Tommy John Surgery

Awood- I know that TJ feels the same towards you. In fact, he looks at you as a brother. But I won't touch that other part about fastest pitchers. There are some very good pitchers on that staff. I believe what he meant was that particular day.

I know this; he will always be there for you (Awood) when you need something.

 

Thanks, Braves. As you know my son is about seven months behind your son and will be sitting out this year. Dr. Andrews did Mac's as well. Rehab is going well, just slow. He should be able to use fall practice to "get the feel back" and be good to go next year.
Mac didn't tear his either, just started having chronic pain. They tried the "conservative" approach from April until Sept but every time he started to throw if flared back up. We sent him to Birmingham and Dr. Andrews told him immediately he needed surgery for a frayed ligament.
What school does TJ pitch for? I look forward to following his progress.

 

Coaching TJ is a pleasure. He works hard everyday and is the kind of guy you hope your sister meets someday. TJ has gone from being a question mark to being in the mix within two live bp sessions and one intra squad. The velocity is definitely back, the mechanics are good and he is still working on getting that comfortable feeling out there.

 

Alan Tyson

I have nothing but great things about this man. I know of quite a few people that have taken advantage of his knowledge. Can anyone tell us about the rehab programs that make him so successful?

 

I'll tell you what. I believe AT is the best in the country. Although he doesn't like people to say this, he is a specialist in baseball rehabbing (he doesn't like to sound like he is limited to baseball and he is not; he treats professional athletes from every sport). Alan also has spent many years in developing pitchers; their mechanics, exercises and such. But what I am going to do is ask him to come on here for a Q&A and for him to tell everyone what he is doing on the baseball side.

 

Dr Andrews and young arms

I found this article by Dr Andrews and thought it appropriate for this forum, especially at this time of year. Lets take care of our boys Coaches and Dads.

http://www.thestate.com/morris/story/296116.html

 

I can attest to this:
"Kids are growing up faster, but their ligaments don’t necessarily get thicker and stronger,” Andrews says. “The ones who throw 90 miles per hour when they’re sophomores in high school are the ones who are getting hurt.”


My son never threw a curveball until he was a junior in HS...and even then, rarely. But if I could turn the clock back, the youth and 14-15 yo leagues, I would greatly limit his pitching.

Plus, I would never allow the coaches at that young age pidgeonhold any youngster as a pitcher only. I would not allow them to take away the experience of playing baseball, not playing pitching.

I would need a whole thread to discuss this travesty.

 

I had a great conversation with Dr. Andrews while I was in Birmingham. He said that when he started doing the surgery, he only saw grown men (professionals) with worn out elbows. He says he the elbow ligament only has a certain number of pitches in it. So as baseball became more specialized and the kid's stopped taking long strectches off to play other sports, he saw began to see younger and younger patients. Now he sees as many HS and junior high kids with worn out elbows as professionals.

 

Not to mess up your fantasy, but my son has never thown a ball over 84 MPH in his life. He is currenly throwing about 40 MPH from 45 ft in rehab.