Broken toe will cost Schierholtz important audition time
That Nate Schierholtz suffered a broken toe Sunday does not have any immediate bearing on the fourth-place Phillies. They will have to shuffle an already-thin infield for the season's remaining six weeks. It just means playing time for others.
Broken toe will cost Schierholtz important audition time
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
MIAMI — That Nate Schierholtz suffered a broken toe Sunday does not have any immediate bearing on the fourth-place Phillies. They will have to shuffle an already-thin infield for the season's remaining six weeks. It just means playing time for others.
However, it certainly hurts Schierholtz's chance for an everyday job in 2013.
Chances are the Phillies did not see anything in his 37 plate appearances that guaranteed him a spot or precluded him from one. They were eager for a two-month look at Schierholtz, who wanted an escape from San Francisco, where he believed he was cast forever as a part-time player.
Instead, it's possible only 11 games are what the Phillies will see before heading into the winter with myriad outfield decisions to make.
Schierholtz was placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday as Hector Luna was recalled from triple A. The injury, depending on its severity, could end his season. If it requires surgery, it obviously will keep him from playing again in 2012. Ryan Madson broke his right big toe in 2010 and needed surgery that kept him sidelined for 70 days.
It's unclear whether Schierholtz needs surgery.
Other instances of the injury could have him back anywhere from 15 days to six weeks. Erick Aybar suffered a hairline fracture of his big toe earlier in 2012 and the Los Angeles infielder missed 15 days. Tampa Bay infielder Jeff Keppinger missed 34 days with a broken toe earlier in the season. And Cardinals reliever Edward Mujica missed 18 days with a fractured toe.
The Phillies, already faced with a dearth of outfield options, must reshuffle again. It's possible Domonic Brown shifts from left to right on a regular basis with Juan Pierre and Laynce Nix splitting time in left. The injury also effectively leaves Michael Martinez as the lone backup centerfielder to John Mayberry Jr.
The only other outfielder on the 40-man roster is Tyson Gillies, who is hitting .293 with an .812 OPS for double-A Reading. He, of course, has played in only 47 games because of injuries and suspensions. But the Phillies could opt to take a look at him in September when rosters expand.
Another possibility is 26-year-old Darin Ruf, who is mashing Eastern League pitching for Reading. Ruf has hit 25 home runs, which ranks ninth among all minor-league players in 2012. But he has played only 14 games in the oufield this season, and it is his first try at learning the position.
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Bring up Ruf NOW!
— drhoffman- Shuffle an already thin "outfield" not infield— ton609
- For the love of Pete, Hector freaking Luna again?!!! I'd rather see Phil Bradley.— weave09
- Tough break for Nate, although I never thought that he was the answer to our rf problems. I'd like to see more playing time for Pierre. Let's see if his 37 year old body can hold up during the dog days of summer. If so, offer him another contract for next year.— nmlawyer
- Why are they resistant on bringing up Stephen Susdorf? Martinez??? Really??? All Susdorf does is hit.
— Phillyexp - how proud Ruin Tomorrow, Jr. must feel to know he has but 16 or 17 major-league-level players IN THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION, and that Hector Luna will be called up for the 85th time this season as there isn't another viable option down on the farm.
Of course, some of us stupid fans will call for Darin Ruf to be promoted, just as we did a year ago with Brandon Moss and just as we did in the offseason for Erik Kratz, prior to Smug Genius Amaro announcing his stupefying re-signing of Brian Schneider, and just as we've done of late in calling for Tyler Cloyd to join the rotation, but in the Phils' organization, once you are branded a minor leaguer, there is little you can do to change the genius GM's mind. Not to mention the Bumbling Dope of a Manager having no real interest in playing you once you do come up.
There's a better chance of these guys being dealt out of the system than for any of them to get their shot with the big club, unless you catch a break like Kratz did with both Chooch and Schneider going down with injuries.
How proud Amaro must feel!— advantasux - and how hysterical it is that with each injury (or trade), Michael Martinez' place on the roster becomes more solidified. Suddenly, he is now identified as the first and only repalcement in the OF for Mayberry in center, which adds to his status as first replacement for both Chase and Poppins.
Smug Ruben and Dopey Charley must feel so good to know that their boy is working his way up the charts on this team. That one woudl dare to bring him back and the other would dare to start him twice per week, even as he continues to set new lows for a major-league player, is just incredibly insulting to all the fans of this team and shows the utter disdain these two men have for the folks who pay the bills.
Michael Martinez is golden on this team and that's that!
— advantasux - schierholtz had years to 'prove' whether he can be quality everydy outfielder --only clueless rube thinks mediocre or bad players like schneider, kendrick, martinez, wigginton, nix, francisco etc suddenly are going to be magically transformed into quality..guess he figures that if such an incompetent imbecile can be given the job of g.m. then you can give anyone any job (how about a nobody the job of defensive coordinator?)— warbiscuit
- LUNA!, surely better OF options exist. Bring up a rook. Way to go Ruby!— Harmlessharry
- Bring up Ruf and Gillies and drop can of tuna Luna. What is there to lose? They can learn a bit about life in the bigs and get a few at bats. The only question involving Luna is: Who is the most unlikely player to be on the 2013 roster?— gotedge
- Really what is there to lose. Bring them up and tell them just relax and do what you do best. You can get lucky and find out that someone is ready sooner rather than later. Look at Vance Worley, Erik Kratz.— tony bell
- What needs to be learned of a player like Luna on the major league team that is not already known? I agree with the rest of the posters here; we need to find out about our other minor league players who may have a future.
But I don't see that future here.....this team seems to pigeon hole their minor league players to the point where they remain buried down under. This season has been lost for over a month now and it's imperative upper management throw their own caution into the wind and find out about these guys.
And for gosh sakes, DL Worley, get him his surgery NOW and get his rehab started earlier. What in the world is the point in letting him pitch in pain? To follow some set standard of normal baseball routine where the player finishes in October-gets surgery in November-rehab in January? Nonsense. And another tip of the cap goes to Dubee. His failure to act cost Halladay his season; it appears his nonchalance towards his pitchers is going to cost Worley.....— DelawareRiverRat - This is sheer Lunacy!— dasher
- Hector Luna, Yes! Get me some 2013 season tickets NOW!— Dull
- No, make that Schier Lunacy!— dasher
