Stutes injures back
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Stutes injures back
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
ST. LOUIS -- The last casualty on a road trip that could not end soon enough was rookie righthander Michael Stutes. He was the first reliever used Tuesday night and lasted three pitches before needing to leave the game.
Stutes said he felt burning in his lower back after throwing his second pitch, a 93 m.p.h. fastball to Lance Berkman. He tried to pitch through it, threw another 93 m.p.h. fastball and then the pain was too much.
The Phillies are unsure if Stutes will require the disabled list. He will see a doctor when the team returns home Wednesday.
"I don't know," Stutes said. "I've never had an injury before. I guess we'll figure it out [Wednesday]. Hopefully it's just a freak thing where I just strained something and I'll wake up tomorrow feeling good."
Stutes said he felt fine warming up in the bullpen and did not feel any pain until the Berkman at-bat.
It threw a wrench into Charlie Manuel's bullpen plan after Roy Oswalt gave him five innings while on a pitch count. Manuel said he had hoped to squeeze two innings out of Stutes.
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The weakness of this team are the middle infielders and the corner outfielders.— escapedcamden4monterey- The weakness of this team are the middle infielders and the corner outfielders.— escapedcamden4monterey
- With this team struggling so badly offensively I just cannot understand sending Vance Worley down to Lehigh Valley. Every run is crucial and you need your best arms on the Phillies 25 man roster.You simply cannot afford to have Worley getting stretched out in Allentown. Tonight was a prime example why.
The young guys Worley,Stutes,Bastardo have been invaluable and they may be a foreshadowing into the direction this organization needs to start heading in.— joe smith - If something happens to Blanton, or if Blanton falls, I think you will see Worley take his place. That is the reason Worley went to triple AAA...— PhilliefaninAZ
- People should look at Worley's latest AAA start as the reason he's being sent down. He was very rusty after not starting for almost two weeks. He only lasted 3 innings, giving up 3 runs and 7 hits. Moving viable starters between the bullpen and the rotation isn't the best idea in my opinion. Anyone remember when they did that with Madson? He never became a great reliever until he settled into that one role. Worley has the most potential as a starter and they may need him to step in very soon. Read the news on Blanton's "soreness" for example.— s
- None of it matters if the team can't hit. Fire Greg Gross. Why pay someone to sit in the dugout that provides no value.— palm_goodness
- Greg Gross isn't swinging at bad pitches or letting good pitches go by. Greg Gross isn't popping up to the infielders or shallow outfield. Why pay someone to set foot on the field and not do their job? When will the overpaid athletes ever be held accountable and take the blame for what they do.. — rolenfan
- Agreed that at this point they really shouldn't have a hitting coach. Clearly these hitters are stuck in their ways, not to be improved. They don't know how to advance runners, swing or take to counts based on situation, and they have no plan or patience. I'm not blaming Gross. I just think these hitters are who they are. No point in paying another guy.— twothousandeight
- This is obviously all Milt Thompson's fault.— NMPartners
- I agree. GG has to go. Ryan Howard is on pace for just about 200 strikeouts this year and about 35 home runs. He looks completely lost at the plate. And when we are done firing GG can we please get rid of Tom McCarthy and Chris Wheeler? These guys never stop talking.— jpgulli
- If you want to hear professional announcing listen to Vin Scully do the Dodger broadcasts (by himself!). All the others are just pretenders. — MFinSC
- I've heard Scully and, yes, he's good. He still calls at least the first few innings with no sidekick. He goes back to the Dodgers in Brooklyn so he's called a lot of games. — s
- Worst leadoff hitter, worst outfield, worst bench, worst home run output, etc. = Make trades!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!— shawnmac
- Chase should be back within a week. That will help at second and in the 3rd hole. Victorino can then move down to 6 or 7. The weakness is right field. Francisco stinks. They need a power hitter to bat 5th behind Howard or Howard will never get any pitches to hit.— fischman
- Get Utley back. Platoon Brown and Francisco, Mayberry and Ibanez. Delete Orr or Martinez and add another bat to the bench. Get healthy.— PhillyfaninMD
