Blair Lucky Injury Wasn’t Worse

DETROIT — Detroit Tiger pitcher Willie Blair left Cleveland on Monday, less than 24 hours after his jaw was broken by a line drive off the bat of Julio Franco.

Blair was released from Lutheran Hospital about noon and was re-examined at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

“Right now, the preliminary prognosis is that recovery could take six to eight weeks,” a Tiger spokesman said.

Given how hard Blair got hit, a one-night stay in the hospital seemed lucky. Dr. James Christian of Henry Ford Hospital recommended a conservative plan of treatment that does not include surgery or wiring the jaw shut.

Franco’s line drive struck Blair in the side of the head with a crunch that was audible in center field. The ball was clocked at 107 mph. The pitcher flopped to the ground and lay motionless for more than five minutes.