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Sweeny: Joba Chamberlain Faces Tough Road To Recovery After Dislocating Ankle

By Sweeny Murti
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Did Joba Chamberlain ruin his baseball career by playing on a trampoline with his son? It may be too early to answer that question, but it's certainly a possibility.

Listen: Sweeny joins Joe and Evan to discuss the injury

Dr. John Kennedy, a foot and ankle specialist and an orthopedic surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery, told me Friday morning that an ankle dislocation in any sport could be considered career threatening depending on the severity. And that's what we are waiting to find out now.

Dr. Kennedy said that after determining any ligament and cartilage damage that needs to be repaired or reconstructed, the single most important factor is the blood supply to the ankle, which to that part of the body is not good to begin with. And it may take several months to determine how that has been affected.

Dr. Kennedy stated quite plainly and obviously that Joba faces "a very tough road, but (pitching again) is certainly possible."

The Joba Rules never said anything about trampolines, did they? My immediate reaction was like most people: What the hell was he doing on a trampoline?But I need more details. Maybe it wasn't the smartest thing to do, but where do we draw the line on what he can and can't do when he plays with his five-year-old son?

If Joba was playing High Wire Trapeze Artist and fell from 30 feet in the air, that's one thing. But if he was bouncing around a little kid's play area, well, haven't we all done that? I know it's no excuse, but things happen. You can't keep these guys in a bubble. It's like telling Aaron Boone not to go play basketball. It's not like he jumped out of a plane without a parachute. Stuff happens.

Joba Chamberlain may regret some of his actions someday. But knowing him the way I do, I'm just guessing that spending time playing with his son will not be something he regrets, no matter what it may have done to his baseball career.

Sweeny Murti
yankees@wfan.com

www.twitter.com/YankeesWFAN

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