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A good idea from MLB! New 7-day DL

Benjamin Grimm Mar 29 2011 02:25 PM

MLB adds 7-day DL for concussions March 29, 2011 | 11:36 am A seven-day disabled list will be used for major league baseball players with concussions this season, the commissioner's office and players' union announced Tuesday. The list is intended "to allow concussions to clear, prevent players from returning prematurely and give the clubs a full complement of players in one's absence," according to the announcement. The seven-day term is a minimum, and players needing more than 14 days to return will be transferred to the regular 15-day disabled list. The list will be used on a trial basis this season. Baseball's new policy for concussions also requires players to take a baseline neurological examination each spring, and whenever they join a new team. In addition, the policy establishes protocols for evaluating players and umpires for possible concussions and for clearing affected players and umpires to return. Finally, the policy mandates that each team associate with a brain trauma specialist in its area who can evaluate players and umpires as necessary. "This policy, which reflects the collective expertise of many of the foremost authorities in the field, will benefit players, umpires and clubs alike," Commissioner Bud Selig said, "and I am proud of the spirit of cooperation that has led us to this result." Said Michael Weiner, executive director of the players' union: "The MLBPA is pleased to have worked with the Commissioner's Office, members of club training and medical staffs and some of today's leading experts in neurology to develop new protocols for the diagnosis and treatment of concussions. Player safety is a major concern of the collective bargaining parties, and these new protocols and procedures should enhance our ongoing efforts to protect the health of players and umpires."

Edgy DC Mar 29 2011 02:39 PM Re: A good idea from MLB! New 7-day DL

Ripe with opportunities for abuse, I think.

Ceetar Mar 29 2011 02:43 PM Re: A good idea from MLB! New 7-day DL

Edgy DC wrote: Ripe with opportunities for abuse, I think. You think so? I guess that's why it's on a trial basis.

Willets Point Mar 29 2011 02:48 PM Re: A good idea from MLB! New 7-day DL

"This policy, which reflects the collective expertise of many of the foremost authorities in the field, will benefit players, umpires and clubs alike," How does this benefit umpires? Other than not having brain-damaged batters swinging a big piece of wood right nearby.

Edgy DC Mar 29 2011 02:55 PM Re: A good idea from MLB! New 7-day DL

They would undergo the same neurological exams as the players. I take it back. Why not? Good idea.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 29 2011 02:58 PM Re: A good idea from MLB! New 7-day DL

I think it's a good idea. A couple of years ago, the Mets might have been more willing to sideline Ryan Church for 7 days, where they were obviously reluctant to do it for 15. Had he been immediately shut down for 7 days, things might have gone better with his recovery. (No guarantee of that, of course, but maybe...)

Edgy DC Mar 29 2011 03:10 PM Re: A good idea from MLB! New 7-day DL

Does Church have a job right now?

Frayed Knot Mar 29 2011 03:21 PM Re: A good idea from MLB! New 7-day DL

The argument against shorter DL stays has always been that the clubs c/would use it to store players who aren't really injured in order to keep them out of the next series or two where match-ups don't favor them. This could particularly be done w/pitchers where a 7-day DL does nothing more than delay a start slightly. This is a good idea although I'm not sure what protections there are to keep a team from declaring a concussion, or even a concussion caution, when all they really want to do is re-arrange their rotation to load up on LHPs or something.

metsmarathon Mar 29 2011 03:23 PM Re: A good idea from MLB! New 7-day DL

well, unless they start fabricating concussions in practice, or some such, the game-action where a guy's noggin gets clobbered should be indication as to whether or not a player is eligible for the 7-day trip

Frayed Knot Mar 29 2011 03:35 PM Re: A good idea from MLB! New 7-day DL

The one or two times Derek Jeter's been on the DL - aside from the lengthier stay he had the year he got his shoulder busted up on opening day - was when he strained an oblique muscle or some other minor thing and, seeing as how it was in the middle of August during a year when the Yanx were probably up by 12 games in the standings, they went ahead and DL'd him just for precaution and so he'd be OK come October (cuz the real NYY season doesn't begin until then y'know). He didn't really need all 15 days but they did it just in case. If a similar situation happens again* this summer but the race is closer what's to prevent the team from claiming he took a grounder in the noggin during (conveniently untelevised) infield practice and they're putting him on the 7-day? Or doing likewise because they want [insert 5th starter here] to avoid Boston? I also remember when the 'Bereavement Leave' policy was first introduced the very first time it was used there were questions about whether the team was using it as it was intended or simply for their own benefit. (forgot the details but do remember that it was questioned) * Not that I mean to suggest that only the Yanx would do such things - oh no!!

