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March 9, 2009

Team Health Reports

Florida Marlins

by Will Carroll

FLORIDA MARLINS Team Audit | DT Cards | PECOTA Cards | Depth Chart

Head Trainer: Sean Cunningham
Player Days Lost: 1,575
Total Dollars Lost: $4.7 million
Injury Cost: $25.3 million

Trend: Negative. It's the second straight down year for the Marlins after a flukish 2006 during which they had less than 500 days lost. Much of last year's total—and this can be said for many teams with over 1,000 days lost—is the result of pitchers who were injured for the full year, and who should have been accounted for earlier, if there was a method for backdating. Anibal Sanchez's shoulder was hurt during that 2006 season, but he spent 2007 and 2008 rehabbing. The Marlins had three pitchers and one position player who were out the full 184 days; that 700 day-plus cost doesn't actually tell us as much about the 2008 season for Sean Cunningham's staff as it does about the commitment that the team is making where their players' health is concerned. The Marlins have always operated on the theory that there was someone else who could do the same job, and do it cheaper, making players essentially disposable. Down here on the extremes of payroll scale and player development, there's an argument to be made that they may be right.

The Shape of the Season: