MASH Report (3/11/13)

by
March 11, 2013

Here are a couple of good articles related to injuries. The first is by Doug Thorburn at Baseball Prospectus where he looks at mechanics, injuries and velocity loss. The second article examines how the White Sox have been able to keep a healthy pitching staff over the years.

Recent injury data

 • Zack Greinke is experiencing some elbow issues and is headed to L.A. for some tests. No reason to draft or pay full value for him until his status has cleared up.

 • Both Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera returned to the field after experiencing season ending injuries last year. Both should be ready by opening day.

 • CC Sabathia threw a bullpen session and is feeling good.

 • David Ortiz is having problems with both his ankles and may not be ready for opening day.

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 • Stephen Drew is dealing with concussion like symptoms after being hit in the head with a pitch.

 • Nick Markakis is experiencing neck stiffness and his return timetables is unknown until he has an MRI.

 • Brett Lawrie is sitting out because of a rib injury. He should be ready to start the season with the Blue Jays, but may start the season on the DL.

 • The Yankees bullpen has taken a hit with Clay Rapada and Boone Logan sitting out right now.

 • Jordan Walden is working through some back pain, but says he will be ready by opening day.

 • Placido Polanco is experiencing back spasms. I never want to see back issues. It is usually the beginning of the end for the player or in Polanco’s case, fast forward to the end.

 • Red Sox reliever, Franklin Morales, will not be ready by opening day with back issues.

 • Josh Kinney will be out until late April or early May with a stress reaction in his left side.

 • Charlie Blackmon has not been playing because of a knee infection. Unknown return timetable.

 • Marlins Rule 5 pick, Alfredo Silverio, is dealing with a strained right shoulder. The Marlins can keep him even if he is on the D.L.

