Category Archives: Health

Players With Tommy Johns Surgery Is Becoming A Club Within A Club For MLB Teams

Tiger’s Putkonen Has Scheduled Appointment With Tommy Johns Doc

Luke Putkonen

Several MLB teams have had pitchers that underwent Tommy Johns surgery just this year. The Detroit Tigers potentially have another candidate to add to this list with relief pitcher, Luke Putkonen.  Though he merely has just an appointment next week, the fact that he is seeing Dr. James Andrews, the premiere Tommy Johns surgeon is a bit telling.

It is certainly no secret that one of Detroit’s weak areas on the team has been the bullpen during this 2014 season thus far. The Tiger’s young manager, Brad Ausmus, has been well aware of the areas the team needs improvement and has been making decisions to improve the questionable bullpen with Dave Dombrowski, CEO, general manager and president of the Tigers organization. One of the moves they decided upon came when they acquired another players who is yet recovering from Tommy Johns, Joel Hanrahan. The Tigers signed him in very early May for a one-year contract, knowing he would be placed on the DL right away and hopefully be ready to pitch in mid-June 2014.

Putkonen, 28, is only four years younger than the newly acquired Hanrahan. The next couple of months Tiger’s staff and fans will be able to witness Joel’s comeback after his surgery. If and when Luke will need the same surgery remains to be decided but perhaps it will be an encouragement to the younger ball player if Hanrahan bounces back successfully for the Tigers bullpen needs this season.

 

 

 

17  MLB pitchers  have underwent Tommy Johns surgery this season:

Jose Fernandez, A.J. Griffin, Ivan Nova, Josh Johnson, Kris Medlen, Brandon Beachy, Cory Gearrin, Patrick Corbin, David Hernandez, Matt Moore, Jarrod Parker, Bobby Parnell, Cory Luebke, Brian Moran, Luke Hochevar, Bruce Rondon, Jamison Taillon.

Alarming? Bud Selig this month has even called Tommy Johns surgery for this list above for young pitchers an ‘epidemic.’

“We have committees with doctors and athletic trainers working on this now,” Selig said. “We’ll have reports out. It’s a problem. There’s no question about it.

“The fact that it’s happening with so much regularity, over and over, is deeply troubling. That’s why I said to all of our guys, ‘Hey, we’ve got to find out.’

“It bothers me a lot. I’m very worried. Let’s see if we can find out some answers.”

And hopefully, the Detroit Tigers will have solid, dependable answers when it comes to the solution for their bullpen trouble. Stay tuned for news on Luke Putkonen as he visits the doc next Wednesday. This next month for the Tiger’s season will be a revealing one I believe in regards to the stability of the bullpen.

 

 

 

Belle Was Placed On The DL

Belle Was Placed On The DL

That “DL” in the title of this post stands for the disabled list, for those of you following this sporty and witty baseball blog of mine. I have never been so sleepy in all my thirty-six…nope, I mean my thirty-seven years on this earth! I did not bring myself into the doctors not because I don’t have insurance or because I don’t have the time, but actually due to I strongly prefer not to go to the doctor when I’m sick. I always tell myself (and others that are irritated around me) that “it’ll pass and I will be fine.” Sooo, I was placed on the disabled list due to a fever, swollen glands and constant tiredness for more than a week. I am back and kicking around on the world wide web now, headache not so bad tonight!

I often Google vintage baseball articles or images and tonight as I was Googling (pretty sure that’s a verb?) I came across this humorous saying. Can you relate to it? I mean shoot, I have yelled at my Phillips television as I’m watching the Detroit Tiger’s baseball game plenty of times. Everyone remember the infamous Jim Joyce (umpire) and Armando Galarraga blown first base call to ruin his perfect game, right? In fact, if you begin typing in Armando’s name or Jim Joyce’s name, Google connects them automatically-those two men will forever be connected from that. Let’s recall though that Galarraga was amazingly gracious and forgiving of Joyce. And Joyce even shed some tears in later interviews, understanding he cost that young man a perfect game in the record books. Too bad he didn’t have the instant replay that this 2014 MLB season has, eh?

Anyways, baseball fans, it has just struck midnight here in Michigan and I am still yet trying to recover from this illness (whatever it was) and I should get to bed.
Remember, please look for the upcoming post in which I discuss one of the MLB’s best pitchers in the game of baseball today. I’ll be discussing basically his pitching mechanics and reveal one of the most important things he has going for him in which I believe make him an outstanding pitching and one that batters do not wish to compete against.
Time to turn the stadium lights off and go to bed!
Good night!

Thankful to be Called ‘Safe at Home’ When Anxiety Disorder Attacks

I found myself thinking about my personal and professional goals and dreams while I sat in the quiet stillness of the night.  Somehow, I ended up pushing my already anxious mind over the edge into an anxiety attack.  The creative mind I have been blessed with often doesn’t know how to slow itself down and I realize too late that my thoughts are in a speedy sprint with one another.

