As the consequences of Tom Gordon’s injury began to sink in, the Cubs were hit on two fronts Friday–one related and one unrelated:
Bill Mueller’s knee injury is likely to have him on the disabled list Opening Day and Julian Tavarez is balking at the idea of moving from the rotation to the bullpen.
Mueller’s left knee has not responded to treatment this spring, and he may have to undergo arthroscopic surgery if the swelling doesn’t recede. Team doctor Michael Shafer was scheduled to examine Mueller on Friday.
“He could be [facing surgery],” manager Don Baylor said. “That’s just a guess. What he’s going to do about it, what Dr. Schafer recommends he does. By the beginning of the week we should know what direction he’s going to go. I thought he might be back by mid-March. That doesn’t seem like a possibility right now.”
Baylor couldn’t guess when Mueller might return to action, but said he is likely to be out for part of April.
“I don’t know if Opening Day is going to be realistic until we find out what all the swelling is about and how we proceed with that,” Baylor said.
Meanwhile Tavarez gave up five runs on seven hits to the White Sox on Friday and said he would fight a reassignment to the bullpen.
“I signed two years ago as a starter,” Tavarez said. “I hope they don’t come to me with that because it’s not in my contract to be in the bullpen. In my head I came to the Cubs as a starting pitcher. I feel bad for what happened to Flash, but they have a lot of good arms in the organization. Jeff Fassero is there.”
Baylor said he’ll talk to Tavarez about a possible move Sunday. Does he expect Tavarez to accept the bullpen role?
“Not really,” Baylor said.
Tavarez has incentives in his contract for innings pitched and might not be able to reach them in a relief role. That doesn’t concern Baylor.
“This is a team,” Baylor said. “It’s not about individuals. You get your individual numbers and things after the season is over. Right now it’s important for the team. Like last year I have a Jeff Fassero come in and say `I want to close.’ He had never closed before, but that’s the kind of team thing you’re looking for and you talk about. We’ll explain that to Tavarez.
“Hopefully he’ll understand. But I’m pretty sure [he won’t like it]. When he came over here I did tell him he was going to be a starter. Things have changed. That’s what happens in our game. Things change.”
As for the changes at third with Mueller out, Baylor mentioned Chris Stynes and Delino DeShields as probable replacements.
Stynes is hitting .154 this spring and DeShields is hitting .417. Kevin Orie also is in camp.
