Article: It's Official: Sano to have Tommy John Surgery

[Brock Beauchamp]

I seem to remember reading somewhere that Tampa Bay has consistently defied the odds on this one...

 

According to the link posted earlier, Tampa has the same number of TJS as the Twins in recent yeas.

 

But we're dealing with such small numbers and so many variables that I don't know whether that means anything.

 

http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2012/11/4/3587834/MLB-tommy-john-surgeries-a-more-complete-list

[Brock Beauchamp]

The Twins knew there were problems with his elbow last year. This is another example of poor mgmt on the Twins part. Even if the doc says he doesn't "require" TJ surgery because he only has a partial tear, the only reasonable answer the Twins front office should have given is "well we are counting on him being our 3B for the next 8 years, so let's get this taken care of this winter before we really need him." There is no excuse for this situation. My bigger concern is that this could derail his development, both at the plate and in the field. It's not easy to stop hitting for 8 months then pick right up where you left off. Plus there's the weight thing he'll have to attend to.

 

This isn't a surprise. Both the surgery or the way the Twins handled it.

 

This team doesn't think far enough ahead and it doesn't analyze situations or players with much depth. Thank god for our scouting and minor league pitching/hitting coaches or we'd really be in trouble. IMO, the former deficiencies will prevent this team from bringing home a World Series Championship in the next 10 years, even though we have a stacked farm system that will get even better after this year's draft. How's that for spring optimism?

 

So you believe the Twins should have ignored the advice of Dr. James Andrews?

 

Again, this makes zero sense. If you go to the guy who's the most highly respected in his field and he tells you to do something, you damned well better take his advice.

[JB_Iowa]

So you believe the Twins should have ignored the advice of Dr. James Andrews?

 

Again, this makes zero sense. If you go to the guy who's the most highly respected in his field and he tells you to do something, you damned well better take his advice.

 

Not just ignore the advice of Dr. Andrews but ignore that Sano (and his agent probably) also have some input on the long-term decision.

 

These decisions don't get made in a vacuum nor do the Twins have the total "say".

[thetank]

Someone mentioned that the Twins didn't need to place him on the 40 man roster. What are the implications if he is out all-season?

[Brock Beauchamp]

Someone mentioned that the Twins didn't need to place him on the 40 man roster. What are the implications if he is out all-season?

 

I believe he needs to be added to the 40 man next offseason no matter what happens. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[alskntwnsfn]

I'm with you. He's the godfather of baseball player's elbows, but he gives you a medical opinion and you need to make a decision based on what's best for your organization. I would have asked him to handicap it for me. What are the odds he'll need TJ surgery in the next 5 years? If it's more than a 10% chance, then do the surgery. Given the large number of players who don't avoid the knife with rest, I'm sure Dr. Andrews would have said it was higher. See, from the doc's point of view he probably reasons, well there's a 50/50 or even slightly less chance he may not need surgery, so lets wait. But the team has to consider their situation.

 

We would have stood to lose VERY little by doing the surgery last September. We were sucking and we knew we probably weren't contending this year anyway but it certainly would be nice to put some butts in the seats in 2014. (If they had done the surgery) Miguel wouldn't have lost any development time during the season, he just would have been rehabbing during the offseason and he'd be in camp getting ready for the 2014 season - instead of losing it completely.

[PseudoSABR]

Since baseball players are human beings (and not automatons), an invasive surgery will be the last resort for any ethical doctor.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Since baseball players are human beings (and not automatons), an invasive surgery will be the last resort for any ethical doctor.

 

I heard they even have to swear to an oath about such things.

[alskntwnsfn]

Not just ignore the advice of Dr. Andrews but ignore that Sano (and his agent probably) also have some input on the long-term decision.

 

These decisions don't get made in a vacuum nor do the Twins have the total "say".

 

Tell the agent, that's fine (you can opt not to have the surgery) if you'd rather take the chance of starting your client's service time clock in 2015 or 2016 as opposed to 2014. We'd love to have him for an extra year assuming his career plays out like we think.

