MVN - Most Valuable Network

NEWSFLASH: Blalock Out Until All-Star Break?

This latest tidbit of unfortunate news isn’t likely to quiet the fanbase’s incessant clamoring for the Major League debut of Triple-A Oklahoma’s Chris Davis.

Multiple local media sources, including Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, are reporting that the surgically repaired right hand/wrist of Texas Rangers first baseman Hank Blalock remains “significantly swollen,” a condition which has remained unchanged since he initially underwent the knife to alleviate symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome back on May 30th.

According to Blalock, the surgeon that performed the procedure - which is known more formally as “carpal tunnel release surgery,” and involves creating an incision at the base of the palm of the hand, allowing the surgeon to cut the transverse carpal ligament and release pressure on the median nerve - told him that he would be able to resume baseball activities within seven to 10 days of the procedure’s completion:

“Obviously, I shouldn’t have been out there, but if I’m told I can play, I’m going to trust the doctor’s judgment,” Blalock said. “I saw the Oklahoma doctor and he’s not a specialist, but he said ‘What are you doing playing? Most people don’t go back to work for a month after this surgery.’

He told me I needed to keep my hand elevated and take at least a week off. I don’t know what the story is, but I wish somebody would tell me what kind of real time frame I’m looking at so I don’t try and rush myself when I shouldn’t be doing that.”

Licensed sports physical therapist (and current fantasy baseball writer for The Hardball Times) Chris Neault wrote on the day of Blalock’s operation that he “should be out of action for about four to six weeks,” while simultaneously indicating that the recovery time is even longer for some patients.

The “Oklahoma doctor” Blalock is referring to is presumably RedHawks team physician Dr. James Barrett, whom was undoubtedly among the first to examine Hank’s injured wrist after he jammed it on a routine diving play at first base on Sunday - the second game of a scheduled three-game minor league rehab assignment. He is currently unable to close his fist, which precludes the possibility of being able to swing a bat.

Seems quite bizarre that the operating surgeon (now confirmed to be Dallas hand specialist Dr. Tom Dilliberti) would knowingly feed Blalock erroneous information regarding his recovery time frame, but something obviously isn’t quite adding up here.

And judging by Hank’s remarks to the press, he seems to sense that:

“I just iced it today. I don’t know if they’ll send me back to the guy I did my surgery with, and I don’t know if I’ll be comfortable with that because of what he told me and where I’m at later,” Blalock said. “I’d probably rather try somebody else. He told me seven to ten days and a month later it’s killing me.”

MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan reports that the Rangers still expect Blalock to return by the All-Star break, and manager Ron Washington says that the club will carefully monitor Blalock on a “day-to-day” basis as he continues to travel with the team, leaving a certain air of ambiguity around his return to the baseball diamond. The earliest he might conceivably resume a minor league rehab assignment is Monday.

Stay tuned.

8:40 PM Update: Rangers assistant general manager Thad Levine spoke on behalf of the organization before Wednesday evening’s game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park:

“We understand he’s frustrated and wants to contribute, but we still have faith in the doctors. The doctor said that when the incision is healed and he can tolerate it, he could play. The symptoms for which he had the surgery have improved.”

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 25th, 2008 at 3:39 pm and is filed under NEWSFLASH, The Season. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.