This note was in Mike Radano’s column today
Finally, reliever Scott Mathieson scheduled a visit with Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., for a third opinion on his surgically repaired right elbow. Mathieson saw Dr. Lew Yocum in Los Angeles as well as the Phillies’ doctors. Even though he has some discomfort, he appears to be going through the natural progression of recovery.
“It’s not a setback,” Steve Nowryta, the Phillies director of the minor leagues, said. “(Mathieson) wanted to get another opinion, and that’s understandable.”
Forgive me for being slightly skeptical of the Phillies PR machine. Mathieson had Tommy John Surgery in September 2006. The normal recovery period is anywhere from 12-18 months. Last summer Mathieson pulled himself out of game after feeling discomfort in the elbow and then had surgery in the offseason to relieve discomfort, which was just a product of the TJ surgery. The team said he’d be fine, but its now almost May, but its now 20 months since he’s had the surgery, and clearly something isn’t right.
Phuture Phillies 
The fact that he is seeking a 3rd opinion leads one to believe that first 2 found nothing unusual. It seems that Mathieson is having trouble getting over the mental hurdle of the surgery and anytime he feels any pain or discomfort he pulls back…
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Is the come-back rate for TJ surgery really as good as the baseball powers-that-be lead us all to believe? The more time this takes the less optimistic I am about him ever throwing a ball in a Phillies uniform again. And its a shame, he has a hell of an arm.
Him and Francisco Liriano should start a support group or something.
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I keep thinking about his transposed nerve that has been mentioned subtly. That nerve runs from the labrum to the elbow and when operated on, needs a full year recovery. Marlins pitcher Anibal Sanchez had this done in 2003 and started having arm problems again last year in the spring. Mainly in the labrum. Doctors haven’t even figured this injury out yet. The Phillies won’t send him to Dr. Morgan because they think he’s a crackpot, but I’d bet he would figure it all out.
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The Phillies lie about an injury…? I simply cannot believe that they would ever do such a thing…
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I too am skeptical about the Phillies’ spin on this.
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In addition to the TJ in 2006, didnt he have Ulnar nerve surgery last year? I’ve pretty much written mathieson off at this point and hope to be pleasantly suprised…
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