HOT SEAT FANTASY PLAYER: COREY DICKERSON

Rising MLB star, Corey Dickerson was recently traded from the Rockies to the Rays. Fantasy players had high hopes for Corey's 2015 season but chronic plantar fasciitis and rib fractures limited him to 224 AB. He still managed to bat .303 with 10 HR in limited duty.

Manager Walt Weiss has been quoted as saying, "this kid could hit underwater." His talent is not being questioned. We're going to look at the long term implications of his 2015 injuries and see if he is worth the gamble in 2016.

Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of a thick band of connective tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes. The plantar fascia supports the arch and absorbs shock to the foot.

Due to the chronic nature of this injury, I suspect Corey may have faulty foot mechanics which along with prolonged standing and walking (needed for his job) have caused repetitive trauma to the fascia.

This is an injury that may need constant maintenance given his job description. Treatment likely includes anti-inflammatory injections, orthotics to support his foot mechanics and unload the plantar fascia along with an aggressive strength/stabilization and stretching program. Given his work ethic, I think this problem will be manageable for him going forward.

Corey also missed considerable time due to fractured ribs he suffered while diving for a fly ball on July 30. This injury should be fully healed now and based on his recent batting cage sessions I don't forsee this injury being an issue in the future.

The challenge to Corey's value will be TB's crowded OF situation. Given every player's learning curve when transitioning to a new league; the question becomes will Corey get enough ABs to merit his selection on your Fantasy team. If he can get off to a hot start he should be a nice pickup.

Labral Tears: THROWING ATHLETES MOST FEARED INJURY (A simplified guide)

Now that the smoke has cleared on the news that Greg Bird has a right labral tear requiring surgery, let's talk about this Boogeyman (known as a labral tear) and what this really means.

The labrum is a ring of soft fibrous tissue located in the shoulder socket. It's job is to help stabilize the shoulder joint. This collagen material cannot be strengthened and there are no reliable techniques to prevent labrum injuries. Oh, and did I mention they are tough to diagnose too!

A type I tear is when a portion of this tissue frays but remains intact. Usually PT can help regain motion, strength and function. In some circumstances arthroscopic surgery is recommended. Most procedures involve removing torn sections of this tissue.

A type II tear is when the labrum actually becomes detached from the bone. To correct this, the labrum is sutured back to the bone through anchors arthroscopically. As you can imagine this is a more involved rehab process than recovery from a type I tear.

These procedures are far more complicated and pose more of a threat to a throwing athlete's career than Tommy John surgery. In two separate studies it was reported that 3% and 14% of pitchers suffering from labrum tears were able to return to their previous level of success. This is far from the nearly 90% reported following Tommy John surgery.

Recovery really depends on a lot of factors such as the location and severity of the tear, how well the repair went, how well the patient heals, if they follow their physician's protocol and is compliant with physical therapy. Return to full essential function is usually between 6 and 8 months however the stress of throwing a baseball requires much more time. (12-14 months)

The good news is Greg Bird is not a pitcher and he plays a position in the field that requires the least arm strength. What makes Bird special is his bat not his arm. Expect him to be ready to compete at 2017 spring training. Ok... now everyone take a deep breath.