Padres' Donovan Tate breaks jaw in ATV crash

by jbox on Dec 3, 2009 9:14 AM PST

Not Donovan Tate, but this is probably what happened.

Bill Center has the breaking news. See what I did there?

...suffered facial lacerations and a broken jaw that required surgery last weekend in an ATV accident near his Georgia home.

Following the ATV accident, Tate’s jaw was reportedly fitted with a plate and wired shut. The Padres believe he will be ready by spring training.

Little known fact: this is also how Crash Davis got his nickname.

[Note by jbox, 12/03/09 2:17 PM PST ]

Keith Law like Gaslamp Baller strummer is pessimistic about Tate being ready for Spring Training:

“Donavan Tate’s freak injury may still impact his 2010 season even if he’s ready for spring training physically, since he’s probably going to end up losing weight and will almost certainly miss significant workout and practice time. Tate is a great athlete whose baseball skills and instincts need work, meaning that he needs reps more than a typical high-draft high school bat. I wouldn’t be shocked to see him stay in extended spring training in April to get his strength back and get reps in a lower-pressure environment than a full-season league of 19-22-year-olds.”

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Bill center?

Is that where ducks go shopping?

On topic: This is good for two reasons; a) He doesn’t need his jaw to play baseball, b) he won’t develop Heath Bell syndrome.

Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you? ◔ヮ◔
Uncommon Sportsman :: Absurdity in play

by Axion on Dec 3, 2009 9:26 AM PST reply actions

Fine

I’ll change it to Bill Center

by jbox on Dec 3, 2009 9:45 AM PST up reply actions

Is that like the opposite of MoneyTree?

Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you? ◔ヮ◔
Uncommon Sportsman :: Absurdity in play

by Axion on Dec 3, 2009 9:55 AM PST up reply actions 2 recs

that's funny

by 'Eaters on Dec 3, 2009 1:45 PM PST up reply actions

He won't be ready for Spring

If his jaw is wired shut, he will be eating through a straw for the duration.
ST is only 3 months away. He will lose all kinds of weight during this.

by strummer on Dec 3, 2009 9:32 AM PST reply actions

Keith Law agrees with you

"Donavan Tate’s freak injury may still impact his 2010 season even if he’s ready for spring training physically, since he’s probably going to end up losing weight and will almost certainly miss significant workout and practice time. Tate is a great athlete whose baseball skills and instincts need work, meaning that he needs reps more than a typical high-draft high school bat. I wouldn’t be shocked to see him stay in extended spring training in April to get his strength back and get reps in a lower-pressure environment than a full-season league of 19-22-year-olds."

by jbox on Dec 3, 2009 2:11 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

I saw it firsthand

When I was a kid, our neighbor got in a motorcycle accident.
Mouth was wired shut.

by strummer on Dec 3, 2009 5:01 PM PST up reply actions

Did his girlfriend find out he was cheating on her?

Mountain West Connection ::Above the Rest::
Bolts From The Blue "There’s a gleam men. Let’s go get the gleam! Focus and Finish!!! One play at a time!!! Let's Go!!!"
Representing the San Diego State University Aztecs, home of the 2009 College Cheerleading National Champions in the all women's division.

by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Dec 3, 2009 9:38 AM PST reply actions

i don't think his pelvic bone was broken

He had a sports hernia which is when the muscle detaches from the pelvic bone.

Wisdom can not be cultivated through ignorance of information.

by Wonko on Dec 3, 2009 1:43 PM PST via mobile up reply actions 2 recs

still.... ouch

by Kozak on Dec 4, 2009 2:24 AM PST up reply actions

Remember Ron Gant?

by Drama on Dec 3, 2009 10:03 AM PST reply actions 1 recs

Good point!

Lost his contract because he got hurt riding a dirt bike.

by strummer on Dec 3, 2009 10:09 AM PST up reply actions

Exactly.

Feb 3, 1994 – Atlanta OF Ron Gant breaks his right leg in a motorbike accident a week after signing the largest single-season contract in history.

March 18, 1944 – The Atlanta Braves announced that they would pay star outfielder Ron Gant $901,639.20, or 30 days’ termination pay, rather than not pay him his $5.5 million contract.

