Will Carroll's 2011 Team Health Reports

Will Carroll's Rndm Crap - Risky Business:

"I’ve been working on what we’ve known as Team Health Reports for the last couple weeks, really digging in over the last few days. It’s mostly an intellectual exercise for me, since I don’t have a place to publish them. At worst, I’ll put the matrix up somewhere"

Calvin Johnson Injury Status

Will Carroll's Black And Blue Report at Football Outsiders:

"Johnson's knee is thought to be the problem, though the team didn't crutch or brace him after the injury -- he was seen on the sidelines with ice -- and Johnson's initial reaction was to grab higher on the leg, near his groin. Still, Adam Schefter is dialed in and has consistently called this a sprained knee. Even a mild strain is going to keep Johnson on the sidelines at least a week."

If you're going to be away from the computer on Sunday, sit Calvin Johnson. The bye week isn't harsh on WRs, so you should have a decent option to start. Better safe than learning Sunday afternoon that Megatron sat.

Expert Injury Analysis Links

In addition to referring to the Twitter feeds on the left, here are the links to Will Carroll's Black and Blue Report and Stephania Bell's Injury Blog.

Personally, I use Will's Twitter feed along with the one from Adam Schefter for last minute news.

Fantasy Football: Marion Barber III Start/Sit

From Will Carroll's Black and Blue Report:

"The churning legs necessary for acceleration and power running are precisely what is strained here, forcing Barber to the sidelines for at least a week. Barber hasn't been a quick healer in the past, so we'll have to keep a close eye on this one for signs that he'll be ready to produce. The Cowboys aren't ruling him out, but given their solid options in Tashard Choice and Felix Jones, resting him in Week 3 makes sense."

This sums up where fantasy footballers are stuck. Dallas Cowboys' RB Marion Barber has a quad injury but seems determined to play, but expert opinion leans towards sitting him given the team's excellent alternatives regardless of reports out of camp.

I went 15% of my FAAB to add Tashard Choice and drop Peyton Hillis on the chance Barber is out, and we have definitive information that Barber will not play.

Fantasy Baseball: What Albert Pujols' Triangular Scar Means

Maybe Will Carroll’s triangular scar observation means Pujols had TJS, and fantasy players need to stop worrying about the possibility.

If true, great for fantasy. Absolutely horrible for front office disclosure. Kind of one up’s J.P. Ricciardi’s outright lie about BJ Ryan’s elbow a couple seasons ago.

Fantasy Baseball: Albert Pujols Had Tommy John Surgery?

Is this an example of everything the old information gatekeepers complain about the new information dispersers?

Baseball Prospectus | Under The Knife: Down and Out:

"There was a small triangular scar at the back. I was a bit surprised to see it, because it's well-known that Pujols had ulnar transposition surgery, not Tommy John surgery; it's TJS that creates the distinct triangular scar. I'm no scar scholar, but I know that UTS usually leaves a player with a linear scar, one that's (warning—these links are pretty graphic) large and quite noticeable, even almost a year later. Pujols' was done to minimize damage, so that it's smaller is no real surprise. That it looks just like a Tommy John scar is something to note, though I want it to be clear that I don't think the team or Pujols is hiding anything here."

Fantasy Football: Will Carroll On Pierre Thomas

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Football analysis and NFL stats for the Moneyball era - Authors of Football Outsiders Almanac 2009:

"Pierre Thomas is the bigger issue for the Saints, having sprained his MCL. He didn't play Thursday and his availability for Week 1 is in serious question. Even if he does play, his effectiveness will be an issue."

Normally, I don't root against Will Carroll, but, in this case, I am. My bet was laid on the teams treating any ding, no matter how minor, as a reason not to play a starter.

Will Carroll's UTK Wrap: Fast Work

Every Friday, Baseball Prospectus provides free-to-all Under The Knife Wrap column. For those who don't subscribe, this is likely to be fresh information. For those who do, Will's Quick Cuts section at the end is new info. Here is a blurb from that:

"Eric Gagne will have a cortisone shot in his shoulder. If he's not better by Sunday, he'll hit the DL. He's not closing for a while either way."

Baseball Prospectus | Articles | UTK Wrap: Fast Work:

UTK Wrap: Red Sox West

Baseball Prospectus | Articles | UTK Wrap: Red Sox West

Will Carroll's weekly "Under The Knife Wrap" column is up at Baseball Prospectus. It is available to non-subscribers and provides a recap of the week's injuries. There is also newer information contained in the Quick Cuts section at the end.

His estimate for the Erik Bedard and Alfonso Soriano DL stints is just 15 days. For those of us who own either player, from his pen to God's ears.