MASH Report (4/6/15)

• Well, the initial 2015 disabled list is getting finalized. In the table below are the players who have started the season on the DL according to MLB.com’s transactions. I expect the number to increase as more players are added. I will have a complete list on Thursday.

• Some players are starting Opening Day, but I have some reservations that they are at 100%. Here are the hitters I could see struggle has they nurse their possible injuries.

Miguel Cabrera (various)
Shin-Soo Choo (bone spurs)
Jacoby Ellsbury (oblique)
Prince Fielder (neck)
Carlos Gonzalez (everything)
Alex Gordon (wrist)
Omar Infante (elbow)
Manny Machado (knees)
Victor Martinez (knee)
Brandon Moss (hip)
Daniel Murphy (hamstring)
Dustin Pedroia (wrist)
Shane Victorino (back)

• Julien Assouline at Banished to the Pen looked to see if Tommy John surgeries where more common with pitchers who threw over 95 mph.

As for this study, what we can conclude is that around one in three pitchers who throw 95+ MPH have to suffer the surgery. If we simply go by Will Carroll’s study, this doesn’t seem like it increases a pitcher’s chance of getting the surgery at all. I, however, think that with a more thorough study we will find that throwing harder does actually lead to more Tommy Johns.

Velocity Readings

• Carlos Martinez’s velocity from last night was down 3 mph from last year with no pitch over 95 mph. Keep an eye on it to see if it improves.

Players with Injuries Going into 2015

Red colored entries are updates since last report.