SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Brian Wilson has no regrets about how many times he pitched during the San Francisco Giants‘ improbable 2010 World Series title run. Nor about how he handled his rehabilitation program this winter, and certainly not how he stayed on the mound at Colorado last week despite ligament damage in his arm.
“Absolutely not,” Wilson said. “That’s how I play baseball. Push it to the limits.”
Wilson has now reached his limit.
San Francisco’s bearded and boisterous closer said before Sunday’s series finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates that he will probably have elbow-reconstruction surgery, ending his season after only 56 pitches, two appearances and one save. He was officially placed on the 15-day disabled list, clearing space for Ryan Vogelsong to come off the DL against Pittsburgh.
An MRI showed the structural damage. Wilson plans to seek at least one other opinion and probably two, including from the renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews, who performs Tommy John elbow-reconstruction surgeries. Rehab time is typically a year to 18 months.
The news hands a big blow to a Giants team that has lost a major clubhouse fixture for the second straight season and has hopes of recapturing the magic from the city’s historic championship two years ago.
“My spirits aren’t down,” Wilson said. “I know a lot of people are sad. I know Giants fans are probably going to look at this as like a huge loss. But we have the best bullpen in the league. I’ve been honored to play with those guys, teach them some things, and they’ve taught me some things, and they’re going to fill in my role as best they can.
“I don’t think they’re going to falter. I think we’re going to take the West no matter what.”
The Bearded One’s absence leaves a gaping hole in the bullpen.
The 30-year-old Wilson, a three-time All-Star, led the majors with 48 saves in 2010. He finished 6-4 with a 3.11 ERA and 36 saves in 57 appearances last season, held out down the stretch as a precaution.
Wilson said during spring training all seemed right with his elbow. And all did seem fine until he threw 32 pitches at Colorado on Thursday, preserving a 4-2 victory over the Rockies despite the apparent injury while working the second of back-to-back days.
He stayed in the game with two outs and the bases loaded after turning his right ankle on a 1-0 pitch to Tyler Colvin. Turns out, Wilson really hurt his arm _ whether the injury happened on that pitch is still somewhat of a mystery _ but he refused to be pulled out.
“My mindset was, OK, if it’s inflammation, get out of your mess. If this is season ending, your last pitch is going to be preserving (Madison) Bumgarner’s win and not walking off the mound a failure,” Wilson said. “That’s just how I pitch. I don’t care how painful it is.”
At least for now, Wilson’s replacement will likely come by committee.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy said it would be nice to find a regular closer. In the meantime, he plans to give the ninth-inning opportunities to Santiago Casilla, Sergio Romo or even lefty Javier Lopez _ all of whom helped fill in when Wilson missed time late last season with elbow issues.
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