Under The Knife: Sprin... (03/23)
Team Health Reports: P... (03/23)
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March 24, 2009 Team Health ReportsMilwaukee Brewers
Head Trainer: Roger Caplinger Trend: Positive. What happens when you stay as healthy as almost any team in the game? In the Brewers' case, it helped lead to their first playoff appearance since 1982. Caplinger and his assistant athletic trainer, Dan Wright, did an excellent job of keeping Milwaukee's regulars on the field, including the feat of Ben Sheets making more appearances than he had since '04. Yovani Gallardo's knee injuries were the team's most significant medical issues, but his successful recovery not only allowed him to pitch again before the end of the year, it also erased many of the questions about his health heading into this season. When you look below and see how many players fall under the green category, it's proof that the Brewers understand the management of their players' health at all levels of their organization. They've had an amazing track record of keeping minor league players, especially pitchers, healthy; they recently went more than a year without a pitcher missing a start due to injury at Triple-A Nashville. The organization is also at the forefront of some of the more aggressive injury research being done in the game today. Their track record is a testament to not only Caplinger and Wright, but also to Doug Melvin, Gord Ash, and the rest of the Milwaukee front office. The Shape of the Season:
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I'm struck by how many of these entries include language like "he's been slowed by injury X this spring training or late last year, but..." Could there be some whistling past the graveyard here?
Thing is Bill, almost all of these injuries are very minor. In several cases, it's just players getting their legs under them in the spring, similar to NBA or NFL players needing time off in camp.
Hoffman's injury is the one I'd be most concerned about now given his age. Up to this point, though, he's been in such an exclusive club (pretty me he and Rivera), that it has to be noted.
Gallardo's a quirk in the system, because I think workload is still a concern, but his knees should be OK.
If you want to make a connection between Braun's injuries, that's fine - you probably should. Right now, though, there's just not enough evidence to suggest to the system they actually ARE connected or if it will linger. Being in left full time helps - especially after he made that transition without injury for most of last year. that's the type of stuff the system likes to see.
In a perfect world, all of thee guys are fine. Well, Bill, we know it's not a perfect world. But there's also not enough direct evidence to suggest a break down for one of these player over the other.
Yes, it was Hoffman and Braun that I mainly had in mind. Thanks for the explanation.