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January 28, 2010, 11:09 AM ET
Acronym Help

by Will Carroll

Everyone knows that BP is know for three things:
1) provocative baseball writing
2) statistical analysis
3) funny acronyms

I need help with #3 today. For the last seven years, I’ve been doing the Team Health Reports (with one year where we went to Positional Health Reports). The rankings have gone from speculative to pretty darn good, with the typical variance. I’ve made some slight changes this year, mostly due to having seven years of data to work with now. What I don’t have is a catchy name for the system. I’ve always called them the “THR ratings,” which is kind of weak.

So, I’m looking for a catching acronym for the system. My favorite (and it will be purely subjective, so don’t whinge) will get the full spreadsheet of rankings a full 24 hours before the rest of the world. You know what to do, in comments …

Oh, and I’m about a third of the way through the ratings, with the Team Health Reports (and an exciting new format for them) debuting in early February.

104 comments have been left for this post.

BP Comment Quick Links

mtofias

The SCAB Reports or the sabermetric and critical assessment of bodies.

Jan 28, 2010 08:20 AM
rating: 3
 
jgergeni

ToHRies?

Jan 28, 2010 08:20 AM
rating: -3
 
dianagram

In honor of the former pitcher turned doctor, MEDICH:

Medical Evaluations, Disseminated in Concise Helpings

Jan 28, 2010 08:20 AM
rating: 2
 
enelson

Specialized Health Evaluation and Expenditure Team Score. SHEETS.

Jan 28, 2010 08:22 AM
rating: 8
 
Richard Bergstrom

CHUTS

Cumulative Healing (and) Unwellness Team Status

Jan 28, 2010 08:27 AM
rating: -3
 
Richard Bergstrom

I had this pronounced as "cuts" as a UTK reference, btw.

Jan 28, 2010 10:11 AM
rating: -2
 
Asinwreck

Organizational Wellness (OW).

Jan 28, 2010 08:27 AM
rating: 22
 
patrickc

This is a winner: funny, descriptive, not belabored ...

Jan 28, 2010 08:34 AM
rating: 0
 
Richard Bergstrom

Agreed.

Jan 28, 2010 08:44 AM
rating: -2
 
BurrRutledge

OWIE

Organizational Wellness & Individual Evaluations

Jan 28, 2010 14:26 PM
rating: -3
 
BurrRutledge

didn't read the posts below before posting... ignore.

Jan 28, 2010 14:27 PM
rating: 0
 
jdtk99

Seems like OW needs an I and an E. How about Organizational Wellness and InjuryRisk Evaluation?

Jan 28, 2010 09:04 AM
rating: 14
 
CRP13

Somebody else gave you a negative comment, but I like it. OWIE: Organizational Wellness and Injury Evaluation

Jan 28, 2010 09:11 AM
rating: 6
 
CRP13

Besides, it's easier to say "This year's OWIEs are coming out" rather than "This year's OWs". OWs sounds like some kind of Harry Potter end-of-term exam.

Give me negative points for even thinking that. Now.

Jan 28, 2010 09:12 AM
rating: 4
 
Richard Bergstrom

Future quotes:

Dayton Moore called me about the OWIE I gave him.

The Cubs many TRIPs led to a bad OWIE.

Will's OWIEs will be delayed a week because he's on vacation.

Tomorrow, I'll give you all OWIEs!

Jan 28, 2010 10:04 AM
rating: -3
 
Randy Brown
(189)

Just change one letter. THG = Team Health Gauge.

OK, so some people may associate that with tetrahydrogestrinone! You could even make repeated bad puns to healthy teams or players being in "the clear".

Jan 28, 2010 08:28 AM
rating: 0
 
ZeusIsLoose
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Franchise
Annual
Risk
Reward
And
Healing
Scorecards

Who could pass up on the Farrah's?

Jan 28, 2010 08:29 AM
rating: -5
 
dianagram

May she rest in peace.

Jan 30, 2010 06:53 AM
rating: 0
 
buddons42
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Reports And Postulations on Expected Rates of health and Safety, otherwise knows as REAPERS

Jan 28, 2010 08:30 AM
rating: -4
 
Patrickj

Baseball Organization Overview of Bodily Owies Output
- The BOOBOO reports.

