Luke Scott is still trying to play through the pain

The torn labrum in Luke Scott's right shoulder it seems, is not getting better and for now will not allow Scott to come off the disabled list and rejoin the Orioles. He played two games for Double-A Bowie the last two days, going 2-for-6 with a homer, two walks and two strikeouts. He could have been activated today, but will not and appears headed back for more minor league rehab games, though nothing is set at this point. "It's been like this since May, I haven't been myself," Scott said quietly in the O's clubhouse. "I haven't had the snap on my swing or the bat speed. It's been a challenge to deal with. "Last couple of days I've had eight at-bats and my shoulder, it is what it is. I'm still dealing with this tear. Pitches that are away and pitches I got out in front of, like breaking pitches, there is no sharp pain, but just discomfort." While this all potentially could lead to Scott needing a surgical repair, for now, that is not Plan A for him with this injury. "No, for right now the plan is to get to a position where I can come back and compete. If I can't, then that's when I'll have to look at other options and make a decision what we will do with this thing," he said. Last season, Scott was named the Most Valuable Oriole by the media when he hit 27 homers and had a .902 OPS. But this season, he is batting just .223 with nine homers, 22 RBIs and a .712 OPS. He has not played since July 3 and just recently had a second cortisone shot. "Cortisone does not heal anything, all it does is calm the stinging pain. In May I had throbbing pain to where it woke me out of a dead sleep at night. That's gone. I can play with pain, I have most of my career," Scott said. "Every player in here has done that. But it's different when there is something structurally wrong and you can't perform at the level you used to. "I talked to Andy and Buck and I have to be honest with myself. If I'm not 100 percent ready or can step in and help the team, I need to take the necessary means to get to that point. I'm hoping it will be a couple more days. But I'm just not ready." Manager Buck Showalter said Scott would have to make the final decision to have surgery, if that happens. He also pointed out that time may be drawing close for Scott to have a procedure and still have enough time to be completely healthy for the start of the 2012 season. For now, Scott is trying to play on "I didn't realize how big the tear was until the doctor told me. It's not going to heal in 13 days. I have to find a way to deal with it. It's like loosening the lugnuts on a high performance sports car," he said.