 

Maybe that was their thinking all along? If Carl were still in charge, maybe, but the team has not pinch pennies in quite a while.

[alskntwnsfn]

Since baseball players are human beings (and not automatons), an invasive surgery will be the last resort for any ethical doctor.

What's invasive about fixing a partially torn ligament you're going to need healthy for the next 18 years?

[NoCryingInBaseball]

Pelotero está dañado

(Ballplayer is damaged)

 

I was sad last night when I first learned that Sano was probably headed to Tommy John after MRI results this morning, and now it's confirmed that he will be sitting out the 2014 season. I'm glad that they didn't sit on it for months to see if he could play with it and THEN go through surgery later in the spring or summer.

 

Hoping he has a speedy and successful recovery.

[PseudoSABR]

I'm with you. He's the godfather of baseball player's elbows, but he gives you a medical opinion and you need to make a decision based on what's best for your organization. .

Sano's rights as a human being totally trump what's best for the team. I imagine he and he alone is the only one who could elect to have an invasive surgery not recommended by doctors.

[PseudoSABR]

What's invasive about fixing a partially torn ligament you're going to need healthy for the next 18 years?

All surgery is invasive. (TJ requires anesthesia; which is inherently risky.) If it wasn't, there would never be any hesitation. You're totally disregarding medical ethics here.

[Silky]

Say It Ain't SanO.....

 

This setback may actually be a blessing in disguise because of the time to reflect on what may be lost and the desire to keep what is rightfully yours.

 

Mentally - Bigger, Faster, Stronger

[Squirrel]

I'm with you. He's the godfather of baseball player's elbows, but he gives you a medical opinion and you need to make a decision based on what's best for your organization. I would have asked him to handicap it for me. What are the odds he'll need TJ surgery in the next 5 years? If it's more than a 10% chance, then do the surgery. Given the large number of players who don't avoid the knife with rest, I'm sure Dr. Andrews would have said it was higher. See, from the doc's point of view he probably reasons, well there's a 50/50 or even slightly less chance he may not need surgery, so lets wait. But the team has to consider their situation.

 

We would have stood to lose VERY little by doing the surgery last September. We were sucking and we knew we probably weren't contending this year anyway but it certainly would be nice to put some butts in the seats in 2014. (If they had done the surgery) Miguel wouldn't have lost any development time during the season, he just would have been rehabbing during the offseason and he'd be in camp getting ready for the 2014 season - instead of losing it completely.

 

Who's to say they didn't? I don't assume that we are told absolutely everything in how a decision is made. While it's frustrating and I have questions, I'm not going to jump to the conclusion that decisions were made without all the information possible.

[Craig Arko]

My only real concern here is that he manages his weight and stays in condition during the rehab period. Since pitchers often come back stronger after TJ I don't fret about the arm. More the legs.

[alskntwnsfn]

Raise your hand if you've played third base. I have. You have to make throws from odd angles all the time. That puts a lot of stress on your elbow. This was an issue last year. They knew about it. So given the demands of the position, why wait? Antony say's he doesn't regret waiting a few months, but doing it in August or September would have been a totally different thing.

[Danchat]

Man, this kinda ruined my day. It feels like 2014 is gonna be another lost season.

It got worse when I realized this locks Plouffe in 3B for a good chunk of the season. However, if he keeps playing like he did last year, he'll play his way out of a job and maybe Escobar/waiver claim will take his place.

 

At least it wasn't Meyer hurting his arm or Buxton tearing his ACL. But I have more reasons not to watch the Twins this year now.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Raise your hand if you've played third base. I have. You have to make throws from odd angles all the time. That puts a lot of stress on your elbow. This was an issue last year. They knew about it. So given the demands of the position, why wait? Antony say's he doesn't regret waiting a few months, but doing it in August or September would have been a totally different thing.

 

For all we know, Sano said no.

 

And that's the point. We don't know anything about the situation other than the outcome.

