Feb 7, 2008 10:43 pm US/Eastern
Curt Schilling Could Miss Season
Reporting
Dan Roche
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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Curt Schilling in Game 2 of the 2007 World Series.
Nick Laham/Getty Images
It's not the news Red Sox fans want with just one week to go before pitchers and catchers report for duty in Fort Myers, Florida.
WBZ-TV's Dan Roche reports that veteran pitcher Curt Schilling is dealing with an injury to his right shoulder. The injury is believed to be serious enough that it could cause Schilling to miss a significant amount of time, perhaps what was to be his final season.
Schilling and the Red Sox were unavailable for comment despite repeated attempts to reach both parties.
However, the Red Sox released a statement Thursday night saying, "Curt Schilling was examined by Red Sox doctors in January after he reported feeling right shoulder discomfort. Curt has started a program of rest, rehabilitation and shoulder strengthening in an attempt to return to pitching."
Schilling wrote about the issue on his Web site,
38pitches.com.
The dispute over Schilling's treatment went far enough to lead Schilling to consult with the players' union over his rights. According to a side letter to the collective bargaining agreement, the player has the right to seek a second opinion from his own doctor, but it's in dispute what happens when the team's doctor and the player's disagree on the treatment.
"I have been consulted by Curt and his representative," said Michael Weiner, a lawyer for the players association. "The Red Sox have no basis to take any action against Curt."
Schilling, who spent seven weeks on the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis last year, went 9-8 with a 3.87 ERA during the regular season last year. In the playoffs, he went 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA to help the Red Sox win their second World Series in four seasons.
He agreed in November to a contract that allows him to earn an addition $5 million in performance and weight bonuses.
The 41-year-old Schilling agreed to come back for one final season at $8 million in base pay, plus incentives.
Schilling had shoulder issues during the 2007 regular season and had to shut it down for seven weeks. However, he was 3-0 in the postseason.
The best-case scenario would be that Schilling heals quickly and can contribute at some point in 2008. Worse-case, he is forced to retire.
Stay with
wbztv.com and WBZ-TV for the latest on this story.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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