Utley, Polanco both placed on DL
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Utley, Polanco both placed on DL
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
CINCINNATI -- Almost certainly, this day will be remembered as a turning point in the 2010 Phillies' season, regardless of how it ends up.
The Phillies placed half of their infield on the disabled list Tuesday. Second baseman Chase Utley (sprained ulnar collateral ligament of the right thumb) and third baseman Placido Polanco (left elbow inflammation) were both placed on the 15-day disabled list. Polanco is placed retroactive to June 26.
Utley is eligible to return July 14; Polanco is July 11. Seven Phillies are on the disabled list, including catcher Carlos Ruiz.
Greg Dobbs and Brian Bocock were recalled from triple-A Lehigh Valley.
The Phillies remain unsure of how long Utley might be out. He will likely seek a second opinion on the injury from a hand specialist. Polanco is already back in Philadelphia. He said Monday he might need offseason surgery to repair a bone spur that is bothering his left elbow.
Both Utley and Polanco were the leading vote getters in National League All-Star voting at their respective positions.
Two teams recently lost their second basemen to injury, Boston (Dustin Pedroia) and Colorado (Troy Tulowitzki). Neither made a big-time move to bring in a middle infielder because, well, there isn't much out there.
The Phillies could look at middle infielders like Adam Everett or Mark Grudzielanek, both of whom were recently released. Garrett Atkins can play third and he was just released by Baltimore. Aki Iwamura and Kaz Matsui are in the minors.
But do those players actually represent upgrades? Probably not. (Although Brian Bocock was slugging a robust .231 at triple A.)
The Phillies have six players (Dobbs, Bocock, Wilson Valdez, Dane Sardinha, Mike Zagurski, Nelson Figueroa) who have spent time at Lehigh Valley this season.
We'll find out more shortly from Charlie Manuel, assistant GM Scott Proefrock and athletic trainer Scott Sheridan.
Wigginton, by the way, has also played 1st and 2nd for the Orioles as well as 3rd and OF for the Mets/Marlins I think. His numbers this year: .266 13 HR 40 RBI— MattKnife