G-Fafif Mar 29 2011 06:44 PM Re: A good idea from MLB! New 7-day DL

Best idea since the Pentagon tested the rank of corporal-captain at that officer's club at Kimpo.

Frayed Knot Mar 29 2011 07:56 PM Re: A good idea from MLB! New 7-day DL

Possible abuse aside, what's really is best about this deal is the "baseline" testing they'll do at the beginning of each season or with a new team. That's where they run some sort of mental acuity test so you've got something to compare to by running a similar test if/when a possible concussion occurs. Was it in that 'Clueless' movie where the chick gets conked in the head by a beer bottle or something at a party, and when they try to see if she's OK someone asks her "what's 4 times 7" and her friend chimes in; "that's not fair, you have to ask her something she'd know". Well the baseline test is a hopefully more sophisticated version of that.

Willets Point Mar 29 2011 08:07 PM Re: A good idea from MLB! New 7-day DL

Possibilities for misuse aside it is a good thing their giving more attention to concussions because they are proving to more serious and damaging than previously thought (or admitted). And the 7-day DL puts MLB ahead of the NFL who let players with concussions play after only 6 days.

Frayed Knot Mar 29 2011 08:23 PM Re: A good idea from MLB! New 7-day DL

Hell, until a few months ago, NFL brass was denying there was even the slightest connection between playing football and long-term concussion-related problems. They basically sounded like an only slightly less slippery version of those cigarette executives who were called to testify in front of Congress a decade or so back.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 29 2011 08:42 PM Re: A good idea from MLB! New 7-day DL

Frayed Knot wrote: If a similar situation happens again* this summer but the race is closer what's to prevent the team from claiming he took a grounder in the noggin during (conveniently untelevised) infield practice and they're putting him on the 7-day? Or doing likewise because they want [insert 5th starter here] to avoid Boston? Nothing. But it won't happen during un-televised infield practice. Expect a rash of players to slip on bars of soap in their bathrooms. It's still a well intentioned rule. Hopefully, the kinks will get ironed out during the trial period.

Valadius Mar 30 2011 08:10 AM Re: A good idea from MLB! New 7-day DL

Church is being used as the poster boy of why this new concussion policy is a good idea.

TransMonk Mar 30 2011 08:13 AM Re: A good idea from MLB! New 7-day DL

Edgy DC wrote: Does Church have a job right now? Per Wikipedia, Church is currently a free agent.

Edgy DC Mar 30 2011 08:15 AM Re: A good idea from MLB! New 7-day DL

Valadius wrote: Church is being used as the poster boy of why this new concussion policy is a good idea. There's got to be some money for him in that.

Willets Point Mar 30 2011 08:17 AM Re: A good idea from MLB! New 7-day DL

Frayed Knot wrote: Hell, until a few months ago, NFL brass was denying there was even the slightest connection between playing football and long-term concussion-related problems. They basically sounded like an only slightly less slippery version of those cigarette executives who were called to testify in front of Congress a decade or so back. Yup, my "after 6 days" comment was a subtle dig at the NFL since there are only 6 days between games.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 30 2011 09:50 AM Re: A good idea from MLB! New 7-day DL

Frayed Knot wrote: Hell, until a few months ago, NFL brass was denying there was even the slightest connection between playing football and long-term concussion-related problems. They basically sounded like an only slightly less slippery version of those cigarette executives who were called to testify in front of Congress a decade or so back. They're still running away from the real problem-- the truly frightening (and potentially sport-derailing) issue is repetitive sub-concussive trauma. (Not really an issue in baseball, obviously.)