cubfan33
09-20-2002, 01:38 AM
I'm not a doctor and I don't play one on TV. I do have a better than average knowledge of medicine and I have enough contacts that when I don't understand something or something just doesn't look right, I can find the right person to ask. With today's myriad of choices for diagnostic tests - from advanced X-rays to MRI's, from laser microsurgery to innovative surgeons, having a doctor with a scalpel is not nearly as painful, as dangerous, or as career-threatening as it was just five or ten years ago. An injury that ended careers in the seventies might have a guy back in six weeks today. That said, there are things that doctors miss, that tests don't catch. However, when you see a pattern of odd results, you have to question it. About this time last week, Sean Casey underwent surgery and once open, extensive damage was found. It hadn't been seen on any previous test and Casey will be lucky to be back for spring training. Now, Matt Lawton has undergone surgery - ostensibly for a clavicular cyst - but when the report came out, everything in that shoulder was wrong, but there's no mention of a cyst. Labrum torn? Check. Cuff torn? Check. Athritic joint? Check. Instead of spring training, Lawton is now looking at August of 2003. When's the last time you saw something like this happen? Can you think back to find a situation where even once, the surgery was so far off from the expected? I looked and I can't. Mildly off? Yes. This far? Not even close. There's something in common here ... I think you can figure it out. Can I say for certain that Tim Kremchek did something wrong? No. I'm not a doctor and I wasn't in on the surgery, but its worrisome nonetheless. The Indians front office is catching a lot of blame out there on the wire as well, but I have my eyes on the common factor. Ok, someone explain this one to me. I could say something about White Sox fans - but I won't. I could say something about Royals coaching - but I won't. I just don't get this one and there MUST be more to the story. Oh good, its a father and son set of morons. Better and better. It's almost as crazy as bringing Jeff Torborg back to manage the Marlins and their young starters again. Man, I hope a couple of those guys get traded, just for their own sanity if not their talented arms.
It's not if, it's when and how for J.D. Drew. His chronic case of patellar tendinitis is due to necrotic tissue in his tendon and it will require offseason surgery. The injury is being compared to that which ended the career of Mark McGwire. Drew will have either a scope or laser scrape on his damaged knee, but there's not a lot of comparables for his age and this injury. Most of the comps are much older players with a history of knee problems. Drew has always been something of a mystery, so I hate to guess at the outcome. I see a lot of Phil Nevin in him still.
When you clinch, you can rest people that are dinged up. You can set up your rotation how you want it. The Twins have clinched - finally - and they're resting Jacque Jones while his sprained ankle recovers fully. If needed, he could play and yes, he realizes how lucky he is that he didn't Sanchez/Jenkins his ankle. The Twins look like they'll open the playoffs with Brad Radke and Joe Mays. The likely #3 is Rick Reed, but it's unclear if they would spin back around to Radke or give Eric Milton a chance.
Dennis Cook has come back from a torn labrum to help the Angels as much as he can and has been a solid part of a good bullpen, but it looks like the effort won't get him on the post-season roster. Cook simply can't go long enough or hard enough to make his leftiness worthwhile.
Shane Spencer is back on the shelf after re-injuring his hamstring. Spencer is in danger of losing his post-season slot and may not fit into the Yankees post luxury tax plans. Smart teams will realize that someone like Spencer has some value, but can be easily replaced by the likes of a Raul Ibanez or Juan Rivera, depending on how your teams farm system looks.
Phil Nevin may have lost the fight against a folding chair, but it appears he may win the war. While he could have been held out of the game today against Randy Johnson - a pitcher who seems to inspire stiffness, soreness and flu like symptoms in opposing hitters, Nevin was back in there today. If you missed the video, it's a bit funny, a bit frightening. There really should be more of a railing or padding on a lot of parks.
Mike Sweeney left tonight's game with stiffness in his back. As he battles for the batting title, it wouldn't surprise me to see him sit out a few more games here and there. George Brett did the same thing when he won his and while I can't admire the tactic, I can understand it. Not everyone is Ted Williams.
UTK Hall of Lame candidate Larry Walker - just how good COULD he be if healthy? - left tonight's game with a sore shoulder. Walker's made some noise that he wouldn't mind moving on if he could be traded to a winning team. Being a DH might not be a bad idea and teams could do a lot worse. I'm not sure who all fits, but imagine Walker in Seattle - he could play LF for a season and then shift to DH when Edgar Martinez retires.
Rheal Cormier was sent back to Philly for an MRI. The Phillies think he just has a dead arm, but they're being cautious even though they really have nothing to gain. Relievers like Cormier almost literally grow on trees - see: Hammond, Chris - and it will be interesting to see if GM's league wide learn the lesson the Braves, Angels, and Twins have taught us. Which reminds me -- I can see the arguments against Alex Rodriguez for MVP but I have not yet seen one argument getting within shouting distance of justifying John Smoltz getting even one vote as MVP.
