With the Midsummer Classic on the horizon, one roster may boast the most spectacular All-Star cast in baseball – the MLB Disabled List.
The DL may not be an actual team in the Major League, but just how dominant would it be if it were to compete? With the likes of game-changing aces such as Hyun-Jin Ryu, Adam Wainwright, Yu Darvish, and Marcus Stroman out for the entire season, and well-rounded 2-3-4-spot run-producers like Dustin Pedroia, Hanley Ramirez, Justin Morneau, Giancarlo Stanton, Matt Holliday, Eric Hosmer, and Jorge Soler, the list reads like a who’s who of baseball’s present dominance and future potential.
Baseball is undoubtedly the least physically aggressive of the four major North American sports, especially with the implementation of the “Buster Posey rule.” That, however, has not prevented the stars of the league to make frequent extended trips to the Disabled List every season.
41 years after then-Dodgers pitcher Tommy John’s revolutionary surgery, the operation has been performed on more broken men from baseball than in any other sport. From finger to triceps to back to groin, every muscle and bone imaginable can cause an injury at any moment. Any player can be a move away from a career-changing setback.
Can the epidemic of injuries be stopped?
Despite the disappointment and exasperation felt by fans when their franchise player goes down with a season-ending injury, there is simply no way to protect the players beyond the current rules. To truly reduce the likelihood of harm to the athletes, we would have to stop pitchers from pumping 90+ mph fastballs near a hitter’s body (i.e. the batter’s box), rename baserunners to basewalkers, and force all batters to become bunters.
The impact of an injury is immeasurable, sure. Fewer Nationals fans are likely to tune in if Bryce Harper was unavailable for the season, and no Mets supporter can bear to imagine a team without David Wright. Aside from lower TV ratings and ticket sales, such injuries also rob players of their limited careers. One season on the shelf directly translates to one fewer opportunity to win the championship and become immortalized.
The unsatisfying results of yet another abysmal season may cause the ownership to lose faith. The front office may choose to rebuild a team around a less injury-prone star, casting ripples that shake up the landscape of the entire league.
Again, immeasurable.
However, true fans, those who admire and appreciate the game of baseball rather than a single team’s seasonal accomplishments, can look past the short-term despondency and look forward to the opportunities presented.
For one, stints on the DL open up roster spots on Major League teams. Fresh new prospects receive the chance of a lifetime to make a contribution on the world’s biggest stage. Without Mets pitcher Dillon Gee’s unfortunate injury last season, we never would have already found the gem that was NL Rookie of the Year, Jacob deGrom.
Just ask the 2015 Texas Rangers. With 13 players on the DL as of June 29th, highlighted by aces Derek Holland and Yu Darvish, once-closer Neftali Feliz, and return hero Josh Hamilton, rookie starter Chi Chi Gonzalez and slugger Joey Gallo have shone in the limelight. Undoubtedly, the Rangers still wait in anticipation for the return of their stars, but the recent rough patch has given the team – and the fan base – a pleasant glance at the future of the organization.
The loss of a crucial player also forces the team to fight in the face of adversity. Learning to pick each other up and battle through the injuries becomes the shortcut to maturation for young players and invaluable experience for managers. If a squad can learn how to win without its leader on the field, it becomes unstoppable once the roster is restored.
The St. Louis Cardinals have done just that. After losing Cy Young award contender Adam Wainwright at the end of month one in the season, the Cards have gone streaking to a record-setting 50th win, all before receiving its 25th loss. With a hardened core, no longer relying on any particular player, but on the entirety of the team, the Cardinals have a dynasty on their hands.
Key injuries have been on the rise this season, but it can be chalked up to bad luck. Halfway through the season, not a single team has truly witnessed its season go up in smoke due to injuries, with organizations that have 8 or more DL players (Braves, Red Sox, Marlins, Mets, Yankees, Padres, Rays, Rangers) all en route to finishing with a virtually identical record to their 2014 seasons, if not better.
The marketability of players has promoted athletes to superstardom, leading many fans to blindly believe that a team would fall apart without their star on the field. In baseball, however, no one player on a 25-man roster truly makes an irreplaceable impact. There is no Kobe Bryant or Peyton Manning in the MLB; there are only teams.
So, the next time your team’s star player goes down with an injury, hold your breath – and exhale in exhilaration as the next diamond emerges in the rough.