Jan 28, 2010 08:31 AM
rating: -3
 
dianagram

Those would be introduced by Yogi ...

Jan 28, 2010 08:34 AM
rating: 2
 
Richard Bergstrom
Other readers have rated this comment below the viewing threshold. Click here to view anyway.

Yicky
Old
Gimpy
Injury

Jan 28, 2010 08:43 AM
rating: -4
 
R.A.Wagman

Health
And
Related
Disabled-list
Expectancy
Number
I introduce to you...the HARDEN!

Jan 28, 2010 08:35 AM
rating: 7
 
Richard Bergstrom

Courtesy of Billy Beane, providing teams with midseason trading partners since 1998.

Jan 28, 2010 08:47 AM
rating: -3
 
John Carter

... so far the first and best of acronyms that are puns of injury prone players

Jan 28, 2010 09:47 AM
rating: -2
 
3n2sports

There was a SHEETS

Jan 28, 2010 10:24 AM
rating: 0
 
BP staff member mkleine
BP staff

Team PAIN Reports

Player Analysis Injury Nexus

Jan 28, 2010 08:42 AM
 
twiessmann
(548)

FITS: Forecasted Injury Tracking System

Jan 28, 2010 08:44 AM
rating: 0
 
SC

Team-Player Analysis of Injury Numeration
T-PAIN.

or, for the less-rap minded:

Future
Rating
Analysis
Grading
Injury
Likelihood
Empirical
System

It's more difficult to make an acroynm out of "PAVANO" or "HAMPTON" than you might think.

Jan 28, 2010 08:53 AM
rating: 5
 
Richard Bergstrom

Players
Assigned
Various
Analgesic and
Narcotic
Ointments

Have
Arm
May
Pitch
Totally healthy...
Oops
Nevermind

Jan 28, 2010 09:51 AM
rating: 6
 
TraderBob

FIRE - Fitness and Injury Recovery Evaluations

'In Will's recent Cincinnati FIRE ratings, you can really see the damage that Dusty does to young pitchers.'

Jan 28, 2010 10:09 AM
rating: 2
 
ChinMusic

Pavano'd - Preseason Assessment of Various Ailments Nullifying October Dreams

Jan 28, 2010 16:44 PM
rating: 2
 
hessshaun

How about

THECOTA (Team Health)

or

POOCOTA (Player Off field Obstinance)

Jan 28, 2010 08:57 AM
rating: 0
 
marooner

(T)RIPS: (Team) Reports of Injuries, Psychological disorders, and/or Sicknesses.

Jan 28, 2010 09:00 AM
rating: 1
 
NYYanks826

Player
Health
Description

The PHD Report

Jan 28, 2010 09:03 AM
rating: 6
 
John Carter

This one is very good, too. I would make "descriptions" plural.

Jan 28, 2010 09:42 AM
rating: -1
 
armcrow

Team Physical Status Reports, or, TPS Reports

Jan 28, 2010 09:05 AM
rating: 8
 
TraderBob

Mmmm, yeah... we'll need to talk to you about that on Saturday.

Jan 28, 2010 09:50 AM
rating: 2
 
Richard Bergstrom
Other readers have rated this comment below the viewing threshold. Click here to view anyway.

TPS Load Error? What the f*** does that mean?

Jan 28, 2010 09:59 AM
rating: -4
 
jblachman

PRIOR
Player Risk of Injuries / Organization Reports

Jan 28, 2010 09:10 AM
rating: 3
 
Ari Kellman

Before reading through this comment thread my immediate thought was PRIOR, in the same vein of PECOTA, and perfect for Will, but it seems I wasn't the first. I don't know that this is the perfect definition of the acronym, but I don't have a better one offhand, and how many people can correctly identify what PECOTA stands for anyway?

Jan 28, 2010 09:46 AM
rating: 0
 
bmcgehee

Unhealthy
Comprehensive
Listings

UCL!

