Francona: Matsuzaka will not have surgery

By MaureenMullen
CSNNE.com

CLEVELAND -- Terry Francona denied a report Monday that Daisuke Matsuzaka may need to have Tommy John surgery on his ailing right elbow.

"Hes not going to have surgery," said Francona. "Hes not going to have Tommy John. Some reports arent very professional. Thats a shame.

The report said Matsuzaka was seeking a second opinion from a Japanese surgeon. Francona said that, too, wasn't true, though he will receive a second opinion.

He has a appointment later in the monthto see Dr. Lewis Yokum in Los Angeles," said Francona, who added the team "gave permission for Matsuzaka to gohome to Japan before that. Its personal, though and not to get another medical opinion."

Asked when it was arranged to have Matsuzaka see Yokum, Francona replied:

Oh my goodness, weve talked to him all last week . . . I talked to him probably two or three times in depth and then he askedhes not doing anything right nowhe asked if Francona would care if he went to Japan. And I said, No, not even a little bit. But I wanted to get permission from general manager Theo Epstein, and check with the medical people, just to make sure. Everybody was okay with it.