younggun posted:As the parent of a pitcher that had TJS,
One of my kids had TJS also. Just trying to move the Overton Window back to reality. 
Max Scherzer perspective:
http://www.espn.com/blog/washi...k-like-an-8-year-old
"Year-round throwing works for me," Scherzer says. "That’s what I did when I was 8 years old, and my arm never hurt."
Wait, what? In an uber-alarmist age when pitch counts are paramount, when complete-game shutouts have been replaced by complete winter shutdowns, when the most talked-about hurler in baseball is Tommy John, the key to success is ... just keep throwing?
Whenever I shut down my arm, whenever I actually stop throwing, that's when my arm hurts the most," Scherzer says. "Everything just doesn't feel good, so I literally throw year-round."
That wasn’t always Mad Max’s M.O. His first few years in the big leagues, he did what all the cool kids did, going dark from October until January. But inevitably, when he powered up his power arm again, it would bark louder than a German shepherd in a thunderstorm.
"My shoulder just hurt too much to get through it," says Scherzer, a first-round pick of the Diamondbacks in 2006 who was traded to the Tigers following the 2009 season. "Specifically, the biceps tendon. It just took forever, all the way through spring training. By the time the season started, it would finally feel good."
So a couple years into his tenure with Detroit, he flipped the script. Now, instead of holstering his hose for three months, he just keeps right on throwing. From the moment the season ends, all the way through the end of the year and beyond, he throws at least twice a week. We’re not talking about pitching off a mound and pumping 95 mph heaters into a catcher’s mitt. Instead, Scherzer just plays catch. Ya know, like an 8-year-old would. And in true kid fashion, he couldn’t care less who he’s throwing to, just so long as he’s throwing to someone.
SultanofSwat posted:younggun posted:As the parent of a pitcher that had TJS,
One of my kids had TJS also.
I am sorry to hear that your kid had this injury. I guess I just find it odd that you would have such a flippant response to this procedure. Having gone through it, you obviously know the statistics. While TJS is quite common and thankfully predictable, we never hear about the 10+% of guys that never recover. Like I said earlier, there are a lot worse medical issues a person can face, that does not minimize the procedure. From my perspective, ANY medical procedure is a big deal when its you (or your child) going under the knife. Maybe not so much from the outside looking in. Just my perspective. We can agree to disagree.
old_school posted:throwing a baseball is not a natural motion, I had arm problems my whole life, I didn't take care of it properly I was an 80's kid. My son has had a sore arm every single time he ever pitched...and he always took care of his arm. He stopped pitching after 14u because he was tired of his arm hurting.
Every elbow and shoulder has so many throws in it, they are all different. You don't know how many that number is...IMO you use your head, do your best to take care of it, be honest with yourself on how it feels and if it blows it blows. There is no way IMO to prevent it.
I have seen so many kids on the SAME programs have totally DIFFERNET results when it comes to arm health...it is genetic.
Absolutely 100% correct! Paying attention to pitch counts, strength & conditioning, and arm maintenance are all important and doing these things will increase the chances of playing longer. But when it gets down to it, genetics is the most determining factor - followed by good throwing mechanics.