Just One Pitch Away- Ask Joe Nathan

The next time you begrudge a pitcher a desire for a contract for as much money as they can get think of Joe Nathan. Or better yet think of Mark Prior. All athletes are to some extent just one injury away from being retired but few are as close as a major league pitcher. As we all know the human arm is not designed to throw a ball overhand. And certainly not at the speed and torque that major league pitchers do. However many do and many more dream of it.

Joe Nathan felt a tightness when he pitched his first spring training game last Saturday against the Red Sox. Nathan has since gone home to Minnesota, been diagnosed with a torn ligament in his elbow and is facing the liklihood of Tommy John surgery. One pitch away is truly where all pitchers are.

My son is 14 and has pitched since thru little league. He has had some great highlights and now as puberty has taken hold of him he is a 6 foot 2 145 pound kid. His motion has never been as clean as we would like and he has each year at the start of the year had tendinitis in his elbow. Last year consulting his doctor who is quite expert at sports medicine we were told that whole exercises could make him stronger, and when his growth stopped his tendons would get stronger and tougher. By July his season was a success and his arm was not hurting, of course it was 90 degrees then, and he was only pitching once every 6 to 7 days. However at the end of the season at a game I got to late his coach pitched him on just 3 days rest and his arm was sore and he, not as importantly, got blown up. What I have told him is he needs to be more vocal, know his limits and know that no one game is more important than his health.

I have also told him that he is unlikely to ever be a professional baseball player, not because he is not good, but because the percentages are not in his favor and because he does have arm trouble all ready. Today in fact with high school tryouts looming, we went outside and did our first toss of the ball. Just 25 soft tosses from a short distance. We have time go slow and he is nervous. Soon enough he will be throwing too hard and with too much torque. Eventually I fear he will throw a pitch and grab his elbow. And that will be it. As a parent what can you do besides love that your kids love the game, support them and if they get hurt pick them up.

Joe Nathan threw that one pitch today. I hope that my son does not throw his " one pitch" anytime soon