St. Louis Cardinals: Just call me Adam Wainwright

The St. Louis Cardinals have placed their one-time closer, one-time ace out of the rotation and back to the pen after his recent disabled list stint. After his umbrage at me, I am now sitting firmly in a boat with him.

The St. Louis Cardinals need Adam Wainwright in whatever capacity Waino can be bueno. Hoping to find this balance, the Cardinals are moving Wainwright to the bullpen for the remainder of the season.

This move accomplishes two things: it extends Wainwright’s life since he will appear in fewer innings and it addresses a weakened bullpen that has repeatedly been the reason for losses in 2017.

When Wainwright went down, I penned a supposition piece that indicated he could well be finished. When the piece went live (and even still today), Wainwright himself tweeted at me and at Redbird Rants urging that we NOT say that he is finished. It was both a great moment in my life and a frustrating moment.

I am a huge fan of Adam Wainwright and wish him well but based on his recent health, based on his history of surgery, and based on the preliminary reports that surfaced from the Cardinals organization, I felt almost positive that Waino was done.

In addition, his growing age (one year younger than I am) lead me to believe that an injury as reported was certainly grounds for aborting the season. I was wrong. Wainwright has returned even though we’ve yet to see him in any game.

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The age factor is where I find myself today. I, one year older than Adam, was forced to visit an orthopedist last Friday. I’ve experienced tightness, pain, soreness, tenderness, numbness, etc. in my left shoulder, arm, elbow, and hand. I was having trouble opening a twist-off lid with my left hand. Sound familiar, Adam?

I am right-handed so it didn’t really make sense for me that it was my left arm, but it was… After my orthopedist looked over my x-rays, he came in the room and asked one pointed question:

“Do you know what Tommy John surgery is?”

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I almost laughed him out of the room. I was wearing my St. Louis Cardinals cap and thought the question was both cynical and equally ridiculous. I told him that I am very much aware of TJ and he informed me that we aren’t there yet but that all signs are pointing in that direction.

My orthopedist diagnosed me with a rotator cuff impingement, and an ulnar collateral ligament impingement. Sound familiar, Adam? My orthopedist then injected my shoulder three times with steroids to try to relieve the pain and discomfort.

That was last Friday. Today, I’m still experiencing numbness and pain. What does this mean? It says to me that Adam Wainwright, while surely back, may still be experiencing issues. I know I am.

Admittedly, however, Wainwright is very likely in better shape than I am in but the body simply cannot heal as quickly as we age. While I’m glad to see Wainwright back, and while I am glad to see him in the pen over the rotation, I worry that he is experiencing pain as I am.

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Growing old sucks and the St. Louis Cardinals have many players who are growing older. It is good to see the younger guys coming up and performing and the time is now to promote even more.

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