***Official 2020 STL Cardinals Thread***

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Eh, physically it only really takes a year. The remainder is the 'rust' period where pitchers rediscover their release/rythm.

This will put him behind on that, but it is what it is. He could very easily start off a little slow next year but there's really nothing to hold against him here. The decision seems pretty straightforward for him.

rust? Why can’t he throw live baseball practice and get comfortable with his release point?

Do we have any team in any sport that hadn’t seen a positive test? Anyway, with asthma and diabetes conditions perfectly understandable.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

rust? Why can’t he throw live baseball practice and get comfortable with his release point?

Do we have any team in any sport that hadn’t seen a positive test? Anyway, with asthma and diabetes conditions perfectly understandable.

Dunno.

But guys who come back from TJ surgery almost invariably need a full season after it to return to 'normal'. And it isn't their stuff that is suffering, but their precision.

Adam Wainwright's 2012 was what fully convinced me of it once and for all. I'd seen it happen several times prior but never watched it that closely. Then he misses 2011 w/ TJ and comes back in 2012 seemingly healthy but by no means sharp.

Then in 2013 and 2014 he was effectively the same guy he was in 2009 and 2010.

Maybe it's confirmation bias at work, but I've seen it time and time again. That first season back from TJ is just rocky. And if they weren't physically sound, they'd simply continue to degrade as the season goes along - that's not what happens. These guys are able to get themselves back in playing condition within a year (hell, some have done it in less time than that). But for whatever reason they just don't have the feel back yet.

Biomechanics are funny animals and these guys have a whole new part in their body. My guess is it just takes them reps. And I don't think side-sessions can duplicate the pressures of a game where the muscle memory really needs to be 100% accurate.