Utley, Polanco to DL -- What now?
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Utley, Polanco to DL -- What now?
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
It's too early to label it a crushing blow, because the exact extent of Chase Utley's thumb injury is still unknown. But an MRI revealed a sprain that is bad enough to warrant a trip to the disabled list, meaning the Phillies will be without their star second baseman for at least the next 15 days.
Utley has already left Cincinnati to return to Philadelphia. He will see a hand specialist tomorrow and surgery remains a possibility.
They'll also spend the bulk of that time without third baseman Placido Polanco, who was placed on the DL today as he continues to recover from a sore elbow that has plagued him on and off throughout the season.
The Phillies recalled Greg Dobbs and Brian Bocock from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
The move means that three of the Phillies' eight Opening Day regulars will be on the disabled list until at least Saturday, when starting catcher Carlos Ruiz is eligible to return from a concussion.
For a team that has already struggled to score runs in stretches, the loss of Utley for 15 days could be a killer.
Utley has only gone on the disabled list once in his career -- back in 2007 when he broke his hand and missed a month after being hit with a pitch by the Nationals' John Lannan.
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So what now?
Well, Bocock and Dobbs obviously aren't close to the level of the two guys they are replacing. Bocock is hitting .179 with a .239 OBP and .231 SLG at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Dobbs has two hits and seven strikeouts in 17 at-bats since he was optioned to Lehigh Valley last week.
The Phillies now have six players on their roster who have spent time with the Triple-A IronPigs this season: LHP Mike Zagurski, C Dane Sardinha, Bocock, Valdez, Dobbs and RHP Nelson Figueroa.
They also have seven players on the disabled list:
- Chase Utley (6/29, sprained thumb)
- Placido Polanco (backdated to 6/26, elbow contusion)
- Carlos Ruiz (backdated to 6/19, concussion)
- Ryan Madson (4/28, broken toe)
- J.A. Happ (backdated to 4/16, elbow strain)
- Chad Durbin (6/24, strained hamstring)
- Antonio Bastardo (backdated to 6/16, elbow inflammation)
Madson is making his second rehab appearance tonight and is hopeful of returning before the All-Star Break, which begins on July 12. Happ is making his fifth rehab appearance tonight, although the Phillies are still taking a wait-and-see approach with the lefty. He could return within the next week, or they could decide he still isn't ready and either give him one more minor league start or stop his rehab assignment.
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Utley is eligible to return on July 15, which is the first day back from the All-Star Break.
Polanco is eligible to return on July 11, which is the last day of play before the All-Star Break.
Durbin is eligible to return July 9, while Ruiz is eligible to return July 4, which is Sunday.
So does this mean no Utley in the All-Star Game?— alaver- it's not time to throw in the towel yet. We still have Halladay and Hamels who are capable of shutting the opposing team down. Werth and Howard are heating up. Ibanez is improving. We still have rollins and vic. Keep the faith.— therev
- This gamble by Chase could be a crushing blow. Here is the replay for the people that are saying they didn't have a problem with it or was a good gamble. You'll see the CF getting to the ball quickly with the LF backing him up and the ball not even close to the warning track. It wasn't deep enough or in the gap like somebody suggested. http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100628&content_id=11693296&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi— EL Zorro
Lee was not a team player. The team wanted him to match up with Sabathia and pitch games 1-4-7 but he pussied out. Fvck Lee! I am sick of the idiots who keep acting like he did something. His selfishness may have cost the Phillies the last WS.- @jb420: I believe his theory holds...he stated when a team loses a championship they struggle. Might want to recheck your glasses. @bluetears: Brown plays in the outfield, he wouldn't help for either one of these guys. Don't want him to be on the bench either...he needs ABs at the AAA level.
- RAJ, go after Atkins now.— EL Zorro
- blue tears! When did Brown learn to play the infield? Would be nice though..lol— pattymac3
- bluetears, brown doesnt play infield fyi. And Mayberry will be brought up before Brown since his clock is already running. Anyway, I want to know why Cody Ransom isn't being called up instead of Dobbs or this other nobody? Ransom leads the Iron pigs in HR and RBIs for goodness sake!! oh by the way Dobbs has no hits yet at triple A...— wavydavy2000
- Phillies are starting to resemble the Mets from last year. Not good.— nosupportgroup
- Sign Mark Grudzielanek asap— abspe
- Why didn't they call up Ransom? Bringing Dobbs back up makes no sense. The only thing that makes less sense is bringing the other guy (Bocock?) with him. Hopefully this team can rebound and make up for lost time after the all-star break.— malaysian mink
- Good that we can augment our collection of light-hitting Latin-born middle infielders with a light-hitting American-born middle infielder.— GoPhilsGo
Comment removed.- Injuries are the reason for the 40 man roster. Every sub has to step up and give 150% to fill the gap. Even with all these injuries the will be in the hunt for the division. The Phillies are like a tiger lurking and getting ready to pounce. Injuries will not cave the Phillies in like other teams.— jpelle36
- @bluetears: Because Domonic Brown is an outfielder, and the Phils just put two infielders on the DL. More proof that the people who want to call Brown up are idiots.— everydayguy
