Scott Boras rubbishes reports claiming Dr. Lewis Yocum not consulted by Washington Nationals-MLB
The surgeon Dr. Lewis Yocum who carried out the Tommy John surgery of Washington Nationals’ Stephen Strasburg was consulted by the team, says the ace’s agent Scott Boras.
He has rubbished the reports that say the Nationals did not take him on board while making the shut-down declaration. In-fact he claims Washington’s General Manager Mike Rizzo had discussions with Yocum at-length before the ultimate move was taken.
An enormous hue and cry was raised when the Nationals withdrew Strasburg from the season by the experts that believed such a move will play havoc with the chances of the team’s success ahead.
They maintained that the pitcher who has ensured the team victories on consistent basis even when the club as a whole suffered weaknesses was going to play a major role in the post season.
The anger of the Nationals’ fans grew immensely when the news which stated that the doctor who performed the Tommy John surgery of the ace was not contacted. This gave way to speculations that the GM Rizzo ignored opinions of the experts and undemocratically
declared the shut-down decision.
However, both Boras and the doctor Yocum have repelled this impression now by stating that all the relevant factors were taken into account by the team. Yocum has even gone on to reveal that the Nationals remained in touch with him throughout the whole process.
"I would like to correct the misimpression generated from today's L.A. Times article, that I have not been a participant in discussions with the Washington Nationals regarding the recovery strategy for pitcher Stephen Strasburg," Yocum said. "In fact, I
have been contacted repeatedly and have had numerous discussions with the Nationals GM Mike Rizzo and the team's medical personnel, as recently as mid-August.”
Interestingly enough Yocum has endorsed this decision. He believes that it will serve the purpose for which Strasburg has been dealt such a treatment. In turn, Yocum has silenced the rising criticism on GM Rizzo to some extent.
The Nationals will be looking forward to see Strasburg putting up an equally impressive performance when he comes to throw next year.
It will be interesting to see Strasburg return and throws with the same success in the upcoming regular season.
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