Hoynes: Sizemore Might Be Shut Down For Shoulder Surgery

[Gunther]

Long overdue in my opinion:

http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2009/09/cleveland_indians_sizemore_mig.html

Cleveland Indians' Grady Sizemore might have elbow surgery before end of season
Tuesday September 01, 2009, 6:07 PM

DETROIT, Mich. -- The Indians just didn't call up Michael Brantley today from Class AAA Columbus to get a look at him in September.

They're discussing shutting down center fielder Grady Sizemore so he can undergo surgery on his left elbow before the season ends on Oct. 4. Sizemore has been playing with an inflamed lining in his elbow joint since spring training.

"We're working our way through that right now," said manager Eric Wedge as to when Sizemore would have the surgery.

Wedge added that Sizemore is going to need the operation no matter if it's done before the end of the season or afterward.

Brantley started in left field tonight against Detroit in his big-league debut, but he spent most of the season playing center field and batting leadoff in Columbus. Trevor Crowe (right oblique) should also be available next week to play center field when he comes off the disabled list.

Sizemore, who started in center field tonight, is hitting .247 (105-for-425) with 72 runs, 19 doubles, six triples, 18 homers and 62 RBI. He has 13 steals in 21 attempts after stealing a career-high 38 in 43 attempts last year.

He's hitting .312 (24-for-77) with 17 runs, three doubles, two triples, three homers and five RBI in the last 19 games.

"Grady's elbow has been the same for a while now," said Wedge.

The injury put Sizemore on the disabled list from May 31 through June 23. He's hitting .269 (59-for-219) since being activated.

 

[JayP146]

Good. Grady's long term health is of greater concern than our push toward a .500 record in a lost season.

 

[DougHeil]

Good. Grady's long term health is of greater concern than our push toward a .500 record in a lost season.

and the push Wedge wants to have to save his ass....

He's probably the one Shapiro and Dolan are trying to discuss this with.

 

[di0p]

DO IT.

There is no point in risking further long term damage to Grady, as they did with Hafner.

Grady can rest and recover and the young guys (Brantley, LaPorta, etc.) can get some run up here in the bigs. The season is a complete loss.

I know Grady loves playing and is probably one of the those guys you can't keep off the field because he just wants to be out there so bad, but it is necessary for the future, however bleak it may seem.

 

[col63onel]

The fact Grady's had a good a year as he's had with the problem shows you how good this kid is....

 

[THamiltonIsGod]

and the push Wedge wants to have to save his ass....

He's probably the one Shapiro and Dolan are trying to discuss this with.

I agree, I think if Wedge knew he'd have a job next season Grady would've been shut down months ago. What other reason would there be for running him out there every day knowing he needs surgery?

Wedge is trying to scrape together as many wins as he can to support his case, he's obviously not concerned about Grady's longterm health.

 

[Gimme Some Mo]

I haven't understood all season long why Hafner and Grady are playing. The season was over after the first 30 games, if not less. They both should have been shut down a long time ago IMO to make sure they are healthy next season.

 

[macbdog]

To paraphrase the immortal Herm Edwards:

You are paid to play the game.

The season is only on for 6 months. If Grady could have had the surgery earlier and still come back this year, that would be one thing. If the recovery time is 4-5 months, it would be in his and the team's best interests that those 4-5 months are mostly offseason months- and that does include spring training. The season is what matters.

All players play through injuries. Each person's tolerance for pain is different. The training staff and team doctor didn't feel that he could make the injury worse by continuing to play, plus Sizemore has played through injuries before and remained productive. And ultimately, the player is in charge of their own health and if they want to grind it out, that is their perogative. As long as his surgery schedule has him back on track for the start of next season barring a setback, then it fits into the team framework.

 

[THamiltonIsGod]

To paraphrase the immortal Herm Edwards:

You are paid to play the game.

The season is only on for 6 months. If Grady could have had the surgery earlier and still come back this year, that would be one thing. If the recovery time is 4-5 months, it would be in his and the team's best interests that those 4-5 months are mostly offseason months- and that does include spring training. The season is what matters.

All players play through injuries. Each person's tolerance for pain is different. The training staff and team doctor didn't feel that he could make the injury worse by continuing to play, plus Sizemore has played through injuries before and remained productive. And ultimately, the player is in charge of their own health and if they want to grind it out, that is their perogative. As long as his surgery schedule has him back on track for the start of next season barring a setback, then it fits into the team framework.

The player is not in charge of whether he's healthy enough to play or not, the team that's paying his salary is. That's like saying Lebron should play the 4th quarter of a blowout game because it's his perogative whether he gets injured or not. It's in the best interests of the team for him to sit on the bench just like it should be the Tribe's best interest for Grady to get healthy sooner then later given the fact that this season is a wash.

I just don't see how keeping Grady on the field for another month is helping anything. Recovering from surgery is never an exact timeframe and having an extra month to recover can only be a good thing.

 

[elcheato]

I think he should consider getting the surgery now but it really doesn't matter. It's not going to take him into spring training to recover from the surgery.

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

I haven't understood all season long why Hafner and Grady are playing. The season was over after the first 30 games, if not less. They both should have been shut down a long time ago IMO to make sure they are healthy next season.

Hafner is healthy, he needs more at bats, not more rest.

Grady, on the other hand, is going to be ridden into the ground by this douche of a manager.

 

[sjeppe]

Hafner is not Healthy. He is having problems with his left shoulder now.

 

[PIP]

Hafner is not Healthy. He is having problems with his left shoulder now.

Which is odd, because he does absolutely nothing...

 

[JayP146]

Hafner is not Healthy. He is having problems with his left shoulder now.

PD reported this morning that it's a mild strain in his other shoulder, nothing serious. He will be back on the playing field soon.

 

[macbdog]

The player is not in charge of whether he's healthy enough to play or not, the team that's paying his salary is. That's like saying Lebron should play the 4th quarter of a blowout game because it's his perogative whether he gets injured or not. It's in the best interests of the team for him to sit on the bench just like it should be the Tribe's best interest for Grady to get healthy sooner then later given the fact that this season is a wash.

I just don't see how keeping Grady on the field for another month is helping anything. Recovering from surgery is never an exact timeframe and having an extra month to recover can only be a good thing.

You are miscontruing my comments- I am referring to Grady's right to his own health. Part of a contract is a good faith clause that means that a player will put forth a concerted effort to perform, but it in no way implies that playing injured is being negligent. Nor does it grant any rights to the team to dictate medical procedure.

Grady Sizemore is responsible and has the right to his own body. The team cannot force him to have surgery, that is not their right regardless of how much they are paying him. If he wishes to hold off on a surgery until he feels the time is right, then he can. If the team wants to bench him until he has surgery then they are pressuring him into making a medical decision and they would be in the wrong.

And all this is besides the point- over the last 2months, Grady's OPS has been .837 and .871. He hit .299 last month. I think you can make a case that he shouldn't be in CF- those throws look painful- but not a case that he needs to 'shut it down'. The offensive performance may not be up to prior standards but it is still solid. There is still a season to be played and to the fans who have bought tickets, the players on the field and the members of the 22 MLB teams not going to the playoffs in a few weeks this season does still mean something.