McCaskill Has Bone Scan That Reveals Fragment on His Elbow

For the second year in a row, the Angels have come out of spring training with a starting rotation touted to be one of the best in baseball.

And, for the second time in as many seasons, a bone chip may have finished their chances of finding out just how good their starting staff could be.

General Manager Mike Port and team physician Dr. Lewis Yocum held a press conference during the fourth inning at Anaheim Stadium Tuesday night to announce that a bone scan performed on Kirk McCaskill’s right elbow Tuesday showed a bone fragment.

Last year, pitcher John Candelaria underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove a similar chip and was sidelined for three months.

“The tests indicated there was a chip . . . fragmentation in the back of the elbow,” Port said. “Surgery is a consideration. As far as Kirk’s playability goes, if he can pitch at a certain comfort level . . . that’s for him to decide.”

Yocum said he didn’t advise McCaskill to undergo surgery or to try and pitch with the chip. He did say, however, that Toronto pitcher Dave Stieb is pitching this year with a similar problem.

“It’s my job to provide Kirk with all the information about all the options,” Yocum said. “He’ll have to make the final decision. We’re talking about doing some heavy-duty things here, and we want Kirk to know everything that’s available to him.”

McCaskill said after Tuesday’s 8-5 win over the A’s that he had not yet made a decision and Port indicated that the pitcher had until his next scheduled start Saturday in Minnesota to make up his mind.

“I don’t like it,” McCaskill said, “but I accept the fact that it’s there and will deal with it. Maybe it will clear itself up. It’s my decision and Lew isn’t going to tell me what to do, but he agrees with me that surgery is the last possible recourse.”

Yocum said that if surgery is performed, the recovery period could range between three-to-four weeks to two-to-three months.

“It depends on what we find,” Yocum said. “The location of the chip is similar to Candy’s, but it’s comparing apples and oranges. No two elbows or chips are the same.

“Pitchers’ elbows historically develop spurs and chips. If it’s obvious to Kirk he’s pitching with more and more pain, that will make the decision easier.”