Spare a thought for Bob Uecker

Uecker to have heart surgery

Hall of Fame Brewers broadcaster Bob Uecker will undergo heart surgery on Friday and will miss the next 10-12 weeks of games.

The Brewers made the announcement on Tuesday afternoon and plan to provide further details about Uecker's health in a 3:30 p.m. CT press conference at Miller Park.

That conference was supposed to start seven minutes ago.

Checking the twitter feeds of several who are there. Adam McCalvy, Doug Russell, Drew Olson, and Drew Wagner the bottom line is that he will be doing the game tonight and tomorrow. Then, he will have an enlarged aortic artery replaced.

Drew Olson adds this note.

Hoffman, Weeks, McGehee, Counsell, fielder, and Edmonds on hand.

Drew Wagner has this from Mr. Baseball:

"I hope to be back in a very short period of time. I'm looking forward to getting it done and get back to work."

I am thinking good thoughts for one of my broadcasting role models.

Get well and take care, sir.

UPDATE:

Tom Haudricourt has this update after the press conference.

Dr. Jim Klezca of Froedtert Hospital announced that legendary Brewers radio voice Bob Uecker needs the aortic valve in his heart replaced and also a repair of the enlarged aorta.

That surgery will be performed by Dr. Alfred Nicolosi at Froedtert on Friday morning.

Klezca said a heart mumur was detected in a test last September and also the aorta was discovered to be enlarged. The conditions were monitored but they grew worse in recent weeks.

"Something needs to be done," said Klezca, who participated in a news conference at Miller Park along with Uecker.

"He's at high risk of something bad happening."

Klezca said the most recent heart scans "showed the aorta has grown larger. It could potentially rupture before the end of the season."

Uecker said his heart condition had been monitored since last September by Klezca. He said he hoped to wait until after the season but "things changed dramatically" after the team's last road trip.

"I've known about this a long time," said Uecker. "I was given the OK to travel and exercise, everything I do healthwise, but some of the health problems have become a little more evident.