An orthopod weighs in on super Phillies Bryce Harper, Andrew Painter

As the first televised Phillies spring training game approaches, I’m happy to offer some specific information to Philadelphia baseball fans about two matters that will occupy their thoughts for the next few months. This information affects superstar Bryce Harper and super pitching prospect Andrew Painter.

It came to me through an ancient information source known as radio, which involves, oddly, only sound — no videos, no photos of half-naked people ill-advised to get half-naked, and no emojis.

Saturday morning, on one of America’s most civilized sports talk shows, WIP hosts Glen Macnow and Mike Sielski were speaking briefly to Dr. Mark Pollard, an orthopedist with more than 20 years’ experience.

An experienced orthopod weighed in Saturday on two important Phillies.

They had two issues to address — the timeframe for return to the Phillies of Harper, who had Tommy John surgery on his throwing arm in late November, and whether or not, orthopedically speaking, it was a good idea for the 19-year-old Painter to be pitching in the majors.

On Harper’s return, the good doctor basically indicated that a full return to action following Tommy John would be six to 12 months, so Harper’s widely desired return before MLB’s All-Star break (July 10-14), would be considered a bit soon.

However, Pollard did seemingly distinguish between pitchers and position players, who obviously don’t throw as much as hurlers. For pitchers, a key to recovery is a full physical recovery before throwing at all, but Pollard seemed to imply that hitting might start a bit earlier than a pitcher should throw.

More properly put, neither Macnow or Sielski asked a question about that directly, but Harper’s potential DH duties did come up with the hinted-at link to an early return, and Pollard did not react with a horrified, “Oh hell no!” or the like. He did say, I believe, that a full physical healing before playing would be ideal for position players.

As for Andrew Painter, MLB’s sixth-ranked prospect, according to the talk jocks, Dr. Pollard suggested that, in a way, his age should not be a factor as such if at the age of 19, his mechanics are sound. In fact, before Painter’s name was even injected into the discussion, the orthopod emphasized that following surgical recovery, good mechanics were a key to success.

For Macnow, the teenaged Painter’s quite possible insertion into the Phillies rotation was not a good idea. He foresees Tommy John surgery within three years. Dr. Pollard did not deny that possibility.

For the record, one observer said a few months before Painter was drafted that he “does an exceptional job of repeating his delivery and mechanics, especially for a pitcher of his age.” This observation should please the Phillies. However, the same observer also said, “Where I’d like to see Painter continue to improve is the utilization and efficiency of his lower half, including working to extend a little bit further down the mound.”

More drive with the legs takes strain off a pitcher’s arm and can aid deception.

If Painter is not extending his long frame ideally or consistently now, that should be a red flag for the Phillies. We’ll see soon if they still see that flag.