When he takes the field for Boston College this fall, linebacker Mark Herzlich will undoubtedly need a few weeks to shake off the rust. But he has an unexpected ally in his attempt to come back from cancer: precedent. A look at the historical record reveals that a cancer survivor like Herzlich or a severely injured star like Angels first baseman Kendry Morales, who fractured his left leg in May, has a better shot of returning in full force than someone coming back from retirement or a long suspension.
To read more about athletes who have come back from off-field issues, you must be an ESPN Insider.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
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Peter Keating
Keating's blog covers the world of statistics and analytics. He will examine concepts for evaluating athletes and teams across all sports, not just those commonly associated with sabermetrics. He'll introduce researchers who are developing sports analytical tools. And he will present and examine "Next Level" findings from ESPN -- data analysis that goes beyond official statistics to explain strategies and performance.
Keating is a senior writer at ESPN the Magazine, where he has covered investigative and financial stories since 1999. He coordinates The Mag's annual "Ultimate Standings" project, which ranks all pro franchises according to how much they give back to fans. His work on concussions in football has earned awards from the Deadline Club, the New York Press Club and the Center for the Study of Sport in Society.
As an athlete, Keating has always combined the speed of Lou Piniella with the glovework of Darryl Strawberry, two childhood favorites. He lives in Montclair, N.J., with his wife, Karen, and their daughters, Eleanor and Samantha.
E-mail Peter: pkeating.nj@verizon.net or follow him on Twitter: @PKStatsBlog.