No less than Billy Beane, GM of the Oakland A's and an early user of statistical analysis and baseball, calls it "the natural progression of statistical analysis." Stan Conte, director of medical services and head trainer for the LA Dodgers has begun work with two UCLA statisticians to build a mathematical model that they hope will show the chances a player will be injured in the upcoming season.
Conte contends that injuries are not solely a matter of chance. "I refuse to think we are doing all these things to get them healthy, and its a matter of luck whether lightening hits or doesn't hit."
The article is really interesting for all fans of baseball who ask why so many supposedly well-conditioned athletes continually go down with injuries.
Check it out at the New York Times.