Player Return Timetables

Name Injury Injury/Surgery Date Early Return Date Later Return date Status Source(s)
Scott Baker TJS 4/17/12 Mid April May Throwing off mound (1)
Grant Balfour Knee 2/14/13 Late March Middle April Throwing bullpen sessions (1)
Brandon Beachy TJS 6/21/12 Mid June Mid June Playing Catch (1)
Lance Berkman Knee 10/1/12 Late March Mid April Working out (1)
Jeremy Bonderman TJS 04/24/12 Late March Late March Healthy (1)
Craig Breslow Sore Shoulder 03/07/13 April April Throwing (1)
Tim Byrdak Shoulder Surgery 07/01/12 Early July Early July Bullpen Sessions (1)
Edwar Cabrera (**) Shoulder 08/01/12 Mid March Unknown Unknown (1)
Chris Carpenter (**) Nerve 02/05/13 September Retire Rest (1)
 Andrew Cashner Thumb laceration 1/25/13 Late March May Rest (1)
Carl Crawford TJS 8/23/12 Late March Early April Swinging (1)
Jesse Crain Abductor Strain 3/4/13 Late March Early April Rest (1)
Scott Diamond Elbow Surgery 10/1/12 Early April Early May Bullpen Sessions (1)
Kyle Drabek (**) TJS 6/19/12 Mid Season Mid Season Unknown (1)
Danny Duffy TJS 6/13/12 Early June All Star Game Throwing (1)
Neftali Feliz TJS 8/1/12 July August Playing Catch (1)
Frank Francisco Elbow 2/14/13 Late March Early April Throwing (1)
Rafael Furcal TJS 3/7/13 2014 2014 Rest (1)
Mat Gamel Knee 2/18/13 2014 2014 Rest (1)
Matt Garza Strained Lat 2/21/13 April April Throwing (1)
Curtis Granderson Right forearm 2/24/13 Early May Middle May Rest (1)
Corey Hart Right knee surgery 1/26/13 Late May Late May Rest (1)
Daniel Hudson (**) TJS 7/9/12 July July Playing Catch (1)
Phil Hughes Bulging Disk 2/28/13 Late March Middle April Throwing (1)
Drew Hutchison TJS 08/08/12 August October Rehabilitation (1)
Derek Jeter Fractured Left Ankle 10/1/12 Late March Late March Spring Debut (1)
Ryan Kalish (**) Shoulder Surgery 1/25/13 Early April Unknown Rest (1)
Jeff Karstens Shoulder 2/1/13 Late March April Batting Practice (1)
Matt Kemp Shoulder 8/1/12 Late March Late March Light Training (1)
Josh Kinney Side 3/10/13 Late April Early May Rest (1)
Brett Lawrie Ribs 3/7/13 Late March Early April Rest (1)
Colby Lewis Elbow Surgery 7/1/12 Late May June Throwing (1)
Francisco Liriano Broken humerus 12/1/12 Early April Late May Rest (1)
Cory Luebke TJS 5/23/12 July July Unknown (1)
Ryan Madson TJS 04/11/12 April May Bullpen Sessions (1)
Nick Masset Shoulder Surgery 09/07/12 Unknown Unknown Throwing (1)
Jeff Mathis Broken Collarbone 02/23/13 Mid March Mid March Rest (1)
Brian McCann Torn labrum 7/4/12 April April Batting Practice (1)
Logan Morrison Knee 9/1/12 Late March Late April Light Training (1)
Charlie Morton TJS 06/21/12 June Unknown Throwing (1)
David Ortiz Achilles 03/03/13 Late March April Hitting (1)
Juan Oviedo TJS 09/06/12 September 2014 Rest (1)
Felipe Paulino (**) TJS 7/3/12 Early July Early July Throwing (1)
Carl Pavano Ruptured spleen 1/25/13 Late March Mid April Rest (1)
Mike Pelfrey TJS 05/01/12 Late March Late March Throwing (1)
Chris Perez Strained Shoulder 03/01/13 Late March Early April Rest (1)
Luis Perez (**) TJS 7/1/12 Early July Early September Rest UNK
Martin Perez Broken Forearm 03/03/13 Late April Late May Rest (1)
Michael Pineda Shoulder Surgery 5/1/12 June Early July Rest (1)
Aramis Ramirez Strained Knee 3/5/13 Middle March Late March Rest (1)
Wilson Ramos ACL 5/1/12 Late March Late March Catching (1)
Alex Rodriguez (**) Hip surgery 1/16/13 Early July 2014 season Rest (1)
Cody Ross Strained Leg 1/6/13 Late March Early April Rest (1)
CC Sabathia Bone Spur 10/1/12 Late March Late March Throwing (1)
Johan Santana Back 2/25/13 Late March Middle April Throwing off mound (1)
George Sherrill TJS 5/1/11 Late April May Bullpen Sessions (1)
Joakim Soria TJS 4/2/12 Late May Early June Playing Catch (1)
Eric Surkamp TJS 07/24/12 Late July September Unknown (1)
Mark Teixeira Strained Wrist 03/06/13 Mid May Late May Rest (1)
Tsuyoshi Wada TJS 05/11/12 May June Throwing off mound (1)
Josh Tomlin (**) TJS 08/22/12 August 2014 Rest (1)
Joe Wieland (**) TJS 07/27/12 Early August 2014 Catch (1)
Brian Wilson TJS 4/19/12 Unknown Unknown Not ready to pitch (1)
Randy Wolf TJS 10/30/12 2014 2014 Rest (1)
Delmon Young Right ankle 10/1/12 Mid April Early May Rest (1)

(*) 15 Day Disabled List
(**) 60 Day Disabled List

Pitchers with Velocity Drops

Name 2013 2012 2011 2010
Jeremy Bonderman 87.0 89.8
John Danks 87.0 90.1 91.6 91.7
Kelvin Herrera 95.9 98.5 96.2
Greg Holland 93.0 96.1 94.9 95.8
Roy Halladay 87.0 90.6 92.0 92.6
Joe Nathan 91.9 94.0 92.3
Mike Pelfrey 88.0 93.5 92.2 92.0
Oliver Perez 90.7 93.7 88.0 90.0
Stephen Pryor 93.9 96.6

