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Schneider's injury could complicate things

    by Matt Gelb
    Published 

PITTSBURGH -- It was mentioned in Friday's game story, but I wanted to expand upon backup-turned-starting catcher Brian Schneider, who was injured in the second inning Thursday.

Schneider came out after a foul tip glanced off his glove, but that wasn't what caused the injury. It just made it worse.

"Pitch earlier, a cutter supposed to be away, it was down and in," Schneider said. "I caught it but then I went into the ground [with my glove]. It was really weird how it just jammed into the ground. The foul tip was the icing on the cake."

When Schneider tried to walk off the injury, he had one thought.

"Why?" Schneider said. "Not another one."

Schneider said he put a guard on the finger and played the third inning. But when he was due to bat in the fourth, he couldn't squeeze a bat. Fill-in manager Pete Mackanin pinch hit for Schneider with Dane Sardinha.

Schneider said he wasn't overly worried about the injury, but he did have his hand wrapped later. Mackanin said the Phillies would know more about the injury Friday and depending on how it felt, more tests could be administered.

Obviously, injuries to catchers can be tricky, especially since the Phillies are already down Carlos Ruiz (who suffered a setback and won't be ready to do a rehab assignment this weekend). With Sardinha the only healthy catcher, if Schneider has to be sidelined for even just a few days, the Phillies might have to make a move.

Paul Hoover, who was injured earlier in June, is healthy now. He didn't play for triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday but was still with the Iron Pigs following the game.

Bringing Hoover to Pittsburgh for insurance could be an interesting task. The Phillies are at 40 on their 40-man roster and Hoover would have to be added to that at the expense of someone else. The only position players on the 40 in the minor leagues are outfielders Quintin Berry and John Mayberry Jr. Infielder Brian Bocock, recently promoted to the 25-man roster, could be designated for assignment to free up a spot.

Stay tuned.