Red Sox lefty Chris Sale has avoided the worst case scenario — for now. That’s the good news. But the situation “sucks,” he acknowledged in a discussion with reporters including Ian Browne of MLB.com (links to Twitter).
Sale has not incurred new damage to the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow. But he’s still not in the clear. His most recent attempt to ramp up ran into yet more elbow trouble, casting doubt as to whether he can proceed without surgical intervention.
At this point, the veteran southpaw says, he simply doesn’t know what to anticipate. On the one hand, there’s still hope that he’ll be able to return relatively early in the 2020 season. Once the inflammation subsides in a few weeks’ time, he’ll attempt to start throwing again. If everything goes well, Sale might conceivably miss only a month or so of action.
And what if the elbow keeps barking? That would seem to put an end to the rest-and-rehab approach that he and the team have employed since last summer. Sale acknowledged that Tommy John surgery is a possibility. It isn’t entirely clear whether other surgical approaches may also be considered.
It’s a tough spot for the Red Sox, who have $145MM invested in the star southpaw for the next five seasons. Sale offered a tough self-assessment. “I was able to get through most of my career doing what I love to do and helping my team win,” he said. “For sure, over the last year and up to this point, I’ve done nothing but fall flat on my face.”
Those harsh words are surely a reflection of a trying situation. But it’s hard to fault Sale himself for the fix he’s in. He has long been durable, productive, and (by all indications) hard-working. Unfortunately, elbow woes are common for hurlers.
Just pull the trigger and go under the knife already. Come back for 2021.
indeed. writing’s in the wall at this point.
It’ll be late 21’ at best and probably 22’.
Agreed. Sale at the top of his game is hands down, one of the most dominating lefties. I do not think the Sox have a chance this year to overtake the Yankees and the always dangerous Rays.
Agreed. He waits another month or two, that puts 2021 in jeopardy. He gets it done now and he has a good shot at pitching at least half a season in 2021 and being good to go in 2022.
He could be back even faster. There are numerous cases now of guys returning from TJS in 12 months or less and even a new procedure that I don’t think has been done for any MLB players but is being done at the high school level that cuts the recovery time as low as 10 weeks for position players. newswise.com/articles/new-surgical-technique-cuts-…
If he goes in now, he could easily be back 3-4 weeks into the 2021 season if he hits no roadblocks.
Yeah because who doesn’t want surgery?
I agree. This season is a write off anyways.
What would Jake LaRoche do? I predict TJS announcement before April 30, 2020.
The problem here is that Sale’s UCL is fully intact. He has issues with his flexor tendons, so TJS does not necessarily fix flexor tendon issues. He basically has ‘golfer’s elbow’. There is such a thing as flexor tendon surgery, but that also requires a year to come back from. At this point, I bet Sale wishes this was as simple as a UCL tear, as TJS easily repairs this. Flexor tendons can be very tricky to fix…
Thanks for your informative comment.
Good points Dorothy.
Also, it’s surgery! There are no guarantees that it will be successful. You do everything you can to not go under the knife.
Furthermore, contrary to popular belief, TJS is not 100% successful. There are many pitchers who never make it back to pre-surgery ability.
Corey lueke comes to mind
I didn’t realize it was gofer’s elbow. When I had tendinitis, that’s what it was called (opposite side pai compared to tennis elbow). Pain traveled down arm. Treated with cortisone and a special splint that made the thumb immovable. Tried a small attachment on the arm also but that didn’t work. Rest healed issue without surgery but I haven’t played golf since. Note: I never played golf before the injury either…
*Golfer’s
Gopher’s
Ty
The article did not say that Chris Sale’s ucl is “fully intact.” It said he has not incurred any “new damage” to it. That is a very telling remark. If there is no damage, a doctor will say “no damage,” not no “new” damage.
Sale needs surgery n not sure why they are holding back. Sale is an upfront guy and it must be killing him going through this. I am a huge Sale fan, along with Devers n the dearly departed Brockstar. I love watching Nate when un injured, he’s one of the most exciting pitchers around, and Sale is tops. Depressing!!!
Man…. When the scoreboard says “Make some noise!” at Red Sox games this season, everybody is going to let out a simultaneous… yay….
from listening to these remarks by Chris Sale it’s clear to see he is a Class Act and wants to give a hundred and 10% every time he pitches. what Chris has to realize is that the money he’s getting is a sunk cost and he also has to realize that getting surgery at this point isn’t recommended so he might as well just go out there and figure out a way 2 deal with the pain and just pitch is hiding as best you can and if the ligament first then he can get the surgery then and if it doesn’t it’s just a matter of how we can best contribute with the problem she’s got. He may want to be used in a lesser capacity. Perhaps using them for two or three innings in a game rather than 6 or 7. That might be less stressful on his arm. You’ll have to experiment with different ways of reducing the pain. for example if he has tennis elbow there is a brace that you can wrap around your forearm and tighten it over where the pain is. it may help
PS the speech recognition cause numerous errors above I apologize for that. guess I have to review every little detail of what I said and how it was interpreted before I submit it. LOL
in essence what I’m saying is Chris Sale needs to pitch through the pain and do the best he can and if the tendon ruptures then it ruptures. maybe it would be wise to consider using him in a relief role or limit the amount of innings he pitches. what is the alternative at this point. His contract is a sunk cost. so they might as well try to get the most out of them that they can and it sounds like he’s going to do that because he’s a Class Act and understands that and has Pride.
