World to Gorzelanny: We Already Knew That

by Charlie Wilmoth on Feb 11, 2009 9:29 PM EST

Me in October, on Tom Gorzelanny:

I agree; he was hurt. I'm pretty sure we're going to see an article written next March where Gorzelanny says his shoulder (which bothered him in Spring Training, and which Dejan Kovacevic reports was tight at various points in the season) bothered him a great deal [in 2008].

John Perrotto yesterday:

That began a downward spiral for Gorzelanny that never ended in 2008.

“Looking back on it, I might have done some things differently,” Gorzelanny said as he prepared for Friday, when pitcher and catchers report to Pirate City.

What Gorzelanny decided to do was downplay the severity of his elbow injury to the Pirates’ medical staff when he reported to spring training...

Gorzelanny admirably tried to pitch through the elbow discomfort. But now he second-guesses himself for not having the problem attended to early on.

“I didn’t think it was that serious, and I really wanted to build off what I had done the year before,” Gorzelanny said. “I’m a competitor. I wanted to take the ball every fifth day and pitch. I didn’t want to go on the disabled list. Looking back, it was selfish on my part. At the time, though, I felt I was doing the right thing by not letting my team down.

So it was his elbow, and not his shoulder. Perrotto's article also says Gorzelanny slacked in the 2007-2008 offseason.

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These guys

never learn.

by bucdaddy on Feb 11, 2009 11:49 PM EST reply actions

Who are "these guys" that never learn?

by thegunner on Feb 12, 2009 12:03 AM EST reply actions

who hurt but don’t want to tell anybody, who insist on trying to "pitch through it,: rather than admitting what everyone can see: Something’s seriously wrong. I guess you don’t want to get a prima donna rep like Jim Palmer had, whining about every ache, but then again if you can pitch like Jim Palmer people will learn to live with you.

by bucdaddy on Feb 12, 2009 9:33 AM EST up reply actions

Based on the Pirates' track record with pitchers' medical issues...

…I wouldn’t want them looking at me either.

More seriously, at least there was a reason behind his complete horribleness. Pirates need him to come back huge this year (as much as they ‘need’ anything, they can lose 90 with him, etc.).

by bigjpiot on Feb 12, 2009 2:13 AM EST reply actions

Glad it was the elbow...

…instead of the shoulder. If it needs to be addressed down the road, elbow surgery has a much higher rate of recovery.

by Vlad on Feb 12, 2009 8:38 AM EST reply actions

ya i think this is probly good for gorzo as well

i think he has a good shot at bouncing back this season. he supposedly is in the best shape of his career (how often do we hear that in february and march?) and throwing well. we need him to get back to even close to his 2007 season.

BRING BACK TIKE REDMAN

by omar moreno on Feb 12, 2009 12:26 PM EST reply actions