Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 27, 1990 TAG: 9004270106
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES LENGTH: Medium
Hershiser pitched 6 innings Wednesday night in a 5-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. The Dodgers said Hershiser underwent an examination Thursday morning that revealed damage to his rotator cuff.
"Last night, it hurt so much he knew he had to do something," said Dr. Frank Jobe, who will perform the surgery.
Hershiser gave up six hits and five runs, all earned, while striking out three and uncharacteristically walking four Wednesday night. The walks were the first Hershiser had allowed this season.
The 31-year-old right-hander is 1-1 with a 4.26 ERA. He has pitched 25 innings and allowed 26 hits while striking out 16.
Hershiser has led the league in innings pitched in each of the last three seasons and has a career record of 99-65 with a 2.71 ERA as a major-leaguer.
Hershiser said his shoulder began bothering him during the off-season, but he said it was a dull ache rather than excruciating pain.
"I felt I was getting better and better in spring training and in the early games [of the season]," he said during an impromptu news conference at Dodger Stadium. "I thought it was just a matter of getting stronger."
Jobe said he would perform arthroscopic surgery to determine the extent of the injury and decide whether a more complicated operation would be necessary.
"We'll make a decision whether he can be rehabilitated with exercises," Jobe said. "If he cannot, then we will go ahead and do a reconstruction . . . of his shoulder."
Jobe said that, if necessary, both operations would be done today.
When asked if Hershiser's career might be over, Jobe said, "I don't think so. He's a hard worker. He understands the problem very well. In fact, he can describe it better than I can. I think he's going to come back and pitch starting next spring."
However, Hershiser expressed some doubts.
"I have fear that I'll never throw the ball again and that I cannot fulfill my contract with the Dodgers," he said. "I would not want to sit around for two years and have [Dodgers owner] Mr. [Peter] O'Malley pay me the kind of money he's paying me and not contribute."
Hershiser signed a three-year contract worth $7.9 million in February 1989. At the time, it was the most lucrative contract in baseball.
"I want to get this surgery done with and work as hard as I can," he said. "If I miss spring training next year by one day, it will be because I waited one day too long to have this surgery."
Jobe said he doubted Hershiser would pitch again this season.
"There's only a very slight possibility that we'll be surprised, but I don't think that's a real possibility," Jobe said.
"It's obviously very disheartening news," said Fred Claire, Los Angeles' general manager. "But it is what it is. I talked to [Dodgers manager] Tommy [Lasorda] and we will use John Wetteland in the rotation. That's the point that we start with. John made a number of starts last year [12], he pitched well, so he'll get the call."
Wetteland is 1-1 with a 10.80 ERA in five innings, all in relief, this season.
by CNB