Jan 28, 2010 09:14 AM
rating: -1
 
baserip4

METS Index

MEasuring
Team health
Status

Jan 28, 2010 09:18 AM
rating: -1
 
edwardarthur

MEDICH is clearly the right call.

Jan 28, 2010 09:20 AM
rating: 0
 
ofMontreal

Agreed! Medich rocks and stays in the theme of 70's refs. Which signals that BP has been doing this kind of thinking for a looonnnggg time.

Jan 28, 2010 11:21 AM
rating: 0
 
bugthecat

The archetypal injury-prone player in my oldest fantasy league is Barry Larkin. Injury-prone players are called Larkins. Example: Pat's team is full of Larkins. Specific parts can also be addressed by referencing Larkin. Example: Jose Reyes' hamstrings must be made of Larkin-groin.

So, after all that, LARKIN:

Logging
And
Rating
Known
Injuries (with)
Numbers

Jan 28, 2010 09:29 AM
rating: -2
 
bmcgehee

Detailed
Review and
Examination of
Injuries with
Financial
Opportunity costs and
Repercussions for
Teams

DREIFORT

Jan 28, 2010 09:39 AM
rating: -2
 
Werty83

CHAVEZ

Carroll; Health And Value Eliminated cZar

In honor of Eric Chavez of course.

Jan 28, 2010 09:40 AM
rating: 1
 
killjoy00

CARE(S) - CAroll REport(S)

Jan 28, 2010 09:51 AM
rating: -1
 
bmcgehee

Team/
Organization
Medical/
Monetary
Year-round

Journal
Of
Health
News

TOMMY JOHN

Jan 28, 2010 09:54 AM
rating: 1
 
victor19nyc

Will's Injury Likelihood List(s)

The WILL(s)

Jan 28, 2010 10:05 AM
rating: 0
 
Richard Bergstrom
Other readers have rated this comment below the viewing threshold. Click here to view anyway.

Will Will's WILL have WILL(s)?

Jan 28, 2010 10:08 AM
rating: -4
 
victor19nyc

Or: The WILL Report.

C'mon, go narcissistic. You'll love yourself later.

Jan 28, 2010 10:12 AM
rating: -2
 
3n2sports

If Verducci gets an 'effect' then you can have a report. I give you permission.

Jan 28, 2010 10:25 AM
rating: 0
 
alskor

THOMEs

Team Health Opinions and Medical Evaluations




Jan 28, 2010 10:09 AM
rating: 1
 
Shaun P.
(676)

COHRS: Carroll's Organizational Health ReportS (pronounced the same as "cores")

Or if you prefer your first name, the WOHRS: Will's Organizational Health ReportS (which I would pronounce the same as "wars", but YMMV)

I'm kind of shocked that I'm the first person to use part of Will's name in the acronym. Flattery is supposed to get one everywhere, after all.

Jan 28, 2010 10:09 AM
rating: 1
 
Richard Bergstrom

You weren't the first. Victor beat you by 4 minutes.

Jan 28, 2010 10:10 AM
rating: -2
 
Shaun P.
(676)

That's what I get for writing a post, going away from my desk for a few minutes, and not refreshing before I click "Submit comment". My apologies to victor19nyc, who used part of Will's name before me.

Jan 28, 2010 10:11 AM
rating: 0
 
leites

I like PRIOR the best, in part because it is relatively easy to remember what the acronym stands for.

Jan 28, 2010 10:16 AM
rating: 0
 
alskor

It was the first thing that came to mind for me, too... downside is the word has a different meaning, as in previously. Kind of bothers me. What's nice about acronyms like PECOTA are that they can't be confused with anything else. If we're having a conversation and I mention Derek Jeter's PRIORs you might think he had been arrested.

