During the fourth inning last night, Dr. Michael Ciccotti was updating reporters on the condition of the Phillies' injured players.-Chase Utley (broken right hand) may play next week against the Mets.
-Shane Victorino (strained right calf) may be activated today.
-Michael Bourn (sprained left ankle) won't start running until next week.
-Ryan Madson (strained right shoulder) is still at least a week, maybe more, from throwing.
-Mike Zagurski (strained right hamstring) has a torn muscle and is out for the season.
And on, and on.
Then, when it seemed Ciccotti was finally through, he dropped this bombshell: Rather than going for his 15th win tonight against the Dodgers, Cole Hamels would be going for an MRI exam on a sore left elbow. J.D. Durbin will pitch tonight.
Surprise!
Of all the injuries the Phillies have had this season, this could be the biggest blow. Hamels said he doesn't think the "mild medial strain" in his elbow is anything to fret over. He said the point of today's MRI is mostly for his own peace of mind. Hamels talked about last season, when he missed two starts in May because of an unusual feeling in his shoulder. Turns out, it was nothing serious, and Hamels pitched the rest of the season without incident.
But Hamels already has pitched 167-1/3 innings, the most he has ever thrown in the majors. It would make sense that he'd have some elbow soreness right about now. The Phillies just have to hope he can pitch through it.
"We'll see what the MRI shows," Ciccotti said. "Obviously, he's going to miss [tonight]. And any time that he might miss subsequent to that will be dependent upon the MRI findings and how quickly his mild pain resolves."
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Meanwhile, the Phillies keep winning. By now, think of Charlie Manuel like MacGyver, trying everything possible to keep the Phillies together. "Duct tape and Motrin," Jimmy Rollins said.
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Contrary to popular opinion, the Phillies aren't the only team that's been besieged by injuries. The Mets, in fact, have the best record in the National League despite having had 13 players on the disabled list, including their starting outfield (Carlos Beltran, Moises Alou and Shawn Green), both catchers (Paul Lo Duca and Ramon Castro), second baseman Jose Valentin, reliever Duaner Sanchez, and of course, Pedro Martinez.Nevertheless, the Phillies' ability to withstand so many injuries to so many key players (Ryan Howard, Utley, Victorino, Bourn, Freddy Garcia, Jon Lieber, Brett Myers, Tom Gordon, etc.) is remarkable. But how much can they possibly handle?
"You've seen those feel-good movies," Myers said. "In Rudy, it took him all the way to the end, and he got to play, right? That's a true story, right? Heart takes you a long way, man. That's how you get off the canvas."
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Lost in all the injury news, Mike Lieberthal and Randy Wolf returned to the Bank as members of the Dodgers. It hasn't exactly been smooth sailing with their hometown team, and they can safely say, they both still follow the Phillies.
4 comments:
So wait, who's pitching instead of Cole?
all I (and probably thousands other) have to say in response to the news about Cole:
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! $#$!@$#@$%#!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Lets pray for the best!!!
durbin is going tonight for the phils.
and manuel has to get so much credit for how the phils have played. the mets have had injuries, too, but not as costly as the phils have. hamels is the only starting pitcher left not to hit the DL and that might be imminent. we've lost two closers and 5 SP's. we've lost two MVP candidates for substantial time.
for how much i don't like manuel, i would totally accept him back as the manager next year.
I have somewhat changed my stance on Manuel as well.
Would I be mad if he was the manager next year?
No.
Would I be sad if he moved on?
No.
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