| | Associated Press
ATLANTA -- Catcher Eddie Perez, a key member of the Atlanta
Braves' bench and MVP of last year's NL championship series,
learned Friday he has a torn rotator cuff and is likely out for the
season.
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Perez, who has been bothered by a sore right shoulder since
spring training, hoped to make it through the season before
undergoing surgery.
But the pain became too much to bear, so he will undergo the
operation Monday.
"It's tough, especially with the team we've got this year," he
said. "I know this team is probably going to be playing in the
World Series. I'm going to be mad about that."
There is a slight chance Perez will be able to return near the
end of the season. In all likelihood, though, he is through until
next spring.
In another injury related move, the Braves placed shortstop Walt
Weiss on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Thursday. Weiss,
plagued by injuries throughout his three years in Atlanta, is
bothered by a strained left hamstring.
To replace him, the Braves purchased the contract of infielder
Mark DeRosa from Triple-A Richmond. Nineteen-year-old Rafael Furcal
will start at short on a regular basis in place of Weiss, who was
hitting .311.
Lunar and DeRosa joined the team in time for Friday night's game
against the Philadelphia Phillies.
While hitting just .182 with no homers and three RBI in seven
games, Perez was regarded as one of the most valuable members of
the bench. He was the personal catcher for four-time Cy Young
winner Greg Maddux, providing starter Javy Lopez with a rest every
fifth day.
"I probably rely on him more than anyone else around here,"
Maddux said. "We had something special. We had that certain
chemistry. It takes time to build that."
The Braves recalled Fernando Lunar from Double-A Greenville, but
that is likely a temporary move. General manager John Schuerholz
already has been talking with other teams, looking for a major
league catcher to replace Perez.
"He's a big part of our team," Schuerholz said. "We have
talked with a lot of teams already. We're still in the process of
analyzing those discussions."
Perez's injury is the latest in a series of medical problems
that have plagued the Braves over the last two seasons. Andres
Galarraga (cancer) and Kerry Ligtenberg (elbow) both missed the
entire 1999 season, while Lopez played just 65 games a year ago
before blowing out a knee.
This spring, pitcher John Smoltz was diagnosed with a
season-ending elbow injury. Now, he's joined on the DL by Perez,
who played 104 games a year ago, hitting .249 with seven homers and
30 RBI.
"We've learned that injuries and physical problems are a big
part of this game," Schuerholz said. "We'll manage."
Lopez, who has fully recovered from knee surgery, knows he'll be
expected to carry more of a load than usual. He played a
career-high 138 games in 1996 and may exceed that number this
season.
"I'm in charge right now," Lopez said. "I had six months' rest
last year. I feel I'm prepared to play as much as they need me."
Perez had to pull himself out of Wednesday night's game at Los
Angeles after making a throw to second base. The Braves went on to
a 6-4 loss, snapping their 15-game winning streak.
"I had been playing in pain most games," he said. "Why keep
going like that?"
Perez underwent surgery on his left shoulder during the
offseason but was fully recovered about a month into spring
training. Then, his right shoulder began to hurt.
"Playing once a week, I thought I might make it," Perez said.
"But that last game, I blew it out. I said, 'That's it."'
After Monday's surgery at Piedmont Hospital, he faces a
rehabilitation period lasting at least four months and probably
longer. That leaves a slight possibility that Perez could return
this year.
"I will work hard," he said.
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