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...in the offseason...
By Derrick Goold
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Tuesday, Sep. 09 2008
Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, riding what he calls his best wave of
offense in a couple of years, raised the specter of his elbow injury Monday,
saying in a televised interview that he's considering offseason surgery.
Pujols and the Cardinals have said since last winter that the former MVP some
day would require reconstructive surgery to repair a shredded ligament in his
right elbow. But Pujols resisted minor surgery last winter, and both sides have
been optimistic he could play this season — and perhaps the rest of his career,
a team doctor once said — without surgery.
At his annual charity golf tournament, Pujols told KSDK (Channel 5) he's
pondering a surgery that could cost him the start of next season.
"I'm thinking about it; I'm thinking really hard," the first baseman told the
local station. "There's just a lot of things next year going on, the All-Star
Game (in St. Louis), the (World Baseball) Classic, you know. But I think in the
long run the sooner that I get it done the better it's going to be for me
because I'm going to heal quicker than if I wait two or three more years. But
it needs to be done."
Pujols leads the National League with a .359 average, and he is five RBIs shy
of his eighth consecutive season with at least a .300 average, 30 home runs and
100 RBIs. As the Cardinals welcome the division-leading
Chicago Cubs tonight to Busch Stadium for the first of three games, Pujols has
entered league MVP consideration with a .452 average since mid-August.
With home runs in both games this past weekend, Pujols has six homers and 13
RBIs in his past 13 games.
How he has performed, even with the tear, is part of the postseason discussion
Pujols, his representatives, team officials and the team's medical staff will
have to discuss treatment for the elbow.
Pain is another consideration. Pujols has said that the elbow has not been an
issue this season. He recently said that the swelling and soreness he
experienced last season has not been a problem this summer.
The ligament tear in his right elbow is more severe than the one that sent
pitcher Chris Carpenter to surgery a year ago, team doctor George Paletta said
this spring. A position player — especially a first baseman — can play through
the injury; a pitcher cannot. Likewise, rehab is different for a position
player. Recovery from the surgery for a player would be eight to nine months,
with a best-case return after seven months.
Offseason surgery, even in October, would mean Pujols would be likely to miss
at least the first month of the 2009 season.
Team sources have said Cardinals officials see a 50-50 chance he'll have
surgery this offseason. General manager John Mozeliak said Monday even that
speculation is premature.
"I know this is something that bothers Albert," Mozeliak said. "We have to be
cognizant of that and sensitive to that. We have to discuss what is the best
thing for Albert and his career, first and foremost. ... I know Albert has
concerns. His elbow isn't 100 percent. Is it to the point where it has to be
surgically repaired? I don't know that answer."
Pujols hosted the sixth annual Albert Pujols Celebrity Golf Tournament on
Monday at The Country Club of St. Albans. It is an event that raises at least
$350,000 for the Pujols Family Foundation, his representative said.
In a brief meeting with several members of the media, Pujols announced that the
funds raised help in endeavors such as the relief visit to the Dominican
Republic he'll make this November, the third such trip for his foundation. As
he did in the first trip, he'll bring dentists from the St. Louis area to treat
children in remote villages of the Dominican Republic.
Pujols has played nearly six seasons with the tear in his elbow, which occurred
during April 2003. It has been diagnosed as a "high-degree tear" of the ulnar
collateral ligament. In addition to the tear, Pujols has developed bone spurs
and arthritis in the elbow. This past winter, the Cardinals and Pujols
discussed three courses of treatment. Pujols and team officials said he
rejected both surgical options — cleaning out the joint and removing the spurs,
or the more invasive reconstruction.
Rest and ongoing treatment through the season was prescribed.
Pujols has said the elbow has not limited his ability to play this season, nor
is there any indication it has limited his ability to produce.
"Last year was a little bit up and down, (and) I couldn't find myself at the
plate where I am right now," Pujols said over the weekend. "I struggle a little
bit through that. These last six weeks I'm driving the ball the other way. ...
That's why I struggled last year. I couldn't find myself for even a game at the
plate."
One of the celebrities appearing at Pujols' tournament is certain to have elbow
surgery: Closer Jason Isringhausen will have a tendon repaired in his right
elbow Friday. By electing to have the surgery now, Isringhausen could rehab in
time for spring training. He will be a free agent this winter.
"Never had any trouble coming back yet," Isringhausen joked before teeing off,
a reference to this being his ninth operation. "I want to give myself every
opportunity to be ready. That way I can make a decision this winter if I want
to pitch (next season). I'm sure it will be on an incentive-based deal with
someone. That's how this usually works."
