The Torn Labrum
by Birdfan01 on Aug 2, 2008 10:54 AM EDT
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PrintI'm an Orioles fan who has seen two of the teams better young pitchers, and the two main components of the Miguel Tejada trade- Matt Albers and Troy Patton, suffer the dreaded torn labrum. I've heard that the torn labrum is a much tougher injury to overcome than most other arm injuries, and I was wondering what the chances are that Albers and Patton can come back strong in 2009. I understand to some degree it depends upon the pitcher, but I hoping people could talk about pitchers who they know have suffered the injury in the past and how they were able to comeback from the injury. Thanks
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Worst Arm Injury
I’ve frayed my rotator cuff and frayed my UCL and neither of those stopped me from pitching through college. When I tore my labrum I was done. The level of pain between the different injuries isn’t even close. The scar tissue from a minor rotator cuff or UCL is relatively easy to break up and regain range of motion. The labrum is deep in the joint making it nearly impossible to break it up. While some pitchers can come back and for a relatively short time (ala Carpenter) can regain their form, almost all develop an arthritic condition that becomes only a matter of time.
Baseball Instructor - www.frozenropes.com
Pitchers, off the cuff
Made it back:
Jon Rauch
Gil Meche
Arthur Rhodes
Chris Carpenter
Adam Loewen
Sidney Ponson
Didn’t make it back:
Pedro (back sorta, but not PEDRO)
Robb Nen
Robert Person
Jim Parque
Mike Sirotka
Ryan Anderson
Shawn Hill
Tony Armas, Jr.
soon to be non-tendered Chad Cordero
Brian Lawrence
Kurt Ainsworth
JD Durbin
Kevin Gryboski
Scott Erikson
Beau Hale
Travis Blackley
don't forget
the immortal Rocky Biddle made it back too
Pretty craptacular list
Too bad really.
My only argument would be Pedro. He hurt his shoulder long before he had surgery. 5 years even.
Baseball Instructor - www.frozenropes.com
not the only ones
A couple Astros that had the injury as well, both made it back: Taylor Buchholz, pitching nicely now. Mark McLemore, shelved with a non-labrum issue.
Both made it all the way back from shoulder, just takes a good 15-18 mos. before they were FULLY right. If all goes well, we will see your two guys next year circa this time but they won’t be 100% yet
The Giants need to sign Harry Doyle.
Anibal Sanchez
I’ve read conflicting reports on this kid. Was it torn rotator cuff or labrum?
I guess it’s hard to say he is back because it’s only been 1 start, but I am rooting for him. In 2006 he seemed well on his way to a bright future in the bigs as a starting pitcher.
Now raise your goblet of rock. It's a toast to those who rock!
I really really like
Anibal mechnically. He is “only” rotator cuff at this point as far as I know. I think he has a great shot of overcoming this.
Just goes to show regardless of mechanics, pitchers break down, that’s what they do.
Baseball Instructor - www.frozenropes.com
Oliver Perez
Not a Pirate or a Met fan so I am not sure, but wasn’t his injury a torn labrum as well a few years back.
Also, aCone419, I am not sure I would put Adam Loewen in that first group.
"My mom always taught me it's better to laugh at yourself than to laugh at others. She was so wrong. ;)" -Pedrophile
A Buddy of Mine Tore His Labrum
Dave Pember, former pitcher for Milwaukee. He tried to rehab for almost 2 years and his arm strength never came back. I think some of the guys mentioned above had rotator cuff surgery and elbow problems like Loewen, but not a ton of pure torn labrum guys. Sirotka is the worst case that comes to mind when it comes to labrum. I do think that guys are having an easier time coming back than the did even 2-3 years ago because of better techniques, but that’s just my opinion and what I’ve seen/read.
Mike Newman
baseballhandyman.blogspot.com
by Baseball Handyman on Aug 2, 2008 10:03 PM EDT reply actions
hard throwers
This is not a scientific comment, but I think many people would agree that one aspect is guys with average fastballs 89-91 have a harder time coming back since the labrum injury often saps velocity.
Parque, Sirotka are great examples.
Justin Duchsherer (sp?) is the only guy who comes to mind who can dominate at 87mph, and not many guys get a chance to show what they can do when you only throw 87.
Pedro came down from 96 to 86 after all his arm problems. Some guys can keep it like Meche, but I think the safe bet is if the pitcher throws in the mid 90’s, he might be back at 89-92 at which point he will have to re-learn how to pitch with his new “arsenal”. Very Difficult.
No
Schilling was everything but labrum. He has thermal capsular shrinkage while he was still with the Phils. Highly succesful in his case, but no doubt created an arthritic condition years later.
But then its like Smoltz, very obvious what his problems are mechanically but when the guy has 200+ wins and 200+ saves, you don’t mess with it.
Baseball Instructor - www.frozenropes.com
or yes....twice.
According to his blog, Schilling had a 10-to-3 tear of his labrum recently repaired by surgery. He also had a less severe tear 13 years ago.
Very Interesting
I should have clarified, I knew Schill had a labrum tear now, when I said “no” I meant he hadn’t made it back from a labrum tear.
I stand corrected though, I didn’t think he had a labrum tear in 95. Thanks for the link.
10 to 3…..yikes.
Baseball Instructor - www.frozenropes.com
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