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November 14, 2012

Collateral Damage

2012 Year-End Injury Summary: NL East

by Corey Dawkins and Stephani Bee

In the National League East, only one team, the Miami Marlins, was able to maintain a positive health ranking. The Phillies, on the other hand, took a major health plunge.

Division: National League East

WARP lost Divisional Ranking (Overall Ranks—Best to worst):

1. Atlanta Braves (6)
2. Miami Marlins (10)
3. New York Mets (12)
4. Washington Nationals (16)
5. Philadelphia Phillies (28)

Atlanta Braves
Total Adjusted WARP Lost (TAWL): 2.16
Number of DL trips (Days): 15 (822)
Number of DL & DTD trips (Days): 47 (919)

The Braves were the best in the division in TAWL ranking, but in general, they were not exceptional at keeping people healthy. For example, despite ranking sixth overall in TAWL, Atlanta ranked 12^th in DL counts and days lost.

The Braves managed to keep Chipper Jones on the field for most of the year, but we’re sure it was a struggle to do so. One has to wonder if the medical staff has secret MacGyver-type skills where somehow, when things are looking bleak, Chipper ends up finding a way to play. In spite of those skills, Jones did make two trips to the DL, which added up to 29 games lost in 2012. He led the team in TAWL, with 0.33, or 15.2 percent of the team’s total. Next on the list was Brian McCann, who cost 0.26  TAWL due to struggles with right shoulder inflammation related to a torn labrum, which requiring surgery in the offseason. Andrelton Simmons missed 61 games in 2012, mostly due to a fractured hand, costing 0.20 TAWL, or nine percent. Yet, on a per-game basis, Dan Uggla lost the most TAWL because of his injuries.