A week ago, I had an episode come on while sitting on the couch.  My daughter was playing and I was giving her the remaining bites of a tasty dinner when I sensed my mind literally telling me to run.  I quickly stood up and indeed ran to lay down in the quiet of my bedroom with my eyes closed.  The anxiety attack subsided after about a half hour and thankfully I was okay the remainder of the evening.

Imagine if you will, you’re watching a baseball game.  A base hit has just been drilled by your favorite team’s clean up hitter with a runner on second base and it’s the 7th inning. You intently watch and cheer, hoping the runner gets the green light to score a run.  The excitement builds as the center fielder cleanly fields the ball, throwing it to their cut off man and the infielder decides to let the ball go through to the catcher to make a play at home plate.  Acquiring this run would give your team a 2-run advantage with only two more innings to play.  The runner is only steps away from home plate as the ball flies into the catcher’s mitt.  Intensity rises as the two bodies collide, both determined but wanting to hear the umpire yell completely different results.  Those seemingly delayed seconds as you listen for the umpire’s decision creates an intense anxiousness until you finally hear, “safe!” along with the familiar motion of the ump’s arms.

This is the best way I can describe what happens internally when I experience a panic or anxiety attack. From even before the crack of the ball on the bat, the possibility of a base hit sets the nervousness inside you in motion.  You can feel it coming on, I can feel the intensity of it rise and then most likely spins out of control.

Not only am I relieved to hear the words “safe” as my anxiety attack fades, I’m also grateful to feel “safe at home” as a freelance writer who is temporarily living with family who have provided me with a safe haven. It truly is a blessing due to my anxiety which often seems to be brought on when I’m in public.  However, only in the last couple of years have I experienced this type of anxiety disorder.  Truthfully though my work is liberating, I enjoy writing and creating.  Currently, I have a laundry list (and a couple loads of laundry to do!) of web design and content I need to implement and fuse together.  Am I stressing over it?  Eh, not really although I do wish I had more uninterrupted time to accomplish these short term goals but I am a Mama first and foremost.  Perhaps it’s the personal battles and issues (both those I have control over and those I don’t) I am dealing with that are bubbling to the surface lately.

I am by no means claiming to be an expert in knowing how to combat anxiety but I have learned by focusing on my breathing, this does wonders in helping  any anxiety-related episodes subside.  Counting sheep, thinking of anything or anyone that makes me happy or praying revs my mental muscles up too much so those don’t work for me.  When I concentrate on my breathing though I’m focusing on only a breathing exercise, I’m physically and mentally giving myself something to do.

Regardless of how you tame your anxieties,  I hope you have a team that supports you through your tough seasons and cheers you on during your victories.  Anxiety disorders, mental illness, emotional problems, etc can be embarrassing and very difficult to face on your own (trust me, I know).   Seek out family and friends that can pick you up and dust you off after an untimely strike out or during a batting slump or after a fundamental fielding error.

Find those people you can be yourself around, chances are they feel the freedom to be themselves around you as well, and be a loving support to one another!  Life is tough.   Share the good and bad seasons with those you trust and with those who make you feel ‘safe at home.’

Let No One Steal Your Joy, Shout it From the Bleachers!

***Composed Friday evening, 1/26/13***

Snow in the D!  I am sitting in the hotel room as I compose this post just a block away from Comerica Park!  Tiger’s Fanfest 2013 will be in full swing tomorrow just across the street! We only live an hour away but for the sake of not having to rush, we thought to make it a little more of a trip 🙂  I honestly don’t know how I’m going to sleep! The excitement within me is already at a dangerous level…well dangerous in regards to  foreseeing sleep deprivation for me tomorrow.

Ya’ll know by now how much I love the game of baseball.  It’s a simple sport yet has a complexity to it as well that only a true fan of the game can appreciate.  What makes us love it so much?  I’m not certain I know how to translate it into a type written form. But as I stand in the on deck circle and now up to the plate, I’ll give it a try.

How do you explain why seeing past television footage of moments in baseball’s history can bring you to tears?  My team is obviously the TIgers and every time I watch certain clips, the tears fall, but they are happy tears from the passion I have. Even commercials will emotionally move me.  No shame!  I love the fact that I can feel so deeply about baseball, about Tiger’s baseball. 

When anything in this cruel, hard world invokes your emotions, ignites your passion, gets under your skin…hang onto it!  Life it tough, stressful and the people in it can be not-so-loving.  Tears of joy are a blessing to be able to shed, so shed em!  I have witnessed too many people in my life and heard too many stories of people that have for some reason hardened themselves to…I don’t know…to feeling? To being able to feel?

You know what I’m talking about here or what? We allow the blah of life to steal our joy.  Crack a dang smile when you hear a young child giggle!  Shout hallelujah when the preacher reveals one of God’s truth to your heart you hadn’t pondered before!  Jump off the couch when your team has just drove in the tying run in the bottom of the 9th inning! Now are you smelling what I’m stepping in?  I joke, yes, because I love humor, it’s good for the soul…but I am also being serious people.  Unleash the passion you have inside and use it for good.  Do you know how contagious it can be?

