Chris Ray Out For the Year, If Not 'Til '09...

Well, it looks like our young closer Chris Ray is going to be out longer than expected.

Much longer.

Folks, I'd expect to see him back on the mound by 2009, unless by some miracle he can come back in 2008.

From Rotoworld: "The Orioles didn't even reveal that he was set to see Dr. James Andrews. It turned out that he was scheduled for surgery to remove a bone spur, but a damaged UCL was found and it was determined that Tommy John surgery was the proper course. This doesn't come as a big surprise, given that it was revealed he had a ligament sprain in late July. It's unlikely the Orioles will try to rush him back in the second half of next year, though since he is a reliever, it's possible that he could return then. Danys Baez will spend the rest of this year auditioning for the closer's role in 2008. The Orioles could look to sign a stopgap this winter if Baez continues to disappoint."

Too bad.

* A special thanks for Ian from Sox and Dawgs for letting me know the bad news...