closer Octavio Dotel will have reconstructive elbow surgery as soon as possible despite receiving recommendations from four doctors that he try to rehabilitate the injury first.

Dotel will be sidelined at least a year and possibly two.

"Octavio does not feel he can pitch with the level of pain he was pitching with," A's trainer Larry Davis said Thursday. "Everybody's tolerance level is different. Octavio feels like he's tried long enough. ... He's been throwing a long time and is tired of recurrent tendinitis."

Dotel, who blew four saves in five outings from April 30 to May 11, had the elbow examined by Angels doctor Lewis Yocum and Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala. Andrews, also the Devil Rays medical director, will perform the ligament replacement surgery.

"It's not anything anybody is doing handsprings over," Davis said of Dotel's decision. "In our estimation, you'd like to have everybody give it another try before you do this, so you think you've done everything possible to avoid this."

Davis said he has never seen a player so adamant about having surgery in spite of doctors' advice.

GRAVES A FREE AGENT: Reds career saves leader Danny Graves cleared waivers and was released, freeing him to sign with any team.

Graves, a former Brandon High standout, had struggled since joining the team's starting rotation two years ago. His fastball has slowed substantially and his control has eluded him. Back in the bullpen, he was 1-1 with 10 saves and a 7.76 ERA this season.

He was jeered after another poor performance May 22 and responded with an obscene hand gesture.

O'S STAR AILING: Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts is scheduled for an MRI exam today on his right shoulder after missing two games with a strained rotator cuff, the Baltimore Sun reported on its Web site. Roberts is in the midst of a breakout season with a .368 average, .449 on-base percentage and .642 slugging percentage, 266 points higher than his career best.

DOING DAD PROUD: Dusty Wathan had a career day in the minors with his major-league dad in attendance. The son of former Royals catcher and manager John Wathan hit three homers, including a grand slam, and drove in nine to lead the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons over Toledo 13-1. Dusty said his father just happened to be at the game.

NIKE DROPS GIAMBI: Jason Giambi no longer has an endorsement deal with Nike. The Yankees' slumping slugger confirmed a report by ESPN.com that he does not have a relationship with the shoe company anymore.

GONZALEZ HITS DL: Oft-injured Indians outfielder Juan Gonzalez went on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring. Outfielder Coco Crisp was activated to replace Gonzalez, whose latest comeback bid lasted one at-bat.

METS: Shea Stadium's infield sprinkler system interrupted play for two minutes in the first inning. With Arizona's Luis Gonzalez batting against Pedro Martinez , the sprinklers suddenly began spraying.

TWINS: First baseman Justin Morneau , second baseman Nick Punto and catcher Joe Mauer were injured. Morneau tweaked his left elbow while hitting balls off a tee and is day to day. Punto is headed to the disabled list after pulling his right hamstring while trying to steal second, and Mauer aggravated a groin strain that kept him out last month.

[Last modified June 3, 2005, 01:17:06]