MLB adopts new concussions protocols
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Mar 29, 2011 
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Major League Baseball had introduced new policy regarding the treatment of concussions, including a new seven-day disabled list specifically for concussions. Joe Girardi seemed very happy to hear about it this afternoon. Good stuff from MLB. Here’s the announcement.
Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) announced today that they have adopted a series of protocols under its new joint policy regarding concussions, which will be in effect from Opening Day forward.
On behalf of MLB and the MLBPA, a committee of experts formulated a comprehensive policy that will govern the manner in which concussions are initially diagnosed and the determination of when one may return to the field, dictating the response to both player and umpire concussions at the Major League and Minor League levels.
The key components of the policy are:
· Mandatory baseline neuropsychological testing requirements for players and umpires during Spring Training, or when a player joins a club during the season, formalizing a process that most individual Clubs follow;
· Protocols for evaluating players and umpires for a possible concussion, including during incidents typically associated with a high risk, such as being hit in the head a by a pitched, batted or thrown ball or by a bat; being in a collision with a player, umpire or fixed object; or any time when the head or neck of a player or an umpire is forcibly rotated;
· The establishment of a seven-day disabled list for concussions, which will aim to allow concussions to clear, prevent players from returning prematurely and give clubs a full complement of players in one’s absence; any player on the seven-day DL for more than 14 days will automatically and retroactively be transferred to the 15-day DL, effective with the first day of the initial placement, and with the prior 14 days applying to the initial 15-day maximum term; implemented on a trial basis for the 2011 season;
· Protocols for clearing a concussed player or umpire to return to activity; prior to the time that a concussed player is permitted to play in any game (including Major League, Minor League or extended Spring Training games), the Club must submit a “Return to Play” form to MLB’s Medical Director; submission of the form is required irrespective of whether the player was placed on the Disabled List.
The Commissioner’s Office will conduct an orientation for Club medical staffs regarding the new protocols. In addition, each Club will be required to designate a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI) specialist in its home city to evaluate players or umpires when necessary.
this is a really good idea. people often minimize the affect of a concussion on a person, much less a top flight athlete
it seems like a really good way to protect players
This program is long overdue………Cavs with the upset over The Heat ….
o come on! rub some dirt on it you pansies!
This was a long time coming, Chad. Wonder if hockey and football have any such programs. I linked some articles the other day on a possible connection between multiple head injuries and ALS. Interesting reading.
Sounds good. You can’t be too careful with the brain.
good rule, sounds like they are being prudent. what happened with francoeur a couple of years ago is not acceptable
I hope they open up the 7 day DL for everyone. Not sure why there has to be such strict rules surrounding the disabled list.
There use to be 10-day and 21-day disabled lists. However, players with major league contracts were not allowed to go to the minor leagues for rehabilitation.
“I hope they open up the 7 day DL for everyone. Not sure why there has to be such strict rules surrounding the disabled list.”
i imagine to prevent teams from using it to effectively operate with roster larger.
i imagine to prevent teams from using it to effectively operate with roster larger.
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Don’t see the downside to that, they can keep the rules for calling people up and down (having to wait 10 days) and its not like it creates more 40 man spaces.
i doubt they will allow anyone to be placed on the list unless they have been diagnosed with a concussion.
gb7-
i don’t know what the big deal is.
i had three major concussions before age ten, and look how i turned out
all kidding aside, concussions are a serious problem, and with all the new brain imaging equipment they can see the physical damage that’s been done to athletes. good move for baseball.
Watching this afternoon’s game now.
Not that I’m in to this sort of thing, has anyone took it upon themselves to tweet Jon Heyman about his Austin Jackson tweet from a few weeks ago?
I mean I did read .212 spring average right, right?
