Roberts to have elbow surgery

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http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=A ... &type=lgns

By JANIE McCAULEY, AP Sports Writer
May 10, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Giants center fielder Dave Roberts had his inflamed left elbow examined by Angels orthopedist Dr. Lewis Yocum on Thursday and decided to have arthroscopic surgery to remove floating bone chips and bone spurs.

The procedure could be done as soon as Friday or perhaps Monday, Roberts said after being seen by Yocum in Los Angeles.

"The appointment went well," he said.

The team had hoped Roberts could avoid needing a scope until after the season. Yocum worked on Roberts' shoulder during his college days at UCLA, but the outfielder was still deciding who would perform the operation.

The procedure -- nearly identical to what slugger Barry Bonds underwent after last season -- has a recovery time of about four weeks. Though Giants infielder Rich Aurilia healed quickly when he had surgery to remove bone chips in his right elbow in 2002 during his first stint with the Giants. He was out from May 20-June 3 that year and later helped the team reach the World Series.

The 34-year-old Roberts homered in the Giants' 5-3 loss to the New York Mets on Wednesday, but noted afterward that he was heavily medicated and was fresh after not having played in the three previous games. He said he doesn't intend to stay on such harsh medication for a long period of time.

Roberts didn't travel with the club after the game to Colorado for a four-game series starting Thursday, but hoped to meet up with the team at some point during its road trip that also includes three games in Houston before next weekend's interleague series against the Athletics in Oakland.

Roberts had an MRI exam earlier this week that revealed the bone chips. He cannot fully bend his elbow, which affects him at the plate and his outfield play -- so the injury is not just about whether he can tolerate the pain.

From the Giants perspective, losing Roberts is huge considering Todd Linden's recent struggles at the plate and Roberts' speed in the leadoff spot that makes him such a threat on the basepaths.

Roberts is batting .216 with two homers and six RBIs in 27 games and 23 starts in his first season with San Francisco.