A few years ago I broke down the disabled list (DL) chances for starting pitchers (39%). I have finally gotten around to making an initial stab at relief pitcher DL values.

The initial problem I have with relief pitchers is defining them. I didn’t want to be looking at pitchers who split their time between a relief and starting role. I decided the pitchers needed to have at least 95% of their appearances as a reliever. Also, I didn’t know what to set the minimum innings limit to. Here is a chart of the DL% depending on the number of innings pitched the previous season. Matched season data from 2002-2003 to 2012-2013 was used.
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• A cascade of pitcher injuries has happened the past few days. Here are a couple of  links looking what can be done to help prevent injuries.

• On the main FanGraphs site, Mike Pertriello looked at how how many of these pitchers were trying to throw through in game pain.
• Peter Gammons mentions some crack pots work on using PITCHf/x data to look at detecting possible pitcher injuries.

While these  injuries seemed to happen all at once, the pitchers did have a chance to end up injured.

Name: DL%, extra injury indicator
Patrick Corbin: 30%
Parker: 30%, low Zone%
Medlen: 40%
Beachy: Never re-established himself after TJS. About 30% pitchers never do.

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If it feels like you have spent every moment of Spring Training 2014 hoping that the next article you read is not about a pitcher you own (or one who plays for your favorite MLB team), you are not alone. The Braves have been hard hit, but they are not the only ones, and the latest pitcher to go down hit close to home for me.

Patrick Corbin has been a personal favorite for about a year now. It was just over two months ago that I implored you all to buy on Corbin and since I only give advice that I intend to take myself, the Diamondback hurler has found his way onto the majority of my teams. This seemed like a great thing until the last 24 hours or so, and suddenly I am left trying to figure out what to do with him.

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• Kris Medlen looks to be out at least a couple of months for a torn ulnar collateral ligament.

Medlen underwent an MRI exam on Monday that showed damage around the ulnar collateral ligament of his right elbow. A stress X-ray conducted on Tuesday provided a stronger indication that the ligament damage will need to be surgically repaired.

A definitive decision will likely be made within the next two days. The process has been slowed due to the fact that Dr. James Andrews, who performed Medlen’s Tommy John surgery in 2010, is among the contingent of orthopedic surgeons currently attending a conference in New Orleans.

“That stress X-ray is not definitive, but it did probably confirm what he was fearing — that there is a high likelihood he will have to have another Tommy John,” Braves general manager Frank Wren said.

More information will be available today (maybe even before this article runs).

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• Kris Medlen experienced a right forearm strain during his last outing. He was not yet to the 400-600 IP point  where Tommy John pitchers begin having a second round of injuries (2013 The Hardball Times Annual).  More information on the injuries extent will be available later today.

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• Cole Hamels looks to miss even more time with “fatigue”.

Cole Hamels suffers setback. Said he is fatigued. No pain in shoulder. But obviously not good news. Wouldn’t say if he could pitch in April.

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Holy cow, a ton of news to catch up on so let’s get started.

• Johnny Cueto hasn’t lost the twist, but he says he is feeling good.

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Besides going through the normal injuries, I decided to give a detailed injury outlook for a  starting pitcher. Today’s pitcher is Clay Buchholz (a Paul Swydan request), but please let me know if you want anyone else. I am now sure how many I will have time for in the future, but I will try.

• Josh Hamilton may not be ready to go for the regular season after injuring his ankle.

Asked if he believes Hamilton will get enough Spring Training action to be ready to go by Opening Day on March 31, Scioscia said: “Under the guidelines we’ve been given, he should, but this thing has to heal on its own terms and we’ll just see where this leads.”

Hamilton is so frustrating. I am glad someone else usually believes in him (and Matt Kemp) more than me during drafts, so I don’t have to live with the fustration.

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• A report stated Ike Davis supposedly hid an oblique injury from the Mets because he was worried about his job.

Ike Davis concealed an oblique injury from Mets officials for most of last season because of bad timing and the fact he was struggling and didn’t want to surrender his spot in the lineup, the beleaguered first baseman told The Post on Sunday.

Ultimately, his season concluded on Aug. 31 in Washington when the oblique “popped,” but Davis’ issues with the muscle began in mid-May and got to the point he was ready to ask for a disabled-list stint.

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• Albert Pujols is not able to play first base right now and may not for the season’s start.

Albert Pujols had a normal offseason and has pronounced himself completely healthy, but Angels manager Mike Scioscia will not be playing him at first base on an everyday basis once Cactus League games start.

“He’s not at that point,” Scioscia said.
….

Scioscia said the goal was for Pujols to play first base “on a regular basis” when the season starts but that they would take it slow and have backup plans if the 34-year-old is not ready by Opening Day on March 31.

If Pujols isn’t physically able to play in the field, his offense is for sure going to suffer. He sounds like a station to runner (less Runs) and will be a double play machine. Given other possible options, he will have to fall quite a bit from his current draft position for me to consider rostering him.

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