ST averages are not worth wasting pixels on
Here is the relevant stats: AJAX .209 .338 .254 .591 .48 GO/AO (not good for his unsustainable BABIP), striking out in 25% of his ABs
Granderson: .385 .442 .795 1.237 K’s 17%
I think this 7 day dl for concussions is a joke. It usually takes longer than 7 days to overcome a concussion. I see this as a PR move plain and simple
3 XBH hits in 67 AB for Ajax, 7 XBH in 39 AB for granderson
I guess I will tweet him
I want to see Jackson do well, it helps the Yankees in future trades if the prospects they deal do well in the majors.
they have to be cleared by a neurologist to come back its not automatic after 7 days. id say its a cya move, not a pr move
You can put players on the 7 day DL while they undergo tests and then take them off if they clear after 7. Obviously if they don’t clear they will move to the 15 day DL and maybe the 60 after that depending on seriousness.
I love the automatic 7 day DL………..and I wish they’d keep the 7 day for any other situations. Teams get hurt when they have to sit players for a few days for an injury that does not require a 2 week forced rest – it shortens the roster.
it also includes baseline testing preseason so they can much more easily detect a problem and that sets a starndard they have to reach to even be considered for playing. it may not be a perfect rule but it is light years better than the complete lack of protocol that preceeded it
Randy, at least you’re in good hands with Nurse Karloff.
Gotta wonder if somebody will come up with a new shock resistant mask I see that they have repositioned the homeplate umpires this year…having sit on the opposite shoulder from side hitter bats, i.e. left handed hitter, umpire sets up on right side of plate.
Ethier Won’t Be Surprised If Not In L.A. In 2012
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [March 29 at 9:25pm CST]
Andre Ethier told Tony Jackson of ESPNLosAngeles that he won’t be surprised if the Dodgers trade or non-tender him after the season. The outfielder will earn $9.25MM this year and remains under team control through 2012 as an arbitration eligible player, though he knows that doesn’t guarantee him a roster spot.
“If I don’t play well, we have seen [the Dodgers] non-tender guys here,” Ethier said. “If you do play well, sometimes they don’t offer those guys arbitration because their salaries are too high.”
Ethier won’t be cheap in 2012, assuming typical production in ’11, but he would figure to have value on the trade market even if the Dodgers decide his salary is rising to unacceptable levels. Ethier will play the 2012 season as a 30-year-old and he has never posted an OPS below .800 in five MLB seasons. He hit .292/.364/.493 with 23 homers last year, so teams may not flinch at a salary of $13MM or so (Ethier could surpass the $12.5MM salary Mark Teixeira earned in his final year as an arbitration eligible player).
Ethier’s agent, Nez Balelo of CAA Sports, briefly discussed an extension with the Dodgers this spring, but talks did not develop and Ethier was not aware that they had occurred.
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Interesting remarks by Ethier. Would Yanks keep Swisher and move Gardner as part of a trade at the end of the year? Who would they trade for Ethier?
By the way, Randy…bill Smith just called from Minneapolis and says thay you’re quite normal.
Well I think I can avoid SI this year as they picked the Sox to beat the Giants in the WS – wait, I avoid SI anyway, lol, this just gives me another excuse
Well, I think we all know what team is going to take most advantage of this 7 day DL! Woohoo!
Not to lessen the the genuine gravity of the issue, but it appears as if sports concussions are a conversation killer.
I wonder if Rocky was suffering from post concussion syndrome when he told Mick to ‘cut him’ in Rocky or just waited until Rocky VI…
In all seriousness, this is a good first step but more needs to be done to really understand the long term implications of concussions on athletes and the best ways to deal with them. It’s interesting how guys like Troy Aikman and Steve Young seem to have retained all of their faculties years after their multiple concussions while others appear to sustain more serious short term damage from what is most likely lesser blows to the head (like Justin Morneau or Sydney Crosby).
When I was leaving school the other day they were having a “concussion seminar” for high school coaches in Hillsborough county. Hopefully they dont have to take advantage of the 7 day DL.
tyanks,
I am assuming that you mean no one has a concussion because it has been proved that concussions when accumulated cause all kinds of terrible things which is why Posada cannot catch any longer.
This is a good rule for once.
SAS
Thats what I mean. I hope that it does not have to be used at all. Mike Alstott who used to play for the Buccaneers had issues with concussions. I heard him give a press conference and it was painful to watch. you could tell they had affected him.
Pat M didn’t you put a little money on the cavs to win tonight?
tyanks,
If you reread what you wrote, I think you will understand why I questioned it in the first place.
