Halladay Gets Second Opinion on Shoulder
NEW YORK — Pitcher Roy Halladay returned to the Phillies, and before Wednesday's series finale at Citi Field against the New York Mets, he received a second opinion on his shoulder from Mets team doctor David Altchek.
Halladay Gets Second Opinion on Shoulder
Marc Narducci
NEW YORK — Pitcher Roy Halladay returned to the Phillies, and before Wednesday's series finale at Citi Field against the New York Mets, he received a second opinion on his shoulder from Mets team doctor David Altchek.
Halladay, according to a team official, is expected to speak publicly about the situation once Phillies doctor Michael Ciccotti, Phillies head athletic trainer Scott Sheridan and Altchek confer.
The Phillies had no problem with Halladay seeking a second opinion.
“We encourage it,” said Phillies assistant general manager Scott Proefrock before tonight’s game. “It just provides further peace of mind.”
Proefrock said second opinions are common. He said that, to his knowledge, Halladay didn’t seek it due to any additional fears.
“Not that I’m aware of,” Proefrock said. “Vance Worley saw Dr. (James) Andrews for a second opinion.”
The Phillies placed Halladay on the disabled list retroactive to Monday with a right latissimus dorsi strain.
Halladay will be shut down for a minimum of three weeks and the team estimates he will be out for between six to eight weeks.
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Buy Phillies tickets Comments (15)
I think he meant "peace of mind"!— CaptainCrunch- Hmm, I guess they should have encouraged Ryan Howard to seek outside medical advice last year before they put a cortisone shot in his heel.— bobcitydoc
- Gee, where have I heard Dr. Altchek's name before....oh yeah, I mentioned it once Doc said he was accompanying the team to NY. He is excellent and has saved many a pitchers careers, he just doesn't carry as big a stick as Dr. Andrews. I have seen him lecture quite a few times over the years. He basically saved Johan Santana's career as he is the only pitcher ever to come back from a completely torn capsule to pitch again in the Majors. Took nearly 2 years but he did it. A nice feather in Dr. Altchek's hat.....regarding the 2nd opinion....they are only requested for two reasons:
1. Piece of mind, verifying the original diagnosis.
2. Out of denial or hope that what you have isn't what you have or the prognosis you were given is not correct.
It will be interesting to see what Dr. Altchek has to say. (and if we are given the truth)....because the Phils brass doesn't usually seem to think we can handle the truth!)— Mark1npt - A "piece of mind" is what the Inquirer writer has, as opposed to a fully formed one. Misspellings like this show that the culprit does not read much, a somewhat alarming state of affairs in a writer.— Dave Clemens
- "Peace of mind" is the correct spelling and usage in this case, meaning easing Halladay's fears. You just got a piece of my mind. — mike l
- good call by you, @Mark, all the way around, and terrific summary by you at the end about whether or not any of this will be shared with us dopey fans.
You are always a good read!— advantasux - I love Doc but this PHILLIES team has "Father Time" working against them. Age and injuries will do this team in and unfortunately ruin the season. It is time to start the youth movement. Galvis, Worley, Diekman and Luna are the future of the PHILLIES. Doc is run down, Howard and Utley's careers are effectively over and Doc, Lee and Rollins just have "TOO MANY MILES ON THE ODOMETER.— cleusner
- The majority of the Phils core is 32-34, not 38-40. I would like to have the numbers that players like Utley and Howard have put up in their mid 30s. "Cleusner" doesn't have a "clue".— samuel11498
- Thanks advantasux, glad you enjoyed it, just trying to educate my fellow Phillie fans on the people and the issues. I'm sure when Doc doesn't throw by the 3rd week, we'll be told he didn't suffer a "setback", only to find out he then went down to see Dr. Andrews, on a redeye under cover of darkness, and might have to shut it down for another month......but in fairness to Amaro, this tactic is used frequently as a strategy against the rest of your fellow GMs as trade deadlines come and go, waiver deals are made and late season deals like Oswalt's get done. As I said yesterday, Oswalt only has so many bullets left in the chamber with his back and knows it can no longer make it through a long, long season. So, why not wait, see who the leader of the pack is and likely to go to the WS, hope they have an injury and sign with them. I think their GM also panicked a little and moved to sign Oswalt quickly after hearing Doc was hurt and fearing the Phils would scoop him up again. Sometimes deals are done not only to fortify your own team but to keep a good player off of your competitors team. The Rangers are DESPERATE! Having come within 1 strike of winning the WS and losing.....OMG, can you imagine the depression and angst that would grip Phillydom if that had happened to us? They wouldn't be able to keep enough razor blades on the shelves at CVS/Rite Aid.— Mark1npt
- Mark, for the record, I appreciate and envy you're ability to place articles on this website and you're willingness to then mix it up with those of us who feel compelled to comment. Kudos.— rnbwtrt
- As a "doc" myself, 2nd opinions are the norm in the medical field. Not that one is right vs. one is wrong, there may also be differences in approach to the injury as well.— drhoffman
- @rnb...ty for the kudos....it can be fun on here sometimes, frustrating at others. Rest assured I am not trying to stir things up just educate and inform. A healthy sparring without name calling is always fun.— Mark1npt
- @Q, you are so right. Any sports med guy MD or PT could have seen for himself that there was more to Madson last year than met the eye. Mysterious hand ailment on the dl for longer than expected, cortisone shots, deal the no deal as Amaro walked away and signed Paps. That was the kicker and all the other GMs knew it as Amaro hastily/secretly negotiated a big payday with Paps to get him signed then every other domino fell rapidly as teams re-signed their BP/closer guys.....and Madsen just hung out there to swing in the breeze for months until he could get a short term deal to prove himself to the Reds, and prove he did. Amaro knew hewas damaged goods but couldn't say it, but all of MLB knew it. Then it comes out he's had elbow issues for a few springs? Didn't Tom Gordon, and Lidge have the same issues? One retired, one should have. Hope Ryan makes it back but not shedding a single tear for $8.5 mil and not throwing a single pitch.— Mark1npt
- Mark, you've reinforced my opinions of the Rangers rush to sign Oswalt, which they couldn't really afford and might regret, and the way Ruben handled the Madson saga. The Cinci GM looks like a fool and the only GM who didn't have an inkling. There are so many on here who are quick to criticize Ruben's signings but don't think for a second about the deals he didn't do or players he sent packing - Madson, Myers, Drabek, Happ, and I'm sure you could add more. Glad you're here to help inform the Debbie Downers and I learn more from your posts than any of Phillys sports reporters on this site. Thanks...keep your observations coming !— rockinginthefreeworld
- @rockingin.......I am humbled by your words, ty sir......— Mark1npt
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The Phillies Zone is the place for up-to-the-minute Phillies coverage from the Inquirer.
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