In just a few minutes, I have to jump in my car and drive down to Washington, where the Phillies open a three-game series tonight at decrepit RFK Stadium (more on that later). For now, though, I wanted to leave you to discuss the Phillies' injury situation and the man who has been charged with helping all the bumps, bruises, strains, sprains and breaks heal properly, Laurel High grad Scott Sheridan.As I wrote in the 50-cent edition, it's been a crazy first year for Sheridan as the Phillies' head athletic trainer. Thirteen players have been on the DL, and countless others have appeared on the injury report he prepares each day for Charlie Manuel. Without cheating (a list is posted below my story on Sheridan), can anybody name all 13, along with their injury?
OK, before I leave, here are a few updates:
* Chase Utley: Has been cleared to begin a light throwing program and gripping exercises with his broken right hand. I'll find out today if he is ready to swing a bat. If so, and if he gets another positive report Monday from hand specialist Dr. Randall Culp, it's conceivable he could be ready to play by Aug. 27 when the Mets open a four-game series at the Bank.
* Shane Victorino: He'll test his strained right calf tonight in the first of three rehab games at double-A Reading. If all goes well, he could be activated Friday in Pittsburgh.
* Ryan Madson, Michael Bourn: They're en route to the Phillies' complex in Clearwater, Fla., where they'll continue getting treatment, Madson for a strained right shoulder and Bourn for a sprained left ankle. It's doubtful either will be back before Sept. 1.
I promised a post on the resurgent bullpen, so check back later today for that. Until then, I'll ask you this: Of all the Phillies' injuries, which has been the toughest for the team to overcome?
5 comments:
They are overcoming it going 10 and 6 since he went down, but I think Utley's is the most difficult. Iguchi is good, but Utley's bat so so good that it makes the offense a lot less potent. I keep getting worried that the next series will always be the one where Utley's absence shows. So far it hasn't really happened - hopefully they can keep on like this for two more weeks.
I'd say Myers is a close second - he was doing a great job as closer before he went down.
Now that I think about it though, all this counts out Garcia. Counting on Garcia to be the horse we thought he would be, that actually might be the biggest of them all. If he was throwing like he can and went down, I'd say him.
Eaton isn't an injury, but his performance is worse than one.
At first, I'm sure everyone wants to say Utley... but the Phils are 10-6 (.625) since he got hurt so clearly they're compensating just fine! If the team can keep it up for 2 more weeks, they'll be just fine.
I would say Garcia... We lost 6 games on his watch. He was brought in specifically to pitch 200 inn and get 12-18 wins and he only hands us one official win (5 total when he started) before admitting to being hurt. Because we got him, the starting rotation wasn't really improved in any other ways so his lose was really big.
I would say that Myers and Howard tie for second. When Myers was out, there were several blown leads/saves by the bullpen. And when Howard was playing hurt and then rehabbing, the team as a whole was playing like crap.
"Of all the Phillies' injuries, which has been the toughest for the team to overcome?"
Adam Eaton's brain cramps.
I think of our current injuries the biggest loss is actually Madson. There is no replacing Utley, but Iguchi has been very good. Madson was pitching great and could eat 2 innings if needed. Losing Victorino/Bourn also hurts a lot, becuae their replacements are not even close to being as good.
If you take into account the chain of events the led up to - and followed - Gordon's injury, his could be seen as one that affected this team the greatest. His injury told us that our trust level with managment shouldn't exactly be 100% as they knew about it in Clearwater and led us differently. I've never blamed PG solely for the faults of this team, but a little honesty can go a long way.
So on the DL he goes and the next thing you know, our opening day starter is now our closer,
who in turn gets banged up,
Lieber gets tossed between being an SP and RP,
who in turn gets banged up,
Jose Mesa gets a phone call, whose stats at the time were SO banged up its hard to fathom,
and Antonio Alfonseca soon has more fingers than Gordon does saves.
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