Jan 28, 2010 10:20 AM
rating: 1
 
modofacid

I think the PRIORs already having a different meaning is a positive. It certainly has more marketing appeal due to the double name

Jan 28, 2010 10:26 AM
rating: -1
 
Cardinals645

HEALTH

Helpful Evaluation Applying Lights to Team Health

Jan 28, 2010 10:26 AM
rating: 0
 
Cardinals645

Not sure if 2nd entries are allowed, but CATCH:

Carroll's Annual Team Calculation of Health

Feb 03, 2010 11:29 AM
rating: 0
 
Dan

ATP: Availability to Play

Jan 28, 2010 10:32 AM
rating: -1
 
dianagram

When I see ATP, I think of the Krebs Cycle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krebs_cycle

(but that's because I'm a science geek)

Jan 28, 2010 10:52 AM
rating: 3
 
surveyzas
(119)

yeah, it takes me right to All Tomorrow's Parties
http://atpfestival.com

or the Velvet Underground song of the same name

Jan 28, 2010 12:44 PM
rating: 1
 
Manprin

The Butcher's Bill
Baseball
U(nderpinning) or Unfiltered
Team
Comprehensive
Health
and
Evaluation
Report

The AMB Report
Annual
Medical
Baseball

The OHIO Report/List (Will is in Indiana, though, it's close)
Organization
Health
and
Injury
Opinion

Jan 28, 2010 10:34 AM
rating: -2
 
dianagram

In honor of Mister 2632:

Rehab, Injuries, Procedures, Keeping Everyone Notified.

Jan 28, 2010 10:49 AM
rating: -1
 
mattyc33

NICKS (the obvious, plus a reference to Nick Johnson):

Nominal Injury Charting Keys System

Jan 28, 2010 10:56 AM
rating: -2
 
WilliamWilde

On the SHELF column. Will Caroll in the byline (duh).

Systematic
Health
Evaluation &
Longevity (?, L is weak)
Forecast

Jan 28, 2010 11:23 AM
rating: 0
 
apelham

ACHE

Athletic Critical Health Evaluation

Jan 28, 2010 11:36 AM
rating: 2
 
MJ

WHIPS

Will's Health & Injury Prediction System

Jan 28, 2010 11:58 AM
rating: -3
 
alskor

There's a few like this. I think I would prefer CHIPS - Carroll's ""...

Jan 28, 2010 13:22 PM
rating: -1
 
Ira

You could combine your Carrol's Health & Injury Prediction System with your DIPS ratings for pitchers.

Now, if I can just figure out an acronym for Chains....

Carrol's Health And Information News System that goes well with Will's Health & Injury Prediction System.

Jan 28, 2010 14:38 PM
rating: 1
 
joel3green

I think I'd change P to T

Will [Carroll's] Health [and] Injury Tracking System

WHITS...
or
WHITTS

W's Health and Injury Team Tracking System....

WHIPS sounds like another stat.

Jan 29, 2010 13:19 PM
rating: 0
 
Lopecci

Injury Analysis Projection System - IAPS

or

Team Injury Analysis Projection System - TI-APS


Hope I win !!!

Jan 28, 2010 12:15 PM
rating: -1
 
twiessmann
(548)

SCALPEL

Systemic
Care
And
Lost
Playing-time
Examination
List

Jan 28, 2010 12:15 PM
rating: -1
 
bokosox13

PIE

Player Injury Evaluations

mmmmmmmmm, pie.

Jan 28, 2010 12:15 PM
rating: 2
 
braden23

PIPP

Player Injury Probabilty Pages

Jan 28, 2010 13:13 PM
rating: 1
 
momansf

As much as I like the ones about injury prone players, I have to go with the man who put up this contest:

Critical
Assessment of
Risk and
Reliability in
Organizational
Likelihood of
Lasting

Jan 28, 2010 13:29 PM
rating: -2
 
tbwhite
(361)

Paying homage to the convention of naming things after middle infielders who spent the 1980's in Missouri:

HEatlh
Risk
Reports

HERR's

Jan 28, 2010 14:03 PM
rating: -1
 
RedsManRick

Team
Health &
Organization
Resiliency
Number

Jan 28, 2010 14:38 PM
rating: 0
 
adamseth7

The HAMPTON

Health And Missed Playing Time Organizational Numbers

Jan 28, 2010 16:00 PM
rating: 1
 
Richard Bergstrom

Happily
Absorbing
Millions of
Payroll
To
Offer
Nothing

Jan 29, 2010 17:58 PM
rating: -2
 
Isaac Lin

Comprehensive Health And Recovery Time report (CHART)

Jan 28, 2010 17:00 PM
rating: -1
 
Severe

Call it the LIMP report:

Leading
Injury
(and)
Missed-time
Predictions

Jan 28, 2010 19:34 PM
rating: 2
 
Juris

(1) Arms & Legs report = The AL's.

