News
Shields optimistic surgery was right call
Halos righty says Matthews' improvement helped decision
By Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com
06/23/09 9:40 PM ET
ANAHEIM -- Angels reliever Scot Shields returned to Angel Stadium on Tuesday for the first time since undergoing season-ending surgery on his left knee on June 16. |
Shields said the surgery on his left patella tendon, performed by Dr. Lewis Yocum at the Kerlan-Jobe Surgery Center in Los Angeles, was a success but that he won't know more details until he has an appointment with Yocum on Thursday.
"They fixed it and kinda cleaned out the stuff in there," Shields said. "That's all I know. [Yocum] said there was a bunch of stuff in there that wasn't just going to go away." Shields was plagued by pain in his knee all season, and it showed as he had a 6.62 ERA in 20 outings this season. It finally got to the point where he couldn't bear the pain anymore and after talking to team doctors and fellow teammate Gary Matthews Jr., who had a similar surgery in the offseason, Shields opted to have the procedure. And as much as Shields says he misses pitching, he feels like he had the right decision, especially with the way Matthews' knee has responded compared to last season, when the outfielder was slowed all season. "Just from talking to Gary, and his was worse than mine, with the way he feels now, I'm encouraged by it," Shields said. But the hardest part for Shields, who has been one of the most durable pitchers over the last few seasons, is watching his teammates play without him. "It's still stressful watching them and pulling for them because you know you can't help them," said Shields, who will do his rehab at home in Michigan. "I find myself a big-time cheerleader now. And the guys have been playing good outside of the last couple days." The ever-optimistic Shields, however, said he sees his injury as a blessing in disguise because his arm will get time to rest while he is rehabbing his knee for the next six months. "Maybe this is something good for the long run," Shields said. "Hopefully, it'll prolong my career."Rhett Bollinger is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
