‘Stott Program’ has grabbed interest of baseball community

Steve Guiremand

Monday, April 3, 2000 | 10:43 a.m.

Many a major league baseball pitcher has had his career saved by what is commonly referred to as "Tommy John" elbow surgery.

Perhaps many more will be able to thank the "Stott Rehab" for recovering from rotator cuff injuries.

"Stott Rehab" refers to the remarkable comeback program from a partially torn rotator cuff last season by former UNLV star Todd Stottlemyre of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Stottlemyre stayed home in Phoenix to prepare for a Wednesday night start against the Philadelphia Phillies instead of watching Arizona's 9-5 Big League Weekend loss to Oakland on Sunday at Cashman Field. But the 34-year-old right-hander was still the hot topic of conversation in the Diamondbacks' dugout.

"Tons of people have called to ask us about the "Stott Program,' " said Diamondbacks head trainer Paul Lessard. "I'd say I get at least 10 calls or letters a week about it."

Simply put, the "Stott Program" is a series of exercises used to strengthen the shoulder and relieve the stress placed on the rotator cuff in pitching.

"The theory is that if we can get all the surrounding muscles stronger and get the body stronger so that the strain is off the shoulder, the rotator cuff won't have as much pressure on it," Lessard said.

Stottlemyre made what was considered a bold move to bypass season-ending surgery to repair a rotator cuff that was 70 percent torn last May. Instead, he underwent an intense rehab program designed by Arizona's medical team and surpervised by Lessard and fellow Diamondback trainer Dave Edwards with the idea he could return for the final month of the 1999 season.

Stottlemyre wasn't allowed to pick up a baseball for six weeks and was limited to weightlifting and range of motion exercises. About two months later, he began a throwing program and about a month later he was back pitching competitively in a Rookie League game.

Then on Aug. 20, a little more than three months after suffering his injury, Stottlemyre was back pitching in the big leagues with Arizona. He won two games the final month of the season for the National League West Division champions, then allowed just four hits and one run in 6 2/3 innings in picking up the win in the Diamondbacks' only NL playoff victory, a 7-1 win over the New York Mets.

Now, following a spring training that saw Stottlemyre win three of his four decisions and actually get clocked throwing harder than before his injury, the Diamondbacks have him penciled in as their No. 2 starter this season.

"We hope one day they talk about the 'Stott Rehab' like they do about the Tommy John surgery," Arizona manager Buck Showalter said. "But the thing Todd brought to it that not many people are going to be able to bring to it was his work habits.

"I was there with him in the off-season. Every day he was in the locker room. And as soon as his outing gets through, he's back in there."

* GAME NOTES: Oakland scored eight runs in a sloppy second inning and then held on for a 9-5 victory over Arizona in Sunday afternoon's Big League Weekend finale before an announced crowd of 8,859 at Cashman Field. Arizona's Greg Colbrunn hit the game's only home run. BIG LEAGUE WEEKEND