The Arm by Jeff Passan,
a lead writer for Yahoo Sports, is a must read for baseball
fans, those interested in learning about pitchers, the Tommy
John injury and surgery, as well as youth baseball coaches and
parents. He explains how a tiny ligament in the elbow, the UCL,
can snap, sending Little Leaguers and Major Leaguers to undergo
surgery. In traveling the world he was able to interview with
Sandy Koufax, Japanese pitchers, and Tommy John, the All-Star
pitcher who underwent the surgery forty years ago to save his
career. But the true heart of the book resides in the interwoven
stories of Daniel Hudson and Todd Coffey, Major Leaguers whom
Passan follows through UCL surgery and rehab.
The most important part of the book is to have parents think
if they are turning into “Hollywood” parents, substituting
baseball instead. He noted, “I hope this book makes parents
look into the mirror and ask if they are doing right by their
children. Unfortunately, too many parents and coaches have their
own blatant dreams in mind versus the welfare of the kids. Parents
push kids into year round programs. We need to be more diligent
and make sure our kids are not falling prey to the desire to
have them perform at such young ages. I speak in the book of
travel baseball becoming at least a nine-figure industry, preying
on parents’ insatiable desire to secure college scholarship
money and a high-paying major league future for their children.”
Passan explains how in 1974 Dr. Frank Jobe rebuilt the left
elbow of John, the Dodgers pitcher, in a revolutionary surgery
that continues to give pitchers a second chance. He essentially
made John a new ligament by taking a tendon from the wrist,
drilling holes into the elbow. Readers will learn that about
a quarter of pitchers at any given time on major league rosters
have had Tommy John surgery. But a more frightening statistic
is that more than half of Tommy John surgeries now occur with
teenagers. He writes about a youth baseball tournament, where
star 10-year-olds have their arms taxed in the name of victory,
and in Japan where overuse of young pitchers also seems to
be a chronic practice.
He wrote the book as a warning to “for parents and
coaches out there who don't quite understand that the amount
of pitching you do as a child could significantly damage you
for years to come. We should be stressing how to throw the
ball properly, know how to place it, and to learn the mental
side of pitching. Growth plates in children’s elbows
don’t close until they are 15/16 years old. When they
do reach this age they can take on more wear and tear. Dr.
Jobe said not to throw a curve ball until you can shave. Remember
when Dr. Frank Jobe did the surgery it was on a thirty year
old pitcher to save his career. I cannot imagine he thought
it would become the domain of children instead of adults.
It is frightening how many parents push their children. I
hope there is enough people out there that can shame these
other parents and coaches. A parent’s job is to be realistic.
A Japanese study that came out after the book was published
said that 43% of 9 to 12 year olds had damage to their UCL
and of those more than 60% were pitchers.”
But to humanize the story Passan followed two pitchers, Todd
Coffey and Daniel Hudson. He spent time with them and their
families as they went through the surgery, rehab, and their
attempts to pitch again in the Major Leagues again. It's a
very good insight into the parts of baseball most of people
don't see, the personal lives of the players and how they
cope with various setbacks in the course of their careers.
The Arm is a must read for all fans of baseball
and parents who have children playing the sport. In tackling
a massive and complicated subject, Passan finds ways to educate
in a book and warn about the UCL injury.
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