Church Plays Despite Still Feeling Concussed

In case you missed it, here is what happened to Mets outfielder Ryan Church last Tuesday:

The result of that knee-ground combo to Church’s head was a mild concussion, his second in the last two months. Church is still feeling symptoms over a week later, and despite continued grogginess, dizziness, fatigue and headaches, he has pinch hit four times since the incident. He may even be cleared to start for the team tonight. All of this is not at all cool with the medical peoples. Doctors, take it away:

Several experts in sports-related concussions, however, said that Church ... should not have been allowed to play at all because his symptoms had not cleared.

...

“That’s a situation that could be very dangerous,” said Dr. Mickey Collins, assistant director of the University of Pittsburgh Center for Sports Medicine’s concussion program.

...

Dr. Robert Cantu of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, one of the nation’s leading experts in concussion management, said: “You’re playing roulette with your patient.”

Psshhh. Enough with these pesky “experts” and their stupid “medical opinions.” Let’s go to Willie Randolph, who had this to say from his hot seat:

“It’s [Church’s] call. He’s been feeling a little bit groggy, and most of what he feels is that uneasiness with his total, you know, mind. It’s kind of weird because he feels like he’s kind of foggy. He says he can hit, he can do that. But in the outfield, he’s unstable out there. When you’re talking about head injuries, I’m pretty lame on that. I don’t even know how to respond to, you know, when we can put him out there.”

Yeah, his whole, you know, mind, and his, you know, health, and, you know, entire future, is, you know, at risk by playing while still symptomatic. Just ask, you know, Corey Koskie.

Koskie was concussed during a game in July '06 and tried to come back too soon, while he was still experiencing the same symptoms Church currently is. The result: His symptoms worsened to the point where he was forced into retirement.

But hey, at least the entire Mets team took “baseline neuropsychological tests in spring training” so that in case of a head injury during the season, they could compare those brain baselines to post-traumatic baselines. Oh, what’s that GM Omar Minaya?:

Church did not take a test, Minaya said, because of time restrictions. “My understanding is that it’s a long test,” he said. “If I’m not mistaken, it’s about a half-hour or more.”

Good point, Mr. Minaya. Who has 30 minutes to spare when we’re only talking about your brain’s ability to function properly for the reminder of your life?

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.