I remember John Lackey trying to do that in 2011 and the results were ugly.
surgery is inevitable here
You do the surgery and have more time and probability of having a longer career or you let it linger? Seems like he’s making the wrong choice.
So dumb to wait. The chances he gets healthy and right without surgery is what 5%? Just have the surgery, so hopefully he can help the team next yr.
How many of you would eagerly undertake the pain of surgery?
I can’t blame him. Not only is the pain unbearable, but one doesn’t function well in life with one arm. Getting dressed, going to the bathroom, sleeping, eating, etc. are major undertakings post-surgery.
@Prunella Vulgaris
He’s obviously feeling pain now, which is why he hasn’t begun pitching. If he doesn’t have the surgery and he intends to pitch then that’s a guarantee that he will be using pain-killers and missing games with trying to rest the arm. If he wants to pitch another 4, 5, 6 years at a decent level he’s likely better off having whatever surgery needed. Plus, the body is weird. You start to do things to avoid the pain and injury and you mess something else up.
Tanaka has been staving off surgery. I have no idea if his discomfort or the severity is the same as what Sale feels or the exams indicate.
I had major back surgery disk and nerve. The result afterwards was well worth it. No reason to prolong the pain.
If it is inevitable, get it over with. I agree with John Silver. Watching Lackey ‘pitch through the pain’ was even more painful to watch.
Question: would I have surgery or would I rest and rehab???? I think we all know why he’s trying to rehab. Miss 2-3 months tops vs 2 years, I’d try it too. No guarantee surgery will cure it
Why is there about one person here who understands that you can’t have surgery if you don’t even know what the surgery would be? It’s NOT Tommy John!
“He has issues with his flexor tendons, so TJS does not necessarily fix flexor tendon issues. He basically has ‘golfer’s elbow’. There is such a thing as flexor tendon surgery, but that also requires a year to come back from.”
– Dorothy Mantooth
Personally I think they’re just trying to monkey around and be dishonest and not forthcoming about the injury so they can make some suspicious trade of an injured player…such as you accused the Yankees of doing with Judge. Bwahahaha.
You gotta love the comments suggesting surgery.
According to the reports, his UCL is okay. For those advocating surgery, what part of the arm do you want the surgery on?
“He has issues with his flexor tendons, so TJS does not necessarily fix flexor tendon issues. He basically has ‘golfer’s elbow’. There is such a thing as flexor tendon surgery, but that also requires a year to come back from.”
– Dorothy Mantooth
So it begs the question why Dr Andrews and Dr. ElAttrache the two premiere Dr’s on the topic, are NOT recommending surgery now?
Good luck in recommending a diagnosis when you are not a Dr and have not examined the patient’s files.
I sure as heck wouldn’t want to tell both of these experts they are wrong.
LOL
@JoeBrady
Dude…there are other types of arm injuries and corresponding treatments/surgery. So while he may not need TJ surgery he might very well need some other. Why is that hard to understand?
All Sox fans know the “Rays Way.”
Our 40 will be changed substantially by Opening Day.
Sale and Sox Management will come to their senses and he will have TJS leaving Sox fans with 2-3 seasons of a healthy Sale.
Oof… that contract is suddenly not looking good at all… this sounds like a nagging problem with no proven surgical fix that could potentially be career ending… Red Sox execs have to be crapping bricks, especially after his elite ability began to diminish noticeably last season and then he broke down for nearly 1/4 of the season at the end.
I’m sure there is more to it then just to have surgery. If he 100% doesn’t need it, why give it to him? If it is indeed just a flexor strain, then he will have a plan in place. It has to be frustrating for him to be at the top of his game one day and struggle to get on the mound the next.
I have had tennis or golfer’s elbow.
I used the product listed below and I was fine after a few weeks.
I wear it again whenever I feel even the slightest resurgence of the issue.
It has worked amazing for me.
Sale of course has to pitch and I don’t so he may never be able to have this issue go away 100% but TJ surgery is not being recommended by the experts so what can I say?
Elbow Brace, Tennis Elbow Brace with Compression Pad listed on Amazon
Stripling and Joc to the Red Sox for Verdugo and Sale. Sox pay half the contract
Sale has been a great pitcher, but he’s also Exhibit A as to why you don’t sign players, especially pitchers, to these huge contracts. Keeping them coming up through the system is a better strategy, IMO. Aces are rare, so I understand the dilemma, but these deals rarely work out. He’s a class guy. Can’t help but like him.