Elective Surgery

"I've been given an opportunity as one of the only players, the only one right now, to be [inducted:instated] into the Hall of Fame with Tommy John surgery." The Great Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz at his induction [ceremony:party] in Cooperstown, N.Y., yesterday, July 26th. He was 34 when he had the procedure in which a damaged ulnar collateral ligament in the arm is [replaced:removed] by a tendon from another part of the body."It's an epidemic. It's something that is affecting our game. It's something that I thought would cost me my career, but thanks to Dr. James Andrews and all those before him performing the surgery with such precision, has caused it to be almost a false-read, like a Band-Aid you'd put on your arm. I want to encourage the [families:groups] and parents that are out there to understand that this is not normal to have a surgery at 14 and 15 years old."Smoltz then talked about why he thinks so many kids and early career pros wind up [needing:needful] Tommy John surgery. "Every competitive ... every throw a kid makes today is a competitive pitch, they don't go outside, they don't have fun, they don't throw enough.