I believe it stems from love.  Whatever or whomever you love creates a passion inside you.  Great.  LET IT OUT! If ya ain’t vocal, that’s alright, let the gal or guy you love know in a note, tell them how special they are, be gushy once in awhile, it won’t hurt.  Your loved ones need to know they mean something to you.  If you’re anything like me, then you want your loved ones to show you how they feel.

Anyways, show some love.  Whether it be to someone or about something you enjoy.  Like so many baseball fans I have seen hold at games, make a sign and share your joy!

I gotta get to bed now so I can hopefully fall asleep soon.

 

Love to all the baseball fans out there-and even to those of you that aren’t 🙂

Play ball!

100% Pure

I have been asked my thoughts on all this substance abuse by athletes and I really don’t feel like giving it any more attention than it’s already been given.  I really have nothing to say regarding steroids and all that…

Except…

The Creator’s already made someone pretty amazing…

Let the natural ability, strength and endurance God’s already given you and let that be your performance enhancer.  Be thankful He’s blessed you with athletic ability and use it to play whatever sport it is you enjoy (whether it be professional or recreational)!  Even if you’re actually not too athletic yet have somehow found yourself established in professional sports or else on your way to a career in sports-go with it!  You’re there for a reason because He intended you to be there.

Now I cannot claim this as truth but I’m going to say it anyways:

Not one professional athlete has made the decision to enhance their performance with drugs as a result of a love for their sport.

So why would they chose to?  Well, it happens when those things (money, fame, etc) in life they want become their reason for playing.  You take your eye off the ball, you lose sight of what’s important and you will drop the ball.

Watch the ball into your glove and remember how truly blessed you are to be (professionally) playing what you love as a career. 

There, that’s all I have to say on that, a quick 1-2-3 inning 🙂

This Belle Benched Due to Feeling Foul

Happy twelfth day of the new year to ya’ll!

Whew! So this belle has been benched the last few days due to a cold.  My little girl and I caught this nasty curve ball of a sickness and we are yet battling to throw it back to where it came from.  I naturally picked it up too while trying to nurse her back to health but I’m fairly certain playing at an indoor playground for families contained the perfect ‘germ storm’ to contract something.  The kids had a blast playing together and I even got a workout as I maneuvered my way through the obstacles.  One of the smaller obstacles was a young boy (we’ll call him, ‘Jimmy’) Lylah’s age with a runny nose and a bad cough who seemingly enjoyed chasing us around.  I was so excited to get the kids out somewhere to play, after many cold and windy days indoors at home, that I truthfully hadn’t even considered the abundance of germs at these facilities.  That is, not until little ‘Jimmy’ insisted on attacking us with his snot rockets.  Oh well, regardless of the many bad bacteria attempting to catch us, we had a blast and created lasting memories.  I’m certain before winter’s end, you will find us there again.

As cute as little Jimmy was, I felt myself steering Lylah away from him and his bacteria boogers by putting myself in between the two toddlers to protect her from direct contact.  I recall when proudly carrying my daughter for nine months, that feeling of being able to protect her while she’s inside my womb.  It is such an honor and blessing that God chose us ladies to be the gender who gets to experience this.  We connect with our little ones from the moment we find out about them.  I laughed just now out loud remembering how I was over four months along before I knew I was pregnant with Lylah (yeah, I’m not the quickest or most in tune with my own body haha) and the moment I found out I think I went from walking regular to waddling.  Anyways, I felt like while my unborn Lylah was inside my tummy I could protect her from the world.  I controlled what I ate and drank, what other outside elements I exposed myself too, etc.

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Now that she’s 3-years-old, I enjoy watching her make her own decisions, within reason of course, with the tools I hope I have given her to make those choices.  Sometimes, believe it or not, my sweet angel girl does choose to be naughty and reaps the not-so-fun consequences.  Similarly, a major league pitcher will throw the wrong pitch as he attempts to retire the opposing player up to bat.  He is continually perfecting his pitching arsenal with coaching staff so he is ready to unload on command during a game.  Ultimately, a pitcher hopes to throw the wisest, most effective pitches, while his coaching staff watches to see if the instruction they passed onto him benefit the team with a positive outcome.  Even the best of pitchers, like Detroit’s, Justin Verlander, can make a crucial mistake and reap the not-so-fun consequences as they watch the batter trot around the bases with a home run.

My head still feels slightly foggy today and when I talk I sound like Elmer Fudd but every sniffle and each cough expelled from me is well worth it when I know my daughter’s bout with this is improving.  I believe that my momma instincts to nurture would kick in even if I had a staff of people at my beckon call.  Amidst the snot and sniffles, there is truly something precious about nursing your sick child back to health. My present unruly appearance (one look at my disheveled, sickly self would scare anyone away so do not come to my front door 🙂 ) is a trade off I’m willing to endure. She spent most of her sickest days just cuddling with me and now is back to playing.  And I am once again back to stepping on those toys that hurt like a son of a slider to step on!

(Sniffle) Life is good.