Placido Polanco is battling a sore back; Utley and Howard seeing increased workload
The restrictions on Chase Utley and Ryan Howard are quickly disappearing as the veteran infielders get their legs back under them. Until today, neither player had started four straight games since returning from the disabled list.
Placido Polanco is battling a sore back; Utley and Howard seeing increased workload
David Murphy
Placido Polanco has been battling a sore back for at least the last week, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel revealed prior to Monday's series opener against the Brewers. The veteran third baseman was not in the starting lineup, and was scheduled to be examined by team doctor Michael Ciiccotti. Polanco also had the day off on Saturday.
"He started telling me about it in Los Angeles (early last week)," Manuel said.
While Polanco's glove work remains solid at third base, the 36-year-old veteran is on track to finish with career lows in batting average (.255), on base percentage (.300) and slugging percentage (.628). After signing with the Phillies in 2010, Polanco hit .298/.339/.386, driving in 52 runs while scoring 76. But his production has slipped as injuries have mounted: he appeared in 132 games in 2010 and 122 in 2011.
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The restrictions on Chase Utley and Ryan Howard are quickly disappearing as the veteran infielders get their legs back under them. Until today, neither player had started four straight games since returning from the disabled list.
"Somewhere along the line, I've got to turn them loose," Manuel said. "But at the same time, I don't want to overdo it. I don't want them to have a relapse and stuff like that. But sooner or later, I've got to let them play four games in a row. Figured we'd try today."
Utley entered Monday hitting .231 with a .292 on base percentage, .400 slugging percentage and 11 strikeouts, although he did have three home runs, nine RBI and seven runs in 72 plate appearances.
Howard was hitting just .182, but four of his six hits had gone for extra bases, including three home runs. He had five RBI, four runs and 11 strikeouts in 40 plate appearances.
Snakebit Amaro. Who would have thought that such an old third baseman would battle injuries? All those other lucky teams lucked into having young guys playing 3rd. It isn't fair. It looks like Rube is going to have a tough time dumping salary. I read where teams are asking for salary relief in any deal for Victorino or Blanton.— jtj10
I would pay to have Victo taken from us right now, especially if it increases the possibility of a better return, higher minor guy, etc. Blanton, I understand, but given the shakiness of the pitching a (more) reliable 5th guy than KK has to stay around unless they are calling up young gun arm.
Saying since last fall 3B is critical to power and defense, let alone health. PP has been serviceable on defense, when he plays, but frankly offensively is done.
The goo in the works is Hamel at this point. If he doesn't sign, his delay is costing this team big time relative to making other decisions. The 6yr 127.5M deal on the table does not seem like enough. Enough years, yes, not enough moolah. While he ponders, the team is held from truly making other deals or even listening seriously for trades for him.
Wednesday is a deadline - moving day starts right after.— 24sDad- Give Cody Asche a shot at third. Over his last ten games at third for Reading he is hitting .282 with three home runs.— Dull
- its funny how this year, the worst season of polanco's career is equal to a typical rollins post-2007 season, yet so many people are on board with amaro handing J-Pop that enormous contract and at the same time those people are ready to put Polanco out to pasture for having an off year.— zwarte piet
- If they don't want the contracts, don't give them the players, simple as that. I would like them to keep them all, and let them try and make a run. Quitting is BS, the people calling for them to quit on the season, are idiots. Polly comes off the books next season, so does Vic, Blanton and Hamels' salaries. If you do not get a really good offer, just keep them all, and let them walk. Then use the $$ to sign replacements, just not $20-$30 mil a year replacements. They have enough of those kind of contracts already.— Paul SoTX
- You're missing the point about the luxury tax. It appears the Phillies will have to pay unless they can dump salary. Since the tax rate escalates each consecutive year a team is over the limit, it greatly enhances their competitive position in 2013 if they can dump salary by getting rid of guys who they aren't going to retain anyway, and finish without having to pay the tax. They are completely out of it. Miami already threw in the towel and they are ahead of the Phillies in the standings. Wait around too long and you reduce your market or the aging players you want to dump will get injured (see Polly and now Victorino). BTW I don't see how people haven't lost jobs, let alone been sued, for being in luxury tax area and buried in last place. — jtj06
- @piet. Polly is 36 . Times up he's done.its not an off year.— eglftbl1
- Sheesh, for some people everything is an excuse to jab Rollins. I guess piet already forgot that JRoll won yesterday's game with a line drive base hit.— Dave Clemens
- It is time for Polanco to leave the lineup and become the utility infielder. He can be the glove in the late innings at 3rd or 2nd. His hitting is dragging the team down. For now, Wiggy and Fontenot will have to do. I'm for trading Pierre who has been a pleasant surprise but is a short term fix nd platooning Mayberry and nix. Maybe it is time to jettisom Victorino and giving Brown a full time opportunity. It is too late to salvage the season so we might as well learn about what we have and what we need for next year. Bring up Domonic Brown and let him struggle in left, moving Mayberry to center.— gotedge
- Except of course Rollins hits for power(averaged close to 60 extra base hits per full season since 2007 to Polanco's 38), steals 30 bases while rarely getting caught and is lights out defensively but other than that, yeah Polanco's .255 average is close to Rollins BA since 2007.— UncleStosh
- Zwarte- Polly and Rollins' years and numbers are only comparable in batting average. JRoll has more hmners, RBIs, stolen bases....everything offensive, plus he is a reliable and fine fielding shortstop. I don't know where all these JRoll and Ryan Howard hating comes from...or do I?— tbjama
- I written numerous times where the hate against rollins and howard comes from the so-called white man just like the racist, evil system in usa based on race set up by who?...the so-called white man that is a easy call.— only 9
- Only 9...shut up, what are you even on about? The Rollins and Howard haters annoy me just as much as the next guy, but it has nothing to do with race, gtfo.— cloudkitt
- Hi...is there any possibility that Laynce Nix could play CF defensively? Victorino is struggling/injured, and it seems like getting Nix in there esp. against Righties could be interesting...so we can keep Juan Pierre in left field.— kilo_005
- Yeah, I think Nix on roller skates is the answer in center field.— Claudio Vernight