Hope you had a good day and will have a good night.
Baseball for real day after tomorrow…yay!
SAS
Yeah, I get it. I understand the reasoning behind the rule. I know they put a lot of criteria in how they can get off the DL so they arent trying to come back too early, its really a smart thing for them to have come up with. What I meant was that I hope no one suffers any serious concussions this year. I have felt bad for Morneau and I am sure Posada is thankful that they dont want to risk him getting anymore even though it means he cant catch anymore.
I hope you have a good night too. Im a little tired and going to bed soon. Too many margaritas before bedtime
Patrick….I made some dough on The Cavs tonight….I had them getting 14 and I played the money line which was + 1600.00…So I placed 25.00 dollars on them to win and it paid off 400.00…..Where can you invest 25 dollars and 2 hours later you have 400.00
Gardner playing with one wing for half a season was 2 1/2 times as valuable as Ethier (Ethier is a butcher in the OF). and costs less than a mil vs 12. Bad trade idea.
Ethier is a stud rbi machine that wins games in walkoff fashion…..He’s a player
Ethier hit LHP @ .233 .292 .333 .625 last year, for his career: .247 .311 .370 .681. Is not good on defense at all. Possibly one of the worst RFers in the game.
Not sure I’d trade a current Yankee outfielder for him.
Apparently Don Mattingly is emphasizing defense:
“The emphasis is on defense a lot more, I’ll tell you that,” Andre Ethier said. “I haven’t heard about so much about defense before. There are times we’re out there, we’ll be doing two, three defensive drills in a row.”
Last week, the Dodgers reviewed various defensive assignments on a white board in an hourlong morning meeting. Billingsley said he didn’t recall the team holding a session like that in any of his previous spring trainings.
What can I conclude from this? Joe Torre is sooo lazy and doesn’t care about defense. Same thing when Cashman asked Jeter if the coaching staff had approached him on defensive positioning issues and his trouble in the field and he said no.
Defense is a great concept. Why wouldn’t you emphasize it? Only makes it easier on the offense.
ESPN MLB predictions come out tomorrow. Should be interesting to see if anybody dares to pick against the Sox. I just know that some will leave the Yankees out altogether. The Yankees suck, I hear.
Defense is a great concept. Why wouldn’t you emphasize it? Only makes it easier on the offense.
–
Yup, which is why it is strange that Torre shunned it.
Right, Torre shunned it. I guess defense is overrated than given all the winning Torre’s Yankee teams did. Unreal.
sp-then
Whatever. You can’t argue that emphasizing good fundamentals is a bad thing.
Good on Mattingly. He just went up a few notches in my book.
Safety is a frame of mind – So concentrate on it — all the time
Good morning, morning people.
good morning
one more day!!! CAN’T WAIT!!!
Good morning morning people.
I cancelled mt mlb.tv subscription because I only bought it for ST but I have access to it through the 3rd so ill be able to watch opening day.
that was good planning Tyanks
Kate
I didn’t even realize it when I bought it so when I went to cancel it , it said I would have it until the 3rd. I had to cancel it early because I would forget and end up getting charged another month.
—–
Also, they were still talking on the news about Longoria and how someone stol his AK47. People were wondering why he had it in the first place. I personally find it obvious. Clearly he stands shirtless in front of his mirror and says “say hello to my little friend” bangbangbangbangbang(in your best scarface voice) lol. I mean, that’s what I’d do, minus the shirtless part.
I think the question is not so much why he had it, but why he had it in spring training? And why it wasn’t properly locked away since he had it.
Very irresponsible gun ownership, no?
Good morning everyone.
Doreen
How did you find when you started posting here?
I’ve tried to remember when I started but can’t.
poor Longo, he has had a lot of posessions stolen lately
Clemens on with Mike and Mike now…..kinda funny that they had him on right after a commercial with Cowherd calling him the biggest fraud in sports (awkward )
Anyway….he says he’s gonna have his day in court and finally get a chance to talk etc….nothing new.
Is Clemens really that stupid? Does he not see all the private, intimate details being aired out like so much dirty laundry in the Bonds trial?