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Tuesday, Sep. 09 2008
Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, riding what he calls his best wave of
offense in a couple of years, raised the specter of his elbow injury Monday,
saying in a televised interview that he's considering offseason surgery.
Pujols and the Cardinals have said since last winter that the former MVP some
day would require reconstructive surgery to repair a shredded ligament in his
right elbow. But Pujols resisted minor surgery last winter, and both sides have
been optimistic he could play this season — and perhaps the rest of his career,
a team doctor once said — without surgery.
At his annual charity golf tournament, Pujols told KSDK (Channel 5) he's
pondering a surgery that could cost him the start of next season.
"I'm thinking about it; I'm thinking really hard," the first baseman told the
local station. "There's just a lot of things next year going on, the All-Star
Game (in St. Louis), the (World Baseball) Classic, you know. But I think in the
long run the sooner that I get it done the better it's going to be for me
because I'm going to heal quicker than if I wait two or three more years. But
it needs to be done."
Pujols leads the National League with a .359 average, and he is five RBIs shy
of his eighth consecutive season with at least a .300 average, 30 home runs and
100 RBIs. As the Cardinals welcome the division-leading
Chicago Cubs tonight to Busch Stadium for the first of three games, Pujols has
entered league MVP consideration with a .452 average since mid-August.
With home runs in both games this past weekend, Pujols has six homers and 13
RBIs in his past 13 games.
How he has performed, even with the tear, is part of the postseason discussion
Pujols, his representatives, team officials and the team's medical staff will
have to discuss treatment for the elbow.
Pain is another consideration. Pujols has said that the elbow has not been an
issue this season. He recently said that the swelling and soreness he
experienced last season has not been a problem this summer.
The ligament tear in his right elbow is more severe than the one that sent
pitcher Chris Carpenter to surgery a year ago, team doctor George Paletta said
this spring. A position player — especially a first baseman — can play through
the injury; a pitcher cannot. Likewise, rehab is different for a position
player. Recovery from the surgery for a player would be eight to nine months,
with a best-case return after seven months.
Offseason surgery, even in October, would mean Pujols would be likely to miss
at least the first month of the 2009 season.
Team sources have said Cardinals officials see a 50-50 chance he'll have
surgery this offseason. General manager John Mozeliak said Monday even that
speculation is premature.
"I know this is something that bothers Albert," Mozeliak said. "We have to be
cognizant of that and sensitive to that. We have to discuss what is the best
thing for Albert and his career, first and foremost. ... I know Albert has
concerns. His elbow isn't 100 percent. Is it to the point where it has to be
surgically repaired? I don't know that answer."
Pujols hosted the sixth annual Albert Pujols Celebrity Golf Tournament on
Monday at The Country Club of St. Albans. It is an event that raises at least
$350,000 for the Pujols Family Foundation, his representative said.
In a brief meeting with several members of the media, Pujols announced that the
funds raised help in endeavors such as the relief visit to the Dominican
Republic he'll make this November, the third such trip for his foundation. As
he did in the first trip, he'll bring dentists from the St. Louis area to treat
children in remote villages of the Dominican Republic.
Pujols has played nearly six seasons with the tear in his elbow, which occurred
during April 2003. It has been diagnosed as a "high-degree tear" of the ulnar
collateral ligament. In addition to the tear, Pujols has developed bone spurs
and arthritis in the elbow. This past winter, the Cardinals and Pujols
discussed three courses of treatment. Pujols and team officials said he
rejected both surgical options — cleaning out the joint and removing the spurs,
or the more invasive reconstruction.
Rest and ongoing treatment through the season was prescribed.
Pujols has said the elbow has not limited his ability to play this season, nor
is there any indication it has limited his ability to produce.
"Last year was a little bit up and down, (and) I couldn't find myself at the
plate where I am right now," Pujols said over the weekend. "I struggle a little
bit through that. These last six weeks I'm driving the ball the other way. ...
That's why I struggled last year. I couldn't find myself for even a game at the
plate."
One of the celebrities appearing at Pujols' tournament is certain to have elbow
surgery: Closer Jason Isringhausen will have a tendon repaired in his right
elbow Friday. By electing to have the surgery now, Isringhausen could rehab in
time for spring training. He will be a free agent this winter.
"Never had any trouble coming back yet," Isringhausen joked before teeing off,
a reference to this being his ninth operation. "I want to give myself every
opportunity to be ready. That way I can make a decision this winter if I want
to pitch (next season). I'm sure it will be on an incentive-based deal with
someone. That's how this usually works."
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