He’s 6-foot-8 and his magical right arm was a gift from God.

Elarton should have asked for the receipt, because that gift was defective.

This only applies to those who are good at sports, however. If one is, like I was, short, skinny, and a genuine resident of one's mother's basement, then keep playing only the sport you love until they tell you to go home.

Elarton should have asked for the receipt, because that gift was defective.

That's a smidge unfair - he was a helluva pitcher until he blew out his shoulder. In '98-'99, he was striking out a batter an inning, not walking guys, and looked like he could be an all-star for a long time. He had rotator cuff surgery after the '99 season, came back too soon, completely scragged the shoulder, and never got even close to his pre-surgery form.

I'd like to think his possible return in '09 means he's gotten over whatever personal issue caused him to essentially vanish for four months last season. It's a bit disappointing the article doesn't even address that.

edit: I guess that criticism isn't unfair if you mean his arm was defective by being injury-prone.

Anyone who can pitch well enough to make 170 starts in the majors has a magical arm.

Anyone who can pitch well enough to make 170 starts in the majors has a magical arm.

There are simpler explanations.

Scott, turn to page elartsc01.shtml in your Baseball-Reference...then you’ll be there. Trust me.

Looks like he's trending sharply upward to me.

SCOTT, DON'T RETIRE YET!!!!! YOU DID A GREAT JOB OUT OF THE BULLPEN IN 2008. IF YOU ARE OKAY, I SAY PITCH AS LONG AS YOU CAN. JUST BECAUSE THE PHONE DOES NOT RING RIGHT NOW DOES NOT MEAN YOU SHOULD RULE OUT ACCEPTING AN OFFER DOWN THE ROAD. OFFERS COME AT ANY TIME. YOU WERE A NON-ROSTER INVITEE IN 2008 AND ENDED UP IN THE BIG LEAGUES ON THE 25 MAN ROSTER. IT WILL BE A BUMMER IF YOU RETIRE SO YOUNG.