Maine Yankee -
I remember because it was after the 2006 playoffs that I started looking for places to go for Yankees news. I went to the Daily News first, but I really didn’t like the “vibe” there, and there was a link to this blog and I found it and the rest is history.
Anyway, then I went to the November 2006 archives and just started skimming. I know in the beginning of the month I did not post at all. I was just reading trying to get a feel for the place, and I know when I did first start to post, it was as one of about 20 “anonymous” posters. I just kept skimming through comments (not too difficult since back then it was not in the hundreds), until I found one with my name on it.
There are a few people from then who still are here, some every now and then will post, most do not anymore.
Pete used to post several topics in a day, and that helped keep the blog “fresh” and active until more posters came aboard to drive the conversation themselves. Nothing worse than going to a blog a few hours later and finding nothing new. He really knew what he was doing when he created this.
Doreen
I was hoping for an easy way.
I think I started the winter before Pettite came back,so I guess I can start there.
Either Clemens really is innocent….or he’s lied to himself enough that he’s forgotten that he’s guilty.
Maine Yankee -
If I knew then that I was going to be here everyday for this long, I would have written down the date! (Just kidding,of course.)
“Is Clemens really that stupid?”
I’ve always thought he was even before the roid issues. He’s never been a bright guy. Papelbon stupid, you might say, but with a mean streak.
Does he not see all the private, intimate details being aired out like so much dirty laundry in the Bonds trial?
He’s got a bigger problem than that. While Greg Anderson is, for some reason ($$$?), willing to sit in the joint rather than testify against Bonds, Brian McNamee (sp?) is apparently prepared to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth in Clemens’ case.
pete abe was great b/c his life was this blog
once in a lifetime
“or he’s lied to himself enough that he’s forgotten that he’s guilty”
He’s simply misremembered his PED use.
Doreen
randy seems to be good on how to search back(he likes to remind some of past comments.
)
He and I got into it some at the start so I’m sure he would remember.
Once he knew I know where his family lives here he eased up. j/k
Mell March 30th, 2011 at 8:02 am
“Is Clemens really that stupid?”
I’ve always thought he was even before the roid issues. He’s never been a bright guy. Papelbon stupid, you might say, but with a mean streak.
Does he not see all the private, intimate details being aired out like so much dirty laundry in the Bonds trial?
He’s got a bigger problem than that. While Greg Anderson is, for some reason ($$$?), willing to sit in the joint rather than testify against Bonds, Brian McNamee (sp?) is apparently prepared to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth in Clemens’ case
———————————————————————–
At least his version of the truth.
Mell,
Its really a strange deal.. I think jail time and everything else in his eyes is better than ever admitting that he used anything.
“At least his version of the truth.”
Everybody tells their version of the truth, but you are correct.
Weather looks “ok” (not that good, though) for Thursday. Friday looks awful, Sat. and Sun look ok, but Monday and Tuesday look rainy……….
Really don’t mean to start a PED or clemens conversation on opening day eve……I just thought it was funny that ESPN radio played Cowherd saying ” there’s no bigger fraud in my lifetime than Roger Clemens” and then pretty much immediately came back on air with Mike and Mike introducing Roger Clemens.
Good morning.
1 sleep and a wake up away.
Hallelujah.
Maine Yankee -
Yes, randy does know how to do that. I never paid attention, because I don’t have much interest in going back for the most part.
Always good to know where your enemy is holed up!
jonathan p -
I think it was some of that, but I also think Pete was very aware of what he was doing, and that success with this blog could bring him some recognition, which it did. It also got him his dream job in Boston.
“While Greg Anderson is, for some reason ($$$?)”
I thought the same thing. But, Anderson may never get a single dime from Bonds.
I’m sure special agent Jeff Novitzky will comb over Anderson’s finances with a fine-toothed comb every year.
Blake:
That is kind of ironic. I find it a little strange that Clemens’ lawyers would want him doing any interviews with his case still open.
Blake-
Guys like Bonds and Clemens would have made good source material
for classic Greek tragedies.
The folly of “hubris” , and how too much pride goeth before a fall.
