by Scott Fennessy
This is an article that was sort of sparked by a question Tom asked me during of my replay updates. He asked if I used the charts for injuries, and I replied back that I did. I know sometimes the way the numbers on the charts lead to a lot of injuries to certain positions; In my 1901 and 1905 replays a surprising number of players have the result number 23. With both sets having two error numbers per card (due to the very low fielding percentages in the early days).
Well, over the course of the one and three quarters seasons I have replayed third baseman are basically an endangered species. I had noted on my most recent update about the troubles Harry Wolverton and Bill Bradley have had, and more interestingly enough just tonight George Rhoe has joined that elite group of constantly injured third baseman. What makes his joining this group even more spectacular is that he has not really had much opportunity to play at all anyway.
Rohe saw his first action in game 2 a sub for Lee Tannehill and in his first at bat of the season hits a home run. So I put him in the next day and he hits yet another home run. Considering he only has one zero on the card I say maybe I let him start a third game, and he promptly gets hurt and misses over a month. About three games after his return I put him in during a blowout and sure enough he gets hurt and misses over 10 games. Then after returning again I put him in the lineup solely to give Tannehill a much needed day off and he gets hurt for another 19 games. So through 87 games this guy has managed to play in 12 games, and be hurt for over 50 of the rest of the games. Sadly enough in this replay (the year before the White Sox were the hitless wonders) his 2 home runs LEADS the team, which has a total of 3 for the season.
So that said, has anyone ever had players get injured this often? While I have never actually considered modifying the injuries has anyone ever done this, and what were the results?