THAT PUNCH TO THE GUT YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT!

Source: NY Post

ESPN bluntly and clearly said better than I could to open up this piece: "New York Yankees pitcher Luis Severino has an elbow injury that requires Tommy John surgery."  Whoosh.  Let that sink in.  Now come up for air.  Yeah, it is still bad.  My question is this: "Didn't he have an inkling based on his how he was feeling during the fall?" I mean couldn't he have been more proactive?

Again, I ask a simple question: "Why did you wait?"  All clues pointed to surgery last year, when Sevy was sidelined for most of 2019.  But, he decided to wait?  Why?  "Cashman said last week that Severino had two MRIs -- one in December and another in January -- and a CT scan after complaining of discomfort, and all tests had been negative. But the Yankees sent him for further testing. Cashman said Tuesday that a dye contrast MRI revealed the partial tear of the UCL," reported ESPN.  Again, I am not sure why we waited even until December for the MRI.  Was he waiting for a referral from his primary care doctor?

"I don't want to sugarcoat the fact that being without Sevy, that's a blow, but it doesn't change our expectations and what we're truly capable of," Boone said. "So, no, nothing changes," reported ESPN. The only silver lining is that this gives someone else a chance to make a name for themselves.  Jordan Montgomery has been throwing well, with his fastball up to 94 mph.  Recall he had Tommy John surgery in 2018.

Perhaps Jonathan Loaisiga, Deivi Garcia, Michael King and/or Luis Cessa will get the nod for the fifth starter the position.  Cashman said that this is the time of year where teams looks from within to arm the team with their best options.  Hopefully this will be the case.

This is not the news any of us wanted to hear.  But now that we heard it, we have to root for a speedy recovery for Sevy.  He goes in for surgery on Thursday at Hospital For Special Surgery in New York. Prayers for Sevy.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof