The good doc on Pap
Mar 8th, 2007 by Rob Bradford
Just in case you missed in the second part of last Sunday’s Manny’s a changed man, here are some quotes from Dr. Thomas Gill regarding Jonathan Papelbon’s situation:
“You can’t go to the literature and look at 200 pitchers who have had transient subluxations and say half are starters and half are relievers and this half did better than that half,” Gill said. “That’s where my job comes into play. Whether it’s for baseball or something else, I have to figure out what physically and biologically makes the most sense.”
and
“The question they asked me was which makes the most sense, pitching as a starter or as a reliever,” Gill explained. “Obviously, as a starter you have five days, you have time to strengthen during the season and you have a routine. We have a great pitching program for the starters. Josh Beckett pitched 200 innings and that was because he followed the program. … It’s a routine that gives a guy time to recover.
“Nothing has been ruled in or ruled out, although we have had some internal discussions. I think we’re just going to wait and see how things go right now.”
and
“He’s done a phenomenal job,” Gill said of Papelbon. “There’s a couple of experiences that we can point to (involving other pitchers with similar injuries), but it was more of his anatomy, how the shoulder works, how the stability works and the dynamic stabilizers. You can put together a pretty good puzzle to make the whole picture and, based on scientific evidence, this makes the most sense.”
4 reader comments to “The good doc on Pap”
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1Jeff said:
I like Papelbon as a starter. I think a closer will emerge. It is more important to have Paps in the rotation. Heopfully, when Jon Lester is ready, he can be the No. 5 and Wakefield can move to the bullpen. Regardless, the Sox have a solid rotation this season, and with guys like Daniel Bard, Clay Buchholz and Michael Bowden in the minors and on the way, it’s going to remain solid in the future.
Jeff
Sox and Pinstripes
http://www.soxandpinstripes.com -
2Tom P said:
I’ve been trying to convince the people around me of the wisdom of using Jon Papelbon as a starter, but I’m not making much headway.
People should be reminded that there are other “closer” candidates on the roster. Josh Beckett, Dice-K, and Curt Schilling also have the stuff and the makeup to be excellent closers — but the club rightly recognized that they have much more value in the rotation.
Why can’t Jon Papelbon get the same respect?
Also, Rob … I’m very intrigued by Rule 5 claimee Nick DeBarr. He’s throwing the ball harder now than before his surgery and he’s pitched well in his limited chances this spring. What have you heard? Is there any real chance he’ll stick?
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3Anonymous said:
Thanks for posting that, Rob. It’ll hopefully help clear up a lot of the misconceptions around Papelbon.
Many Sox fans just see the closing stats from last year and can’t possibly understand why he’s going into the rotation, and that’s where the “how can 200IP possibly be better for his shoulder than 70IP?” arguments come from.
Having a great pitcher play more often will benefit the team more, and offering Paps more rest between starts and not having him throw quite as hard will benefit his shoulder more in the long run.
It’s easier to find a closer than it is a front of the rotation starter.
I’m for the move 100%.
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4Don Babbitt said:
Give ‘em hell on the Big Show, Rob. You’re the best baseball co-host on WEEI.
