April 15, 2008 - Most major league teams are 15 games or so into their seasons, and everything is beginning to settle down. Each team has had their “Opening Day” at home, and while some teams look like they left their bats in Florida (ahem, Detroit), others look to be in mid-season form, like the Diamondbacks.

Looking around the league many things appear to be normal, however one can’t help but notice how many players have gotten hurt already. I was thinking about this last week and wouldn’t you know it, ESPN’s Jayson Stark wrote a column about it later on that week.

ESPN's Jayson Stark points out more than 100 players are already on the disabled list and we are only halfway through April. While it’s understandable that players will pull hamstrings and tweak muscles because of the colder weather, the amount of injuries, especially to key players, has been astonishing.

Among the big names that Stark mentions are Mariners closer J.J. Putz who is out with a cartilage infection in his rib cage, Tigers outfield Curtis Granderson, still out with a fractured finger, and Mets pitchers Pedro Martinez and Orlando Hernandez.

While many of these players will return in two or three weeks, others will be nagged by injuries for much longer. And while injuries are part of baseball, when this many players are on the DL, it hurts the game. Some will say that it’s still early, but the earlier a team can be together and bond on-and-off the field, the better. April games may not seem meaningful, but the chemistry and momentum they can create is difficult to replace.

In other news ...

Rollins Still Bothered By Ankle
Philadelphia Phillies shortstop and last year’s National League MVP, Jimmy Rollins continues to be sidelined with a sprained ankle. Rollins, who injured the ankle against the Mets on April 8, has missed six consecutive games.

The Phillies are 3-3 in games without Rollins, and they expect him back soon, though it could take weeks longer for the ankle to be fully healthy. Rollins had started 2008 right where he left off last season, batting .306 with two homers and RBI in his first .

Surprise, Surprise: Hampton On DL
And from the “He’s Still in the League?” file, Braves starting pitcher Mike Hampton threw between 40-50 pitches before Atlanta’s game last Friday night ESPN.com is reporting. Hampton, who last pitched in a real game on August 19, 2005, has had injuries to his arm and groin.

When asked whether or not Hampton will pitch anytime soon, Braves manager Bobby Cox told The Associated Press he didn’t know. Hampton, who is Atlanta’s highest paid player along with Chipper Jones, hopes to return soon, but admits he isn’t 100 percent.

Pierzynski Off To Career-Best Start
Chicago White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski is proving his fast start was no fluke. Pierzynski, who is batting .421 with two home runs and nine runs batted in, leads the majors in batting average. His nine RBI in April are more than he has had in any April in his career.

For fantasy owners, there is no reason to keep him on the bench or see hisname on your league’s waiver wire. With Jim Thome and Jermaine Dye struggling, Pierzynski has keeping the White Sox afloat and bought time for the team’s thumpers to get going.

Young Arms Spark Surprising Royals
The Kansas City Royals continue to surprise teams, and two of their starting pitchers Brian Bannister and Zack Greinke are the driving force behind it. Both Bannister and Greinke have three wins. Bannister’s ERA is 0.86, while Greinke’s is 0.75. They each have three starts and have only given up four combined earned runs.

The duo joins Gil Meche as the anchors of Kansas City’s resurgent pitching staff, while second-year closer Joakim Soria has been dominant in finishing games.