Tuesday, November 23, 1999
Harnisch won't have surgery
Reds give blessing to conditioning program
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
With the Reds' blessing, right-hander Pete Harnisch will try to strengthen his ailing shoulder without surgery — though the team plans to monitor his efforts closely.
The Reds recommended arthroscopic surgery for Harnisch after he pitched the final four months of the 1999 season in considerable discomfort. Dr. David Altchek, a New York Mets team physician who operated on Harnisch's shoulder in August 1995, examined Harnisch last month and supported the Reds' view.
But Harnisch, who led Cincinnati in victories in each of the last two seasons, insisted that a conditioning program would suffice.
After Harnisch was checked recently by Dr. Tim Kremchek, the team's medical director, the Reds relented, because nothing was structurally wrong with the 33-year-old's shoulder.
Referring to Harnisch's characteristic diligence, Kremchek said Monday, “Knowing Pete and what he does, this is great. This is the next best thing to having his shoulder 'scoped.”
Kremchek said that Harnisch will maintain a “super-aggressive” regimen designed to strengthen the muscles around his shoulder. He'll visit Cincinnati once a month to be tested by Reds physicians and therapists. Harnisch's routine will become less rigorous as the mid-February start of spring training approaches.
“It's our hope that this arduous program will get him through next year,” Kremchek said. “We're going to go with him on this. I think there's a good chance he can do it his way.”
Kremchek said that Harnisch probably won't begin throwing until mid-January at the earliest, and even then would do little more than toss lightly.
Harnisch was 30-17 for the Reds in 1998-99; 16-10 with a 3.68 ERA this year.
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