Earlier in the week I got an Email Update from Rick Wilton, who drives the imformative Baseball Inury Report. In that missive, Rick noted the following:
"Major League Baseball is on pace to set a another record for the number of players who spend time on the disabled list.
The previous record was set last year with 404 players. As of April 30, there are 180 players who have spent time on the disabled list this season. That is 6.6% increase over the same time last season. From 2002-2006, an average of 141 players landed on the DL from spring training through April 30 each year. This year’s pace is 21.7% greater than the average during that period. This alarming statistic could increase even further in the coming days with retroactive disabled list moves.
Three teams, the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers and Atlanta Braves lead the Majors in injured players, having each already placed 11 players on the disabled list as of April 30.
Last year’s record 404 players was a 12.2 % increase over the five-year average between 2002-2006. The current pace is for 416 players to spend time on the disabled list in 2008.
2008 Injury Facts
- Pitchers account for 66.7% of the players placed on the disabled list so far.
- 22.7 % of the injuries are elbow related (10.7% Tommy John surgery)
- 22.7% are shoulder related (3.4 % are labrum related)
- Pitchers account for 91.3% of elbow and shoulder injuries
Tom Glavine and Jorge Posada are on the disabled list for the first time in their Major League careers.
(DL numbers updated through May 2)"
I thought so as I don't have a team that has not been smacked around by the injury bug.
But, what I have found interesting is how three of my four fantasy teams have been creamed by these injuries and are barely alive at the bottom of the pack, while my Tout Wars team is in the thick of the hunt.
But, as I write here is a breakdown of teams, injuries, and position:
- AL Tout Wars 2nd Place, Six DL (Fernando Rodney, Jake Westbrook, Mike Morse, Brendan Moss, Eric Chavez, and Jason Jennings)
- CBS AL 11th Place 4 DL (Dustin Mosely, Kelvim Escobar, Marlon Byrd, and Westbrook)
- XFL, 12th Place, Six DL (Norris Hopper, Dave Roberts, Alex Rodriguez, Scott Baker, Kevin Correia, and Chavez)
- STATS H2H, 16-18, 7th Place One DL (Westbrook and the contributions of Justin Verlander, Ian Snell, and Oliver Perez)
Ok, so in a mixed league where I have a 17-man reserve (XFL) I have six down guys and I am hovering at the bottom of the pack, but in Tout, where I also have six down in a deep league, I am hovering near the top.
More interesting, the core players of my two AL teams--Tout and CBS--are the same in Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Pena.
So, what is the difference?
Pitching.
Last year in the XFL I had a great, young, cheap pitching staff anchored by Perez, Joe Blanton, and Tom Gorzalaney. And that trio is struggling in one fashion or another. What makes it odder is one of my closers of last year, Ryan Dempster, who helped with my good cheap totals, is now strating pretty effectively, ostenibly replacing one of the duds (like Barry Zito sitting on my reserve list).
So, what is my point? I guess it is that if you get enough everyday position players, your offense will keep you in contention.
My AL Tout team, with pitchers like Dustin McGowan, James Shields, and Joe Saunders, are keeping it going.
For, last year, in Tout, I had the most pitching points (thanks to Josh Beckett and the same Justin Verlander). But, in that league, those same injuries nailed my offense. Among those injuries, to Milton Bradley, Eric Chavez, and nicks to the rest of my squad, I was about 520 at-bats behind the totals of the leaders. And, basically 20 homers, and around 75 each of runs and RBI behind those same guys, and that was enough to push me to the bottom of the offensive stats side.
So, it is pitching that saves us. It saves us from bat hitting. And, it savves us from those scary injuries Rick Wilton mentions are spreading. And, it shows that baseball on the field is just like baseball in our heads.
You cannot win without pitching.