Injuries and the Chance for Greatness

by jscape2000 on Nov 17, 2009 5:00 PM EST in New York Yankees Analysis

July 30, 2008: Jorge Posada had rotator cuff surgery

September 22, 2008: Hideki Matsui had surgery on his left knee

October 7, 2008: Mariano Rivera had surgery on his throwing shoulder

March 10, 2009: Alex Rodriguez has the first of two surgeries to repair his hip- upon review, the injury heals so well that the second surgery is canceled.

It seem routine, doesn't it?

Torn cartilage in the right knee at age 19.
Surgery to remove loose cartilage in left knee at age 21.
Suffers injury to left shoulder during the World Series at age 25.
Suffered from abcesses in his hip at age 29. Missed the end of the regular season, but returned to play in the World Series.
Surgery to remove cartilage from left knee at age 31.
Right shoulder surgery at age 34.

On the other hand, if Mantle's knees had been better he probably would have been drafted to fight in Korea and not have won the Triple Crown.

DiMaggio, Ruth, Red Ruffing, and Ron Guidry all missed time with major injuries. Hard to imagine what the Hall of Fame would look like if all the players had been given the benefit of modern medicine.

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Comments

* I believe A-Rod's surgery...

was March 10…

by NumberSeven on Nov 17, 2009 5:01 PM EST reply actions

Everybody’s a critic.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Nov 17, 2009 6:05 PM EST up reply actions

that's an unforgivable error

by Wraithpk on Nov 17, 2009 6:10 PM EST up reply actions

Matt Holliday-esque

by Scooby Snacks on Nov 17, 2009 8:22 PM EST up reply actions

Shhh… Holliday is a great defender.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Nov 17, 2009 8:50 PM EST up reply actions

yeah, I felt so bad for him when I saw that. He’s really great in the field, but he’s going to be remembered for that error for a while.

by Wraithpk on Nov 17, 2009 9:44 PM EST up reply actions

gotta proof read

the english teacher, John!! LOL..

by NumberSeven on Nov 18, 2009 10:45 AM EST up reply actions

If Donnie Baseball was born ten years later...

by Scooby Snacks on Nov 17, 2009 9:32 PM EST reply actions

The guy who invented Tommy John surgery belongs in the Hall of Fame. That’s right up there with integration and the DH as far as level of impact on the game.

by 3460kuri on Nov 18, 2009 8:41 AM EST reply actions

they have a writers wing...

… why not a medical wing? ha…

by NumberSeven on Nov 18, 2009 10:47 AM EST up reply actions

they should put Mariano's cutter in there too

separate from MO’s induction.

Put em all in a miscellaneous wing.

"It ain't over till its over"---

by FreeBradshaw on Nov 18, 2009 11:13 AM EST up reply actions

At the very least

there should be several broken bats in Mo’s exhibit as well as a personal letter of apology to all of the forests and hippies he has let down in his career of wasting wood.

This sticker is dangerous and inconvenient, but I do love Fig Newtons.

by Lord Duggan on Nov 18, 2009 10:24 PM EST up reply actions

- “He could probably build himself a 10,000-square-foot log cabin down in Panama with all of them,” Angels outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. said. “That’s how many bats he’s broken.”

- Joe Posnanski: “Rivera breaks bats the way Chuck Norris breaks bones.”

by Scooby Snacks on Nov 19, 2009 12:15 AM EST up reply actions