The Philadelphia Phillies appear headed for a disastrous 2015 season. They have the lowest over/under total from Las Vegas oddsmakers this year, and that total may drop if alarming news about ace left-hander Cliff Lee is true.
Lee is feeling discomfort in his left elbow that could require major surgery. If so, Lee said he's not sure he'll ever return to the mound.
"It would be 6-8 months out," Lee said. "So basically if I have the surgery this season will be done. Possibly my career I guess. I don't know. We'll have to see."
Lee only pitched 81.1 innings in 2014, posting a 4-5 record with a 3.65 ERA and an uncharacteristically high 1.38 WHIP. On Friday Lee complained of mild pain in the elbow that wouldn't be so troublesome if he hadn't dealt with pain in the same spot last year.
"And it was really mild, but, it's just concerning because I knew what it turned into last year, and I just wanted to be open. I wasn't trying to hide anything," Lee said. "I truly felt nothing for months and then all of a sudden there it is after the first time I pitch in a game. I was open and honest with our trainers and hoped to nip it in the bud as quick as we can and hope that it's just a little twinge or something from really cranking it up the first time in a while."
Lee is going to try the rest and rehab route before rushing into an operation, because there's potential that the soreness is normal and related to scar tissue.
"Obviously you're going to take your chances on rest and rehab and that's what we did," Lee said. "So potentially I'm the three percent that needs surgery and potentially it's scar tissue breaking up and it's normal. But I think it's early to know which one it is."
If he does need surgery however, a long season in Philadelphia will feel infinitely longer.
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