(2) Arms, Legs, and Groins report = The ALGies.

(3) Muscles, Bones, and Tendons report: the MBT's.

(4) Aches and Pains report: the A&P's.

Jan 28, 2010 21:41 PM
rating: -3
 
jtwalsh

WEAR & TEARS

Wills Evaluation of the Ambulatory Robustness & Team Expected Athletic Readiness System

Jan 29, 2010 07:11 AM
rating: -1
 
stewbies

The PIP's - Player Injury Predictions

besides being easy and catchy, the name conjures up the most well-known baseball health issue of all-time without taking the identical name.

Jan 29, 2010 07:53 AM
rating: 1
 
Richard Bergstrom

Braden23 already did something similar with PIPP

Jan 29, 2010 08:54 AM
rating: -2
 
John Carter

Yeah, however this is preferable. It probably isn't nice to spell someone's name with this. PIP is the easiest to remember, and, I agree, catchy. I also prefer the word "predictions" to "probability" slightly, though neither are perfect. It is more than just predictions or probability. "Pages" is just unnecessary.

"Profiles" might be preferable, though, the most accurate would be: "proclivities"?
Player
Injury
Proclivities

or
Player
Injury
Profiles

Jan 29, 2010 15:55 PM
rating: 0
 
braden23

Your point is well taken on pages in my PIPP proposal. It is not completely necessary, however I wanted to hit Wally's name on the head as FO has with KUBIAK.

Jan 29, 2010 17:28 PM
rating: 0
 
Richard Bergstrom

Egads, my hair has been split!

Jan 29, 2010 17:59 PM
rating: -1
 
dbrown
(607)

and you wonder why you get so many negative ratings...

Feb 01, 2010 12:34 PM
rating: 1
 
oakwcj

BIER -- Baseball Injury Evaluation Rating

Jan 29, 2010 08:56 AM
rating: 0
 
rb54110

Got
Injured
Monitoring
Progress

Jan 29, 2010 09:32 AM
rating: 0
 
EdgarKid

Why not just HERTS (Health Reports Teams)- I know the spelling is wrong but who cares if the acronym directs the reader to the place the reader wants to go!

The EdgarKid

RWEcon87@gmail.com

Jan 29, 2010 11:10 AM
rating: -3
 
bigdadu

WMD's

Wellness & Medical Diagnosis

Jan 29, 2010 16:35 PM
rating: 0
 
Amol

In honor of Mr. John, I suggest the Team Ouchies and Medical Mishaps for the Year.

Jan 29, 2010 18:13 PM
rating: -1
 
evo34

Where is the evidence that your ratings are predictive (more so than using a player's historical injury rate combined with his position's avg. injury rate)?

Jan 30, 2010 00:37 AM
rating: 0
 
Aaron Whitehead

THOR = Team Health Reports (or THoRs)
or Total Health Organization Ranking System (THORs)

Feb 01, 2010 08:32 AM
rating: 0
 
woof755

I think PIPP is really great (or PIP), but it leaves out some of the important facets of the analysis--especially the team aspect of things (part of Will's work includes evaluating team medical staffs, acknowledging that the work they do has an impact on reducing injuries) and the monetary aspect of things--days lost to DL time is money wasted.

Unfortunately, I haven't come up with a clever way of working these concepts into an acronym!

Feb 02, 2010 10:08 AM
rating: 0
 
woof755

i Injury
E Evaluation and
R Ranking
S System for
T Teams
A and
D Days spent on DL

The iERSTADs

(hey, everything else is i-somethingorother)

Feb 02, 2010 10:13 AM
rating: 0
 
MattBey

AIDS

Abused Injury Diagnostic System

Feb 02, 2010 13:33 PM
rating: -2
 
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