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More Injury Records in 2008

If you suffered from injury fatigue this season, you are not alone and you had good reason. The unofficial 2008 injury stats (as of 9/22) paint a bleak picture. There were a record 513 moves (so far this season). This is the first time major league baseball went over the 500 DL moves mark. The old record was set last season at 475, this is a 7% increase over 2007. Back in 2005-2006, MLB made 413 and 412 moves respectively. We saw 100 MORE moves this season than just three years ago. 

How many players landed on the disabled list this season? Currently the count is at 422, five more than last year’s record of 417. Back in 2005-2006, the total was 356 and 347 respectively. On a side note, 91 different players landed on the disabled list one than once, another record since I began recording DL moves and this is a major league record.

I continue to dig for the reasons for the increase in injuries. It still falls back on teams being conservative with players and preferring to place them on the disabled list rather than risking a lengthy DL stint by continuing to play them. The other likely cause is a lack of flexibility. The players are stronger today but not as flexible as they were just a decade ago. (Sept 22)
 
photo headshots of players courtesy of mlb.com