I think one of the key points to Bedard is this ... his injury "likely" (IMO - from a chatty, non-scientific perspective), is a result of pushing too hard. In previous reviews of Bedard, my opinion is that he gets hurt simply because he continues pushing AFTER mortals, (like you, me, and ye olde media machine), would've been sitting back in the whirlpool sipping Bacardi and adjusting the 40 pound ice pack. I think it likely that a little LESS ego might well have shortened Bedard's DL time -- but this wasn't going to happen. Why? Because the very press that were whining about him being a wuss pushed him even further to take chances.
That said -- this injury could EASILY be the harbinger of a miraculous turn-around. As Doc has noted - Bedard is a gamer -- and if he's pushing, it's because he KNOWS that doing so improves 'something'. But, coming off surgery, and being a year older - and having TWO aces in front of you -- for the first time in ages, the pressure is OFF Bedard to perform miracles. And, because of the surgery, instead of pushing, that little nagging voice of doubt in the back of the mind may allow Bedard to NOT exceed manufacturer's specifications - and actually stay healthy.
Go and look at Nolan Ryan's career. He *NEVER* "learned" control. But, he got better as he aged - I believe - because he simply lost the ABILITY to be as wild as he was for the first 15 years of his career. He lost just enough "throwing" ability -- that ultimately, he gained more "pitching" ability.
Bedard is a different case. He's already got mad control skills. But, having watched Maddux out-pitch Smoltz (and every other mid-90s hurler the Braves found for 20 years), I can say with confidence that VELOCITY is without a doubt the single most overrated pitching stat in baseball. If Bedard loses a little speed - but in doing so adds even the tiniest smidge of control to his arsenal ... well, I for one think a 1.90 ERA season isn't implausible -- given the park and defense he's got going for him. No -- that isn't a projection -- that's the OMG miracle upside -- but one that fewer than a dozen pitchers in the game today possess.
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