A Series of Unfortunate Events
I found it only fitting to reference the popular young adult book series by Lemony Snicket, and subsequent feature film and Netflix series in today's post title. Mainly, because the Houston Astros are hitting some serious skids right now. They have dropped the first 2 games of a 3 game set against the Chicago White Sox, the team with the worst record in the American League. Additionally, they have to head on and face the Texas Rangers starting tomorrow, and salvaging the last game tonight to get some momentum going into Arlington would really help out morale right about now.
To throw salt on the already fresh wound, your people's champion and mine, Evan Gattis, remains on the concussion disabled list, far beyond the required minimum of 7 days. What's worse is skipper A.J. Hinch has not been providing any substantial updates as to his progress from the head injury. I brought all of this up in my latest House of Houston article, which was posted earlier today. You can read it for yourself in the following tweet:
So, as I posed in the article, why is the concussion injury to Evan Gattis nothing more of a blip, saying "he still has symptoms?" Why are we not allowed to know what kind of doctors he is, or isn't seeing, the treatments he may, or may not be getting, and other details as to the progress through the concussion protocol? Are they merely just wanting him to sleep it off? Does the organization think that a head injury just magically goes away on its own?
I, more than anyone else, want El Oso Blanco to be at his absolute best at all times. A head injury does require some time to recover. But given the right treatment, most would usually recover from something like this within a fairly short amount of time. Anything longer suggests a more substantial injury that is not being told to us in the fan base or the media. That should be cause for alarm, and anyone that does not think so is a monster living in denial.
The Houston Astros are already dealing with enough problems with this recent losing record following the All Star Break. The last thing they need to do is keep us in the dark about our impact backup catcher. Like it or not, Astros fans, the team really needs someone like him, and Gattis needs this team just as equally. In the midst of him already having to claw his way into the lineups day in and day out, sustaining an injury like this and having the public at large be kept in the dark is not something I can just sit back and let happen.
As a journalist, I'm tasked with seeking out the truth. Even if it means being more assertive than others would normally be. In this particular situation, I plan to be as assertive as possible, within certain legal and ethical parameters, or course. The public deserves to know the truth. If the team is willing to give it with certain player injury updates, they need to be willing to do the same for Evan Gattis.
There is no telling how long he will be in H-Town. I have, personally, advocated for Jeff Luhnow and company to extend him, and do so soon. But even if he does go to another team as a free agent after next season, let's not go ahead and make it like he doesn't exist to us anymore, or hasn't contributed greatly to the success that this team has had in 2017. An offensive slash line of .278/.330/.490/.820 with 11 home runs, 45 RBI, a .212 ISO, 119 wRC+ and 1.4 WAR in only 241 at-bats this season tends to say otherwise.
The Houston Astros have something incredibly legitimate and valuable in Evan Gattis. Right now, they need to stop squandering and suppressing it. This is for the sake of Gattis himself, the players, coaches, media, organization as a whole, and the fan base. Give the bear his due that he has long since "earned" this season!
To throw salt on the already fresh wound, your people's champion and mine, Evan Gattis, remains on the concussion disabled list, far beyond the required minimum of 7 days. What's worse is skipper A.J. Hinch has not been providing any substantial updates as to his progress from the head injury. I brought all of this up in my latest House of Houston article, which was posted earlier today. You can read it for yourself in the following tweet:
Before you come at me with the torch and pitchforks again, Astros fans, please be sure that you actually read the full article of what I have to say. This isn't some conspiracy theory that I just randomly came up with. These are poignant questions that, I feel, need to be addressed. When someone on a team has an injury, the skipper, GM and others, are pretty quick to inform us as to their progress, as it is their responsibility to do so. This has been especially true lately with the thumb injury to Carlos Correa, and how he has been way ahead of schedule this entire time. The same can also be said for the main pitchers on the DL in Lance McCullers, Will Harris, Michael Feliz and Tony Sipp. We've heard extensively about their rehab throwing programs.What's the latest on Evan Gattis' concussion? @tvwizard85 lends you his thoughts as well as a theory. #Astros ⚾️🔥🤔💯https://t.co/lbY4Ndyk1z— House Of Houston (@HouseOfHouston) August 10, 2017
So, as I posed in the article, why is the concussion injury to Evan Gattis nothing more of a blip, saying "he still has symptoms?" Why are we not allowed to know what kind of doctors he is, or isn't seeing, the treatments he may, or may not be getting, and other details as to the progress through the concussion protocol? Are they merely just wanting him to sleep it off? Does the organization think that a head injury just magically goes away on its own?
I, more than anyone else, want El Oso Blanco to be at his absolute best at all times. A head injury does require some time to recover. But given the right treatment, most would usually recover from something like this within a fairly short amount of time. Anything longer suggests a more substantial injury that is not being told to us in the fan base or the media. That should be cause for alarm, and anyone that does not think so is a monster living in denial.
The Houston Astros are already dealing with enough problems with this recent losing record following the All Star Break. The last thing they need to do is keep us in the dark about our impact backup catcher. Like it or not, Astros fans, the team really needs someone like him, and Gattis needs this team just as equally. In the midst of him already having to claw his way into the lineups day in and day out, sustaining an injury like this and having the public at large be kept in the dark is not something I can just sit back and let happen.
As a journalist, I'm tasked with seeking out the truth. Even if it means being more assertive than others would normally be. In this particular situation, I plan to be as assertive as possible, within certain legal and ethical parameters, or course. The public deserves to know the truth. If the team is willing to give it with certain player injury updates, they need to be willing to do the same for Evan Gattis.
There is no telling how long he will be in H-Town. I have, personally, advocated for Jeff Luhnow and company to extend him, and do so soon. But even if he does go to another team as a free agent after next season, let's not go ahead and make it like he doesn't exist to us anymore, or hasn't contributed greatly to the success that this team has had in 2017. An offensive slash line of .278/.330/.490/.820 with 11 home runs, 45 RBI, a .212 ISO, 119 wRC+ and 1.4 WAR in only 241 at-bats this season tends to say otherwise.
The Houston Astros have something incredibly legitimate and valuable in Evan Gattis. Right now, they need to stop squandering and suppressing it. This is for the sake of Gattis himself, the players, coaches, media, organization as a whole, and the fan base. Give the bear his due that he has long since "earned" this season!
Original Photo Credit: Duane Burleson of Getty Images
We deserve to know what is going on with the bear. Astros organization, don't just keep him caged up in hibernation. Get him better as to get him back out to play!
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