Wilson preparing for the news
CINCINNATI -- Paul Wilson emerged from the trainer's room, and it was very much like seeing a ghost.
The veteran right-hander hadn't spoken with reporters since going on the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis on May 25.
But here he was Thursday, though the circumstances that led to this impromptu session with the press weren't exactly what Wilson was hoping for. Wilson was one day away from going under the knife for exploratory arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder -- the second shoulder surgery and third surgery overall in his professional career.
He admitted it's an awful feeling.
"This isn't helping the team at all," he said. "It isn't helping me at all, either. But it's the next step, and we have to figure out what's going on."
Wilson and the Reds' trainers have been perplexed by his injury, to this point. It began when he pitched with a little bit of pain his last few times on the mound, but it's escalated into something that might be much more serious.
Dr. Timothy Kremchek, the team's medical director, said earlier this week that the surgery will reveal if Wilson has a torn labrum -- the same injury he had in 1996 -- or degeneration in his shoulder.
Because the exact injury hasn't been revealed through MRIs, the Reds won't know until after the surgery how long to expect Wilson to be on the sidelines.
But Wilson, who went 1-5 with a 7.77 ERA in nine starts this season, didn't sound optimistic about a return this year.
"It's the worst," he said. "Not only am I having surgery, but my season's done. Ballplayers have routines. We do things every day to keep us sane."
And Wilson was losing his sanity throughout a slow and painful rehab process that didn't seem to be going anywhere. He agreed with Kremchek's assessment that the team did everything possible to avoid surgery, but it turned out to be inevitable.
"We did everything known to man," Wilson said. "All the rehab we did in the past went backward."
Wilson, the Reds' Opening Day starter this year, said it feels as though someone is "grabbing" him when he tries to throw.
Paul Wilson / P
Born: 03/28/73
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 215 lbs
Bats: R / Throws: R
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"It came on real fast," he said.
Still, he felt it coming the last couple weeks he pitched this season.
"I had to go out there and get it done with what I had," he said. "It wasn't working. I can't do what I'm not physically capable of doing. All I end up doing is hurting the team and hurting me."
So did he have any regrets about pitching through the pain and potentially worsening his condition those last few starts?
"I had to at least try, you know?" he said.
Now he'll try the surgical route to get back to form.
"Whatever's broke, fix it," he said.
Feeling better now: Rich Aurilia remained out of the starting lineup for Thursday's game against the Braves with soreness in his right hip, though he said he felt "89 percent" better than he did a day earlier.
While that was literally an odd number to throw out, Aurilia was happy to report it.
"It's a little tender, but it's a lot better than what it was," he said. "I pretty much assume I'm available."
Still, manager Dave Miley opted to give Aurilia, who's hitting .387 in 37 at-bats this month, another day off.
Ken Griffey / CF
Born: 11/21/69
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 205 lbs
Bats: L / Throws: L
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Reds report: The Braves put right-hander Tim Hudson, who was Saturday's scheduled starter, on the DL with a strained left oblique. Right-hander Jorge Sosa will start in his place against the Reds. ... June 16 is one of only 14 calendar days from March 31-Oct. 3 on which Ken Griffey Jr. has not hit a home run in his career. ... The Reds rank fourth in the Majors and second in the National League with 81 home runs this season. ... First base coach Randy Whisler celebrated his 43rd birthday on Thursday.
Sign here: The Reds announced the signing of four more draft picks.
Second baseman Michael De Jesus (15th round), shortstop Eric Eymann (19th) and left-hander Brandon Camardese (34th) will head to the club's rookie team in Billings, Mont. Third baseman Angel Colon (35th) will play for the Gulf Coast League Reds in Sarasota, Fla.
The Reds have now signed 22 of their 50 picks.
Down on the farm: Austin Kearns was scheduled to begin play with Triple-A Louisville in Durham on Thursday night. ... Right-hander Josh Hall (2-1) allowed three hits over six scoreless innings to get the victory in Double-A Chattanooga's 9-0 win at Mississippi on Wednesday. ... Ben Himes' RBI single produced the go-ahead run in Class A Sarasota's 6-4, 10-inning win over Tampa on Wednesday. Joel Barreto (2-0) won with 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief. ... Bobby Mosby smacked a two-run double to snap a 5-5 tie in the 12th, as Class A Dayton beat South Bend, 7-5, on Wednesday. Homer Bailey started for the Dragons and gave up three runs, two of which were earned, on three hits over three innings.
On deck: The Reds and Braves continue their four-game set with Friday's 7:10 p.m. ET game. Right-hander Ramon Ortiz (2-4, 6.10 ERA) will start against left-hander Horacio Ramirez (4-4, 5.20 ERA).
