Duquette: O's medical staff waited too long to address Tillman's shoulder?

[Frobby]

Quote

 

Tillman, recovering from a right-shoulder issue, made his first rehabilitation at Double A start on Monday and could rejoin the rotation in early May.

Duquette believes the pitcher’s return date should have been sooner.

“We probably could have done a better job getting him back,” Duquette said.

Did the Orioles rush Tillman?

“I’m not sure we rushed him,” Duquette said. “I’m just disappointed he didn’t start the season with us. We had plenty of time to work with him. The shoulder was bothering him at the end of last year.”

Duquette did not elaborate, but he was upset with how the Orioles’ medical staff handled Tillman, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation.

“Obviously, it’s difficult to extend the season and pitch in the playoffs like Chris has in two of the last three seasons,” Duquette said. “Our approach was designed so he will be available again this year in October.”

 

http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/notes-baltimore-orioles-need-farm-system-to-develop-gems-041817

The story seems a little vague.

[Dark Helmet]

Can't disagree with DD. They knew about it last year, but basically waited until ST to address it.  They should be called out. 

 

On the other hand, why didn't DD and the front office press the issue sooner? Or did they?

[wildcard]

I think being cautious with a shoulder injury is the smart way to go.  Tillman is not out of woods yet.    

As far as waiting too long to address it, maybe I don't know enough about what has happened but 1) they gave the shoulder time to rest after the season which sounds smart and then gave him an injection in December which required rest to work.   I am not complaining about how Tillman has been handle.  It would be worse if he had been rushed, got hurt and was out for the season.

If Tillman is able to get back by May 2nd and is effective at that time the O's will have minimized the loss of his services through April. 

[25 Nuggets]

31 minutes ago, Dark Helmet said:

Can't disagree with DD. They knew about it last year, but basically waited until ST to address it.  They should be called out. 

 

On the other hand, why didn't DD and the front office press the issue sooner? Or did they?

I don't know too many GMs that go public with this sort of stuff like DD does.

My guess is that they did press the issue at some point.

[Larry18]

Since Kenny didn't quote Dan, I'm going with the Dan being frustrated that Tillman has been slow to recover. It's hard to put it all on the medical staff when Chris was healthy enough to start the wildcard game.

[webbrick2010]

Why does DD make these completely un-productive public statements?

I hope he has at least talked to someone in the medical staff person to person.

[Dark Helmet]

36 minutes ago, 25 Nuggets said:

I don't know too many GMs that go public with this sort of stuff like DD does.

My guess is that they did press the issue at some point.

That's doesn't shock me anymore. I wanted DD gone after the Toronto debacle. 

Maybe DD is asking himself "What do I have to to do to get fired?". Idk.

[LookitsPuck]

Real rich of Duquette to blame the O's medical staff, but Duquette decided to sign Gallardo with a bum arm. Classy.

[LookitsPuck]

Lost in the brashness of Duquette calling out the medical staff...is Tillman's role in all of this. The player almost *always* hides the severity of the issue. Who's to say that Tillman didn't hide this at the end of last year as just "I'm fine, typical season injuries". 

[Aristotelian]

Somebody dropped the ball. Seems like it could be headed to another version of 2015 when Tillman didn't look right from the beginning. If he had an ongoing issue it should have been dealt with earlier. Hopefully he makes it back this year. 

[LookitsPuck]

4 minutes ago, RZNJ said:

The article states that they knew Tillman's shoulder was bothering him at the end of the season.    The cortisone shot seems to have done the trick.   Why wasn't the cortisone shot given to him back in December of January?     As it is, there is probably something more going on.   The cortisone shot just relieves the symptoms, it doesn't fix whatever the underlying problem that caused the pain in the first place.    His shoulder bothered him when the season ended.   It bothered him again when he started throwing in December.    They called it bursitis which I think is about the same as tendonitis which is about the same as "we don't know".       Now, I admit I know nothing about the medical field and am probably talking out of the wrong end but then again, I might have it right.

Which is exactly my point. Bursitis, tendonitis, etc. They're all repetitive stress injuries usually relieved (but not always fixed) by anti-inflammatories such as cortisone shots.

If Tillman was feeling it at the end of the season...I'm guessing the reason is as simple as Tillman saying: "It's the offseason, I'm not pitching, some rest and eventual rehabilitation will cure what ails me." 

Throwing the medical team under the bus here just seems asinine to me especially considering Duquette's checkered past (i.e. Gallardo). Let's not forget this is the same medical team that saved the O's ass when it came to guys like Balfour and other problematic players.

[sportsfan8703]

I'm sure Tillman being in the last year of his deal had something to do with it. Why rush it and cause the need for surgery when you have no guaranteed contract?

[WEAVERMAN]

3 hours ago, Dark Helmet said:

Can't disagree with DD. They knew about it last year, but basically waited until ST to address it.  They should be called out. 

 

On the other hand, why didn't DD and the front office press the issue sooner? Or did they?

Well said on both points.  Thank you.

[Can_of_corn]

When dealing with players and injuries you have to consider any impact the player may have had.  Arrieta refused to get his bone spur fixed, same with Markakis and his cyst.

It's possible the delay was due to Tillman.

[Tx Oriole]

2 hours ago, webbrick2010 said:

Why does DD make these completely un-productive public statements?

I hope he has at least talked to someone in the medical staff person to person.

What do you want him to say?