for Schafer/Heyward to determine their own development. With Church, Diaz, and McLouth on the roster, those two can battle for a starting job in spring training, with the best man winning a job and the other going to AAA to be called up as soon as they deserve. Depth is a nice thing.

Assuming of course that his problems with hitting the inside fastball REALLY was due to his wrist injury. :)

I don’t think one can have a bone bruise operated on, but a bruise can lead to more serious issues that can require surgery.

I would venture to guess there is no such surgery.
At one point, I seem to recall reading something about a possible tendon problem.
I do know the wrist is a very complicated joint with alotta moving parts.
Also, I know that imaging studies are only so good, and good surgeons are thus frequently loath to be very specific until after they go in and see what the exact physiology is and confirm the exact pathology.
In other words, I’m wondering if it is going to be an explorary procedure, looking for most likely A or B, but there’s always some possibility of C or perhaps even something else.

it is the dreaded microfracture surgery — I thought that was what Beltran was possibly facing Not sure if the same applies to wrists.

We’ll still have a highly effective platoon in Diaz/Church, and the top prospect in all of baseball making his major-league debut. I think we’ll make a move for a power bat like Jermaine Dye (I think his option will be declined) and start the year either Dye-McLouth-Heyward or Dye-McLouth-Diaz/Church. Heyward gets the everyday RF job when he’s ready for it, no questions asked.

I think Schafer should spend the whole year in AAA to make up for lost time. He’s missed a lot of potential development because of the suspension, his hand injury in winter ball, and now this. If he shows up next year like he ought to, then we can flip McLouth for some prospects and let the Schafer era in CF finally begin in 2011.