Placido Polanco to DL; Phillies Activate Ryan Madson
By Editorial Staff
The Philadelphia Phillies activated one key player from the disabled list today while adding another to it.
Placido Polanco hits the DL due to lower back inflammation. The 35 year old hasn’t played since July 4th.
Selected to represent the National League in Phoenix, Polanco was hoping to suit up for his second All-Star game. However, he was scratched from the lineup before action began Tuesday evening.
Philadelphia was hoping the break would allow Polanco time to heal without requiring a trip to the disabled list. It wasn’t meant to be as Polanco’s back wouldn’t cooperate.
In Polanco’s absence the Phillies have gone with Michael Martinez and Wilson Valdez at third. Though each are serviceable defensively, neither has an OPS over .570 on the year.
Polanco started the season off strong, but has severely tailed off. After posting a boisterous line of .398/.447/.524 in April, Polanco failed to put up an OPS over .600 in May and June. Before his injury the third baseman was only 13 for his last 86 at the plate.
On to the good news. Philadelphia gets their closer back.
Ryan Madson has been out since June 18th with a right hand contusion. The injury was actually sustained a month earlier when Madson was drilled by a comebacker off of the bat of Rangers outfielder David Murphy.
Before he was sidelined Madson was superb as the Phillies’ finisher. He completed 15 of his 16 save opportunities while holding an ERA of 2.03 and 1.19 WHIP.
For more on the Phillies, be sure to check out That Ball’s Outta Here.