I’ve heaped enough praise on Herm Schneider over the years that it’s bordering on the romantic. The interesting thing isn’t the results; those speak for themselves. To me, it’s that even as close as I watch this team and their medical staff, we don’t know much about them and their methods. Quick: Who’s the team doctor? While many can name their team’s doc off the top of their head, it’s not quite so easy here. Even few Sox die-hards will know Dr. Charles Bush-Joseph. Schneider is known for his rehab of Bo Jackson, but even after long time S&C coach Steve Odgers moved on to the Boras Institute, nothing seemed to change. (More interestingly, there’s little evidence that Boras clients are significantly more healthy than others.) There’s seemingly a black box instead of a training room in U.S. Cellular Field. Injuries go in and productive players go out. The Sox understand this and have been able to bring in high-risk players such as Jim Thome, Jermaine Dye, and now Jake Peavy. The alchemy that happens, turning risk into wins, continues on in 2011. There’s not a lot of red here, which means Schneider and his staff can focus on the high-leverage players. …
March 1, 2011
Will Carroll’s 2011 White Sox Team Health Report
A look at Adam Dunn’s Plate Discipline
In the book Moneyball, the Athletics front office talks about process. For example, they cared less about the result of a plate appearance than how the batter got to that result. They would rather have a batter take an outside pitch than swing at it and get a hit. By confining swings to the strike zone, batters increased their probability of getting on base, as contact was more likely to result in a hit, and walks would go up as batters refused to swing at balls.
Adam Dunn would likely be a player the Athletics would love. Look where he swings: …
Jake Peavy is feeling normal
Peavy threw a great 25 pitches in his side today, then fatigue set in for 15. He’s all-in for a 40-pitch/2 IP outing for White Sox on Friday.
Q. Know what speed he was pitching at?
A. Per Peavy, he feels completely normal (regular velocity)
Peavy today: If I didn’t know otherwise, I don’t feel like I’m rehabbing. Feels like a regular spring training.
White Sox vs. Milwaukee Brewers on 2:05 pm CT; free webcast
Game at 2:05 CT. Free webcast at whitesox.com: Watch live on an exclusive webcast as Opening Day starter Mark Buehrle made his spring debut vs. old foe Zack Grienke and his new team, the Brewers. Watch | Gameday