Rays catcher John Flaherty has a fractured middle finger on his glove hand. He'll likely cede some at bats to Toby Hall, which the Rays would already have done if they had a clue. They don't. I'm really really worried for the future of this franchise - not in a contraction sense, but come on, do we really need a modern day St Louis Browns? I see some good prospects, but I don't see how they'll put together a lineup that can win in the next couple of years unless they pull off a really big steal of a trade. (Hey Chuck, I have some suggestions if you keep your job.)
Thanks to all that responded so far to the poll on Netshrine or via email.I understand some don't want to register at Netshrine, but believe me, it's worth it. Let me clarify a couple things - I'm not going to charge this year ... but I am probably going to ask you to participate in something next week. This will be really cool and be voluntary only. If I do charge next year, there will remain a "free" UTK, but it likely will involve a delay. I haven't decided anything yet, but I'm sure each of you can understand not wanting to lose money. Another thanks to those of you that have asked about the panic attacks - it's been a very bad week but I'm battling through and really making progress. Next report late tomorrow.
It's not if, it's when and how for J.D. Drew. His chronic case of patellar tendinitis is due to necrotic tissue in his tendon and it will require offseason surgery. The injury is being compared to that which ended the career of Mark McGwire. Drew will have either a scope or laser scrape on his damaged knee, but there's not a lot of comparables for his age and this injury. Most of the comps are much older players with a history of knee problems. Drew has always been something of a mystery, so I hate to guess at the outcome. I see a lot of Phil Nevin in him still.
When you clinch, you can rest people that are dinged up. You can set up your rotation how you want it. The Twins have clinched - finally - and they're resting Jacque Jones while his sprained ankle recovers fully. If needed, he could play and yes, he realizes how lucky he is that he didn't Sanchez/Jenkins his ankle. The Twins look like they'll open the playoffs with Brad Radke and Joe Mays. The likely #3 is Rick Reed, but it's unclear if they would spin back around to Radke or give Eric Milton a chance.
Dennis Cook has come back from a torn labrum to help the Angels as much as he can and has been a solid part of a good bullpen, but it looks like the effort won't get him on the post-season roster. Cook simply can't go long enough or hard enough to make his leftiness worthwhile.
Shane Spencer is back on the shelf after re-injuring his hamstring. Spencer is in danger of losing his post-season slot and may not fit into the Yankees post luxury tax plans. Smart teams will realize that someone like Spencer has some value, but can be easily replaced by the likes of a Raul Ibanez or Juan Rivera, depending on how your teams farm system looks.
Phil Nevin may have lost the fight against a folding chair, but it appears he may win the war. While he could have been held out of the game today against Randy Johnson - a pitcher who seems to inspire stiffness, soreness and flu like symptoms in opposing hitters, Nevin was back in there today. If you missed the video, it's a bit funny, a bit frightening. There really should be more of a railing or padding on a lot of parks.
Mike Sweeney left tonight's game with stiffness in his back. As he battles for the batting title, it wouldn't surprise me to see him sit out a few more games here and there. George Brett did the same thing when he won his and while I can't admire the tactic, I can understand it. Not everyone is Ted Williams.
UTK Hall of Lame candidate Larry Walker - just how good COULD he be if healthy? - left tonight's game with a sore shoulder. Walker's made some noise that he wouldn't mind moving on if he could be traded to a winning team. Being a DH might not be a bad idea and teams could do a lot worse. I'm not sure who all fits, but imagine Walker in Seattle - he could play LF for a season and then shift to DH when Edgar Martinez retires.
Rheal Cormier was sent back to Philly for an MRI. The Phillies think he just has a dead arm, but they're being cautious even though they really have nothing to gain. Relievers like Cormier almost literally grow on trees - see: Hammond, Chris - and it will be interesting to see if GM's league wide learn the lesson the Braves, Angels, and Twins have taught us. Which reminds me -- I can see the arguments against Alex Rodriguez for MVP but I have not yet seen one argument getting within shouting distance of justifying John Smoltz getting even one vote as MVP.
Rays catcher John Flaherty has a fractured middle finger on his glove hand. He'll likely cede some at bats to Toby Hall, which the Rays would already have done if they had a clue. They don't. I'm really really worried for the future of this franchise - not in a contraction sense, but come on, do we really need a modern day St Louis Browns? I see some good prospects, but I don't see how they'll put together a lineup that can win in the next couple of years unless they pull off a really big steal of a trade. (Hey Chuck, I have some suggestions if you keep your job.)
Thanks to all that responded so far to the poll on Netshrine or via email.I understand some don't want to register at Netshrine, but believe me, it's worth it. Let me clarify a couple things - I'm not going to charge this year ... but I am probably going to ask you to participate in something next week. This will be really cool and be voluntary only. If I do charge next year, there will remain a "free" UTK, but it likely will involve a delay. I haven't decided anything yet, but I'm sure each of you can understand not wanting to lose money. Another thanks to those of you that have asked about the panic attacks - it's been a very bad week but I'm battling through and really making progress. Next report late tomorrow.