Posted March 9, 200322 yr ESPN Story Saturday, March 8 Updated: March 9, 10:18 AM ET Nevin says he'll have shoulder surgery Tuesday ESPN.com news services TUCSON, Ariz. -- San Diego Padres slugger Phil Nevin said he'll have reconstructive surgery on his dislocated shoulder Tuesday and that he doesn't expect to play again until 2004. "It has to be put back together," Nevin told the San Diego Union-Tribune in a telephone interview Saturday night. "It has to be fixed. It'll happen again and again and again if I don't get it fixed." The Padres were not optimistic when asked if Nevin, 32, would play this season. "I'm convinced this (surgery) is the best thing for Phil," manager Bruce Bochy said after the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Padres 8-5 Saturday. "It's what Phil wants. It's what we want." Nevin injured his shoulder in Friday's 2-0 Cactus League loss to the Chicago White Sox. Nevin underwent an MRI on Saturday that revealed a severe dislocation. He said at the time his shoulder capsule needed to be tightened. According to the Union-Tribune, Padres chairman John Moores phoned Nevin on Friday and flew him home in his private plane Saturday. "He was one of the first people to call me," Nevin told the newspaper. "It's pretty impressive, an owner of the ballclub taking the time. You don't hear that very often." The Padres also must endure at least half of 2003 without closer Trevor Hoffman, who underwent right shoulder surgery Feb. 28. San Diego, which opens its season March 31, has had four consecutive losing seasons and three last-place finishes in the NL West in the last four years. Without Nevin's power, the signs are there for a similar finish. The Padres lost 96 games last season. In the fourth inning of Friday's game, Chicago's Brian Daubach lifted a fly ball down the left-field line. After a long pursuit, Nevin made a diving backhanded catch but immediately raised his hand to indicate he was hurt. Bochy and the team's medical staff attended to Nevin, who remained on the field for nearly 10 minutes before being taken to the hospital. Beginning his major league career as a third baseman, Nevin also toyed with catcher for a couple of years before moving back to third. Last season, he agreed to switch to first to make room for rookie Sean Burroughs. A shoulder injury to Burroughs resulted in a move back to third, but the 32-year-old Nevin was given the choice of going to either left or right field this spring. Nevin enjoyed a career year in 2001, batting .306 with 41 home runs and 126 RBI. But he could not duplicate the those numbers in an injury-filled 2002, hitting just 12 homers with 57 RBI and a .285 average. Nevin spent significant time on the disabled list last season with a strained right elbow and fractured left arm. In 780 career games, Nevin owns a .275 average with 135 homers and 469 RBI. Information from SportsTicker was used in this report.
March 9, 200322 yr Tough break for Nevin and the Padres. He'll be back, and I'm sure will produce again in 2004. *searches for new 3B on Fantasy Team*
March 9, 200322 yr Author #@!@@!@$!@$#$!#$!@!#!$#$!#$# That's why you should carry a solid backup, always
March 9, 200322 yr Author yeah, but now my backup doesnt have a backup. that's why it's good to have lots of guys on the bench :mischief
March 10, 200322 yr Too bad for nevin. He and klesko are the ones to carry this team dn there power hitters. I hope he recovers fast and plays soon.
March 10, 200322 yr The Padres are a roller coaster... Hoffman goes down, Then, they were on a good note when they signed Lawrence to a 4 year deal keeping a future all star in San Diego. Then Nevin goes down. Nevin alone will put them in fifth for the year. Klesko is good but not capable of carrying an already poor team on his shoulder's. Plus with The Rockies improving IMO, it will be a long year for the Padre's.
March 10, 200322 yr the padres have a chance to at least be competive and possibly contend.... but it all hinges largely on the great amounts of youth they have.... remember they have this guy at third who forced nevin to first first and then to left..... sean burroughs they have a good future....but they have run into these roadblocks.... they still finish in last....but i still am not sold on the rockies...it may be closer than some think...
March 10, 200322 yr The padres have alot of talented players but they are not producing and this team is going down....
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