Schilling's injury a casuality of the business of baseball?

After Schill's performance in last year's playoffs, this injury comes as a big surprise to most of us. But recent reports surfacing about Schill's MRI at season's end indicate that Sox management knew there was wear and tear but willing to take a risk. We're just learning now that the front office was anticipating a trip on the DL with only an 8-10 win season with 100+ innings pitched. He was a great insurance policy if Wake's health didn't hold up. Now you understand the $8m discounted contract vs. the $13M from last season. Unfortunately, no one knew the apparent extent of the damage and/or disease.

It's a nasty Business...

The nature of the disagreement lies within Schill's upper bicept. His own physician, Dr. Phil Morgan, believes there is disease in his bicept that cannot be reversed without surgery. The Sox doctors feel that rest and rehab is the appropriate course of treatment. The Mets doctor was brought in as a 3rd party but agreed with the Sox more cautious approach. After listening to a very convincing interview with Schill's doc, it sure sounds like he may never pitch again - never mind this season.

Now that Schill has taken his first cortizone shot, we'll know in a couple of weeks if he's still in too much pain to rehab. At that point, surgery becomes his only option and potential recovery at age 41 is unlikely before the season ends. Maybe they could have salvaged the month of September if surgery was addressed back in Jan.

The business of baseball ignores the player. From a business standpoint, the Sox want a return on their $8M investment. They only expected minimal return - but a return nonetheless. Their only business option was to push the rest & rehab option with hopes that he could return in Aug or Sep.

From a fans perspective, it makes you sick that they put the investment ahead of the player. Especially a player that has given body & soul to your franchise already. Schill clearly wanted to follow the advice of his physician of 13 years. Why isn't it his choice in the first place? It's his body. Teams shouldn't be able to void a contract based on a reasonable course of treatment.

That being said, there have also been rumblings that Schill hid his injury & discomfort until the new contract was signed. If true, then you could understand the hardball mentality. But based on his past history and the standards he holds himself to, that's a hard one to believe.

Let's hope we haven't seen the last of Schill in a Sox uni...

The Sox certainly aren't the only offenders in this type of scenario. MLB & the Players Union are the ones to blame. They allow teams to be able to take this kind of approach. It's ugly & should be changed. The conflict of what's best for the organzation vs. the player should not be able to be leveraged in either direction.

Impact to the Sox...
Hopefully Schill will remain with the club and help mentor the younger guys. He's an invaluable resource and will probably make an outstanding pitching coach someday. Why not have his first full season as coach pay him $8M?

The loss of Schill doesn't have a huge impact especially if you count on 8-10 wins somewhere else. The only remaining question mark is the health of Wake. But they have backup in Tavares who pitched well out of the 5 spot last year, Kyle Snyder, David Pauley, and potentially upcoming stud Justin Masterson late in the season.

The Sox original plan was to have Clay Bucholz start the season off in AAA. Having only thrown 140 innings in 2007, they were probably going to start him off slow so he didn't run out of gas late in the year. Apparently he's added 10 pounds of muscle in the offseason and is poised to start in the 4 or 5 hole. Don't be surprised to see them skip a few of his starts during the year to compensate.

Injuries can always bite you but with 4 starters age 27 or under, that is unlikely. Wake may spend some time on the DL, but they have enough depth to cover. Dice-K is now in year 2 and recently confessed last season took a physical toll affecting his 2nd half. He's only getting better. Lester apparently put on more muscle as well, but other clubs already thought he was 2nd to Beckett as the Sox best pitcher at the end of last season.

Sox have a solid 1-2-3 with Wake as your 4 and last season's dominating Bucholz in the 5 spot. They're in great shape. Beckett should be a Cy Young candidate once again. If Dice-K can adjust similar to Beckett's second season, look out. Wow.

Worst case, the Sox still have ample resources to make a deal. But it appears they are more willing to stick with the farm.

A few top shelf 2009 free agent options: CC Sabathia, Kris Benson, Rich Harden, John Lackey, Ben Sheets, Joe Blanton. A lot depends on the standings in July, but the A's may be willing to deal in Spring Training.

Some of the boys have already arrived in Fort Myers. The other good sign? The sun is out when leaving work at 5:00. Spring's almost here...