Screw Clemens and Bonds.
NY Post 2011 Baseball Predictions.
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports.....;FEEDNAME=
Mell,
I do as well…..listening to him talk he just sounds like he has some sort of ace in the hole that he’s waiting for the trial to use…..again sounds like he’s lying to himself.
Putting aside names like Francisco Liriano, Fausto Carmona, and even King Felix (who we have all come up as names in one rumor or another at some point) …
If there is one starting pitcher who as of this moment is not on anyone’s radar as a possible mid-season trade, but could be if the team they are on does not contend this season and looks to get something in return from them, what name comes to mind as someone you think may be available under those circumstances?
Two come to mind for me: Clayton Kershaw – Dodgers probably are not going to contend and if they are floundering at mid-season and the unrest in the front office continues becuase of the McCourt divorce, maybe they come to the Yankees looking to deal.
The other is Dan Haren – Like the Dodgers, I don’t see the Angels doing much this season – I think the Rangers (even without Lee) are still the class of the division and Oakland will continue to improve this year. If the Angels are floundering at mid-season, Haren makes probably makes more sense as a trade target than Kershaw because he is a FA after this season.
Anyone else come to mind?
My Predictions
AL East: Yankees
AL Central: White Sox
AL West: Angels
AL WC: Red Sox
NL East: Braves
NL Central: Brewers
NL West: Rockies
NL WC: Phillies.
Well at least most, if not all, sportswriters see the Yankees making the playoffs.
Me too.
Blake:
As the noted philosopher George Costanza once opined “It’s not a lie if you believe it”
I think the Dodgers can contend if they can keep the ownership stuff out of the clubhouse. They have a lot of talent on that roster and potentially a really good rotation. They do need Kemp to step up though…..
I’m avoiding any and all predictions – and so will remain blissfully unaware of how bad the Yankees are supposed to be and how great the Sox are supposed to be.
Or baseball previews………
Mell,
One of the best of many great lines from that show.
Mell March 30th, 2011 at 8:24 am
Blake:
As the noted philosopher George Costanza once opined ?It?s not a lie if you believe it”
*************************
My brother used that as his yearbook quote his senior year of high school. LOL
Disco Stu:
Regarding Kershaw, I’d suggest that the Dodgers recent actions regarding Chad Billingsley (4 yrs/$41M) would serve as a pretty strong indication that Kershaw, who is 4 seasons from free agency, will be unavailable.
Haren’s an interesting name, though I think the Halos may be able to hang around in the AL West for most of the season.
To me Chris Carpenter is the guy who stands the best chance of being available at or around the ASB.
Another Yankee on Twitter:
YankeesPR Welcome to the team and twitter! RT @russell_martin New York … New York I can’t wait to step on that field wearing the Pinstripes.
I am w/ Betsy, I don’t pay any attention to predictions.
I was cleaning my office the other day and came across the USA Today baseball preview my boss had given me in 2009. I kept it b/c it has Erica’s PBF on the cover. Only 1 of 5 had the Yankees winning the WS that year. 2 of 5 didn’t even have them making the play offs.
Disco Stu:
Regarding Haren, he is actually signed thru 2012, with a team option for 2013.
I think Liriano will still be able to be had at the TD.
And I think the Yanks will monitor the situation.
New Post: I still love you New York
“I think Liriano will still be able to be had at the TD”
I think he was more available before ST than he will be at the TD. If the Twins are in it, and there’s not much reason to suggest they won’t be, they can’t move him at mid season.
Well let me at least revise one of my statements. It isn’t anything that I haven’t mentioned here before either, by the way. Rather than saying I secretly root for the Yankees to lose, let me say that I secretly root for a “lesser than” team to win if they are playing the Yanks and winning and the Yanks are firmly entrenched in first place. I used to do it when the Rays were the Devil Rays and they weren’t winning games.
That said, here’s a word of advice to . Stay out of my face and don’t mention me or refer to my posts. It’s only because I have a bleeding heart that I haven’t turned on you like a rabid dog, despite your psychotic behavior. But don’t push me because you will be in for a big surprise if you do. Want to test me? Go right ahead.