ST. LOUIS -- Take a good look: there's a good chance this is the last you'll see of Jon Lieber in a Phillies uniform. The right ankle injury Lieber sustained Wednesday night in Cleveland is more serious than he or the Phillies suspected. After undergoing an MRI exam on his ankle before today's game, Lieber was diagnosed with a ruptured peroneus longus tendon that runs through the bottom of his foot and attaches to his toe. The Phillies placed Lieber on the disabled list and scheduled an appointment for him to see team physician Michael Ciccotti on Monday.
Asked if Lieber would need surgery that could end his season, assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said, "It's possible."
With Lieber sidelined, the Phillies will need pitchers for one game of Friday's doubleheader and for Saturday's game against the New York Mets. Amaro said the Phillies likely will call up pitchers from the minors to make those starts. Amaro said right-hander Brett Myers isn't a candidate to rejoin the rotation, even with Lieber and right-hander Freddy Garcia injured. Myers, the Phillies' opening-day starter, was moved to the bullpen April 18 and took over as the closer May 3 before straining his right shoulder and going to the disabled list. With Garcia ($10 million), Lieber ($7.5 million), reliever Tom Gordon ($7 million) and Myers ($5 million) injured, the Phillies have four pitchers making a combined $29.5 million on the disabled list. That's approximately 31 percent of their total payroll.
More in tomorrow's 50-cent edition.
6 comments:
Actually, tomorrow's Sunday. It's the buck-fifty edition (or Pat Burrell's batting average since May).
Good point, anonymous. Actually, Burrell is batting only .146 since April 25, less than the buck-fifty edition.
Scott,
Next time you speak with Charlie Manuel, can you please ask about why Bourn can't get more playing time? I mean every single time the guy gets a regular start he produces. He was flat out terrific today. He is a top flight defensive player and has really shown progress at the plate. Additionally, he can wreck havoc on the base paths. I just don't understand it. How is the guy going to get experience if he can't get off the bench? It seems like some guys on the team play no matter how bad they are doing but a young guy like Bourn can't get an opportunity.
Finally, how do the Phillies plan to handle manipulating the roster for Friday's and Saturday's starters? I know Hamels will start one of the two games on Friday, but they need a starter for the second. Then, they need a starter for Saturday. Are they going to send Condrey down for Friday's starter and then send Friday's starter down for Saturday's starter?
Thanks and keep up the good work,
Matt
Matt: Funny you mentioned Bourn. I was just writing a post about him. Charlie said tonight that Bourn may start Tuesday night against the Reds. And, I think, as long as he keeps playing well, you'll see his playing time increase. I think Charlie's confidence in Bourn is growing. He's starting to realize Bourn may be able to help the Phils win with more than just his legs and his glove in the late innings.
Regarding the roster moves, the Phils haven't thought that far ahead yet (believe it or not). They do need starters for one of the doubleheader games Friday and for Saturday's game. I expect we'll get some more information on who those starters may be on Tuesday or Wednesday, so stay tuned ....
There's a reason why Bourne does not start as much is because he is a butcher on the basepaths. He consistently runs into problems due to his own lack of judgment. The more times you put a player on the paths, the more mistakes he can make. If I had to choose between two options for Bourne, starting or pinch-running, it might be starting because they have nobody else that may fill in the OF, except Dobbs or Werth. Both of which are butchers out there themselves.
So, what is your solution anonymous? Keep trotting out .205 and see what happens? Bourn is 24 years old. He's going to make mistakes. Victorino, in the early part of the season, made several crucial mistakes on the base paths. With this team, fundamentals are very weak as it is. If the veteran players on the team can't play fundamental baseball, how can a 24 year old be expected to. As with the Victorino situation, with time Bourn will improve and will limit his mistakes. But, he won't be able to learn from his mistakes if he doesn't get to play.
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