Second opinion for third baseman Mueller
In a trip with serious implications for the Red Sox, third baseman Bill Mueller flew to Phoenix yesterday to seek a second opinion on his injured right knee. The reigning American League batting champion has missed seven of the last nine games and could be sidelined considerably longer depending on the outcome.
Mueller, 33, was scheduled to be examined by David C. Zeman, an orthopedist who performed arthroscopic surgery to remove bone chips from Mueller's left knee two years ago. Mueller, who was sidelined eight weeks after the surgery in '02, is suffering from what Sox medical director Bill Morgan diagnosed as patellar tendinitis in his right knee.
"I just think it's really in Billy's best interest to answer his questions to ease his mind," Sox manager Terry Francona said. "Dr. Morgan has been great about communicating with Dr. Zeman and getting on the same page. All they want is for Billy to be able to be on the field and be comfortable doing that."
If Zeman concurs with Morgan's diagnosis, the Sox will need to decide whether to place Mueller on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to last Wednesday, when he last played. In that case, Mueller could return no sooner than June 4, when the Sox open a three-game series in Kansas City.
In the best case, Zeman would conclude Mueller's knee is structurally sound and would not be jeopardized by him returning to action as early as tomorrow. In the worst case, the injury would require surgery, sidelining Mueller for an extended period.
Should Mueller land on the DL, Kevin Youkilis would remain the every-day third baseman, though the Sox likely would begin looking to add some organizational depth at the position. The next player on the depth chart is Earl Snyder, who has stepped in for Youkilis at third base for Triple A Pawtucket. Snyder, 28, who played 18 games for the Indians in 2002, entered yesterday batting .269 while ranking among the International League leaders in home runs (13) and RBIs (33).
Youkilis, who went 0 for 2 with a pair of walks in the 7-2 victory over the Jays, has hit .300 with a .400 on-base percentage in his first six games.
Patient's diagnosis The way Nomar Garciaparra sees it, his recovery from right Achilles' tendinitis has not taken longer than expected. The Sox initially indicated in spring training that the All-Star shortstop could return about May 1, though the target date was contingent on how fast the inflammation around his tendon subsided.
"It's not that it's lingering," Garciaparra insisted after he took batting practice against Harvard righthander Trey Hendricks. "It's where it's expected to be, where we thought it might be."
In fact, Garciaparra said he has made enough progress to become increasingly hopeful. Asked if he could see the light at the end of the tunnel, he said, "Absolutely, I definitely see it. Where it is, I don't know. That's the million-dollar question, what day is that?"
Garciaparra, who knocked a couple of balls out of the park, said he has felt relatively fine hitting. It's running at full speed without recurring discomfort that remains the final challenge, and he appears at least a week away from reaching the goal.
"I look forward to when I can go out there and test it and it says, `All right, it's ready to go full bore,' " he said. "I'm not at that stage yet."
And, yes, Garciaparra shares the frustration of fans who wanted him back sooner. "Trust me, I feel exactly the way they feel," he said.
As for Hendricks, who graduates this year from Harvard, he hopes to be selected next month in the amateur draft and play first base or outfield in the pros. He pitched in high school in Spring, Texas, with Josh Beckett, who helped lead the Marlins to the world championship last year.
"I was trying to let him hit it," Hendricks said of Garciaparra. "Toward the end, I was trying to get him out, but he was still hitting it."
Milestone man Tim Wakefield earned his 50th career win at Fenway and posted his 106th win overall for the Sox, tying him with Joe Dobson for seventh on the team's all-time list. Bob Stanley ranks sixth with 115 wins. Wakefield also made his 228th start, tying him with Bill Monbouquette for fifth on the franchise list. Mel Parnell ranks fourth with 232 starts . . . Johnny Damon reached safely to lead off a game for the fifth straight time and for the sixth time in seven games. He has a .515 on-base percentage over his last seven games . . . The Sox have doubled at least once in 20 straight games . . . Righthander Jason Shiell, who went 2-0 with a 4.63 ERA in 17 games last year for the Sox, underwent Tommy John tendon transplant surgery and will be lost for the season . . . Dr. James Andrews, who performed Shiell's surgery, also performed his second elbow surgery in two months on righthander Reynaldo Garcia to try to improve his range of motion . . . Ramiro Mendoza (right shoulder tendinitis) is throwing at 180 feet and is close to working off a mound, Francona said . . . Sox Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski was on hand for the game . . . The Sox marked Vermont Day with pregame ceremonies . . . The Bosox Club has lauched an essay contest for youths from age 8 to 15 to attend the New England Baseball Camp July 11-16 at Bentley College in Waltham at no cost. The winners may attend days or stay overnight. Contestants must send a 100-word essay on why they would like to attend the camp by June 15 to Bosox Club Baseball Camp Contest, Fenway Park, 4 Yawkey Way, Boston, MA 02215. Entries should include a name, address, and phone number.
