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When Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Schwarber suffered major damage to two of the four primary ligaments of his left knee this spring, his season was officially declared over.And yet, there was Schwarber in Games 1 and 2 of the World Series, back in uniform as a designated hitter, even notching two RBIs in Game 2.The Cubs organization had been pleasantly surprised when Dr. Daniel Cooper, the orthopedic surgeon who reconstructed Schwarbers ACL and repaired his LCL, gave clearance for Schwarber to participate in the Fall Classic as a DH. After all, multiligament knee reconstructions are complex; depending on the extent and location of the damage, the typical window for returning to play post-surgery starts at nine months. But, when Schwarber had his six-month checkup with Cooper, the surgeon was impressed by the stability of the knee and Schwarbers strength. Cooper gave the go-ahead for the outfielder to begin hitting and running the bases. Schwarber proved he could do both, and suddenly found himself in the lineup.After he exceeded expectations by not only returning for the start of the World Series but also by delivering at the plate, perhaps Cubs fans assumed it was only natural Schwarber would be cleared days later to play in the outfield.He was not.Team president Theo Epstein announced Thursday that Schwarber did not receive medical clearance to resume playing in the field. Just days after the social media world responded with admiration for Schwarbers work ethic and determination, there were some who expressed disappointment in the decision to keep Schwarber relegated to a potential pinch-hitting role as the series resumes at Wrigley Field.What could possibly keep someone out of the lineup when the World Series is at stake?Well, theres a reason medical decisions are left to the medical personnel familiar with the athlete and his injury. No one knows better than Cooper the detail of what was involved in reconstructing Schwarbers knee. And, since Cooper is considered one of the leading experts in multiligament knee reconstruction, his recommendations are probably worth following.For those looking for the rationale behind the decision to hold Schwarber out of playing the outfield, here are some things to consider:1. ACL grafts continue to strengthen over the first year. At six months, the ACL has not yet achieved its maximum strength.2. The ACL helps control deceleration and rotation at the knee; movements that combine the two are the most demanding on the ligament and therefore the riskiest (for example: planting and cutting laterally or jumping and landing while twisting).3. The addition of uncontrolled variables increases the level of difficulty for the athlete, thus increasing injury risk. Uneven terrain (from the outfield grass to the warning track), change-of-pace running (speeding up or slowing down while tracking a ball) and obstacles (the outfield wall or other outfielders, which is how Schwarber was originally injured) are all examples of uncontrolled variables in a game setting.4. Recent research shows that reinjury rates following ACL reconstruction decrease significantly when a return to full sports occurs at a minimum of nine months after surgery.5. A second injury would not only potentially cause Schwarber to miss another full season, but there is no guarantee his recovery would match what he has already accomplished. In other words, it could be career-threatening.Schwarber incurred some risk simply by returning to hit, run the bases and slide, but that risk was far less than what he would face playing the outfield. An athlete can practice hitting, running and sliding and can repeat the effort in virtually the same manner both when practicing and playing. There is no way to simulate every scenario an athlete would encounter in the outfield. Additional months of training -- and recovery -- are warranted before returning to the most complex activities.Decisions about returning to play following an injury are always informed by medical evidence, along with considerations of risk versus reward. Clearing Schwarber to do as much as he has already done did not come without these discussions. It is perfectly reasonable for him to have been cleared for hitting and not cleared for fielding.Schwarber is a competitive athlete. Of course he would love to be playing at full capacity in the ultimate competition. But he appears to have accepted his role and is, as he said, going to embrace it.If Schwarber and the Cubs can live with the decision, maybe everyone else should, too. Ronnie Lott Youth Jersey . -- Cam Newton pranced into the end zone, placed his hands over his chest and did his familiar Superman pose. Otis Sistrunk Womens Jersey . Pert has formerly spent time as an assistant coach with Cardiff City, Coventry City, and Bahrain mens national team. "Martyn is a highly-respected coach with experience at the top levels in England," said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson. https://www.raiderssportsgoods.com/Womens-Bo-Jackson-Inverted-Jersey/ . Shot outdoors against the stunning backdrop of Banff, Alta., the networks 30-minute original production airs tonight at 8pm et/5pm pt on TSN2. The four All-Star teams will play for $100,000 in prize money during TSNs annual skins game, airing live this weekend on TSN from The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre. Derek Carr Youth Jersey . LUCIE, Fla. Clelin Ferrell Youth Jersey . 10 VCU 85-67 on Thursday night at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. The Seminoles (4-0) have scored at least 80 points in each of their games.Each week, The Reporters put their thumbs out to the good and the bad in the world of sports. This week they discuss new Raptors GM Masai Ujiri, former St. Louis Blues forward Andy McDonald, Dodgers rookie Yasiel Puig, and 2013 French Open champion Serena Williams. Dave Naylor, TSN: My thumb is up to new Toronto Raptors GM Masai Ujiri, who took on what may be one the toughest jobs in professional sports this week. But long shots are not something he is afraid of, because he knows this well, he was one himself. One of the things about sports we love is seeing people come from off the radar, late bloomers. We see it in the athletes and occasionally we see it in executives. That is Ujiris story, parlaying a modest college and pro career in Europe into a volunteer scout role with the Orlando Magic, and then climbing the ladder with the Denver Nuggets. The headline in Toronto this week was that the Raptors lured the NBA Executive of the Year; the more significant story is how he got there. Steve Simmons, Sun Media: My thumb is up to Andy McDonald, formerly now of the St. Louis Blues, who announced his retirement from hockey this week even though he could still play in the NHL. McDonald has had five concussions in recent years and over the past threee years, for every four games hes played, he has missed three.dddddddddddd He wasnt feeling right playing in the NHL, he wasnt feeling right playing hockey and he made the hard decision to walk away now healthy rather than the alternative. Michael Farber, Sports Illustrated: My thumb is up to the extraterrestrial playing right field for the Dodgers, rookie Yasiel Puig. An amazing start to a big league career, these are some of the numbers - six games, 10 for 23, four home runs including a grand slam, two outfield assists, hes slugging 1.000, and his OPS is 1.458. If we project this over 162 games, he would have 138 home runs, 324 RBIs and 680 total bases. Thats quite a pace. Dave Hodge, TSN: My thumb has been down to Serena Williams, and Im not sure it has ever been up, but now is the time. Her French Open win yesterday was her 16th major title and it came 11 years after her first one. She can stake her claim as the greatest woman on a tennis court and there is no end in sight to her ways of making a stronger case. She has lost only three times since the 2012 French Open, and has won her last 31 matches - 31 to match her age. We say "remarkable athlete" too often. In the case of Serena Williams, we dont say it enough. ' ' '