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Will Byrnes's avatar

As a Mets fan from the beginning, I am painfully aware of the team’s propensity for annual devastation through injury. But I wonder if that feeling stands up to actual analysis. Have the Mets really suffered more significant injuries than other teams over the years? It would be fascinating to see a long-term look at MLB season outcomes (Wins/Losses, final standings) in light of the Baseball Prospectus chart that shows not only days missed, but the quality of those missed days. Are we really so cursed, or is our grief mere whining, unjustified by underlying realities?

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william rifkin's avatar

Any thoughts about injury prevention being the new inefficiency to find an edge? The pulled muscles, tight sides, and hamstring injuries are, at least some, preventable. With all the trainers, physical therapists, equipment available, keeping more folks on the field seems doable. It’s frustrating that young athletes get these types of injuries. Can’t eliminate, but Mets could slide into a hole they’ll have to spend the rest of the year digging out of.

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Jeffrey Bellone's avatar

Yes, I think this is an area where we will eventually see Cohen’s impact. Didn’t have enough to write about it today, but I do know they have made hires who have experience in biomechanics. Problem is it takes time to revamp an organization’s approach to health and conditioning.

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Will Byrnes's avatar

Very much looking forward to long-term improvements, and to learning what you have found out. Jeff Passan’s book, The Arm, offers a nice look at how changes in training led to a reduction in rotator cuff injuries. Hopefully science can lead the way in preventing many of the pulls, strains, twists that have bedeviled the team.

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