Tommy Hanson Has Small Rotator-Cuff Tear

Braves pitcher Hanson has small rotator-cuff tear, kind that often doesn’t require surgery. They hope he’s back in “few weeks,” Wren said.I’m not a doctor, so I don’t know a think about injuries, but when I read “small rotator-cuff tear,” I think about the old line about being “slightly pregnant.” Still, the Braves will surely favor Hanson’s long-term future over their short-term playoff run, so it’s doubtful they’d taken any unnecessary risks with him. If they think he can be back in a few weeks, that’s probably a sign that he might pitch again this season.

Still, rotator cuffs are weird, finicky things. A tear -- even the small kind that doesn’t always require surgery -- is a little scary.

When Hanson was placed on the DL, it was done with the understanding that he doesn’t have any significant damage in his shoulder. That’s the good news. The bad news is that he’s still feeling discomfort, and will take longer to return than expected. That the Braves hold a massive lead for the NL Wild Card makes this a minimal concern in the short term, but boy could they ever use an effective Hanson in time for the playoffs.