By Joshua Garcia
Although quarantined due to the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak, the New York Mets found a way to stay involved in controversy. Following an unexpected injury to one of their most important players, the public fallout of the injury has almost surpassed the initial loss.
When and if the 2020 season happens, the Mets will be without their number two starter and key team leader Noah Syndergaard. Coming off a down season, Thor as he is nicknamed, was his usual inning-eating self with just shy of 200 innings, and the Mets will sorely miss that production.
After consistent irritation in the elbow Thor was sent to for an MRI which exhibited the beginning of the nightmare situation showing a tear in the ulnar collateral ligament. Ultimately the only remedy for the tear being the dreaded Tommy John surgery done on countless professional pitchers.
Tommy John surgery is a specific procedure done numerous times a year and is seen almost as straight forward procedure, usually. Months ago the injury would have involved bad feelings from baseball fans, but during a pandemic the surgery has now created a controversy from non-sports fans.
Just last week, Chris Sale of the Boston Red Sox who was slated to also receive TJ Surgery was forced to reschedule under the national guidelines from the President to cancel all non-essential surgeries. Noah Syndergaard however, did not reschedule and underwent the procedure at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Florida last week sparking a public outcry over the non essential nature of Tommy John Surgery.
Among the criticism Syndergaard faced were irresponsibility of using medical personnel and facilities during a pandemic situation, as well as adding to the national debate of differing medical attention based on financial status. Again, under normal circumstances it would be a different optic, but in these times when you see Chris Sale rescheduling it looks even worse for Syndergaard.
When asked why Chris Sale rescheduled his TJ surgery Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom explained, “We know that this is not life and death. Its apples and oranges with this versus when you talk about something that’s life-threatening.”
Not pleased upon learning of the dubious nature surrounding the procedure of his teammate, reigning Rookie of the Year Pete Alonso went to bat for his ace. First, Alonso tweeted, “Who is to judge someone’s medical need to perform their job?” Later Alonso pointed out that the doctors performing Tommy John were orthopedic not those on the frontlines, but it seemed to fall on def ears of fearful Americans enduring the Covid pandemic.
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