The 2009 season hasn't gone according to plan for Manny Corpas. He had hoped to act as the Rockies closer, but Huston Street beat Corpas out for that role early on. Corpas also planned to stick around after returning from the disabled list on July 16. Disappointment seems to be the trend for Corpas as it was announced on Wednesday that he'll undergo surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow.Corpas, who is 1-3 with a 5.88 ERA this season, made two appearances after returning from the 15-day disabled list. The first was a one-inning, one-hit outing. The second, however, didn't go well. He gave up three earned runs on three hits in one inning, including a home run.
It wasn't until after the game that Corpas knew things were wrong with his elbow.
Although he wasn't sharp against the D-backs, he said he felt no problems during the game.
"After the game, I was in the house trying to eat something, and it was big [swollen]," Corpas said.
Ice and pain relievers didn't do the trick. Corpas was unavailable to pitch Tuesday and Wednesday, and opted for surgery. Dr. Thomas J. Noonan, the Rockies' medical director, will perform the procedure to clean out the loose bodies.Even though Corpas' ERA has ballooned this season and he tends to get shelled at exactly the wrong time for the Rockies, he's made good strides in other parts of his game. He's striking out almost a batter more per nine innings (6.42 K/9) than he did last season. He's also walking almost a batter less per nine innings (1.87 BB/9) too. It's the unsightly .317 batting average he's allowing hitters this season that seems to be the catalyst for his high earned run average.
Surgery is scheduled for Friday. If all goes well, he could pitch as early as September.
The Rockies have yet to decide what to do to replace Corpas.
