curveballs would seemingly disappear as they approached the hitter, darting into the dirt and causing a halfhearted wave of the bat before a long walk back into the dugout. But postTommy John, Strasburg has not been able to find that consistent, hard breaking ball that compliments his electric fastball. Most major league hitters could hit a speeding bullet if they knew it was coming, so without the full compliment of secondary pitches it is difficult to be an effective pitcher on the highest level. The nearly 1,500 men that inhabit the strange fraternity of Tommy John surgery recipients are still struggling to find their identity. While the surgery has certainly changed the face of the
game and given previously useless arms new life, it is yet to be determined if pitchers can regain their pre-surgery form. With so many pitchers – young, strong pitchers that is – going under the knife so early in their career there is certainly cause for concern amongst the brain trust in Major League Baseball. Restrictions and overcompensation aimed at pitcher safety has been the suggested remedy up to this point but has done little to suppress the problem. And with tens, even hundreds of millions of dollars and season ticket sales in the balance baseball is looking to these young upstarts to lead the way for the surgically repaired arms of the future.
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