McCaskill Gets Lecture--and Ticket Home for Surgery

Kirk McCaskill came here to pitch, but all he wound up with Thursday was a lecture from Angel Manager Gene Mauch and a plane ticket back to Southern California, where surgery will be performed to remove the bone chip in his right elbow.

“We talked a long time about it and decided to go ahead with the operation,” Mauch said. “I know Kirk wanted to pitch, but we just ruled it out. We looked at every possible thing, studied it as long as we could and decided that it’s just too logical not to do it.”

McCaskill will fly home today and meet with Angel team physician Dr. Lewis Yocum to schedule surgery. Mauch said the operation would be performed “as soon as possible.” Earlier, Yocum estimated that such surgery would sideline McCaskill anywhere from three weeks to three months.

“The doctor said they are going to have to go in there sooner or later,” Mauch said. “Let’s get it on, let’s get it done.

“He might have been able to pitch with it. But suppose he makes five or six more starts and it gets so bad that now, we have to do it. We lose him then for another six weeks and he’s done for the season.”

Last year, Angel pitcher John Candelaria had a similar operation April 16. He returned to the starting rotation July 8.

McCaskill was 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA after three starts, pitching through pain in each outing. Taking McCaskill’s place in the starting rotation will be rookie Willie Fraser. Fraser, 1-0 with a 1.46 ERA in five appearances, will make his first major league start Saturday against Mike Smithson.