Really Bad News For Pedro Owners

[NetShrine]

Report: Martinez headed to Calif. for second opinion
.c The Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) - Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez is heading to California for a second opinion on his ailing right shoulder.

The Providence Journal and the Boston Herald in Friday's editions said Martinez was ready to leave as early as Friday to consult with Dr. Lewis Yocum, an orthopedist, who is the team doctor for the Anaheim Angels. Yocum performed rotator cuff surgery on Ramon Martinez, Pedro's older brother.

Pedro Martinez was placed on the disabled list Wednesday after leaving Tuesday's start in the fifth inning. He's complained about discomfort in his right shoulder since mid-May, when he first sought tests from Red Sox medical director, Dr. Arthur Pappas.

Red Sox officials have described Martinez's injury as inflammation of the rotator cuff and stressed that no tear was detected.

The three-time Cy Young winner underwent an arthrogram, an MRI and a CT-scan Wednesday at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester. The tests showed inflammation of the rotator cuff.

AP-NY-06-29-01 0641EDT

[BuzzBuzzard]

You are so colored by your kinship to the Yankees. All this is saying is that he is going for a second opinion. Maybe something will come out of this trip to the doctor that has not been detected yet, but you've made your prognosis already, Dr. Net. Have you never gone for a second opinion that ultimately confirmed what you were told originally?

You are an agitator and promoter of social unrest. Shame on you.

[NetShrine]

You got me wrong Buzz -

rotator cuff - specialist - second opinion

three phrases that are never good news for any pitcher.

[BuzzBuzzard]

This follows along similar lines of presumed guilty before being found innocent.

[BuzzBuzzard]

Next time you are in a crowded movie theater, why don't you yell 'Fire' in the middle of the show.

[ChrisCary]

He cursed The Babe, this is very possibly a career ending injury.

[NetShrine]

Originally posted by BuzzBuzzard
This follows along similar lines of presumed guilty before being found innocent.

Chris - good one on the Babe.

Buzz - this is how I see it.
You're Pedro, you see the MD, and he says you're fine. Then, you go with that.
But, if the MD says "bad news, we have to cut you" THEN you go for the 2nd opinion.

Sure, it could be the case of MD says "OK" but you still hurt so you want a 2nd - - - but, that is rarely the case.

Odds are, Pedro has some serious problem - either way.

[BuzzBuzzard]

Originally posted by NetShrine

But, if the MD says "bad news, we have to cut you" THEN you go for the 2nd opinion.
Contradictory to what the team has said. Wouldn't be the first time a front office covered up for a while, but they have not achkowledged anything other than an inflamation, even after yesterday's tests.

[NetShrine]

Strange part - he's had discomfort since mid-May - - I have to look at some of his pitch counts since then.

[NetShrine]

Last seven starts:
in reverse order -
81
89
110
90
121
120
109

the back-to-back 120 games were games v. the NNY in a six day span. Why do that to a guy with a bad wing? He hasn't been the same since.

[BuzzBuzzard]

Originally posted by NetShrine
Last seven starts:
in reverse order -
81
89
110
90
121
120
109

the back-to-back 120 games were games v. the NNY in a six day span. Why do that to a guy with a bad wing? He hasn't been the same since. The guy might have done it to himself, meaning he might not have been completely open with the team.

[NetShrine]

Originally posted by BuzzBuzzard
The guy might have done it to himself, meaning he might not have been completely open with the team.

Good point - very possible. If true, and he is hurt, he has no one to blame but himself.

[bagger015]

Originally posted by NetShrine


Good point - very possible. If true, and he is hurt, he has no one to blame but himself.

Agreed, but for another reason. He has always been an upper body type pitcher. Shoulder abuse 101. Don't like to see anyone
injured but the shoulder will only take so much abuse.
And it seems very strange that pitchers these days have a lot of problems with rotor cuffs that was or didn't seem prevelent in the days of 4 man rotations. Interesting. ;)

[NetShrine]

It will rust out before it will wear out.
Older guys pitched more often and were stronger - perhaps?

[mainsr]

Originally posted by NetShrine
Older guys pitched more often and were stronger - perhaps?

I think they used to pace themselves better. I mean, look at the majors in the 60s. Every lineup had 2-3 pretty much automatic outs (P, 2B/SS, C). So you really had to work hard with a third of the lineup. I also think pitchers didn't have to bear down as much with the rest of the lineup, because the hitters weren't as good. A mistake might end up on caught on the warning track or, at worst, falling in the gap for a double. Now, it's outta here. And hitters are getting more selective, resulting in higher pitch counts.

Overall, I think the strain of starting 32 games today is greater than starting 40 25-40 years ago.

(Man, it is really depressing to think that the Seventies were that far back.)

[NetShrine]

I think the K/IP for each era tells something too. Hitters tried to make more contact back then - more balls put into play - less wear and tear on the pitchers - perhaps.