Pujols To Have Tommy John Surgery?

by Dave the Falconer on Sep 9, 2008 1:41 AM EDT Comment 24 comments

Sobering news from the Cards' official site:

Slugger Albert Pujols told a local television station on Monday that he may be leaning toward undergoing Tommy John ligament-replacement surgery on his right elbow after the season ends. The procedure typically sidelines a hitter for approximately six months.

"The sooner that I get it done, the better it's going to be for me," Pujols told KSDK-TV, "because I'm going to heal quicker than if I wait two or three more years. It needs to be done."

If he gets it done by the end of September or early October, he's got a very good chance to return by the beginning of the season next year. He's a tough dude, but Tommy John sets off all kinds of alarm bells in my head

What do you guys think of this?

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My immediate uninformed gut reaction is do it

My impression is that this surgery is fairly routine (to the extent that a significant surgery can be routine) for a player who isn’t completely dependent on his ability to repeat a precise, strenuous throwing motion – i.e. a pitcher. I haven’t heard anyone saying it could potentially impact his batting; has anyone else? If we don’t make the playoffs and everything’s on schedule, he’s probably rusty for the first few weeks of the season, or maybe he even misses a few weeks. To my mind, that’s a small price to pay for an end to chronic pain; who knows what effect that’s been having on his performance? (Can you imagine what he’ll be like if it’s had a significant effect? If this is a step or two down from healthy Albert, then healthy Albert makes Superman look like Woody Allen.)

by BTown Birds fan on Sep 9, 2008 1:58 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think it is a no brainer

I cannot handle many more seasons of constant worry that it will let go on him. Even if he missed the first month next year it would be worth it. I have no idea how much it affects him it the box, but I would imagine there are at least times where it hampers his hitting ability.

ESPN Management (CT): Umm…...what does this have to do with the Red Sox and Yankees?
SportsNation Jerry Crasnick: Management, Let’s take a break with the sarcasm, OK?

by Smokin Turkeys on Sep 9, 2008 2:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Pujols at 3B

Wallace at 1B for the next 10 years? Or go 5 blades, albert at second base?

Hooo-wah!

Pujols has a 200 OPS+ season or 3 in him, if he is 100% healthy. There’s only one way to get healthy at this point. Git’r’dun, albert.

the ******* plane has crashed into the mountain.

by SleepyCA on Sep 9, 2008 3:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

They are fixing his elbow

not his quad, hamstring, foot and back!

Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS

by Hardcore Legend on Sep 9, 2008 3:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well

at some point he might have to have Albert Pujols surgery. I’m pretty sure the cardinals have a flock/pack/gang of (wtf do they call it?) large male silverbacks stowed away just for that occasion.

For now, Tommy John surgery will fix him right up, because It Has To.

the ******* plane has crashed into the mountain.

by SleepyCA on Sep 9, 2008 3:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

2b problem is solved

by ubeddie on Sep 9, 2008 8:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know it will never happen

but I bet AP could play a better 2B than many current occupants of that position.

I was initially concerned it was something he wanted to do to prepare for his walk year, but I would love to see him go back to 3B. Great idea!

Those Pilgrims ain't lookin' so proud now...

by giveml on Sep 9, 2008 6:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

As soon as the Cards are mathematically eliminated . . .

go for it. Better sooner rather than later.

by bailorg on Sep 9, 2008 3:59 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

As soon as the Cards are mathematically eliminated

and he has his .300/100/30/100 locked up, maybe.
Albert wants that batting title this year. You could see it when Chipper came to town, it wasn’t going to be Chipper’s for long.

by stlfan on Sep 9, 2008 9:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

In for surgery tomorrow, and ready for a season that is not a forgone loss. What is the delay?

An optimist is a man who upon discovering that a rose smells better than a cabbage concludes it will make better soup.

HL Mencken

by akaitori on Sep 9, 2008 4:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Is anyone else slightly disturbed that he's not even healthy?

I mean for the love of god, they’re trying to tell me he’s better than .359 .466 .649??

Kosuke Fukudome: $55 million .265 .365 .386
Skip Schumaker: $Free .307 .366 .421

by joker24 on Sep 9, 2008 7:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

unless the pain is driving him to hit better?

it's time to bring the rock!!!!!!!

by Cards Fan in Chitown on Sep 9, 2008 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

In a 'it doesn't hurt him it only makes him angrier' way?

Kosuke Fukudome: $55 million.262 .362 .382
Skip Schumaker: $Free .305 .365 .416
Skippy needs a new publicist

by joker24 on Sep 9, 2008 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yup

He has way more power than 30HR.

30BB in April, then Ludwick showed he could hit and the highest has been 17 since.

When he’s healthy he’s a mid 40’s homer guy.

by dugmartsch on Sep 9, 2008 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

let him finish this season...have surgery the day after the season ends

and if he’s not ready at the start of next year, have freese play first or third, with glaus at the other spot

by VolsnCards5 on Sep 9, 2008 9:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Or Wallace

by SoonerfanTU on Sep 9, 2008 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Phillips

as backup plan if Albert’s not ready for 2009. That’s my hope.

by timmycardinals on Sep 9, 2008 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

who is Phillips?

* sarcasm might be involved in this comment

by mattyfrommo on Sep 9, 2008 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pujols no longer plans on having the surgery

until after the 2009 season, per FOXSPORTS.com

Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS

by Hardcore Legend on Sep 9, 2008 3:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

interesting.

Rosenthal also decided to give Pujols the 2004 NL MVP award. Awesome.

the ******* plane has crashed into the mountain.

by SleepyCA on Sep 9, 2008 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

now he has two MVPs

and now we can consider him a lock for the HOF

* sarcasm might be involved in this comment

by mattyfrommo on Sep 9, 2008 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wish he'd do it this year, assuming we don't make the playoffs

We should be contenders next year, so he’d be giving up the surety of an extra month to heal this year for the possibility of not having it next year.

by BTown Birds fan on Sep 9, 2008 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

New Contract should be motivation for both Albert and St. Louis Org

Premise: Albert elects to have the surgery once the 2008 season has been set (playoffs/or not), and puts his typical 110% into rehab and is ready to go by the end of May of 2009.

Albert works his tail off in his annual chase of the batting title and MVP race in 2009.
After that season, once it’s proven his elbow is healthy and looks good, the Cardinals put together a 7/8 year deal worth 150-175 million to add on to his current deal, and Albert’s no. 5 is retired just ahead of Musial in the fitting way it should be, just as his career STL stats will do as well.

In this scenario, I die a happy, satisfied man that the best organization in the world put one of the best players in history on the pedestal he deserved and showed MLB, and all other professional sporting organizations how to compete and conduct business.

by timmycardinals on Sep 9, 2008 3:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs