The Yanks have announced that Masahiro Tanaka underwent arthroscopic elbow surgery to remove a bone spur from his pitching elbow. First off, it's amazing he could pitch through that, and second off, he'll be ready from Spring Training. Jacob Lindgren had the same surgery over the summer and was ready to return had the Yanks gone deeper. So this is really good news as far as it goes.
The most famous bonespur in Yankee history was probably Joe DiMaggio's. I believe it was in it's heal and was reducing him, till it broke off getting in or out of a taxi cab.
10 Comments:
I cautiously view it as good news too. His split was definitely not diving as often and his command has been off (for him), and that implicates the elbow.
The scope had to give them a better indication of what the condition UCL, so I hope that's positive as well.
Just setting the table for an eventual return to the dominance of his first season and an opt-out. 😈
When you think about the risk/reward, I don't think I'd ever pick up a starting pitcher's option subsequent to an opt-out, almost no matter what.
I pretty much wouldn't pick up anyone after an opt out.
This concerns me a little because it suggests that Tanaka wasn't completely forthright with the Yankees or their doctors during the season:
NYT:
Cashman said Tanaka did not complain of an elbow problem all season, or in his exit physical this month, which included a magnetic resonance imaging exam. A week later, though, Tanaka’s agent, Casey Close, called Cashman to report that the bone spur had caused trouble for Tanaka — specifically in his getting arm extension on his split-finger fastball.
Bob Klapisch ✔ @BobKlap
My hunch is that even #Yankees fans are (secretly) rooting for #Mets to win tonight. It’s been a fun ride
__
I'm neutral. I don't hate the Mets and love the way Alderson, Ricciardi, and DePodesta have gone about their business. In fact, I said when they were hired that I wish they ran the NYY (and have thought that Met fans were waaay too impatient and should appreciate what was being built), but I can't root for them and to me the dude is just trolling.
This comment has been removed by the author.
From the WSJ, although obviously he has never examined him:
While this elbow surgery did not deal with that tear, Tanaka’s bone spur issues are likely indirectly related to the torn ligament, according to Dr. Michael Hausman, Chief of Hand and Elbow Surgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
While Tanaka has proven he can pitch through the partial tear, the ligament damage creates instability in the elbow, helping to cause bone spurs or exacerbate issues from pre-existing ones.
“The ligament’s laxity… predisposes the elbow to a little bit of wobble, which can cause bone spurs to occur,” Hausman said.
...
“If he’s got laxity, then yes, they’re going to recur,” Hausman said. “And depending on how much laxity there is, it may eventually require reconstruction. You can arthroscopically clean out the elbow a couple of times, but it’s not something you can do every couple of months.”
That... doesn't sound good for the long haul.
Geez, good arms are so fragile. I will always think the team did the right thing going all out to get the guy, because it only cost money, but it's a bummer.
That's why the Mets are doing it right. Their pitchers are young, cheap for now, and they either drafted them or got them in lop-sided trades (the Dickey trade being ridiculously good).
Post a Comment
<< Home