I remember back in the day that the worst words a pitcher could hear were “rotator cuff”. Using those two words together was worse than cursing.

Of course, “rotator cuff” on its own is completely harmless — it is an anatomical phrase the loosely describes an area of the shoulder. But when a pitcher heard those words, it almost always was followed by “tear”. And when a pitcher had a rotator cuff tear, his career was over.

Similarly, an elbow injury was the death knell of a pitcher’s career — until Tommy John had the surgery that now bears his name. Elbows, compared to shoulders, are relatively simple, and doctors have figured out how to repair them fairly effectively.

Thanks to the advances of modern medicine, a pitcher’s career Continue reading →