Giants Law may need TJ surgery and the 4/2 Rule

"For every four you take, two will break...." The Giants Derek Law may fall victim to this baseball organizational rule of thumb. It also helps explain why some of these guys move up and down or on and off the various prospect lists.



If Law goes down for Tommy John surgery, he may disappear from the lists for a year or so. Bad news for the Giants, as he was progressing very well. Law was described as having "elbow tightness" and many times that term is a precursor to packing your bags for a trip to the orthopedic surgeon.



from San Jose Mercury News:

Michael Morse forgets criticism, makes former team Washington Nationals pay - San Jose Mercury News:

Right-hander Derek Law (forearm tightness) had an MRI this week and will see another specialist Saturday in Arizona. The Giants had hoped Law, one of the organization's top pitching prospects, could avoid Tommy John surgery, but Bochy didn't sound encouraged Thursday.
"Obviously there's a lot of concern with what may be the next move," Bochy said.

'via Blog this'





Here is the story that explains the quote from Dodgers VP Logan White. You can never have enough pitching.



from MLB.com

http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/la/pitching-remains-a-staple-of-dodgers-draft-plans?ymd=20140602&content_id=77653296

LOS ANGELES -- The sudden epidemic of Tommy John surgeries in baseball isn't so sudden to Dodgers vice president Logan White.

It's an occupational risk he considers every year at this time, when -- more often than not -- he ties his livelihood to the fragility of some kid's ulnar collateral ligament.

White said he has long subscribed to a selection theory that assigns equal weight to quantity and quality because of predictable attrition.

"You've heard me say over and over why I draft a lot of pitchers, " said White. "It's my 4/2 rule. For every four you take, two will break, probably need surgery at some point. So I draft a lot of pitchers. Some clubs will stay away from the pitchers because they worry about the injuries. I think that's wrong.

"Pitching is always the most valuable commodity. You have to draft pitching. I try to draft the player that will have the greatest impact on the Major League level for the longest time. That's the type of player I look for, and he's often a pitcher. You hope it's a [Clayton] Kershaw or a [Matt] Kemp. That's what you're shooting for."