Talking chemistry, PRP injections and a note from Aberdeen

When it comes to baseball, there is seemingly a stat for everything. Beyond traditional stats, we can find the so-called advanced stats such as Weighted Runs Created and Weighted On-Base Average, and we can find stats for Defensive Runs Saved and pitching stats for Line Drive Rate and Home Run to Fly Ball ratio. And that is just scratching the surface.

But can everything be explained with a stat - traditional or otherwise? Not really. Not hardly.

On MLB Network yesterday, "MLB Now" host Brian Kenny and his panelists discussed team chemistry. Is it important? Jim Thome was on the panel and the one-time Oriole basically said chemistry is very important.

Kenny is a lightning rod for criticism at times, for those that don't buy into sabermetrics and advanced stats to his level. I find his show enlightening and I'm open to listening to his thoughts any time. Heck, I bought his book. Forked over, you know, actual dollars. But I don't agree when he dismisses the impact of chemistry.

I wonder if he and others feel that way because we can't quantify it. I find some sabermatricians always want to be able to explain with a stat why something happened. Why a team scored 50 more runs year over year or why a player hit 25 homers one year and 35 the next.

Chemistry is something you feel in a clubhouse. It's a feeling you get being around a team. You can't quantify that or even know for sure it's important. But so many players over the years have told me it's important that after a while you learn to believe them.

Maybe BK should stop ignoring what players and executives say and admit that winning involves more than what his iPad tells him! https://t.co/kekVYSYLht

-- Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 15, 2017

Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig didn't speak to each other for years. #Chemistry

-- Brian Kenny (@MrBrianKenny) February 15, 2017

Hate to break it to you, BK, but Kenny is right. The most sabermetrically inclined teams, too. Almost all believe in it, try to quantify it. https://t.co/6Hfgo7H4w1

-- Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 15, 2017

Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy said this at FanFest: "Any time that you are close with a bunch of guys in the clubhouse, the camaraderie and chemistry people talk about and don't really understand, but it's true. When you come to the ballpark every day and like the people you're around, it makes it a lot easier."

How many wins is that worth? No one knows. But it is important and in my opinion can't be dismissed just because we can't put a number on it. Winning teams in just about every sport seem to often cite chemistry. What comes first the winning or the chemistry?

Just because we can't quantify it like a batting average, ERA or an on-base percentage is no reason to diminish the importance of chemistry. There is a reason that many reporters and players over the years have indicated it is important - because it is, even without a stat to back that up.

Britton went through it, too: The news this week that Chris Tillman had a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in his right shoulder reminded me that several Orioles pitchers in recent years have had such injections. This list includes Dylan Bundy, Hunter Harvey and Branden Kline. Those three all eventually needed Tommy John surgery, but they had elbow issues and not shoulder inflammation/soreness.

One pitcher that did have a shoulder PRP injection is Orioles closer Zach Britton. He had one in March 2012 for an inflammed left shoulder, something similar that Tillman is dealing with now.

A few years after that - for this article in June 2015 - I asked Britton about his PRP injection. Keep in mind Britton had this done at a time when they are not nearly as prevalent as they are now.

Britton never needed shoulder surgery - he had inflammation, nothing more serious - and said the PRP injection eventually led him back to full health. But he also said what he learned and has done in the aftermath of getting the injection has proved very important for him and his left shoulder.

"When I got it done, Dr. (James) Andrews told me there wasn't a lot research on it, but he told me he thought it was a way to help get blood flowing to the shoulder," Britton said then. "The biggest thing for me was the time off and the rehab. It helped jumpstart it a little bit."

Since those type of injections were relatively new at that time, did Britton have any concerns about getting one?

"Not really," he said. "We didn't want to do a cortisone shot at that time. That might just mask a problem. We felt this was the best option to get some healing in there. We felt that was a good route to go then."

Britton also explained that "shoulder maintenance" became important to him even more so after his PRP injection. That involved everything from shoulder exercises he began to do more to adjustments he made to his long-toss program.

IronBirds new video board: The Aberdeen IronBirds, the Orioles' short-season Single-A affiliate, has announced plans for installation of a new 1,500 square foot high-definition video board and live score line display at Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium. Funded by Ripken Baseball, the new additions will be fully installed and operational in time for the IronBirds' 2017 home opener against the Hudson Valley Renegades on June 19.

"Our investment represents much more than just an improvement to the facility," said IronBirds general manager Matt Slatus. "This project is a testament of our commitment to providing the ultimate, family-fun experience, as well as our dedication to the Harford County community. Our fans are going to love the upgrade and all that it brings."

Manufactured and installed by industry-leader Daktronics, the display will measure 30 feet high by 50 feet wide and feature a 15HD pixel layout for an enhanced viewing experience from all parts of the ballpark. The new video board and line display will replace the original display that was installed prior to the IronBirds' inaugural season in 2002.

The IronBirds will also utilize the new display by hosting a monthly, free Community Movie Night Series. Throughout the summer while the team is on the road, fans, families and the local community will be invited to enjoy movies from the outfield comforts of Ripken Stadium.

This is great: Watch this video. The baseball team from the University of Arizona recreates scenes from the film "Major League." If they play this year as well as they produced this video, they could have a big year.

"My kind of team," skipper Lou Brown might say. "My kind of team."