St. Louis Cardinals: Tommy Pham’s bizarre injury aids heroics in Card’s victory

Tommy Pham’s bizarre injury leads to a big day for the St. Louis Cardinals.

As the St. Louis Cardinals were putting the hurt to the New York Mets in Tuesday’s 9-1 victory, Tommy Pham was experiencing a bit of hurt of his own — so much so that he removed himself from the game in the early innings.

For those of you who know Tommy Pham and how he rolls, pulling himself from an (at the time) a close game seemed rather bizarre. Come to find out; the unusual did happen, with Tommy Pham losing a battle with his custom batting cage, leaving a gruesome laceration on his head — which left him bleeding profusely.

Tommy Pham is a walking soundbite, with Tuesday’s postgame presser with Fox Sports Midwest more polarizing than ever.

“I was in the cages working on my swing before the at-bat. And I have a hitting contraption I made to help my swing — it’s been working… My barrel went back… and came in drilled me in the head… The next thing I know, blood started gushing down.”

Well, no shame in leaving the game under these conditions. I honestly believe if Tommy Pham and his medical would have been able to stop the bleeding sooner, that he would have been back out there on the field ASAP.

Once the bleeding stopped, Tommy Pham even begged the medical personnel to let him back in the game before he was officially pulled, but Tommy Pham lost that battle.

Tommy Pham was just getting started, revealing a bit of personal history behind his toughness.

“I’ve been in some real pain before. I’ve been stabbed. Actually, I’ve been through a lot, let’s just say that.”

He even begged St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny to play the next day, and after passing all of the tests, concussion protocol and all, he convinced the skipper to play in yesterday’s rubber match against the New York Mets.

The result — a 4-3 St. Louis Cardinals extra-innings victory, with Tommy Pham going 4-6 at the plate, scoring the game-tying run to keep the St. Louis Cardinals alive, extending the game to allow for Dexter Fowler‘s walk-off hit a few innings later.

Tommy Pham even gave credit to his “therapeutic do-rag” in aiding him with his heroic efforts. What a gem this guy is. Priceless! He’s all that’s good about the game of baseball, with his transparency and hard-nosed way of playing the game.

After the game, Mike Matheny discussed his decision to let Tommy Pham play in the contest, who poked a bit of fun at his star player in the process.

“Apparently, it didn’t affect his vision,” said Mike Matheny. He jokes he jokes. He kids, he kids. That was a fun jab at Tommy Pham’s vision issues, showing more of that relaxed environment within the St. Louis Cardinals clubhouse.

Next: Pham does as he pleases and MLB’s better for it

I’m convinced that most MLB players would have sat out a few games if they experienced the type of injury that Tommy Pham did. But, Tommy Pham is a rare-breed and special player for the St. Louis Cardinals, one who will be in MVP contention before it’s all said and done.

If Tommy Pham and the St. Louis Cardinals can make it into the postseason, October baseball will sure be fun to watch!