McCrory thinking positive after surgery
You have to admire Bob McCrory's positive outlook.
The Orioles' right-handed reliever has been mostly hit hard in 15 games covering 13 2/3 Major League innings the past two seasons. Now he's had a second major surgery in four years, yet he remains upbeat.
He thinks he can be ready for spring training next year and wants to prove to the club that he can pitch in the big leagues.
McCrory spent most of last year with Triple-A Norfolk. But he got into seven O's games in May and September. He gave up 14ER over 7 1/3 for an ERA of 17.18.
He entered September with a healthy right arm and shoulder but a month later was undergoing surgery at Johns Hopkins hospital.
"I didn't have any arm problems all year. I pitched at Boston (September 8) and felt fine. Later in September I just felt like I didn't have anything. I felt weak, my arm wouldn't recover. I kept pitching, I know I should have said something, but I tried to get through it. That was not the best decision," McCrory said.
On October 2nd team orthopedist Dr. Andrew Cosgarea performed the labrum surgery.
"They thought I might need anchors in my labrum, but the muscles were strong and it was the actual tears giving me problems, so that got cleaned up. They also found I had a torn bicep tendon and were kind of shocked that I had been pitching with it.
"The bicep area was where I felt it at first, up front. The labrum never crossed my mind. Maybe throwing with a torn bicep tendon affected the labrum. They say it didn't just happen on one pitch.
"They found a 40 percent tear of the labrum and bicep tendon. There were also some small tears of the rotater cuff but nothing major there.
"If this happened with a month or two left in the season, the doctors said maybe we could try to rehab it (the labrum). But going into the off season you could come back next year and still need surgery.
"I feel like having the surgery was the right decision. I'm not getting any younger, so I'd rather have it fixed now then have it happen again down the road."
McCrory says he feels great at this point and he'll return to Baltimore on November 10th for a follow up examination.
"I could possibly be ready for spring training, so that's my goal. Right now that's what I am working toward. I hope I can come back from this the same but nothing is ever a given," McCrory said from his Hattiesburg, Mississippi winter home.
McCrory went 0-3, 3.88 with five saves at Norfolk in 2009 in 63 innings. In August of 2005 he had Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery and now he's on the road back again.
But after his struggles with the O's in September, he realizes he could be dropped from the 40-man roster this winter.
"It that happens, it happens. I never worry about that kind of stuff. If it's meant to be, it's meant to be."
Still, you could tell McCrory was optimistic about his future. He's thankful for the chances the Orioles have given him in the past and hoping to re pay them with future performance.
"I haven't had the numbers in the big leagues but I know I can pitch there. I'm not going to let this beat me. I know I have the stuff to get guys out there. I've got too many good things in my life to let something like this beat me.
"The Orioles have been great to me, sticking with me through tough times. They continued to work with me and give me chances. I couldn't ask for more."
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Categories (click for archive)Orioles News | Steve Melewski |
Steve,
Do you have a list of the O's minor leaguers that will need to be added to the 40 man or be exposed to the draft? Are we talking 5 legitimate future major leaguers here that currently are not on the 40 man or 10 or 15? There is some "dead weight" and free agents departing the 40 man, but trying to figure out how many of the McCrory's we may need to drop to protect the Bells and Snyders.
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I don't have a list. My guess is that number is probably around 10 but I'll try to get a list together. - Steve
Ready for whom? Kansas City? Not likely to have many options beyond a Spring Training invitation!
After this latest surgery I hope the Os give him a good look at Spring Training next year. I saw McCrory alot at Norfolk this year and think he can eventually help at the big league level.
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If healthy by then, he'll get a look. McCrory has a big arm with a mid 90's FB. They were hoping he would make big strides in September, but we now know he was hurt during Sept. I don't think the O's have seen him at his best yet and hopefully for his sake, that's coming at some point during the 2010 year.
Steve