Gavin Floyd Likely To Be Shut Down For Season

It is doubtful that Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Gavin Floyd will pitch again in 2010, following an unexpected early exit from his start against the Oakland A’s on Monday night.  Floyd threw just 7 pitches before leaving the game due to soreness behind his pitching shoulder, a discomfort that apparently might have affected his previous start against the Twins.  On Thursday, Floyd will travel to Los Angeles to have his shoulder examined by the Angels team physician, Dr. Lewis Yocum.

Now that the Minnesota Twins have clinched the American League Central, the White Sox are likely to shut down Floyd for the remainder of the season and allow him to properly heal and prepare for 2011.  Neither Floyd nor White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen have seemed particularly optimistic about the right-hander’s lingering shoulder discomfort.

“I’ll probably take all precautionary measures.  I don’t feel like it’s anything serious, but it wasn’t getting any better when I was throwing.  Every pitch it seemed like it was getting worse.  We’re just treating it and taking it day-by-day,” Floyd stated.

He also acknowledged that after his September 15^th start against the Twins, he “felt a little sore, not normal soreness.”  In that start, Floyd lasted 5.1 innings, allowing 6 runs on 9 hits with 2 BB and 4 strikeouts.  The White Sox lost the must-win home game at U.S. Cellular Field, 9-3, while Floyd was saddled with the loss.

Perhaps the discomfort in his shoulder was even an issue prior to his start against the Twins; On September 9^th, Floyd turned in a less impressive against the Detroit Tigers.

Although he lasted 6 innings, Floyd surrendered 5 runs on 13 hits with 1 walk and 3 strikeouts, as the White Sox fell to the Tigers, 6-3.

Considering that Floyd has reported pitching in pain for nearly all of September, the next(and only) logical step for the White Sox is to shut him down for the remainder of the season.

When asked about the possibility of Floyd pitching again this season, Ozzie Guillen echoed Floyd’s cautious tone, even asserting that he would shut down Floyd if he weren’t “200% healthy.”

He added, “If it gets to the point I’ve got to shut it down, I will shut it down.  There’s no reason to risk this kid’s career…there’s no reason to take a chance at this moment.”