Game 98: Polanco sits, Victorino plays
Placido Polanco was completely unavailable Monday night, Charlie Manuel revealed after the game, which sent up red flags. Polanco has long had back problems and spent 25 days on the disabled list in 2011 with the injury.
Game 98: Polanco sits, Victorino plays
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
Placido Polanco was completely unavailable Monday night, Charlie Manuel revealed after the game, which sent up red flags. Polanco has long had back problems and spent 25 days on the disabled list in 2011 with the injury.
He is not playing again Tuesday, which marks the third time in four games he is benched. Manuel said Polanco went for an MRI Tuesday afternoon, the results of which were not immediately available. Either way, it's not a great sign he even required one.
It's problematic timing for the Phillies, who could look to move Polanco to a contending team before the July 31 deadline. Polanco has a $5.5 million mutual option for 2013 that will not be exercised.
There were recent reports of the Baltimore Orioles showing interest in the 36-year-old third baseman. If the back pain is even remotely an issue, it likely kills whatever trade value he'd have.
On a more positive note for the Phillies, Shane Victorino is back in the lineup one night after playing only one inning after taking a ball off his right elbow.
The Phillies face Zack Greinke, who has not pitched since July 13. The Brewers put their ace on a mental break to "recharge his batteries." There will be a lot of interested scouts watching his outing Tuesday.
1. Jimmy Rollins 6
2. Shane Victorino 8
3. Chase Utley 4
4. Ryan Howard 3
5. Carlos Ruiz 2
6. Hunter Pence 9
7. Ty Wigginton 5
8. John Mayberry Jr. 7
9. Cliff Lee 1
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
It looks like it's time for Polanco's turn on the DL. Rollins is next up. These old guys can't make it through the season in one piece. Who'd of thunk it?— jtj06- Jim Me Pop Up still leading off. He really sets the tone!— Short Circuit 3
- signing of Polanco 3 years ago constituted the end of Phils going to World Series, a ridiculous choice to start at 3rd base with no power, no speed and nothing more than a utility player at this point in his career— warbiscuit
- Phillies win tonight 6-2. A couple of Phillies will go yard....bet on it!!!!!— huntnmike3666
- Not sure I'd put JMJ in front of Cliff Lee. He won't see anything worth hitting. I'd switch JMJ and Ty in the order.— drhoffman
- Watch Wigginton at third, and tell me Polanco isn't valuable in the field.— 2smart4philly
- Wiggy is brutal.— wo_fat
- Polanco is very valuable in the field, but thats all he is good for anymore. Besides that, he has nothing to offer and i dont know what we would get for him. This team needs to start getn younger soon or they will be rebuilding for many years to come!— huntnmike3666
- I predicted Phillies to win 6-2, looks like its the other way around. Maybe they will come back and win again for the 4th time this year...............doubt it1— huntnmike3666
- Cant believe my eyes, they freakin did it again, i need a beer now!!!!!!!— huntnmike3666
