A Press Democrat Blog

Overtime

Ted Sillanpaa looks at the San Francisco Giants, other Bay Area sports and gives a dad's-eye view of Empire prep and youth sports trends

Son’s return to mound shows every recovery isn’t about PEDs

Monday, at 2:27 by

By TED SILLANPAA on Twitter @TedSillanpa My 17-year-old son pitched a scoreless inning, striking out two, in his official return to the mound 11 months after he underwent elbow reconstruction surgery. He’s one of those elite-level prospects who was being recruited by some Pac-12 Conference baseball coaches even while he was rehabilitating his elbow over the winter. So, to say he’s back at 100 percent of what folks believe he can be would be untrue. Just to see him on… Read More »

Dr. Mike Marshall on pitching injuries and the lies pitchers are told

Wednesday, at 4:37 by

By Ted Sillanpaa After writing here about Giants closer Brian Wilson’s season-ending elbow injury and the Nationals’ plan to end Stephen Strasburg’s season at 160-180 innings based on the belief the move will protect his arm, some parents and others responded with questions. Dr. Mike Marshall, former National League Cy Young Award winner, wrote a length email in response to what has been written here. He teaches a revolutionary motion that saves pitchers’ arms from injury. Here’s his email and… Read More »

No formula for saving Strasburg or any other pitcher’s arm

Tuesday, at 9:31 by

By Ted Sillanpaa The Washington Nationals are fixing to shut down their young ace Stephen Strasburg, after he pitches around 180 innings, because he’s in his second season after returning from elbow reconstructive surgery. The Nationals did the same thing with Jordan Zimmerman last year, ending his season when he reached a pre-determined innings total. He’d returned from Tommy John surgery in 2010. Zimmerman’s 9-6, leading the National League in ERA entering Tuesday’s games. The Nationals’ insistence that they will… Read More »

Kid’s rebound from Tommy John Surgery bodes well for Giants’ closer Brian Wilson

Thursday, at 11:33 by

By Ted Sillanpaa This won’t be a spot where folks read about the glories of Clan Sillanpaa as they pertain to organized athletics, but there will be times when things from inside the family have some connection to what’s on the minds of the people who worry about things like, oh, say … whether or not the Giants will ever again have a dominant closer. Brian Wilson had Tommy John surgery for a second time in April. It’s a common… Read More »