Addison Reed 92.5 94.6 94.9
Clayton Richardson 88.5 90.7 90.4 91.3
Joe Saunders 84.0 88.9 89.6 90.5
Dan Straily 92.3 95.1 94.7
Houston Street 86.6 90.0 89.0

For reference, fastball speeds stabilize quickly and spring training values are on average 0.6 mph slower than the regular season.

Players Returning From Injury

No information yet.

Players Playing Through Injuries

Name Injury Source
Hanley Ramirez Shoulder (1)
Will Middlebrooks Wrist (1)
Nolan Riemold Shoulder (1)
Russell Martin Shoulder (1)

Here is the list of players who should exceed their power projections for 2013:

Ryan Zimmerman, Ryan Howard, Cameron Maybin, Trevor Plouffe, Justin Upton, Paul Konerko, Dustin Pedroia, Luke Scott, Matt Kemp, Joey Votto, Mike Moustakas, Pablo Sandoval, Carl Crawford, Giancarlo Stanton, Jacoby Ellsbury, Evan Longoria, and Troy Tulowitzki. New additions: Dustin Ackley, Matt LaPorta and Howie Kendrick





 

Jeff, one of the authors of the fantasy baseball guide,The Process, writes for RotoGraphs, The Hardball Times, Rotowire, Baseball America, and BaseballHQ. He has been nominated for two SABR Analytics Research Award for Contemporary Analysis and won it in 2013 in tandem with Bill Petti. He has won four FSWA Awards including on for his Mining the News series. He's won Tout Wars three times, LABR twice, and got his first NFBC Main Event win in 2021. Follow him on Twitter @jeffwzimmerman.

13 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Johnny Two Times
13 years ago

Any information regarding Brett Anderson’s injury? He tends to get injured, but is very good when healthy.

0
Jeff ZimmermanFanGraphs Staff
13 years ago
Reply to  Johnny Two Times

I didn’t see it as important, a strain in his non-throwing shoulder from covering 3B:

http://www.contracostatimes.com/athletics/ci_22765289/oakland-brett-anderson-should-be-ok-start-season

0
ealtman
13 years ago

Pull Grienke off my draft board? He’s been a centerpiece of my strategy… who’s a good 3rd round replacement?

0
Jeff ZimmermanFanGraphs Staff
13 years ago
Reply to  ealtman

I have Price and Scherzer as comps. One pitcher I like is Davish. He made huge strides as the season went on:

http://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/index.php/did-yu-find-the-strike-zone/

0
Wobatus
13 years ago

Berkman has been playing. 23 plate appearances this spring and played in both weekend games.

0
gump
13 years ago

Are you updating velocities of injured pitchers? Will pitchers drop out of your chart if they regain velocity in other ST appearances?

0
Jeff ZimmermanFanGraphs Staff
13 years ago
Reply to  gump

Yes, once I find some information on them.

Ogando and L. Coleman dropped out.

Pryor has 4 games of low speeds.

0
majnun
13 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Zimmerman

Was there a larger note on ogando? I almost missed that

0
equistMember since 2017
13 years ago

Would you consider Billingsley a player playing through injury?

0
jim
13 years ago

halladay… ouch

0
Jonathan Sher
13 years ago

Not sure where you are getting 2012 and 2011 FB numbers on Dan Straily but they are surely wrong. Pitch FX had him at 91.3 in 2012, (it’s listed on Fangraohs) which would mean his velocity is up, now down, this Spring,

1
wrightstuff5
13 years ago

Should we be nervous about Jordan Zimmermann yet? He’s reportedly experiencing symptoms of dead arm.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/5511/jordan-zimmermann

0