Per MLB rules, players with concussion-like symptoms are now forced to undergo tests to determine the severity of a head injury. When Sweeney sprawled for a diving catch in Philadelphia last Saturday, he suffered trauma to his head.
In the hours after the memorable catch, Sweeney was forced to take an assortment of concussion examinations. Little did Sweeney know, he would fail and be placed on the MLB's new seven-day disabled list.
"They're pretty tough," the outfielder said of the tests. "One's like a written one, which somebody reads to you. It's basically just like memorization, reaction times, there's a computer test that's reaction times, remembering words, shapes, colors, it's the whole nine yards. It's a good test. You take a baseline to see what you can do after you have a concussion and before you have a concussion."
One of the exams, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said, involves reciting the months of the year backwards. But to prevent players from memorizing answers and cheating the system, the league constantly alters the tests.
"Major League Baseball is really trying to take a lead on how to evaluate and protect any head injuries," Valentine said. "They allowed a new disabled list which last seven days for those who have experienced concussion situations."
But Sweeney insists the ramification of the dive was a "freak thing." The outfielder said he's made over hundreds of diving grabs in his career, but the impact –– unlike the other occasions –– took a toll on his brain in Philadelphia.
Despite missing seven days of action, Sweeney is appreciative of the steps the league is taking to address head injuries. In the long run, he believes the new regulations will continue to benefit his counterparts.
"I think they're learning a lot, coming out with a lot of different stuff now, different guys that have had concussions," Sweeney said. "Concussions are weird things because you really don't know what's going on. It kind of goes on how you feel, how you do on the tests, how you do on certain things. It's a tough one to deal with. It's not like a normal injury that most people have."
To make room for Sweeney, the Red Sox sent Che-Hsuan Lin back to Pawtucket.
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