Dallas Braden Is Both Numb And Sensational

Through much of the 2009 season, A’s starting pitcher Dallas Braden dealt with an infection on his left foot and ankle caused by his toe guard. The infection only continued to worsen, and before long it advanced to the point at which it inflamed a nerve. Complicating matters even further, a biopsy of the area accidentally severed the nerve, and Braden was left with severely reduced feeling in his foot. Severely reduced feeling that won’t come back.

↵↵Braden has yet to regain feeling in the foot and, according to a neurologist, probably never will[...] “I knew in my heart of hearts that I probably wouldn’t ever have feeling in [the foot] again,” Braden said recently.

↵↵Sure seems like a pitcher could stand to have feeling in as many places as possible, but Braden’s got nothing in two toes and the left side of his left foot. Determined not to give in to his handicap, however, Braden kept working, earning the second slot in Oakland’s 2010 rotation. And Tuesday night, in his first start since going on the DL last August, Braden struck out a career-high ten Mariners in seven innings, besting his previous career-high strikeout mark by three.

↵No feeling in his push off? No problem. Given Braden’s performance, one can’t help but wonder what he might accomplish should he lose feeling in his leg. For the partially disabled, it seems, the sky is the limit.