Choo’s ailing elbow concerns Tribe

Akron Beacon Journal

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — No reason to call in the State Department or the South Korean ambassador yet, but something needs to be done about Shin-Soo Choo.

Choo, the Indians’ right fielder, is on loan to his native South Korea for the World Baseball Classic, which begins Thursday for many teams. South Korea does not play its first game until Friday against Taiwan in Japan, so there is time to resolve the problem.

South Korean manager Kim In-sik told the Associated Press that Choo has some soreness in his left elbow, the same elbow that was surgically rebuilt in September 2007. The same elbow that caused Choo to miss the first 11‚Ñ2 months of the 2008 season.

According to a South Korean news report, Choo did not play in two practice games against Japanese major-league teams earlier in the week. Before one of these games, Choo hit 30 balls in batting practice but could only toss the ball underhand during defensive drills.

Ideally, Indians officials would like their own doctors to examine Choo’s elbow, but they believe as long as South Korea remains alive in the WBC, he is under the jurisdiction of South Korea.

That is in contrast to the words of In-sik, who said the Indians are entitled to decide what to do with Choo.

“I have to respect the decision of the Indians,” In-sik said. “We may use him as a designated hitter and not in the outfield. But ultimately the decision lies with his major-league baseball team.”

Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro thinks that In-sik has it wrong, and that for the time being, Choo belongs to South Korea’s WBC entry.

“We don’t think we have the ability to unilaterally pull him back,” Shapiro said.

Shapiro said he would wait a day or two to obtain more information. After that, he might take formal action, which amounts to filing an “objection” with the Major League Players Association and Major League Baseball.

Shapiro would prefer that Choo return to Arizona, but there are reasonable alternatives. As In-sik mentioned, limiting Choo’s role to that of DH, which would diminish the stress on his elbow.

According to the WBC as reported in a South Korean newspaper, the decision on whether Choo stays or returns to the United States is in the hands of a three-man committee of Major League Players Association CEO Gene Orza, MLB Executive Vice President Rob Manfred and a chief physician for the tournament.

“Choo’s injury situation has been a delicate one for everybody involved,” In-sik said. “And I’m sure one way or another, it will cause a great deal of controversy.”

Apparently, there was no precedent to follow, because this kind of situation did not arise during the first WBC tournament in 2006.

Said Shapiro: “Head trainer Lonnie Soloff has been trading e-mails with their trainers in Japan, so we’re in the process of getting information. This injury does not seem to be something of an extreme nature to where that we would need him back immediately.”

Choo began last season on the disabled list but was sent on a rehabilitation assignment to Triple-A Buffalo on May 15, playing 12 games. He was activated on May 30 and dispatched to the Indians, for whom he put up impressive numbers: a .309 batting average, 14 home runs and 66 RBI in 94 games.

His solid season earned him the right to come to camp this spring as an everyday player rather than a platoon outfielder. Before leaving for the WBC, Choo showed no indications that his elbow hurt.

“It’s an uncomfortable situation for us,” Shapiro said. “At this point, we’re concerned.”