In fact, only five teams in all of baseball had as many as 20 trips to the disabled list all of last season. Entering Saturday, Boston had 403 games missed by disabled players. With Jenks joining six others already on the DL, that number will be approaching 450 by the end of the current road trip and on pace for over 800.
Only 10 teams in the majors had more than 800 total days on the DL in 2010. Boston finished fourth with 1,013.
A total of 19 different members of the roster were put on the DL at one time or another last season. Already 15 have been a victim of "The List" in 2011.
The difference lies in the fact that the Sox have lost just two players for the year — Daisuke Matsuzaka and Rich Hill. Last year at this time, Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury were all but done (both made attempts at comebacks later in the year, but nothing came of it). Mike Cameron's last game came on July 30 and Kevin Youkilis' on Aug. 2.
The house of cards was about to fall down.
This year, Boston is hopeful that the roster can remain largely intact. Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz may return soon. Carl Crawford is set to rejoin the team Monday. Jed Lowrie is making progress as he attempts to return from a shoulder injury.
Indeed, the nature of the injuries are not quite as severe as in 2010, but the sheer number of them is about on par with what many will remember as the most injury-plagued season in team history.
