What happened to McGowan?

victor page · Post #1 » by **victor page** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 3:53 pm

Sorry if this has been asked before, I couldn't find a search function on here.

But we're now about 14 months post surgery and there's no sign of the guy. I haven't heard that he's even throwing.

I know Tommy John surgery used to be career threatening but now, dozens of guys get it every season and I don't remember anyone not coming back within 12 months. Sure, some pitchers never get back to the same level they were before (at least not until 18-24 months post operation) but they don't just disappear like McGowan.

To me this is one of the bigger stories of the year and its never mentioned in the newspapers or on the broadcasts. McGowan was heading toward being a No.1 starter and within 12 months, he's gone.

zilby · Post #2 » by **zilby** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 4:31 pm

:O

he may return for september or next season

Avenger · Post #3 » by **Avenger** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 5:48 pm

He's been having setbacks with his Rehab, it isn't fully clear if he'll ever pitch again.

Modern_epic · Post #4 » by **Modern_epic** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:25 pm

victor page wrote:Sorry if this has been asked before, I couldn't find a search function on here.

But we're now about 14 months post surgery and there's no sign of the guy. I haven't heard that he's even throwing.

I know Tommy John surgery used to be career threatening but now, dozens of guys get it every season and I don't remember anyone not coming back within 12 months. Sure, some pitchers never get back to the same level they were before (at least not until 18-24 months post operation) but they don't just disappear like McGowan.

To me this is one of the bigger stories of the year and its never mentioned in the newspapers or on the broadcasts. McGowan was heading toward being a No.1 starter and within 12 months, he's gone.

It is less than twelve months. He went was injured early July, and had surgury late July/early August. And it isn't too uncommon for a pitcher to take more than that. If he isn't throwing by September, then we should be concerned, but in all likelihood we won't really know until next year.

chargerxthirty · Post #5 » by **chargerxthirty** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:15 pm

Tommy John is a very successful surgery. You're right.

McGowan did not get Tommy John though, he had a much more severe injury. He had a completely blown labrum which is much much more career threatening than standard Tommy John. Chances are, that if he does make it back, he still might suck.

jalenrose#5 · Post #6 » by **jalenrose#5** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 11:32 pm

That and I heard he's diabetic..it doesn't help the healing process at all.

youngLion · Post #7 » by **youngLion** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 11:44 pm

He had a shoulder problem first of all.

He's had multiple setbacks, and recently it's looking more and more like he won't be a major league pitcher again.

Marcum at least should be back sometime this year.

J-Roc · Post #8 » by **J-Roc** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 12:02 am

By many accounts, we'll be lucky to ever see him pitch again. No exaggeration. It's really too bad because he seriously "looked" like a Cy Young type pitcher.

xAIRNESSx · Post #9 » by **xAIRNESSx** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 1:50 am

youngLion wrote:He had a shoulder problem first of all.

He's had multiple setbacks, and recently it's looking more and more like he won't be a major league pitcher again.

Marcum at least should be back sometime this year.

Marcum's ahead of schedule, but there's no point in bringing him back if we're not in contention. Unless we're in the playoff mix, I doubt we'll see him back this season.

Modern_epic · Post #10 » by **Modern_epic** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 5:45 am

xAIRNESSx wrote:
youngLion wrote:He had a shoulder problem first of all.

He's had multiple setbacks, and recently it's looking more and more like he won't be a major league pitcher again.

Marcum at least should be back sometime this year.

Marcum's ahead of schedule, but there's no point in bringing him back if we're not in contention. Unless we're in the playoff mix, I doubt we'll see him back this season.

They're going to need to limit Cecil's, and probably Zep and Romero's, innings. And that is three of their current four man rotation. As long as they don't see any signs of it hurting him, they are going to bring him back ASAP.

youngLion · Post #11 » by **youngLion** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 6:58 am

xAIRNESSx wrote:
youngLion wrote:He had a shoulder problem first of all.

He's had multiple setbacks, and recently it's looking more and more like he won't be a major league pitcher again.

Marcum at least should be back sometime this year.

Marcum's ahead of schedule, but there's no point in bringing him back if we're not in contention. Unless we're in the playoff mix, I doubt we'll see him back this season.

To be honest I've never really bought this argument. He's not going to be rushed at all, we know that much, so if he's healthy and ready to pitch in August why not let him? I think there is a definite benefit to bringing him back and allowing him to face major league hitting again if he's ready for it. That way he'll be more prepared for next season.

Post #12 » by **YogiStewart** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:27 pm

Marcum will be up in 2-4 weeks.

Mcgowan - assume he's done. for good. sadly.

victor page · Post #13 » by **victor page** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:37 pm

Thanks for the info. - I didn't know it was a torn labrum and not Tommy John. And I didn't know the former was more serious than the latter.

But still off the top of my head I can't think of too many pitchers in the prime of their careers that got completely crapped out of the game from one injury (at least not recently, I guess sports medicine was once a pretty inexact science)

McGowan had what looked like a smooth, efficient delivery. In the words of the late, great Tom Cheek, the guy had "easy gas". And it's not like the Jays threw him out there for 140 pitches on a regular basis.

Anyway, I hope he comes back. Maybe he can hit like Rick Ankiel.

Modern_epic · Post #14 » by **Modern_epic** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 11:47 pm

The probably upped his innings too quickly. They nearly doubled his innings from 2006 to 2007, going from 110 to 190. The recomonded increase is 40 or 50 a season. Then by July in '08 he has already thrown 111. He also throws a really hard fastball for a starter.

Both those are the sorts of thing that can lead to arm troubles.