Earlier today, chatter about the Nationals not talking to Lewis Yocum (the doctor who performed TJ surgery on Stras) about the plan for shutting down Stephen Strasburg was all the rage. Turns out it's not really a "thing" at all; Yocum released this statement to the LA Times to clarify:
"I would like to correct the misimpression generated from today’s L.A. Times article, that I have not been a participant in discussions with the Washington Nationals regarding the recovery strategy for pitcher Stephen Strasburg. In fact, I have been contacted repeatedly and have had numerous discussions with the Nationals GM Mike Rizzo and the team’s medical personnel, as recently as mid-August. While the final decision was up to the team, as is standard practice, I was supportive of their decision and am comfortable that my medical advice was responsibly considered."
(Lewis Yocum, via LA Times, 9/13/2012)
No truth to the rumor Mike Rizzo was standing behind Yocum holding a baseball bat when that statement was written.
(Screencap above of Strasburg's curtain call after his first career HR via MASN/TV)
"No truth to the rumor Mike Rizzo was standing behind Yocum holding a baseball bat when that statement was written."
I didn't hear that rumor but I heard the one about taking Yocum off speed dial and replacing him with Andrews.
Posted by: DE NAT | September 14, 2012 at 08:26 AM
DE NAT, funny but Dr. Andrews is more a shoulder and knee guy and hasn't had the same success on TJs.
From what I was told, most great ortho surgeons can do a TJ procedure but Yocum perfected the procedure to minimize nerve damage. It has been the nerve damage which has ended many pitchers careers.
Posted by: Steve M. | September 14, 2012 at 11:17 AM