Cardinals’ Morris Undergoes Surgery on Pitching Elbow

St. Louis right-hander Matt Morris underwent surgery in Los Angeles on Tuesday to repair ligament damage in the elbow of his pitching arm.

Morris had a 95% tear of the medial collateral ligament of his elbow, making the injury worse than expected, team spokesman Brad Hainje said.

“Once they got in there, they said it was a good thing that they went ahead with the surgery,” Hainje said.

Dodger team doctor and arm specialist Dr. Frank Jobe performed “Tommy John” surgery on Morris. Jobe took a tendon from the palm of Morris’ hand and implanted it into his elbow.

The surgery is scary for pitchers because it has ended some careers and turned terrific pitchers into mediocre ones. Morris, 24, acknowledged he has concerns.

“You’re everything--nervous, scared, anxious, every word you can come up with,” he said. “But I pretty much just want to get it over with. I can’t go forward until I get it done. I just want to get the surgery done, start recuperating and move on.”

The Cardinals were counting on Morris to be their No. 1 starter. He was 7-5 with a 2.53 ERA in 1998, when he missed all but one start prior to the All-Star break with a shoulder injury.

Doctors said Morris won’t return until the start of spring training.

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Shortstop Jose Valentin, bothered by an injured thumb ligament, was put on the 15-day disabled list by the Milwaukee Brewers.

Valentin tore a ligament in his left thumb while diving into second base in Houston on Saturday.

Infielder Lou Collier was called up from triple-A Louisville to take Valentin’s roster spot.

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Rookie third baseman Mike Lowell’s debut with the Florida Marlins will be delayed because of a sore throwing shoulder.

Lowell had been expected to join the Marlins as early as this week, but he was recalled Tuesday from a rehabilitation assignment with triple-A Calgary.

He’ll join the Marlins’ extended spring club in Melbourne, Fla., today.

Lowell, 25, is coming back from surgery Feb. 21 for testicular cancer.

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The Chicago Cubs put pitcher Kurt Miller on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained left rib cage.

Miller will be replaced on the active roster by right-hander Rodney Myers, recalled from triple-A Iowa.

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John F. “Red” Flaherty, a former American League umpire, died at his home in Falmouth, Mass., after a lengthy illness. He was 81.

Flaherty worked four World Series in his 21-year big league career that began in 1952.