Injuries

[Tenorman]

Is it just me, or have there been a disproportionate number of players from all teams losing time to injuries this season? I know my Jays have been decimated - especially the starting rotation - but it seems that other teams are also having the same issue.

Has there been a season recently with this many players getting hurt? Is there an overall conditioning problem? Or is this just a statistical anomaly?
Or am I seeing a problem that isn't there and there are no more injuries than in an average season?

[ipitch]

Or am I seeing a problem that isn't there and there are no more injuries than in an average season?

It's not just in your head.

Major league teams have used the disabled list 539 times this year through Aug. 13, including 118 players on the 60-day DL — a 28% increase in serious injuries from last year and 55% since 2010.

It’s the highest total since Major League Baseball began keeping statistical DL data in 2002.

http://tucsoncitizen.com/usa-today-sports/2012/08/17/spate-of-injuries-gives-mlb-pause/

[Tenorman]

It's not just in your head.

So what is up with this trend? Poor conditioning? Plain bad luck? Or are we now seeing a residual effect from the loss of things like HGH that are now banned but may have been used in years past to get players through injuries faster?

[dominik]

maybe it is because there are more fireballers? 15 years ago there were pitchers who threw 100 but it was something really special. now every garden variety reliever seems to throw 97. there are less soft tossers.

and harder throwing means bigger force on the ligaments and joints. muscles can get stronger but ligaments not.

[ipitch]

maybe it is because there are more fireballers? 15 years ago there were pitchers who threw 100 but it was something really special. now every garden variety reliever seems to throw 97. there are less soft tossers.

You're right about that.

PITCHERS WITH AVG. FASTBALL VELOCITY OF 95+
2007: 11
2008: 16
2009: 24
2010: 29
2011: 35
2012: ??

[Tenorman]

maybe it is because there are more fireballers? 15 years ago there were pitchers who threw 100 but it was something really special. now every garden variety reliever seems to throw 97. there are less soft tossers.

and harder throwing means bigger force on the ligaments and joints. muscles can get stronger but ligaments not.

How does that explain the injuries to position players? (other than those hit by the fireballers, I suppose)

[Rich the Giants fan]

You're right about that.

PITCHERS WITH AVG. FASTBALL VELOCITY OF 95+
2007: 11
2008: 16
2009: 24
2010: 29
2011: 35
2012: ??

And they said the steroid era was over...

[abolishthedh]

Sometime in June or so, a columnist with the St. Louis Post Dispatch mentioned that, in his view, ballplayers may be opting for the DL as a precaution. He suggested that teams should discourage any promises made to players over getting their positions back upon return. He only briefly mentioned Wally Pipp, as I recall.

Anyone who remembers this columnist's name and his column? It didn't seem like a keeper, but I should have kept a copy stashed away.

[Tenorman]

And they said the steroid era was over...

Actually, I believe what we are seeing here is a paradigm shift in pitching which is the end result of a few years of pitcher compensation, or perhaps over-compensation BECAUSE of the steroid era.

When they were pitching to the 'roided up monsters, hurlers had to up their game, so to speak, and pitching coaches at all levels started emphasizing power and speed. The upshot is that we have more fireballers these days than ever before, as evidenced by ipitch's chart. Which also explains the pitcher injuries, I suppose.

Now that (most of) the juicers are gone, the balance has flipped the other way and batters are, for the most part, overmatched, leading to an overall decrease in offense. I think this also helps explain the recent rash of no-nos and perfectos... faster pitchers, "normal" hitters, and a greater emphasis on defense and defensive shifts. Also, the strikeout doesn't carry the stigma that it used to.

Now we just need to figure out what's ultimately behind the massive increase in injured position players.

[Rich the Giants fan]

Actually, I believe what we are seeing here is a paradigm shift in pitching which is the end result of a few years of pitcher compensation, or perhaps over-compensation BECAUSE of the steroid era.

When they were pitching to the 'roided up monsters, hurlers had to up their game, so to speak, and pitching coaches at all levels started emphasizing power and speed. The upshot is that we have more fireballers these days than ever before, as evidenced by ipitch's chart. Which also explains the pitcher injuries, I suppose.

Now that (most of) the juicers are gone, the balance has flipped the other way and batters are, for the most part, overmatched, leading to an overall decrease in offense. I think this also helps explain the recent rash of no-nos and perfectos... faster pitchers, "normal" hitters, and a greater emphasis on defense and defensive shifts. Also, the strikeout doesn't carry the stigma that it used to.

Now we just need to figure out what's ultimately behind the massive increase in injured position players.

May I remind you that more pitchers have been suspended for PED use, than hitters? I believe it likely that they simply "upped their game" using roids.

[Tenorman]

May I remind you that more pitchers have been suspended for PED use, than hitters? I believe it likely that they simply "upped their game" using roids.

Where do you get those numbers?

The numbers I have seen say otherwise:

According to Baseball-Almanac, from 2005 to the present, there have been 36 players on MLB rosters suspended for using performance enhancing drugs. Of those 36, pitchers account for 15 suspensions, position players for 21. (This includes 3 repeat offenders)

That's 42% pitchers, 58% position players.

According to Wikipedia, from 2005 to 2011, there were 52 players suspended in the minor leagues who had MLB experience. Of those 52, there were 22 pitchers and 30 position players. (This includes 6 repeat offenders)

That is also 42% pitchers, 58% position players.

Hmmm...

[Yaz]

Some teams definitely do not take conditioning seriously which contributes heavily to their injuries. Nutrition in the MLB is at an all time low as well. The Red Bulls, candies, power bars, cereals, ice creams, buckets and buckets of bubble gum, and yes, even Gatorade are all slowing down recovery times from workouts and injuries. Legal supplements like Creatine help build muscle but hurt the body equally as much by causing dehydration and cramps.

Also, players lift weights like they did in the 90's but they don't have the steroids in their systems to shorten recovery times from injury.