re: *** OFFICIAL Braves MLB 2024 ***

quote:

---

Strider is probably done. 2 UCL repairs.

---

I dont believe Strider had a traditional TJ surgery- they performed the "brace" procedure which allows them to come back sooner. This is the same procedure that Ohtani just had.

quote:

---

Not many guys come back and flourish after that. Adding that curveball probably wasn't the best thing on his elbow.

---

They claim that the fastball is hardest on the arm, but as an old former pitcher myself through high school (Al Bundy Polk High) I found the breaking ball to be much more taxing on my elbow, but I probably had bad mechanics.

John Smoltz came back from TJ surgery 25 years ago, and went to the bullpen, and became a dominant closer. Iglesias has a year left on his contract I believe so It would seem the smartest thing to do would be to let Strider go back to throwing fastballs and sliders, and let him become the next closer.

quote:

---

Why you tinker with 99mph and that Wipeout slider is beyond me.

---

Teams started sitting on one or the other with minimal success, but a third pitch definitely would have taken him to new heights.

quote:

---

Hopefully he can come back. I wouldn't bet on it. Maybe a couple seasons in the bullpen as a set up guy or closer to ease him back in?

---

I think he'll definitely be back, and because he had the brace instead of full TJ he will be ready for spring ball, and the start of next season instead of being out half of next season.

I couldn't argue with the success Strider was having as a starter, but when he first came up I thought he was the slam dunk long term answer at closer. Eventually the third pitch issue did us in.