I’d like to see a study about pitchers’ velocity 2 years before TJ surgery (presumably they aren’t injured) and 2 years after (presumably they have fully recovered). I am assuming that higher velocity = stronger. Maybe that’s not the right metric, perhaps innings thrown or pitches thrown (though more pitches per inning might be an indication of an ineffective pitcher, giving up more hits & walks means more pitches, just not in a good sense.)
How do we define “stronger?”
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Not a single piece of evidence in this article that proves pitchers after TJ surgery do not increase velocity 1-2 mph, for at least least some pitchers. The reason for the increase may be argued, but guys like Pavano and Westbrook for example did have a velocity increase.
This does not mean people should want to have TJ surgery, just that it may not be the end of the world if it is needed. Prognosis is much better than shoulder surgery, and after rehab with a repaired tendon that may have been causing problems for a couple of years, pitchers may come out of it stronger.
He also writes:
“Major league teams do not seem to want to invest in keeping their pitchers healthy”
That teams who give million dollar bonuses to pitchers, spend money on development for several years, and then get a profit windfall for 6 years of MLB service underpaying the pitcher well below his market value do not want them to stay healthy is an interesting theory.
Fact is, nobody knows for sure why pitchers get injured. Thirty years ago you had guys throwing 250+ IP in the majors at age 21-22 without pitch counts, and some were healthy for most of their long careers. Pitchers today are babied as they rise up through the ranks with pitch counts and IP limits, and still get injured. It’s not an exact science.
Perfect example is J.Tazawa. When signed by the Red Sox he used to pitch out of the stretch. Red Sox felt that put more stress on his arm, and got him to pitch from a wind up with no runners on. A year later he needed TJ surgery.
And sometimes you can sacrifice effectiveness for health. Crag Hansen was a 1st round pick said to be MLB ready but had poor mechanics which may have made him prone to injury. Red Sox tinkered with his mechanics to keep him healthy. He may be healthy as a result, but he lost his FB command and effectiveness, and is toiling somewhere in the minors stuggling to get outs.
So it is not an exact science. It may be that some people are predisposed to these injuries as throwing baseball 90+ MPH a 100 or more pitches per game is an unnatural act.
All the more reason to abandon the current system where young pitchers are wage slaves for 6 years. Some of them only can last 6 years before injury strikes. Everyone should be a FA after their first contract expires, or at least be a FA by the time they turn 28 regardless of service time.
I’d like to see a study about pitchers’ velocity 2 years before TJ surgery (presumably they aren’t injured) and 2 years after (presumably they have fully recovered). I am assuming that higher velocity = stronger. Maybe that’s not the right metric, perhaps innings thrown or pitches thrown (though more pitches per inning might be an indication of an ineffective pitcher, giving up more hits & walks means more pitches, just not in a good sense.)
How do we define “stronger?”
Not a single piece of evidence in this article that proves pitchers after TJ surgery do not increase velocity 1-2 mph, for at least least some pitchers. The reason for the increase may be argued, but guys like Pavano and Westbrook for example did have a velocity increase.
This does not mean people should want to have TJ surgery, just that it may not be the end of the world if it is needed. Prognosis is much better than shoulder surgery, and after rehab with a repaired tendon that may have been causing problems for a couple of years, pitchers may come out of it stronger.
He also writes:
“Major league teams do not seem to want to invest in keeping their pitchers healthy”
That teams who give million dollar bonuses to pitchers, spend money on development for several years, and then get a profit windfall for 6 years of MLB service underpaying the pitcher well below his market value do not want them to stay healthy is an interesting theory.
Fact is, nobody knows for sure why pitchers get injured. Thirty years ago you had guys throwing 250+ IP in the majors at age 21-22 without pitch counts, and some were healthy for most of their long careers. Pitchers today are babied as they rise up through the ranks with pitch counts and IP limits, and still get injured. It’s not an exact science.
Perfect example is J.Tazawa. When signed by the Red Sox he used to pitch out of the stretch. Red Sox felt that put more stress on his arm, and got him to pitch from a wind up with no runners on. A year later he needed TJ surgery.
And sometimes you can sacrifice effectiveness for health. Crag Hansen was a 1st round pick said to be MLB ready but had poor mechanics which may have made him prone to injury. Red Sox tinkered with his mechanics to keep him healthy. He may be healthy as a result, but he lost his FB command and effectiveness, and is toiling somewhere in the minors stuggling to get outs.
So it is not an exact science. It may be that some people are predisposed to these injuries as throwing baseball 90+ MPH a 100 or more pitches per game is an unnatural act.
All the more reason to abandon the current system where young pitchers are wage slaves for 6 years. Some of them only can last 6 years before injury strikes. Everyone should be a FA after their first contract expires, or at least be a FA by the time they turn 28 regardless of service time.