“We’ll Be Okay—If We Can Stay Healthy”

Even more true in football, but obviously also a huge issue in baseball. That Sox lineup last night flailing away against journeyman Mike Palmer, with Youk and Pedroia still out, and poor Pap a misplaced shadow, was hardly post-season contender quality.

Here as I try to balance 60-year-old arthritic knees, shoulders, elbows, and back with a reasonably rigorous and consistent (obsessive?) daily exercise regimen, it seems that knowing when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em is more art than science. Playing through pain can be admirably gutsy or just plain foolish, depending on one’s knowledge of one’s body, and recognition of when a few days rest is needed to save a season. No MRI or trainer can fully substitute for the savvy, experienced athlete’s dispassionate knowledge of his own body. There’s a key recuperative point when a tendinitis flare-up in my shoulders or elbows requires reasonably light/high repetition weight training to complete recovery—but if in my restlessness I get back to it prematurely, next thing I know I’m on the shelf for a most frustrating month or two.

Some baseball players (J.D. Drew, Chipper Jones, Brad Penny, to name just a few) seem to always be getting injured in one way or another, while others are almost never hurt. It’s amazing (and potentially illuminating) to look at the lengthy careers of the lifetime leaders in plate appearances and innings pitched. (And perhaps MLB could learn something by really looking for common qualities that enabled these players to stay so amazingly injury-free for so long??)

Starting with the 40’s the hitters with 12,000 lifetime plate appearances (which equates to an amazing 600 per year over 20 years!) are, in order, Pete Rose, Carl Yastrzemski, Hank Aaron, Ricky Henderson, Cal Ripken, Eddie Murray, Stan Musial, Barry Bonds, Craig Biggio, Willie Mays, Dave Winfield, Robin Yount, Paul Molitor, and Rafael Palmeiro. (All with HOF careers—absent a ‘roidal indiscretion or two.)

Modern pitchers with 4400 career innings (which equates to 220 per year over 20 years!) are, in order, Phil Niekro, Nolan Ryan, Gaylord Perry, Don Sutton, Warren Spahn, Steve Carlton, Greg Maddux, Bert Blyleven, Roger Clemens, Tom Seaver, Tommy John, Robin Roberts, Early Wynn, Jim Kaat, Ferguson Jenkins, and Tom Glavine. (Blyleven, John, and Kaat are not in the HOF—but probably should be.)

On the other hand, maybe, like a lot of things, it’s just primarily genetics. Some of these supermen had vigorous conditioning routines, most probably didn't. All of them certainly played hard. (Well, except maybe Knucksie Niekro. He never looked winded to me.)