The Sox refrained from comment until last night, issuing this brief statement: "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."
Sources with direct knowledge of Schilling's condition have indicated that a partial tear of his rotator cuff may be involved, and that there is no question his shoulder is showing considerable wear and tear from pitching professionally for 22 years.
Schilling, who declined comment to reporters, posted an entry last night on his website in which he did not reveal details of the injury and acknowledged that he and the team differed on the best way to proceed.
"There have been disagreements these past few weeks in an effort to provide me with a solution that would allow me to pitch as much as possible during the 2008 season," Schilling wrote. "At no time did I ever consider taking a course of action against the club's wishes. In the end, regardless of who agreed with whom, I have chosen the club's course of action and will vigorously pursue any and every option I can to be able to help this team to another World Series title in 2008."
Schilling did not indicate when he thought he'd be able to pitch.
He passed a physical before he signed a one-year, $8 million contract last November. But the pitcher experienced a recurrence of the shoulder discomfort that sidelined him for seven weeks last summer. In addition to seeing Gill, Schilling flew to Delaware Jan. 28 to see Dr. Craig Morgan, who repaired his shoulder when he was with the Phillies in 1995. While Gill recommended rest and rehabilitation, much like the treatment followed by former Sox pitcher Pedro Martínez in 2001, Morgan urged surgery for Schilling, according to one source with direct knowledge of the medical issues involved, which conceivably could have ended Schilling's career.
The Boston Herald reported Morgan recommended surgery on Schilling's biceps tendon. Morgan spoke with the newspaper with Schilling's permission. Schilling did not respond to a similar request from the Globe.
