MASH Report (8/5/13)

With Biogenesis dominating the news front, injury information again is a little scarce, but I was able to scape up a bit.

Pitchers returning from the DL

• Brandon McCarthy looks fine with his average sinker velocity consistent with his previous speeds.

• Sergio Santos’s fastball velocity was at a 3-year low in his first appearance since coming off the DL.

• Steve Johnson saw his already low velocity drop even further.

• Jared Hughes’s velocity is up compared to earlier in the season.

• Stephen Fife’s velocity is constant

• Ross Ohlendorf and Steve Delabar were both place on the DL with pains which were lingering. I expect more and more out of contention teams will follow suit and rest players for 2014.

• Paul Konerko is done for in my opinion. The 37-year-old is experiencing back issues which can destroy a player’s production (source).

Ventura gave Konerko a break Thursday afternoon because the Sox played a night game Wednesday. Ventura admitted he’s careful not to extend him after his three-week stint on the DL.
“It’s just more protecting his back,” said Ventura, saying that Konerko experienced “a little something” while running the bases this week.

Konerko used to be an undervalued fantasy player in his mid-30’s, but I would not count on his production from now on.

• Michael Pineda is having problems with his shoulder again and it looks unlikely he will help the Yankees down the stretch (source).

“His strength tested out fine after the game, but he is probably going to see our doctors would be my guess,” Joe Girardi said. “With what he’s been through, we’re making sure that it’s nothing, but I can’t tell you 100% it’s not.”

The Yankees have been managing Pineda’s innings carefully since he started pitching again, throwing him between three and five innings per start. Girardi said he wouldn’t have been surprised to see Pineda join the team down the stretch, though that’s obviously now in question.

I see no reason to continue to hold Pineda in a redraft league.

• A “talent evaluator” believes CC Sabathia’s loss production is because of his weight loss (source and a H/T to Hardball Talk).

“The weight loss has created a balance problem for him,“ said one talent evaluator. “He’s all over the place. He’s learning how to pitch in that body, a body he’s really never had. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with him other than that. Sometimes you pitch at a certain weight all your life and then someone has the brilliant idea that you should lose weight because it’s putting stress on your knees, you do it, and then you’re dealing with something else.”

I really don’t believe the theory, but it is a theory.

HURT (Hitter’s Under-performance from Recent Trauma) Rankings (all hitter with 100 PA in 2013 and 500 PA from 2010 to 2012):

Any player with a HURT value over 100 (red) has the traits of a batter playing through an injury. Differentiating opinion exist on his heath.

Name	HURT	PA (2013)	PA (2010-2012)
B.J. Upton	195.6	328	1883
Seth Smith	183.6	339	1372
Nolan Reimold	171.6	140	505
Jason Kubel	147.6	247	1554
Albert Pujols	140.4	443	2021
Chris Iannetta	136.8	288	902
Aramis Ramirez	121.2	209	1763
Justin Turner	121.2	128	690
Melky Cabrera	120	372	1716
Lance Berkman	115.2	282	1165
Vernon Wells	111.6	362	1437
Cesar Izturis	111.6	116	719
Chris Johnson	110.4	362	1295
Alex Avila	109.2	273	1318
Miguel Montero	106.8	376	1457
Giancarlo Stanton	104.4	297	1498
John Jaso	97.2	249	1038
Brandon Phillips	96	454	1985
Dustin Ackley	96	263	1044
Kevin Youkilis	96	118	1461
Delmon Young	94.8	285	1724
Matt Kemp	93.6	251	1806
Paul Konerko	92.4	333	1868
Jarrod Saltalamacchia	91.2	340	864
Brandon Inge	91.2	110	1214

• A few weeks ago, Miguel Montero showed up on the HURT leader board as one of several catchers who may be playing through a few dings and dents. He was just placed on the DL with a back strain which has lingered for a while.

PAIN (Pitcher Abuse INdex) Rankings (30 IP in 2012, 30 Ip in 2013)

Any player with a PAIN value over 100 (red) has the traits of a pitcher likely to be hurt.

Name	PAIN	IP (2013)	IP (2012)
Jeff Locke	236.9	125.2	34.1
Jason Marquis	212.2	117.2	127.2
Lucas Harrell	186.8	122.1	193.2
Esmil Rogers	152.8	93.2	78.2
Tanner Scheppers	136.1	50.1	32.1
Alexi Ogando	128.4	69.0	66.0
Pedro Strop	115.6	36.1	66.1
Matt Moore	112.1	121.1	177.1
Scott Feldman	105.0	127.1	123.2
Adam Ottavino	103.0	56.2	79.0
Francisco Liriano	100.4	102.2	156.2
Luis Mendoza	94.4	86.1	166.0
Felix Hernandez	89.3	160.2	232.0
Scott Downs	86.7	33.0	45.2
Tony Sipp	85.1	32.2	55.0
John Axford	84.8	46.0	69.1
Michael Gonzalez	80.6	40.0	35.2
Zack Greinke	78.9	105.0	212.1
Craig Stammen	78.4	58.2	88.1
Ryan Webb	74.4	49.1	60.1
Jake Westbrook	73.5	98.1	174.2
Jordan Walden	73.3	37.0	39.0
Fernando Rodney	63.7	45.2	74.2
Burke Badenhop	62.8	49.0	62.1
Mark Melancon	61.8	52.1	45.0

• The newest Oriole, Scott Feldman, has the signs of a pitcher throwing with PAIN. His velocity is down from 2012 (91.7 to 90.1 mph) and still declining.

Also, he is having problems throwing strikes with his Zone% dropping for 50% to 46%.

Players on the DL

(*) 15 Day Disabled List
(**) 60 Day Disabled List
(***) 7 Day Concussion List
Red colored entries are updates since last report.