Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Imagine if every so often, say every other day, when you put weight on your foot the arch hurt badly. It would seem to be a very nagging thing that would bother most anyone on a daily basis. I think it would bother someone with a desk job. Albert Pujols of the Los Angeles Angels is well documented as having Plantar Fasciitis and he says he is used to it and it’s no big deal. That may be true but as he continues to struggle this year, Pujols sat once again the other day to rest his sore foot. Maybe it’s just me but I’m thinking that foot is having more of an effect on Pujols than ever before.
It seems to be a much bigger problem this year because I cannot recall hearing about it that much in years past. I began to wonder why it would flare up so badly this season. This is a guy that has played with the problem for a long time and repeatedly said it wasn’t a big problem for him. Yet, Pujols who admittedly would much prefer to play first base if he can has been the designated hitter a great deal this season because of the left foot pain.
Then it hit me. What changed this off-season and the end of last season? Pujols had knee surgery. Not just any knee surgery but right knee surgery. If the right knee is being rehabbed, which leg is likely to take the majority of the weight for months at a time? The left leg is. And what is at the bottom of the left leg? You guessed it, the left foot which is the foot affected by Plantar Fasciitis for Pujols.
It makes sense that he is having more problems from his left foot because it has had to carry more of his weight because of the rehab time on the right knee. I am not exactly sure how it works but maybe the Angels should consider a short disabled list stay to let the foot get comfortable again. If Pujols keeps the pain on the foot, it might stay worse for the rest of his career. No one wants that. Give the foot time to rest. If one game is supposed to help then a 15-day DL would do wonders. I think it’s worth a thought or two.
David Miller is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @davidmillerrant, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.
