Breaking down Nomar
Posted 3/19/2010
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Perhaps you subscribe to the opinion that the formal announcement of Nomar Garciaparra's retirement after signing a one-day contract with the Red Sox involved a bit of revisionist history. Well c'mon, what did you expect? Haven't we all had a bad break-up somewhere in our past and wanted a do-over? Not that we hoped to get back together, it was just uglier than it needed to be. (In my case, I even felt oddly guilty when I heard her cat ran away...not that wishes can really make things happen).
Nomar's 2004 exit was a bad break-up followed by a breakdown. Actually, the breakdown began much earlier. We just didn't know it then.
"Pro baseball may not be a collision sport but it is a grueling sport," says Dr. Arun Ramappa, Chief of Sports Medicine in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. "The regular season is one hundred and sixty two games not to mention spring training and post-season. And the skills necessary to play - pitching, batting and throwing - place enormous stresses on the body."
Garciaparra seemed to be bearing up fairly well under the physical and mental stress. He was a unanimous selection as Rookie of the Year in '97 and a second place finish in MVP balloting in '98. Sure, he had his share of bumps and bruises before September 25, 1999, but on that night Nomar was hit on the wrist by a pitch thrown by Baltimore's Al Reyes.
The injury didn't seem all that significant at the time or even the next season - he won American League batting titles in '99 and 2000 - but in Spring Training 2001 the wrist ballooned, rest and rehab proved unsuccessful and surgery ended his season. Even though he returned to All-Star form, his best seasons were behind him.
"If a lawyer has wrist surgery, it's not going to affect their work performance. Almost as good as new is probably more than good enough," says Dr. Ramappa. "That's not necessarily the case for a professional baseball player. Especially when the difference between being a great hitter and a good hitter is very small to begin with."
I think it's fair to say that when the Sox attempted to acquire A-Rod after the 2003 season their relationship with Nomar went south. So did Garciaparra's injuries. He had Achilles' problems that spring and after a trade to the Cubs tore his groin muscle in April of '05. He bounced back with an All-Star season for the Dodgers the next year, but spent his last two seasons as a part-time player dealing with a variety of injuries and ailments, including chronic exertional compartment syndrome, a condition that limited his muscles ability to recover quickly from activity.
"I know I've said this before but it bears repeating. Every individual is different. Our bodies react differently to wear and tear. Some people are born with steel-belted racing tires. Some are born with retreads and more prone to blowouts. The Cal Ripkens of the baseball world are rarities," he says.
Given what we've come to learn about the use of performance enhancing drugs in baseball, there are some who point to Nomar's relatively rapid decline as evidence of steroid use. Personally, I was witness to a few of his off-season workouts. If I worked that hard in the gym, I'd pose shirtless if Sports Illustrated asked.
There's no doubt that Nomar's occupation accelerated his physical decline. Carpenters, laborers, and others whose jobs involve repetitive exertion are also at increased risk. We can't stop the clock, but we can slow down the process.
"Keep your body tuned up. Cardio work is important but so is strength training. You'll build muscle mass and bone mass," advises Dr. Ramappa. "Working on your core strength rather than a beach body is especially helpful. And you want to include stretching. A lot of back issues and other common injuries can be prevented by investing even a little bit of time in flexibility exercises."
So whether you are interested in avoiding breakdowns or repairing bad break-ups, try applying a little flexibility. You might be pleasantly surprised at the result.
Above content provided by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. For advice about your medical care, consult your doctor.
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