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Eric Gagne avoids Tommy John surgery
Eric Gagne did not need elbow ligament replacement surgery, and the Los Angeles Dodgers' All-Star closer should return much sooner than expected.
Gagne had season-ending surgery on his right elbow Friday. But Dr. Frank Jobe and Dr. Ralph Gambardella, who performed the surgery at the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic, discovered less damage than expected.
Originally expected to miss 12-14 months, Gagne's recovery time has been reduced to six, and he will be ready for spring training.
"When they got in there, they were extremely pleased with what they saw -- and so was I," manager Jim Tracy said before the Dodgers and Angels began a three-game series at Angel Stadium.
The doctors found a slight amount of fraying from the original graft that was sutured when Gagne underwent Tommy John surgery in 1997. There also were a couple of nerves that had scarred down onto the graft, which was causing Gagne considerable discomfort.
So the doctors did a little shaving in the area, which relieved the pressure those nerves were placing on the graft, and sutured a couple of spots.
"They did not have to replace the ligament. It's very, very encouraging news," Tracy said. "We're talking about a guy who has the opportunity to resume the pursuit of becoming possibly the best closer that's ever done it in the history of the game."
Gagne, who had never been on the disabled list since coming up to the majors in 1999, missed the first 35 games of the season after hurting his elbow while compensating for a knee injury sustained during spring training.
The three-time All-Star, who holds the major league record of 84 consecutive save conversions, was 8-for-8 with a 1-0 record and a 2.70 ERA before going back on the DL on June 15 because of what then was diagnosed as a second-degree sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament.
"That's what, in essence, what was causing some of his discomfort as of late," Tracy said. "When you throw with the torque that he throws with, and the fact that the nerves are scarred down, they don't have the elasticity. And the burning sensation that he felt was because the nerves did not have the room to maneuver like they're supposed to."
Tracy said he understood how the initial predictions that Gagne would need reconstructive surgery could be so wrong.
"You never know for certain, with regards to something like this, until you actually get in there and see what it is that you're dealing with," Tracy said. "A picture gives you direction. Once you get in there, then you have the definitive. And the definitive was that the ligament was not completely torn."
Gagne, who has pitched only 13 1/3 innings this season, won the NL Cy Young Award in 2003 with a club-record 55 saves and 1.20 ERA. He agreed to a two-year, $19-million contract in the offseason after recording 152 saves and averaging 122 strikeouts during his first three seasons as a closer.
Yhency Brazoban will continue to be used in the closer's role the rest of the season.
Source: AP
Gagne had season-ending surgery on his right elbow Friday. But Dr. Frank Jobe and Dr. Ralph Gambardella, who performed the surgery at the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic, discovered less damage than expected.
Originally expected to miss 12-14 months, Gagne's recovery time has been reduced to six, and he will be ready for spring training.
"When they got in there, they were extremely pleased with what they saw -- and so was I," manager Jim Tracy said before the Dodgers and Angels began a three-game series at Angel Stadium.
The doctors found a slight amount of fraying from the original graft that was sutured when Gagne underwent Tommy John surgery in 1997. There also were a couple of nerves that had scarred down onto the graft, which was causing Gagne considerable discomfort.
So the doctors did a little shaving in the area, which relieved the pressure those nerves were placing on the graft, and sutured a couple of spots.
"They did not have to replace the ligament. It's very, very encouraging news," Tracy said. "We're talking about a guy who has the opportunity to resume the pursuit of becoming possibly the best closer that's ever done it in the history of the game."
Gagne, who had never been on the disabled list since coming up to the majors in 1999, missed the first 35 games of the season after hurting his elbow while compensating for a knee injury sustained during spring training.
The three-time All-Star, who holds the major league record of 84 consecutive save conversions, was 8-for-8 with a 1-0 record and a 2.70 ERA before going back on the DL on June 15 because of what then was diagnosed as a second-degree sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament.
"That's what, in essence, what was causing some of his discomfort as of late," Tracy said. "When you throw with the torque that he throws with, and the fact that the nerves are scarred down, they don't have the elasticity. And the burning sensation that he felt was because the nerves did not have the room to maneuver like they're supposed to."
Tracy said he understood how the initial predictions that Gagne would need reconstructive surgery could be so wrong.
"You never know for certain, with regards to something like this, until you actually get in there and see what it is that you're dealing with," Tracy said. "A picture gives you direction. Once you get in there, then you have the definitive. And the definitive was that the ligament was not completely torn."
Gagne, who has pitched only 13 1/3 innings this season, won the NL Cy Young Award in 2003 with a club-record 55 saves and 1.20 ERA. He agreed to a two-year, $19-million contract in the offseason after recording 152 saves and averaging 122 strikeouts during his first three seasons as a closer.
Yhency Brazoban will continue to be used in the closer's role the rest of the season.
Source: AP