When the Braves released the injured slugger last month, team President Stan Kasten, said the owners’ Players Relations Committee advised the team not to pay at all.

Obviously, I’m not saying I want the Padres to drop Tate – but I hope they were smart enough to have some kind of clause in his contract forbidding him from doing stupid shit like this.

Dude can jump off the side of buildings using a Ziploc bag for a parachute for all I care – but do it AFTER you’re retired.

by Drama on Dec 3, 2009 10:18 AM PST up reply actions

Ron Gant played in 1944?

I must be thinking of another guy.

Thank you for waving at me.

by Winfield's Ghost on Dec 3, 2009 10:19 AM PST up reply actions 2 recs

You are killing me today.

by Drama on Dec 3, 2009 10:34 AM PST up reply actions

No wonder

he fell off his bike 50 yrs later, poor ol codger probably couldn’t hold it up!

"If and when Gaslampball ‘proclaims’ from the mountaintop, we follow blindly. That’s just how it works around here."

by ABY on Dec 6, 2009 7:14 AM PST up reply actions

poor ol codger probably couldn’t hold it up!

TWSS

"I'm a Padre at heart. Always gonna root for the Padres. Twenty-five years [with this organization], how can't you? Next year I'm gonna be rooting like a son-of-a-gun for these guys and for Blackie ... I'm gonna be rooting for the next general manager here, rooting for the city, the fans, everybody. I think a lot of San Diego." -Kevin Towers

by jodes0405 on Dec 7, 2009 1:32 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

Also, I don't think it was the largest single season contract in history

Maybe the largest Braves contract

by strummer on Dec 3, 2009 10:26 AM PST up reply actions

Actually, that was ONE thing I got right.

From the NY Times:

The case is unique for two reasons. Never before has a player with such a high single-season salary been released. That’s because Gant’s salary is the highest ever given a player in a one-year contract. And never before has a player with such a big salary been released after suffering a nonbaseball injury.

by Drama on Dec 3, 2009 10:37 AM PST up reply actions

I stand corrected

I never would have guessed that Gant once had the highest single season contract.
He was a good player, but it still surprises me.

by strummer on Dec 3, 2009 10:50 AM PST up reply actions

of COURSE he had it in his contract

There’s no way he signed a contract that didn’t specifically forbid all kinds of outside activity. I’ve seen contracts that my brother-in-law has signed and he technically wouldn’t be allowed to play flag football if there were more than 3 people on the field.

by Dex on Dec 3, 2009 4:15 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

They always forget to rule out the Uncommon ones.

Tripod Flag Football is the bestest!

Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you? ◔ヮ◔
Uncommon Sportsman :: Absurdity in play

by Axion on Dec 3, 2009 4:39 PM PST up reply actions

No threesomes?

Bummer!

by strummer on Dec 3, 2009 5:04 PM PST up reply actions

IF it is in there...which I agree with you, it HAS to be in there...

…what’s the punishment? I mean there has to be some retribution. This is way worse than what Khalil did.

by Drama on Dec 4, 2009 9:56 AM PST up reply actions

Khalil's thing pissed me off way more

does that make it worse? I dunno.

by jbox on Dec 5, 2009 9:43 PM PST up reply actions

The reason this pisses me off more...

…is because Khalil did something in the heat of the moment. Donovan made a conscious decision to go ride an ATV when the ink is still drying on a contract that specifically states this kind of activity (presumably) is strictly forbidden.

The Khalil thing pissed you off more because you couldn’t stand him at that point. Right?

by Drama on Dec 6, 2009 6:17 PM PST up reply actions

Well Khalil

directly affected the Padres in mid season. Tate’s injury was at least in the off season and he’s got plenty of time to heal before he hits the majors. That’s why I’m not too concerned about it now. Plus he didn’t break an arm or a leg that could cause him problems in the future.

by jbox on Dec 6, 2009 9:56 PM PST up reply actions

this is totally worse

On the one hand you have a guy pissed that he’s not contributing the way he wants. And on the other hand you have a bonus baby going, “eff my first major league contract. I’m going to the desert.” Which is like the double douche move of being a desert person and a contract flaker at the same time.

by Dex on Dec 7, 2009 12:01 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs