Scott should have the surgery

The Orioles have scored one run since Tuesday. This is a problem. It's also due to an off-day on Thursday, but still ... They also have five hits in their last two games. The rotation looks a lot better, however. And isn't that typical of the Orioles? They have four quality starts in their last six games, and the offense has taken a powder. The starters have completed six or more innings in six of the last 23 games. That's actually an improvement. I've written plenty about Luke Scott over the last few days, but I'm going to do it again. He flied to deep center field last night on a 93 mph fastball from Ervin Santana. He almost ripped an extra-base hit down the right field line while Santana was working on a no-hitter. But he looked uncomfortable with every swing. He's wincing. He's grabbing his shoulder. He's rotating his arm in a circular motion. Anything to ease the discomfort and milk more starts out of this season. It didn't work. He's headed back to the disabled list today, and he'll have to decide whether to rehab his torn labrum or undergo surgery. It's Scott's shoulder and it's his decision. The Orioles aren't going to press him on it. But wouldn't it make sense to do it now, go through the four-to-six month recovery and rehab process and be full-go for spring training? He could decline the surgery and try the rehab route, but cortisone injections and rest haven't done much good up to this point. He's still 70 percent. He's still in pain. He still makes comparisons to loose lug nuts on the wheels of a sports car. You can call AAA for that problem. Scott tried Double-A Thursday night, but Eastern League pitching didn't cure his shoulder. Have the surgery and come back healthy. That's easy for me to say. I'm not arbitration-eligible for the last time, and I'm not a candidate to be non-tendered. I'm not facing the prospect of becoming a free agent while I'm recovering from that surgery. I'd still have the surgery. Scott is a gamer - that's viewed as selfish by some fans, gutsy by others - but he understood that it was pointless to go out there at minus-30 percent. He doesn't have the same bat speed and extension. He's not doing himself or the club any favors. "It's tough because we know what he's been going through all year, and hopefully it gets healed and everything gets back to where we know Luke can be," catcher Matt Wieters said. "Whatever is going to be best for him and best for his family is what we want him to do. We just want to get him healthy." Meanwhile, Mark Worrell struck out the only batter he faced last night after escaping a bases-loaded, no-out jam in his last appearance. He's still got one of the oddest deliveries in history. One Angels writer said it looks like someone just gave Worrell the Heimlich Maneuver. He hasn't choked in his last two outings. Hard not to be impressed. More stuff: The Orioles have allowed 10 or more hits in 13 of the last 16 games. I wrote yesterday that they committed only one error in their last nine games. Well, they made two errors last night. I blame myself. The Orioles don't need a fifth starter because of Monday's off-day, so they'll use Brad Bergesen tonight and Jeremy Guthrie tomorrow against the Angels, and Jake Arrieta Tuesday, Simon Wednesday and Bergesen Thursday in Toronto. Those are the scheduled starters, though manager Buck Showalter reserves the right to change his mind. Shameless plug alert: I'll be appearing on Wall To Wall Baseball from noon to 2 p.m. on MASN. That sport coat is coming off the second we go off the air. I'm not wearing it in the press box.