Schmidt undergoes surgery on right elbow

Schmidt undergoes surgery on right elbow
By JANIE McCAULEY
AP Sports Writer
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- San Francisco Giants ace Jason Schmidt had surgery Friday on his right elbow to remove scar tissue and repair a tear in the tendon, but is expected to be ready to pitch again by the first month of the 2004 season.
Schmidt, who has been hampered by elbow tendinitis several times in his career, was the NL starter in his first All-Star game this season, pitching two scoreless innings on short rest. His elbow flared up the following day.
He then left his next start against Colorado in the sixth inning with tightness in his forearm, which the Giants initially called mild tendinitis. The injury ended up being more serious.
The lanky right-hander missed a turn and his sore elbow limited him down the stretch for the NL West champion Giants. After pitching a three-hit shutout in the Giants' 2-0 Game 1 win over the Florida Marlins in the NL division series, rookie Jerome Williams started Game 4 over Schmidt, who would have been pitching on three days' rest. Manager Felipe Alou was criticized for the move, but said Schmidt was physically unable to go.
The 40-minute procedure was performed by Giants' team orthopedists Dr. Gary Fanton and Dr. Ken Akizuki in Redwood City, Calif.
"Initially when they went in, they were concerned that the tendon was torn off the bone," Giants trainer Stan Conte said. "However, it was not. It was just split with scar tissue. They sewed the tendon back together."
The elbow will immobilized for a week. The 30-year-old Schmidt then will begin rehabilitation and is expected to be throwing in December and pitching off a mound in spring training.
"If all goes as expected, he'll be pitching competitively in April," Conte said.
Conte added that several other players have had the same surgery in the offseason and were ready to pitch again the next season -- including star San Francisco closer Robb Nen.
Schmidt received several opinions from top sports orthopedists around the country. They all recommended the surgery, Conte said.
Schmidt had a breakout season in 2003, going 17-5 with the National League's lowest ERA (2.34).