Chris Sale needs Tommy John Surgery

[TylerD]

There is no hurry, now.

 

Exactly. Especially with this being a bit of a rebuild year. No point in rushing hi. Back and potentially ending his career out of stupidity.

[Thunder]

I mean, if I were him, I'd do it now. If I have to be stuck inside, I would rather be recovering from surgery then be perfectly healthy and driving myself crazy

[oldtimer]

I mean, if I were him, I'd do it now. If I have to be stuck inside, I would rather be recovering from surgery then be perfectly healthy and driving myself crazy

 

Elective surgery is frowned on at this time. Stay out of the hospital until COVID-19 is under control. May be a month or even more but its a wait that should be taken.

[Thunder]

Elective surgery is frowned on at this time. Stay out of the hospital until COVID-19 is under control. May be a month or even more but its a wait that should be taken.

 

Nah, who cares? He's Chris FREAKIN' Sale!!! He can do whatever the hell he wants

[notin]

Elective surgery is frowned on at this time. Stay out of the hospital until COVID-19 is under control. May be a month or even more but its a wait that should be taken.

 

That does make me wonder - do you think James Andrews is seeing COVID patients?

[Kimmi]

Elective surgery is frowned on at this time. Stay out of the hospital until COVID-19 is under control. May be a month or even more but its a wait that should be taken.

 

I don't think Sale will be having the surgery any time soon. IMO, if they allow him to have it because of who he is, that would be wrong.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Alex Speier in today's Boston Globe wrote an informative piece looking at how once-elite pitchers performed after TJ. I think the best model Sox fans can hope for is John Smoltz (which is ironic, since he was so brutal in Boston at the end of his career). But Smoltz is one guy who was great before and eventually after surgery:

 

"Smoltz was squarely in the middle of a Hall of Fame career when he blew out his elbow at age 32 in spring training of 2000. Just over 13 months later, he returned to the Braves rotation, but struggled to a 5.76 ERA in that role.

 

After a month on the sidelines, he returned as a reliever, a role in which he excelled over the next 3½ years (ages 34-37 seasons) before a return to the rotation at age 38.

 

Certainly, the Sox hope Sale’s future lies in the rotation, but the impact Smoltz made out of the bullpen in the four seasons that followed his surgery was considerable, with two All-Star berths and a top-three Cy Young finish.

 

In that vein, Smoltz offers evidence of how a great pitcher can remain elite after Tommy John surgery in his 30s, even as the initial decision to move him to the bullpen in 2001 points to the physical challenges of a return to a starting role."

 

Smoltz eventually transitioned back into a starter, with three more very good years at ages 38 through 40. Another power pitcher -- Yu Darvish, now age 33 -- was named by Speier as being inconsistent. Others mentioned in the article with success after TJ were more pitch to bad-contact guys like Carpenter, Hudson and Wainwright.

[notin]

I don't think Sale will be having the surgery any time soon. IMO, if they allow him to have it because of who he is, that would be wrong.

 

I’m not entirely sure Dr. Andrews is involved in the COVID-19 crisis, or if any of his resources are.

 

It is possible Sale could have this surgery and not divert anything from COVID. And that is because of who he is, since not everyone gets immediate appointments with Dr. James Andrews...

[moonslav59]

Alex Speier in today's Boston Globe wrote an informative piece looking at how once-elite pitchers performed after TJ. I think the best model Sox fans can hope for is John Smoltz (which is ironic, since he was so brutal in Boston at the end of his career). But Smoltz is one guy who was great before and eventually after surgery:

 

"Smoltz was squarely in the middle of a Hall of Fame career when he blew out his elbow at age 32 in spring training of 2000. Just over 13 months later, he returned to the Braves rotation, but struggled to a 5.76 ERA in that role.

 

After a month on the sidelines, he returned as a reliever, a role in which he excelled over the next 3½ years (ages 34-37 seasons) before a return to the rotation at age 38.

 

Certainly, the Sox hope Sale’s future lies in the rotation, but the impact Smoltz made out of the bullpen in the four seasons that followed his surgery was considerable, with two All-Star berths and a top-three Cy Young finish.

 

In that vein, Smoltz offers evidence of how a great pitcher can remain elite after Tommy John surgery in his 30s, even as the initial decision to move him to the bullpen in 2001 points to the physical challenges of a return to a starting role."

 

Smoltz eventually transitioned back into a starter, with three more very good years at ages 38 through 40. Another power pitcher -- Yu Darvish, now age 33 -- was named by Speier as being inconsistent. Others mentioned in the article with success after TJ were more pitch to bad-contact guys like Carpenter, Hudson and Wainwright.

 

Tommy John, himself did well afterwards, too.

[jacksonianmarch]

I’m not entirely sure Dr. Andrews is involved in the COVID-19 crisis, or if any of his resources are.

 

It is possible Sale could have this surgery and not divert anything from COVID. And that is because of who he is, since not everyone gets immediate appointments with Dr. James Andrews...

 

Most elective surgeries in all states are banned at this point.

[harmony]

MLB Trade Rumors examines the Chris Sale extension:

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/03/revisiting-the-chris-sale-extension.html

[a700hitter]

Most elective surgeries in all states are banned at this point.

He will need to get a Back Alley TJ Surgery.

