Kimmi

I agree, it's a slippery slope. That would be very much open to interpretation as well. There are no easy answers.

I understand that. I understand where the pitchers are coming from. I really do. If I were in their shoes, I would really want to have the surgery sooner than later. It's a big sacrifice on their part to postpone the surgery. I get that. This is where people need to be a little more selfless. Somebody brought up the idea of allowing these players to have the surgery, but then having them make a significant donation to a hospital or to a food bank to help with the crisis. I'm not sure if that would make the surgery okay, but it would make me feel a lot better about it.

I think that the doctor who performed the surgery is more at fault than Syndegaard is.

The standard of whether a surgery is essential or not is being left open to the interpretation of the doctor performing the surgery. That being the case, a doctor can pretty much interpret that standard to fit his and his patient's agenda. Here is the standard outlined in Florida's ban on non-essential surgeries: “medically unnecessary, non-urgent or non-emergency procedure or surgery which, if delayed, does not place a patient’s immediate health, safety, or well-being at risk, or will, if delayed, not contribute to the worsening of a serious or life-threatening medical condition,” that standard is being left to the interpretation of doctors." I don't see how TJS for pitchers fits that standard. Even if the condition might worsen, which I really doubt would happen if the pitchers followed the resting guidelines of their doctors, it is not worsening to a point of being a "serious or life-threatening medical condition". Orthopedic doctors that were questioned who are not directly vested in these cases say that TJS is absolutely elective.

If I am Chris Sale or Noah Syndegaard, I'm not doing the surgery now. I have enough money to live comfortably for the rest of my life. If I, as a teacher, for some reason needed TJS to perform my job, then I would probably get it done now. For anyone who is middle class, not being able to work for a period of time is the definition of 'affecting one's livelihood'. The surgery is elective for anyone who can afford not to have it done. It is essential for anyone who cannot afford to not have it done.

Will this one surgery make a real difference on the whole? No. Might it make the difference between life and death for a health care worker who doesn't get that mask? Yes. Is the life of that health care worker more valuable than an extra year of a baseball player's career? Yes.

It might affect their total career salary. It will not make or break them. These guys are already millionaires.

Could be interesting. It would be different, that's for sure. With the randomness of a 7 game series, anything could happen. I am happy to see that you considered the fact that this idea would require two teams to receive a first round bye.

I love my job and I love my students, but there are many days that I wish I had a 'boring desk job'. LOL

The great thing about the new defensive metrics is that they are continually being refined and improved. With the advancements in technology, those metrics are only going to get better.

They do have trained, impartial observers watching every defensive play. They also have the technology that gives them pretty much every piece of information imaginable regarding that play for those trained, impartial observers to use.

I'd bet that more teams incorporate the use of technology than just the Red Sox and the Astros. Many more teams. I don't know why Fiers would single out only the Astros. I don't know what his agenda is. Perhaps he has a beef with the team? Perhaps it's because the Astros were so blatant in their cheating? Just because Fiers only singled out one team does not mean the other teams are innocent.

Once again, yup.

It is not going to make or break the likes of Sale or Syndegaard.

If everyone who wants to have elective surgery now has this type of thinking, is that okay?

This is also the same type of technology that the analytics people use for the defensive metrics that you love so much. Back to the subject at hand, I have no doubt that sign stealing with the help of technology runs far deeper in MLB than just the Sox and the Astros. No doubt in my mind.

I agree that the Sox will not be found guilty of doing anything as egregious as what the Astros did. I also believe that every other team is guilty of stealing signs to some degree or another. Are the Sox the only team besides the Astros to use technology? I seriously doubt it. The Sox got caught and should be punished accordingly. I don't have a problem with that. What I have a problem with is the other teams and players who act like they are innocent victims when they know that they aren't.

Postponing the surgery for 6 months is not going to make or break the likes of Sale and Syndegaard.

As Dewey mentioned, the person who made that quote is a spokesperson for someone with a vested interest in doing the surgery. In many cases, Sale's included, the first course of treatment is to shut the pitcher down for a period of time, maybe with some kind of other treatment like injections. Sale has been putting the surgery off since late last season. Are you going to tell me that the surgery is now essential? I'm not buying it. From the player's personal standpoint, this is the opportune time to have the surgery done. That's what it boils down to.

Exactly. People trying to justify something that isn't justifiable for personal gain.

Of course they are diverting resources. Are the doctors who are performing the surgeries using masks, gowns, gloves, etc.? Not to mention everyone on the surgical staff. This is the very reason why the governors of some states are banning non-essential surgeries. There is also the added and unnecessary risk of spreading the disease. Saying that one surgery is okay because it doesn't make a difference is like a person saying that he or she is not going to vote because his or her one vote doesn't matter. Every vote counts. Every surgery counts. This is the epitome of selfishness and self-entitlement. The rules don't apply to me.

Sorry, I just don't see a way to justify these surgeries during this crisis.

I would like to nominate someone, Moon maybe?, to go back and watch every Red Sox game of the 2018 season, and detail any possible signs of cheating. When finished, give us your report. I'm sure we would get that quicker than we will get Manfred's report.

Sounds like a plan. I need to re-watch the 2018 postseason.

Christopher Smith @SmittyOnMLB · 1h Asked Chaim Bloom if Red Sox know date yet for Chris Sale's Tommy John and who will perform it. Had "no further comment" beyond comments he made during original conference call. "We will update everyone at the appropriate time," he wrote in an email Sox keeping this pretty quiet Chris Cotillo @ChrisCotillo · 42m The Red Sox, like Sale's agent, are not saying anything. It's unclear whether or not he underwent surgery yet. How much that matters is up for interpretation. To me, this sounds like Sale has already had the surgery or is intending to have it any day now. The "We will update everyone at the appropriated time" sounds like the Sox know that it's a very bad look to prioritize Sale's surgery now over the coronavirus. That's my interpretation.