Source: http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/
The veteran right-hander hadn't spoken with reporters since going on the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis on May 25.
But here he was Thursday, though the circumstances that led to this impromptu session with the press weren't exactly what Wilson was hoping for. Wilson was one day away from going under the knife for exploratory arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder -- the second shoulder surgery and third surgery overall in his professional career.
He admitted it's an awful feeling.
"This isn't helping the team at all," he said. "It isn't helping me at all, either. But it's the next step, and we have to figure out what's going on."
Wilson and the Reds' trainers have been perplexed by his injury, to this point. It began when he pitched with a little bit of pain his last few times on the mound, but it's escalated into something that might be much more serious.
Dr. Timothy Kremchek, the team's medical director, said earlier this week that the surgery will reveal if Wilson has a torn labrum -- the same injury he had in 1996 -- or degeneration in his shoulder.
Because the exact injury hasn't been revealed through MRIs, the Reds won't know until after the surgery how long to expect Wilson to be on the sidelines.
But Wilson, who went 1-5 with a 7.77 ERA in nine starts this season, didn't sound optimistic about a return this year.
"It's the worst," he said. "Not only am I having surgery, but my season's done. Ballplayers have routines. We do things every day to keep us sane."
And Wilson was losing his sanity throughout a slow and painful rehab process that didn't seem to be going anywhere. He agreed with Kremchek's assessment that the team did everything possible to avoid surgery, but it turned out to be inevitable.
"We did everything known to man," Wilson said. "All the rehab we did in the past went backward."
Wilson, the Reds' Opening Day starter this year, said it feels as though someone is "grabbing" him when he tries to throw.
Paul Wilson / P
Born: 03/28/73
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 215 lbs
Bats: R / Throws: R
More info:
Player page
Stats | Splits
Gallery
Team Site | Shop
"It came on real fast," he said.
Still, he felt it coming the last couple weeks he pitched this season.
"I had to go out there and get it done with what I had," he said. "It wasn't working. I can't do what I'm not physically capable of doing. All I end up doing is hurting the team and hurting me."
So did he have any regrets about pitching through the pain and potentially worsening his condition those last few starts?
"I had to at least try, you know?" he said.
Now he'll try the surgical route to get back to form.
"Whatever's broke, fix it," he said.
Feeling better now: Rich Aurilia remained out of the starting lineup for Thursday's game against the Braves with soreness in his right hip, though he said he felt "89 percent" better than he did a day earlier.
While that was literally an odd number to throw out, Aurilia was happy to report it.
"It's a little tender, but it's a lot better than what it was," he said. "I pretty much assume I'm available."
Still, manager Dave Miley opted to give Aurilia, who's hitting .387 in 37 at-bats this month, another day off.
Ken Griffey / CF
Born: 11/21/69
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 205 lbs
Bats: L / Throws: L
More info:
Player page
Stats | Splits
Gallery
Team Site | Shop
Reds report: The Braves put right-hander Tim Hudson, who was Saturday's scheduled starter, on the DL with a strained left oblique. Right-hander Jorge Sosa will start in his place against the Reds. ... June 16 is one of only 14 calendar days from March 31-Oct. 3 on which Ken Griffey Jr. has not hit a home run in his career. ... The Reds rank fourth in the Majors and second in the National League with 81 home runs this season. ... First base coach Randy Whisler celebrated his 43rd birthday on Thursday.
Sign here: The Reds announced the signing of four more draft picks.
Second baseman Michael De Jesus (15th round), shortstop Eric Eymann (19th) and left-hander Brandon Camardese (34th) will head to the club's rookie team in Billings, Mont. Third baseman Angel Colon (35th) will play for the Gulf Coast League Reds in Sarasota, Fla.
The Reds have now signed 22 of their 50 picks.
Down on the farm: Austin Kearns was scheduled to begin play with Triple-A Louisville in Durham on Thursday night. ... Right-hander Josh Hall (2-1) allowed three hits over six scoreless innings to get the victory in Double-A Chattanooga's 9-0 win at Mississippi on Wednesday. ... Ben Himes' RBI single produced the go-ahead run in Class A Sarasota's 6-4, 10-inning win over Tampa on Wednesday. Joel Barreto (2-0) won with 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief. ... Bobby Mosby smacked a two-run double to snap a 5-5 tie in the 12th, as Class A Dayton beat South Bend, 7-5, on Wednesday. Homer Bailey started for the Dragons and gave up three runs, two of which were earned, on three hits over three innings.
On deck: The Reds and Braves continue their four-game set with Friday's 7:10 p.m. ET game. Right-hander Ramon Ortiz (2-4, 6.10 ERA) will start against left-hander Horacio Ramirez (4-4, 5.20 ERA).
Source: http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/
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