Bone Fragment Discovered in McCaskill’s Elbow : If Surgery Is Required, Pitcher Could Be Sidelined as Long as Three Months

For the second year in a row, the Angels came 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 the starting staff could be.

General Manager Mike Port and team physician Lewis Yocum announced Tuesday night that a bone scan performed on Kirk McCaskill’s right elbow earlier in the day 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 that if surgery is performed, the recovery period could be three weeks to three months.

He said he didn’t advise McCaskill to undergo surgery or to try to 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.”

Port said McCaskill will have until his next scheduled start, Saturday at Minnesota, to decide.

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

Angel Manager Gene Mauch said he was not apprised of the situation until after Tuesday’s 8-5 victory over the A’s.

His reaction?

“It was a handful of swear words,” Mauch said. “I didn’t want there to be any chip in there, but I’ve seen lots of guys pitch with them before.”

When asked if he would offer McCaskill any advice, Mauch said, “I ain’t messing with that man’s career, because it’s going to be a great one.”

Whether to have surgery “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.”

McCaskill’s left Monday’s game after six innings because of pain in his elbow. He has pitched with a sore elbow often, but he conceded he had not pitched with as much pain before.

If McCaskill, who is 2-0 this season and was 17-10 last year, is forced to go on the disabled list, Willie Fraser probably will replace him in the rotation, and either DeWayne Buice or Stewart Cliburn would be called up from Edmonton.

“We probably have alternatives within our staff,” Port said. “Remember, that’s the same way that Kirk got his start (when Geoff Zahn was disabled in 1985).”