By Joe Rutter
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, January 16, 2004


The Pirates are looking to add a veteran left-handed reliever before spring training, but they won't be bringing back Scott Sauerbeck.

Sauerbeck will undergo shoulder surgery next week and won't pitch this season.

Sauerbeck lives in Bradenton and has been working out on his own at Pirate City. He injured his shoulder last summer after the Pirates traded him to the Boston Red Sox, who non-tendered him in December.

Sauerbeck was hoping to pitch for the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds, but he failed each team's physical. That prompted his decision to have season-ending surgery.

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Its too bad he was hurt with the . He would have been great in the pen this year. Remember he did very well in Pitt before.

Well that sux. Who's gonna dish out the walks left and right now?

Knowing the Sox bullpen, I'm sure somone's up to the task!

Seriously, though, Sauerbeck always intrigued me. It just didn't make any sense that he came over here and lost his control like that. There had to be a good reason. I guess his injury was the reason.

I wish him well. I think he kind of got thrown under the bus last season. But I can't say much, because I was the one throwing him under it a lot.

-MALC

i agree....sometimes it makes you wonder...i mean these guys play injured, in pain (or not!) and we as fans expect top shelf every single day....i wish him well also and i truly hope he comes back next year in full form...if not for the bosox to redeem himself then hopefully in the NL!

It makes me wonder how he didn't pass these exams but DID pass the physical exam done by the Sox before he came over. Must be a fairly new condition...

Well, that surely explains a lot about Sauerbeck's suckiness, eh? *points out obvious* It's shame about that, and I wish him to be well rested for 2004, and I wouldn't mind giving him a chance in 2005, if he's willing to join the Red Sox again. I'd love to see what a healthy Sauerbeck can do....he can't be as bad as he was in 03....right?

He had several good outings when he first came to the Sox before he became ineffective.

Yeah, I remember he good outings, but it explains his control problems. I think for a while he had like a 1.54 ERA with the Red Sox? At least at one point he did....I tend to be forgetful so please forgive me if I look like an idiot.

Wow, that Freddy Sanchez trade keeps looking better!