The Northwest Indiana Times, John Ely's hometown-ish newspaper, talked to John Ely. And John Ely told the Northwest Indiana Times that Dr. James Andrews said that John Ely probably tore his UCL when he was a teenager.
Ely:
Something in there was allowing me to pitch for how many years. It finally blew up in my face. (Andrews) wasn't convinced I needed (Tommy John) going in, but when he went in, he found the ligament was completely torn.
So, I suppose, you can't chalk it up to the Astros not doing their homework on Ely. Neither had the Dodgers.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