[Bellhorn04]

MLB Trade Rumors examines the Chris Sale extension:

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/03/revisiting-the-chris-sale-extension.html

 

You're merciless.

[notin]

Most elective surgeries in all states are banned at this point.

 

Most?

 

What’s with this country and our half-ass partial bans?

[jacksonianmarch]

It’s state by state.

[Bellhorn04]

Most elective surgeries in all states are banned at this point.

 

I wonder if this applies to a guy like Dr. Andrews, who basically only performs very specific types of surgeries.

 

If he continues to perform these surgeries, is he diverting resources that could be used instead in the virus battle?

[mvp 78]

It’s state by state.

 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/03/21/hospitals-doing-elective-surgery-despite-covid-19-risk-short-supplies/2881141001/

 

If the Sox ponied up some cash, I bet they could get him an appointment pretty quick.

[mvp 78]

I wonder if this applies to a guy like Dr. Andrews, who basically only performs very specific types of surgeries.

 

If he continues to perform these surgeries, is he diverting resources that could be used instead in the virus battle?

 

It's not just the resources, but the fact that you are putting healthy people at risk by bringing them into a medical center where they have a larger likelihood of coming into contact with COVID patients.

 

Italy is currently calling for COVID patients to be treated at home rather than at hospitals as it should reduce the spread.

[notin]

It's not just the resources, but the fact that you are putting healthy people at risk by bringing them into a medical center where they have a larger likelihood of coming into contact with COVID patients.

 

.

 

But does a doctor to the rich and famous like Dr. Andrews have his own private surgical setup that’s not in a hospital?

 

I have no idea. I never see any doctor anyone has ever heard of...

[mvp 78]

But does a doctor to the rich and famous like Dr. Andrews have his own private surgical setup that’s not in a hospital?

 

I have no idea. I never see any doctor anyone has ever heard of...

 

Dr. James R. Andrews is an orthopedic surgeon in Gulf Breeze, Florida and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Gulf Breeze Hospital and Baptist Hospital.

 

My guess is that he uses other facilities. It's probably much cheaper that way.

[notin]

Dr. James R. Andrews is an orthopedic surgeon in Gulf Breeze, Florida and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Gulf Breeze Hospital and Baptist Hospital.

 

My guess is that he uses other facilities. It's probably much cheaper that way.

 

Could be. I’ve just never heard of him having to re-schedule a Tommy John surgery because another patient needed a kidney transplant and the OR got co-opted.

 

But then I’ve never been able to draft Andrews in my Surgeons Fantasy League. I keep getting stuck with ones like Vivek Murthy, and you just cannot dominate with that draft pick...

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Could be. I’ve just never heard of him having to re-schedule a Tommy John surgery because another patient needed a kidney transplant and the OR got co-opted.

 

But then I’ve never been able to draft Andrews in my Surgeons Fantasy League. I keep getting stuck with ones like Vivek Murthy, and you just cannot dominate with that draft pick...

 

Calling Doctor Howard, Doctor Fine, Doctor Howard! At least they made good beer (but hoppy).

[Kimmi]

I’m not entirely sure Dr. Andrews is involved in the COVID-19 crisis, or if any of his resources are.

 

It is possible Sale could have this surgery and not divert anything from COVID. And that is because of who he is, since not everyone gets immediate appointments with Dr. James Andrews...

 

I get that Dr. Andrews is likely not involved in the COVID-19 crisis. But just taking up a hospital bed and any machinery/personnel or even surgical masks that could be otherwise used is critical right now.

[Kimmi]

MLB Trade Rumors examines the Chris Sale extension:

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/03/revisiting-the-chris-sale-extension.html

 

Thanks Dave!

[Bellhorn04]

Thanks Dave!

 

I'm not even going to read that. Do we really need an analysis of a $145 million extension where the pitcher needs Tommy John surgery before he can start earning any of it?

[Kimmi]

But does a doctor to the rich and famous like Dr. Andrews have his own private surgical setup that’s not in a hospital?

 

I have no idea. I never see any doctor anyone has ever heard of...

 

Even if he did, IMO, it would be irresponsible of him to use vital resources for elective surgeries that he could be donating to hospitals that need those supplies for critical care.

[Kimmi]

I'm not even going to read that. Do we really need an analysis of a $145 million extension where the pitcher needs Tommy John surgery before he can start earning any of it?

 

I read it. It didn't say anything that we haven't already heard.

[Elktonnick]

Even if he did, IMO, it would be irresponsible of him to use vital resources for elective surgeries that he could be donating to hospitals that need those supplies for critical care.

 

Agree 100%

[notin]

Even if he did, IMO, it would be irresponsible of him to use vital resources for elective surgeries that he could be donating to hospitals that need those supplies for critical care.

 

Absolutely true. But I can’t overlook the possibility that he is an insufferable ******* and won’t donate his stash.

 

But in all likelihood, he doesn’t have a stash and just uses operating rooms and supplies in the hospitals where he is in staff anyway...

[oldtimer]

Even if he did, IMO, it would be irresponsible of him to use vital resources for elective surgeries that he could be donating to hospitals that need those supplies for critical care.

 

I agree with this point of view. I would hate to tell a patient, "sorry the ventilator is not available, you have to wait while we do Tommy John surgery on someone". Elective surgery needs to wait, even though it may inconvenience a sports team.