Why should you believe me and what I say?

I'd suggest that my ability to predict pitching injuries makes it clear that I know what I'm talking about.

Those predictions start with my predictions about Cardinals prospect Alex Reyes, who concerned me from literally the moment I saw him.

Alex Reyes makes me nervous. Elbow and also shoulder. pic.twitter.com/J1i0iMckOb

— Chris O'Leary | Critical Thinking (@thepainguy) March 31, 2014

If you don't believe I said what I did, when, then click through to the original Tweet, which is both time stamped and not editable.

Credentials

Alex Reyes isn't the only pitcher whose problems I correctly predicted.

Strasburg

On July 27th, 2021, it was announced...

• Strasburg faces season-ending surgery

...that Stephen Strasburg would need surgery for Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (N-TOS), a possibility I had tweeted about just two days prior.

The longer Strasburg's problems go on, and the weirder they get, the more I suspect Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) or some other TICaNS sub-syndrome.https://t.co/O3TNhk0Cv2

It has to be something transient.

And nerve-related.

Which is TICaNS, and TOS, or something similar. https://t.co/IUf8F8ZH2t

— Chris O'Leary | Critical Thinking (@thepainguy) July 25, 2021

I had long suspected the Stephen Strasburg had been misdiagnosed, and said so over and over again.

What I find frustrating is that Strasburg moved quite well in 2019.

He was both healthy and effective.

I suspect he and/or the Nats got greedy and tried to make him even better in 2020 and broke him.

And, obviously, carpal tunnel wasn't the true problem.

I suspect TOS. pic.twitter.com/WeRrZ7Lx6d

— Chris O'Leary | Critical Thinking (@thepainguy) June 2, 2021

Given that Strasburg seems to be dealing with the same issue he was in 2020, which was misdiagnosed as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, I assume he's going to continue to struggle.

I assume issue is Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) or a similar TICaNS type problem.https://t.co/O3TNhkidmA https://t.co/wBvLBkC0zO pic.twitter.com/X337A9CxCW

— Chris O'Leary | Critical Thinking (@thepainguy) April 19, 2021

Strasburg's issue last year was more likely a SHOULDER problem, with his wrist or finger issues being the result of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) or a similar TICaNS sub-syndrome.https://t.co/O3TNhk0Cv2

First it gets the elbow, then it gets the shoulder. https://t.co/FlunFIUiTc

— Chris O'Leary | Critical Thinking (@thepainguy) April 14, 2021

As I've said for a year, Stephen Strasburg's issues do NOT look like they have been fixed.

His doctors addressed a SYMPTOM, and not a ROOT CAUSE.

I assume Strasburg's root cause is TICaNS, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) or something related.https://t.co/O3TNhk0Cv2 pic.twitter.com/cwYUhBFseG

— Chris O'Leary | Critical Thinking (@thepainguy) April 14, 2021

"The numbness started in his right thumb, in early July just after the Nationals gathered in DC to begin an abbreviated summer training camp. As he continued to build himself up for the shortened 2020 regular season, the numbness began to spread to his hand."

TOS for Strasburg? https://t.co/D3rKc6aNqw

— Chris O'Leary | Critical Thinking (@thepainguy) February 21, 2021

The typical pattern for pitchers with problematic mechanics is...

Elbow > Shoulder

So my concern with Strasburg is a nerve issue up in his shoulder.

TOS or some other related problem, which I lump under a meta-syndrome I call PICaNS.https://t.co/O3TNhk0Cv2 https://t.co/bW5AegP3oI

— Chris O'Leary | Critical Thinking (@thepainguy) February 16, 2021

What's frustrating about Strasburg is he was having problems in 2018, but managed to at least work around them, and had a ridiculously good 2019. But then he reverted to his old form, perhaps in a quest for even more velocity and dominance?

My question and concern is whether Strasburg's nerve problems are the root cause or just a symptom.

Whenever I hear nerves, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) or another related Pitching-Induced Coagulation and Neuropathy (PICANS) sub-syndrome comes to mind.https://t.co/ni1KWXGmdF https://t.co/UrIdolUpA5

— Chris O'Leary | Critical Thinking (@thepainguy) July 26, 2018

Strasburg having Scalene problems is interesting -- and scary -- because the Scalenes move the first rib and the first rib is involved in Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS).https://t.co/ni1KWXGmdF https://t.co/tNq0oxujVV

— Chris O'Leary | Critical Thinking (@thepainguy) July 28, 2018