March 06, 2008
Waiting for the Elbow Blow
Albert Pujols' elbow is in bad shape:
Cardinals team physician Dr. George Paletta confirmed the diagnosis on Wednesday, and said that Pujols will need reconstructive surgery at some point, but not immediately. He said the Cardinals' first baseman has a "high-grade" tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, as well as bone spurs, inflammation and arthritis in the joint.
Paletta confirmed that Pujols could have undergone arthroscopic surgery to help the bone spurs and arthritis, but not the ligament tear; he could have had arthrscopic surgery and Tommy John surgery to rebuild the elbow (causing him to miss at least this season), or he could wait.
When he reported to camp, Pujols said he will not change his routine as he prepares for Opening Day.
"If it blows out it's going to blow out," Pujols said. "You can't control that."
Albert has three years plus an option left on his contract. Are the Cardinals better off letting him play and hoping the elbow lasts three years, or should they shut him down and insist on surgery, so he's 100% when this team is ready to compete again?
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Posted by David Pinto at
06:27 PM
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I'd tell him to shut it down if I was running the Cardinals--I have nothing but respect for the man for wanting to play in his condition, but we're talking about a guy who (officially) is just past his 28th birthday and who has already played over a thousand games with a career adjusted OPS+ of 167 (and no season below 151)--risking an inevitable, uncontrolled, and possibly catastrophic injury in a season when the Cardinals are not expected to contend for the postseason would be utter madness. It's the job of a good management team to protect gutty players from letting their admirable work ethic destroy their careers, particularly when there isn't a particularly compelling reason to put surgery off.
yup, like he said. Cards are gonna blow this year. Might as well hang it up right now.
