Skip to main content

Tough Times Ahead- Polanco and Utley to DL

By

The Phillies announced today that both Placido Polanco and Chase Utley are headed to the disabled list with injuries. Polanco has been dealing with a left elbow issue since April, when he was hit in the elbow by a pitch from Braves pitcher Tim Hudson. Polanco may also have a loose bone fragment in the joint that would require off-season surgery. Utley, who injured himself sliding into second base in the 4th inning of Monday night's game against the Reds attempting to stretch a single into a double, was examined today and MRI results are pending, but the team has described Utley's issue as a sprain of the thumb on his right hand.
Both Polanco and Utley are the leaders in National League All-star voting at their respective positions.

The Phillies, who have been revaged by injuries this season, have had their proposed lineup 1-8 of Rollins, Polanco, Utley, Howard, Werth, Ibanez, Victorino and Ruiz together just five times through 74 games this season. They've also dealt with injuries to several key members of their pitching staff, including "Jay" Happ, Joe Blanton, Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge. As things stand now, the Phillies (40-34) are 3 1/2 games behind the first place Braves and 2 games behind the wild card leading Metropolitans.

Brian Bocock, who was claimed off waivers from the Giants last offseason, and veteran reserve Greg Dobbs have been promoted to the big club, filling the voids left by Polanco and Utley. The 25-year-old Bocock was batting .179 through 65 games at Triple-A Lehigh Valley this season. Dobbs batted .152 in 42 games with the Phillies this season, before accepting an assignment to Lehigh Valley last week.

Initial reactions from area phans might include great concern over the standings and worry about how the Phillies could possible overtake the Braves and Metropolitans in the standings now. Included in all the hysterical heed given to these matters will be people suggesting that the Phillies call it a season and begin taking offers for free-agent-to-be Jayson Werth. Don't bail out just yet, pholks. The Phillies overcame a considerable deficit in the NL East standings as recently as 2007, when they overtook the Metropolitans' 7 game lead with just 17 games left to play. There is plenty of time left in the season. Impossible is nothing, when it comes to the Phillies.

___________________________


Follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

All I Want For "the Holidays" is the MLB Network

By
Ladies and gentlemen, there are 5 days left till Hannukah, 9 days left till Christmas and 16 days left till the premiere of the MLB Network. It's about time. Those of you that enjoy MLB.com's original programming, it may be a while till your favorite hosts appear on The MLB Network. The announced TV schedule is not similar to MLB.com's online schedule. MLB.com's studios are in NYC, and the MLB Network's studios will be in Secaucus NJ...so that's another bump in the road. Cross overs, while possible, might be less likely. The great internet programming on MLB.com includes morning and afternoon talk shows, a midday fantasy advice call-in show, a lunch time talk show and variety half hour formatted show, and of course the nightly wrap up, as well as other original programming that focuses more on the history of the game. MLB.com's programming started as streaming radio shows, then upgraded to a visual medium when video feeds were provided for the same sho...
4 comments
Read more

Hockey Taking Over CBP

By
The takeover has begun. As the holiday season approaches and winter becomes more imminent, January 2nd, the date of this season's NHL Winter Classic draws nearer. In 2012, Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park will play host to the annual regular season hockey contest that is broadcast on national television. The ballpark is otherwise home to Major League Baseball's Phillies. In the upcoming game, the Flyers will take on New York Rangers. It will be New York's first Winter Classic appearance, while the Flyers, who lost at Boston in 2010, will be seeing action in the annual event for the second time. This will mark the fifth year for the NHL's premiere regular season contest, which first took place in 2008 at Buffalo's Ralph Wilson Stadium, home of the NFL's Bills. The process to convert the baseball playing field into an ice rink, in time for the week of hockey events set to take place at CBP, began this week. In addition to the January 2nd regular season...
1 comment
Read more

World Series Preview: Phillies vs. Astros

By
The Fall Classic is set to get underway on Friday with the Phillies opening on the road to take on the Astros in a best-of-seven series. This year marks 75 years since the first time a World Series was televised and this year each game will be broadcast on the FOX television network.  ESPN will have the radio broadcast and that feed can be streamed by using this link . Game 1 Friday, 8:03pm Eastern....in Houston.  RHP Aaron Nola (11-13, 3.25 ERA) vs. RHP Justin Verlander (18-4, 1.75 ERA).  In 16 road starts during the regular season this year, Nola notched a 5-9 record with a 3.00 ERA.  Nola has struck out 18 and walked three in 17 1/3 innings pitched this postseason.  Earlier this month, Nola tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings at Houston.  In 15 home starts during the regular season, Verlander sported a 10-1 record with a 1.64 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP.  Verlander has a 5.68 ERA and has not recorded a win in seven career World Series starts.  Verlander has...
Post a Comment
Read more