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.
Why did they call Dobbs back up? a .500 strikeout percentage in AAA? Are you kidding me? Why not Dorta or Bozied? Both would be better options.— bdm155- @bluetears - Dom Brown plays RF, not 2B or 3B. maybe that's why they won't call him up as a replacement for these injuries...— mthompson0307
- How 3B Bozied down in Reading. He's hitting .303 with 13 HR and 55 RBI.— EL Zorro
- Bluetears, Dominic Brown plays outfield, that's why!— K_Ball
Comment removed.- may be time to rebuild on the fly...see if you can get anything for ibby or if someone wants to blow you away for werth. but seeing as Rube will never admit defeat i fully expect them to go after GARRETT ATKINS....he couldn't hit in Baltimore but maybe coming back to the NL and playing at the Bank will help....Plus he can't be any worse than DObbs....— thomaspfoolery
- Ain't no sugarcoating this one folks. I am in no mood to trash this year yet, as we are still talented enough to get to the post-season. AND...if as suspected....the Fightins are headed towards a hot streak, remember that it does not MATTER who is in the lineup.....when you hot...you HOT! And when you are cold (SEE: "Philadelphia Phillies, May first through June 15th, 2010")...'nuff said.— TBear
- So, the lineup is Rollins (ss), Victorino (cf), Werth (rf), Howard (1b) and... Yikes.— hunsinator
- Time for Howard to go on one of those tears and carry the team for a month. Let's go boys hold the fort keep on moving forward. Don't want to become the mets and whine about injuries and that's why we suck. This team doesnt do excuses. Let's Go phil's!!— Phillyphan26
- Polanco gets hit by pitch in the elbow and he's on the DL? There must be more to it than that. Happ will get another 15 day DL after tonight's start. Dobbs is back? Oh happy day.— scootch
- I forgot about Randsom! Why is he not up he has been tearing it up on the farm.— Phillyphan26
- bluetears - BECAUSE BROWN DOESN'T PLAY SECOND BASE OR 3RD BASE!!!!!!! HE THROWS LEFT HANDED SO HE CAN'T EVEN PLAY IN THE INFIELD!!!! My God!— richards4captain18
- @bluetears...how exactly is calling another outfielder going to help replace the two injured infielders? Is Brown going to play shortfield, like beer league softball?— mbphilly
- Amaro already traded one of the top starting pitchers in all of baseball to "replenish his farm system". Maybe it's time for him to trade Halladay to "replenish his major-league bench"!— jman
- We lose our best pure hitters from both sides of the plate and we get in return a struggling one-dimensional LH hitter and a career .229 minor leaguer, who is hitting .170 for the season and who batted .143 with San Francisco in 2008. Great!— EL Zorro
