Oh, My Elbow Bone: Crawford Shut Down

Carl Crawford went to Chicago today and got the news that his ulnar collateral ligament is sprained. Severe ulnar collateral ligament sprains or tears are why pitchers have Tommy John surgery. As it stands, Crawford’s grade I or II sprain won’t require surgery but it does make you wonder how an injury that generally affects pitchers who hurl balls at near 100 mph has come to visit a guy who’s winter wrist surgery has barely allow him to break a pane of glass.

In short, during the initial phase of recovery Crawford will be shut down from baseball activities, it is assumed to receive ice, compression and rest. The Red Sox have not commented on the estimated length of Crawford’s recovery. To start the treatment Crawford received a platelet rich plasma injection today. Whatever.

"I’m over this. Don’t say a word until he’s ready to return to the lineup. Then again, keeping a lid on this for nearly three months (mark my words – MLB Network reported that timeframe late last night) would be a PR department’s worst nightmare."

Initial reports in the media are downplaying the diagnosis. Any time I hear the words Tommy John and read sports injury journals that refer to the injury as “serious”, requiring aggressive treatment and – along with the ice, compression and rest – immobilization, that gets my attention. Regarding Crawford, I’m from Missouri; you’re going to have to show me he’ll come back this year and make any positive impact.

Cake and ice cream, beer and nuts, Crawford and injury, Crawford and mammoth bust; they just go together.

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