MLB institutes 7-day DL for concussions

[Rabbethan]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=6270514

[SilverBullet]

Interesting, I like the concept. I wonder when this will became a noticable issue though.

 

And it makes u think if a 7-day DL for minor injuries in general is a good idea. It definitely sounds good at first.

[Dr Beinfest]

While this is a good thing...

 

some concussion symptoms can appear after 7days. Obviously I'm not questioning the legitimacy of the team doctors, but something tells me this wont be used that often.

[Michael]

And it makes u think if a 7-day DL for minor injuries in general is a good idea. It definitely sounds good at first.

 

Definitely agree with this point.

[Erick]

While this is a good thing...

 

some concussion symptoms can appear after 7days. Obviously I'm not questioning the legitimacy of the team doctors, but something tells me this wont be used that often.

 

 

 

Yeah, I think it could backfire.

[Rabbethan]

While this is a good thing...

 

some concussion symptoms can appear after 7days. Obviously I'm not questioning the legitimacy of the team doctors, but something tells me this wont be used that often.

 

 

 

Yeah, I think it could backfire.

How would it backfire? I mean, are you saying there will be negative effect because of the 7-day DL?

[Dr Beinfest]

Putting a player back out on the field when he appears ready to play, and suffers concussion symptoms during a game by aggravating the injury.

 

Again, not questioning the legitimacy of the team doctors. But at the same time I could see it being an isolated occurrence that a player gets clearance too soon.

[mystikol87]

Putting a player back out on the field when he appears ready to play, and suffers concussion symptoms during a game by aggravating the injury.

 

Again, not questioning the legitimacy of the team doctors. But at the same time I could see it being an isolated occurrence that a player gets clearance too soon.

 

 

The confusion is because you said you do NOT think that this will be used much. You meant to say that the 7-day DL will be used too much and/or improperly. That's where my confusion came from, and probably Rab's, as well.

[Admin]

He's not articulating his point well, but it seems like he's implying that this would result in players being cleared too quickly.

 

I think the opposite is the case. This gives teams a lot more flexibility and more incentive to give players the necessary medical attention. Ordinarily a team might be tempted to keep the player as day to day because placing someone on the 15 day DL seemed too severe. Remember that the player can stay on the 7-day DL through day 14 before being placed on the 15-day DL. In other words, this is about the best you can ask for in terms of wanting teams to be cautious with their players. From a medical perspective I don't see any issues.

 

I don't have any problems with it as long as it isn't abused. Teams shouldn't be able to stash players on a 7-day DL by feigning concussion symptoms. There needs to be clear medical justification for using this.

[Dr Beinfest]

Putting a player back out on the field when he appears ready to play, and suffers concussion symptoms during a game by aggravating the injury.

 

Again, not questioning the legitimacy of the team doctors. But at the same time I could see it being an isolated occurrence that a player gets clearance too soon.

 

 

The confusion is because you said you do NOT think that this will be used much. You meant to say that the 7-day DL will be used too much and/or improperly. That's where my confusion came from, and probably Rab's, as well.

 

Well no ultimately I believe it wont be used as much because the team doctors aren't stupid enough to place somebody who needs a longer recovery period on a shorter recovery period. But, I could see it being used ultimately in the end as an isolated incident where a player needs to be out for longer but they pushed it a bit too much.

 

penguino's got a point though, just as much as it works in the way I'm putting it, it works in the opposite manner. Will probably save a lot of players from being DTD when in reality they should be on the DL.

[Admin]

I still don't see your point.

 

If a player needs a longer recovery period than 7 days, he will stay on the 7 day DL until day 14 and then be placed on the 15 day DL. It absolutely makes sense to start on the shorter DL period. Nowhere does the 7 day DL undercut the time needed to recover. You are making it sound like it will be compulsory to activate a player after day 7, which isn't how the DL works.

[Dr Beinfest]

No, I'm not saying that it will be required to come off the 7-day in any way. I'm just saying that It's bound to happen that they end up rushing a player off an injury that's more serious than you can tell.

 

So, instead of going 15-day when they need a mid-ranged recovery period, they could be removed from the DL too soon. Concussions don't heal in small periods of time, but they may seem like they do.

[Admin]

That's the problem the new policy solves. I fully understand what point you are trying to make; I just feel that you are misguided.

 

Previously, a team was far more likely to simply keep someone day to day because a 15-day DL is pretty heavy for something like a concussion that is difficult to diagnose. Having a shorter DL period addresses those problems.

 

What you are speaking toward is simply the attitude of the GM of the respective team. No DL policy can prevent them from using poor judgment, but instituting a 7-day deal gives them more flexibility and more incentive to do what is medically correct.

[mystikol87]

I agree.

 

And they can always move a guy from the 7-day to the 15-day DL if it proves to more serious, I believe. Yet they don't have to fear being locked into 15 days without the player for an injury, the existence or extent of which may be difficult to determine, at least initially.

[Dr Beinfest]

That's the problem the new policy solves. I fully understand what point you are trying to make; I just feel that you are misguided.

 

Previously, a team was far more likely to simply keep someone day to day because a 15-day DL is pretty heavy for something like a concussion that is difficult to diagnose. Having a shorter DL period addresses those problems.

 

What you are speaking toward is simply the attitude of the GM of the respective team. No DL policy can prevent them from using poor judgment, but instituting a 7-day deal gives them more flexibility and more incentive to do what is medically correct.

 

 

Right, which is what I said in my 2nd post. el penguino's (your) point... just as much as my point made some sense, yours is equal yet opposite. When, based in reality in the grand scheme of things, is what will probably actually happen.