Orioles' Scott Could Be Done For Season
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Baltimore Orioles left fielder Luke Scott is probably done for the season, or at best headed for an extended stay on the disabled list with a troublesome shoulder injury.
Scott has a torn labrum in his right shoulder. He was activated from the 15-day DL before Friday night's game against the Los Angeles Angels, but after going 0 for 3 he was poised to be replaced by a pinch hitter for his final at-bat as the designated hitter. The game ended with Nolan Reimold in the on-deck circle in Scott's place.
"He was not going to take that last at-bat," manager Buck Showalter said of Scott.
Scott wanted to play through the injury for three to five days before deciding whether it was possible to stave off undergoing a rehabilitation program or surgery until the offseason. He evidently only needed one night to make an assessment.
"He wanted to take a shot at it this weekend to see if it would be workable," Showalter said. "That's probably an avenue we won't go down anymore."
Scott didn't talk to the media after the game, but the downtrodden look on his face served as an indication that he was
tired of playing in pain.
"I'm not going to put words in his mouth. The paint isn't even dry," Showalter said. "Luke is a tough guy. A lot of guys would want to have flew the coop, but he wanted to play. He knew it was something he would have to do anyway. I applaud him for that -- the want to -- but it's not fair to the Orioles or to Luke to proceed down this path anymore. As far as what happens from here, that's Luke's decision. You're going to see him rehab it or have surgery as we go forward, but that's an educated guess by talking to him."
Scott hit a team-high 27 home runs in 2010, but this year he's batting .220 with nine homers and 22 RBIs in 64 games.
"It's pointless if I come up here and do what I've done the last month," Scott said before the game. "It's not helping the
team. It's not helping myself. It's not being a benefit. So, at the end of the day you have to make an honest evaluation."
The Orioles planned to have Scott make the call, but after Friday night it appears both sides agree on the next course of
action.
Scott has already been gathering information on whether to try to rehab the shoulder or have surgery, and now it appears the timetable for making a decision has moved up.
For Scott, surgery is the final option.
"I want to avoid surgery at all costs, but if it's riskier to not have the surgery, that's when surgery will win," Scott said.
Baltimore freed up a roster spot for Scott by optioning outfielder Matt Angle to Triple-A Norfolk. Angle made his major
league debut Sunday and was 0 for 7 in his first stint in the big leagues.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