[Mike Sixel]

This is why you can't wait for all your prospects to line up and be perfect. This is why you also do other things to get good. I just hope they don't say "no need to worry about 2015 now".....

[twinsnorth49]

Raise your hand if you've played third base. I have. You have to make throws from odd angles all the time. That puts a lot of stress on your elbow. This was an issue last year. They knew about it. So given the demands of the position, why wait? Antony say's he doesn't regret waiting a few months, but doing it in August or September would have been a totally different thing.

 

Well by that logic every 3rd baseman who ever had a sore elbow should just opt for TJ to avoid the inevitable.

 

The choice was obviously made to avoid what a leading surgeon felt might have been unnecessary surgery, additionally even if surgery was discussed as a possible option at the time we have no idea whether Sano wanted to commit to that. If that was indeed the case I have a hard time criticizing the Twins for not forcing him to undergo invasive surgery for the sake of putting butts in the seats.

[Guest USAFChief]

I'm sometimes critical of the Twins, but IMO there is nothing to criticize the Twins about in this case. Baseball players sometimes get hurt. They got the best medical advice available. What were they supposed to do differently?

[PseudoSABR]

Was it the Pirates (or some other org) that required all new draftees to go to boot camp? Well the Twins could have forced TJ surgery for all their new players. Cutting edge.

[alskntwnsfn]

Well by that logic every 3rd baseman who ever had a sore elbow should just opt for TJ to avoid the inevitable.

 

The choice was obviously made to avoid what a leading surgeon felt might have been unnecessary surgery, additionally even if surgery was discussed as a possible option at the time we have no idea whether Sano wanted to commit to that. If that was indeed the case I have a hard time criticizing the Twins for not forcing him to undergo invasive surgery for the sake of putting butts in the seats.

 

There's a big difference between a sore elbow and a partially torn UCL. Yeah, I'd say any 3B with a significant UCL tear should get it taken care of at or near the end of the year.

 

Based on the interview with Miguel, he was surprised by the "decision" and didn't appear to have much of a say in the matter. This kid has been directed by handlers for most of his life, so I don't think he makes many decisions about his future yet.

 

Furthermore, Antony made an interesting comment about how he didn't injure it any worse, it just hasn't gotten any better. So basically, the Twins were not going to put that elbow in the show. I wonder if they told Miguel that last year?

[alskntwnsfn]

Was it the Pirates (or some other org) that required all new draftees to go to boot camp? Well the Twins could have forced TJ surgery for all their new players. Cutting edge.

They wouldn't have had to force anything. If they would have communicated the fact that they were not going to put Sano in the show without being able to make certain throws, he would have gladly had the surgery. Doing it in August or September would have been good for the player and good for the organization. You should always try to miss the fewest games possible, now he'll miss the most possible. Way to go Twins. I really don't see how this reasoning is so provocative. Maybe this really is about the service clock... there's (potentially) 25 million reasons for waiting until just before he gets to the show to do it.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Way to go Twins. I really don't see how this reasoning is so provocative.

 

The reasoning is provocative because the most capable man in the field recommended that they not do what you suggested.

 

And it's generally a good idea to listen to people at the top of their field, particularly in situations as complex as medicine. That's all there is to it. I don't see how anyone can argue against that thinking.

[oldguy10]

Years ago now I read that one MLB organization did routinely require their young pitchers to have TJ surgery. Unfortunately I do not remember where I read that or which organization it was. Anyone else have a like memory, let us know if you did. It could also have been an erroneous report but I am positive I read it somewhere and was surprised when I did.

[jm3319]

No surgery is 100% safe or 100% effective. You don't open up bodies and slice and dice unless you absolutely have to. You'd hate to hear of a surgery go wrong when it may not have been 100% necessary in the first place. The lost time really sucks, but it's not the end of the world.

[OldManWinter]

Surgical procedures are performed when other conservative, non-invasive alternatives fail.

[Guest USAFChief]

So...best case scenario is winter ball? Full recovery by next spring training?