I posted on FACEBOOK Sunday in the wee hours:

“Argh! It’s 0109. I “invested” hours in the <Expletive Deleted> Yankees and they lose in extra innings. I want my time back. And, Jeter looked like he broke his ankle. Not a good omen. To bad Alex didn’t have that happen to him a week ago. Sigh.”

and then later that same morning in human being hours:

“Heard this morning that “doctor” Reinke, medical training courtesy of doctor Phil’s tv program, and 14 years on the first aid squad, got my “snap” diagnosis sadly correct. Do you think too many extra inning games and travel made him “tired”? Accidents happier when you’re tired. Now we will see if this Yankee’s team has “character”? ARod has to snap out of the slump for them to win. Maybe they are all just “tired”. They are all “old” in baseball terms. Tigers may have just gotten a big “break”. We’ll see!”

(REMINDER: Remember the sources of my education: I’m just a fat old white guy injineer with: Law “degree” from watching Judge Judy; Medical “degree” from watching Doctor Phil; Building “degree” from watching “Holmes on Homes”; Investing “degree” from reading about Bernie Made-off; and creating caring human relationships from studying the movie roles of Gunny Ronald Lee Ermey!)

Upon reflection, it seemed obvious to me that he’d broke it. I thought that when I saw it in real time. He was carried off the field in pain. Having broken bones, I know what that feels like. And, I’ve seen race horses fall. You can just tell. A break just seems to happen differently.

The interesting part is what role does fatigue play in all this?

Alex’s slump, Derek’s stumble, Granderson’s near miss home runs, other players not up to par, just missing the spot.

While these guys are all athletes in fine shape. Maybe a little old. Long in the tooth. But … you have to question the schedule without proper time to rest. 

Is everyone being cheated by an arbitrary schedule?

Do they need more off days and travel days to accommodate peak performance?

I know when I’m tired, I get silly, clumsy, and (more) stupid. (Some of my late night blog post can show that!)

So did a “tired” Derek just demonstrate his humanity?

No one could ever accuse him of not playing hard. But maybe Joe needed to recognize the physical shape of his troops. Maybe he’s tired too?

We’ll never know, but ‘doctor’ Reinke thinks that’s the proximate cause — greed. By the owners, TV, players, and fans.

Comments?

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