Rogers to Miss First Half of Season

Mar 30, 06:19 PM

Current Headlines: By John Lowe, Detroit Free Press

Mar. 30--Posted at 1:57 p.m; updated at 2:22 p.m.

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Tigers left-handed starter Kenny Rogers is expected to miss the first half of the season after he underwent surgery on his pitching shoulder today to remove a blood clot and repair arteries.

Rogers underwent the surgery in Dallas. The surgery was performed by the same doctor who did a similar operation on Rogers six years ago, club president and general manger Dave Dombrowski said.

In making the announcement on Rogers' surgery and prognosis, Dombrowski said that Rogers would be able to begin throwing in six to eight weeks. "We anticipate he will be out three months," Dombrowski said.

The Tigers are scheduled to open the regular season Monday. Veteran right-hander Chad Durbin, who has never had consistent big-league success, is taking Rogers' spot in the rotation as the season starts.

But the possibility remains open that if Durbin falters, the club will replace him with left-hander Andrew Miller, its top pick in last year's draft.

Dombrowski said Rogers had an artery replaced in the surgery. The club had hoped that Rogers' problem could be fixed without the artery being replaced. That's why Dombrowski was hopeful on Thursday that Rogers wouldn't be out long.

According to a club announcement, Rogers had the blood clot removed and had two arteries repaired: the axillary and brachial arteries.

In his first Tigers season a year ago, Rogers went 17-8. In the post-season, he didn't allow a run as he won all three of his starts.

Dombrowski, a long-time baseball executive, was admirably composed as he announced that one of his team's top starting pitchers is expected to miss half the season.

"If you don't think something is going to happen during a season, you're living in dreamland," Dombrowski said.

Rogers' problem surfaced suddenly this week, although Dombrowski said it apparently had been building for some time.

"Amazing," Dombrowski said. "There was no indication."

Rogers didn't allow a run last Saturday in his most recent start. On Wednesday, he told the training staff that his arm didn't feel right. An exam quickly showed the blood clot, and Rogers was off to Dallas for surgery.

This is only the second time in his 19-year big-league career that Rogers has gone on the disabled list. The first time was in 2001, and as now, his trouble came from a circulation problem in his pitching shoulder.

His problem in 2001 was found to be caused by a muscle that compressed an artery against Rogers' first rib. He had the rib removed. The name of the condition he had in 2001 is "thoracic outlet syndrome."

Dombrowski said he wouldn't pursue a trade for a starter to replace Rogers.

"We are expecting him back, and people are calling us (in trade talks) about our pitching," Dombrowski said.

Dombrowski and his staff have built what appears to be impressive pitching depth in the organization. With Rogers out, that depth is about to get a big test.

In light of Rogers' surgery, Dombrowski used a line that has long been a favorite of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner during his amassing of championships. "You can never have enough pitching," Dombrowski said.

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