The unfortunate reality is that injuries are inevitable throughout the course of a 162 game baseball season. Phillies third baseman Placido Polanco knows that unfortunate reality all too well this season and his latest injury could be a huge blow to the Phillies championship aspirations.
The All-Star third baseman, who missed a chunk of time on the disabled list earlier this season with a lower back injury, has once again found himself out of the lineup, this time with a sports hernia.
While the early prognosis is that he could be back on the field within the next few weeks, surgery is reportedly not out of the question. Losing Polanco for a significant amount of time would most likely mean a role-playing platoon of Michael Martinez and Wilson Valdez at third base. Are you really comfortable with that?
Yes, I know I wrote a few weeks ago about how good Martinez and Valdez been in their roles and how they have helped keep the Phils’ ship afloat. But they are what they are. They are role players. They aren’t the guys you want starting at the hot corner while the season is in its stretch run. They aren’t experienced as Polanco and the certainly aren’t as proficient at the plate. Polanco’s absence would certainly have a profound effect on the lineup and the way its built.
The timing of Polanco’s malady couldn’t have been any worse for the Phillies. We are now in mid-August, just a few weeks after Major League Baseball’s July 31st trade deadline. If this problem would have arisen before July 31st, there is no doubt that G.M. Ruben Amaro, Jr. would have come up with a creative solution. Yes, I know that the waiver trade deadline is a the end of August and who is to say that something wont happen by then? But with the necessary addition of Hunter Pence, Philadelphia is thin in good prospects and payroll flexibility making a move unlikely.
As of this writing, Philadelphia is 8.5 games ahead of Atlanta in the National League Eastern Division standings. The breathing room is there, for now. Who knows what could happen within the next few weeks? Heaven forbid, if the Braves close ground, which they are good enough to do, not having Polanco available could be a huge factor. Martinez and Valdez against the Braves pitching staff? Advantage: Braves. It wouldn’t be the same story if Polanco were in the lineup. Who do you want to field that tough ground ball with the game on the line? Yeah, I would want Polanco too.
The bigger picture here may be the long term health of the 35 year-old infielder. Polanco’s 2010 season was never the same after he was hit in the elbow by a Tim Hudson fastball. We all know what has gone on this year with his back and now the sports hernia.
Could this be the beginning of the end for Placido Polanco? I certainly hope not, but the question will remain. Polanco is under contract until the end of the 2012 season. If the injuries keep mounting, he likely won’t be back after that season. It could be time for the Phillies to begin planning ahead. With a little more seasoning, is Michael Martinez the long-term solution at third? Is there someone in the system to look at? What will the free agent market potentially look like? While it is unfortunate, reality could be setting in.
This is an all or nothing year for the Phillies. This season will undoubtedly be a disappointment if they do not win the World Series. Without Placido Polanco, all could turn into nothing faster than the Phillies can snap their fingers.
Appears to be another classic case of when a player that has stopped taking/using HGH/Steroids then their bodies start to break down little by little..
He’s had elbow issues for a while, then back issues and now sports hernia.
Anyone take a look at how his power #’s have dropped off the map from 4-5 Years ago.. There is little doubt in my mine that he was juiced a few years ago and then when you stop, your body breaks down.. but moving forward, the Phils need to be in a market for a 3B for next season and beyond,, Polanco makes about $6 Million for next year which is his last year of his contract, but I think the Phils need to start thining a little longer tem on who will man that 3B for the future and also be able to provide a little pop.. Polanco is very good player,but he can’t play everyday any longer with all these injuries and his Elbow and back issues are not going to go away and only become worse as he gets older and wears down from playing everyday.. It;s a shame for he’s a good guy and a team player..
Article paints too much doom/gloom. Polanco’s natural position is 2B and many doubted he could fill in at third. He started off with a terrific year for batting ave but that has fallen like a brick quite a while ago. Those other two, though they never could hit with Polanco during his good times, really don’t give up much in fielding. And considering the way Polanco has hit in the last couple months, you’re not losing much at the plate compared with those others. Yes, I’d rather have a healthy Polanco because of his infielding experience but this team gained ground with him out of the lineup. What you lose without him is NOT the difference between a WS ring and losing. I agree with Pman that his career is most likely coming to an end.
Do you think he was another HGH/Stereoid user back earl;ier in his carrer..
See his Power #’s from years ago 30-35 HR’s there is just no way he would eve come close to that again and that’s hitting in CBP with the swing he has (which hasn’t changed hie entire career) .. He was juiced-up and now the juice is out..and just like many players were doing 4-5 Years ago but look at them once the stopped using, they all get this muscle injuries, obliques tears, back and hip problems… Players like Polanco, Brady Anderson, Dave Roberts,Chase Utley, R Furcal, C Jones, M Cameron,C Figgins,etc,etc.. These players all posted career power #’s for a year or 2 back 4 or 5 years ago and now none of them can stay heaalthy enough to play 120 Games in a Season anymore…
What are you talking about Paulman? Polanco’s power numbers were never even in the ballpark of 30-35 hrs! His career high is 17, and his career high in RBIs is only 72! he’s never been a power hitter, and always been a singles/doubles guy. This has nothing to do with HGH, and everything to do with just being old and having played 17 years in the bigs! And same goes for chipper jones, nothing at all to do with roids, everything to do with 17 years as a starter! youre crazy man.
PAUL, who’s stats are you thinking about? Polanco has never been a power hitter. Don’t make accusations that you have no proof of. He is the same size he was 10 years ago. Lay off the jungle juice, & take your meds dude! 😆
Are you smoking crack paul? A simple google search would determine that h never even hit 20 hrs. Thats right, it took me exactly 30 seconds to realize his carrer high is half what you act like he hit year in and year out. Stay away from baseball. You have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about. As in the Phillies will have your 92 wins by about september 11th, when the birds kick off. You make yourself sound dumber everytime I read a baseball comment in fact.
Chipper is a class act and has never been accused of anything. Its pretty obvious your a mere chat room blogger, as it is a travesty to throw names out there with out any proof, or even smoke. You are being an idiot here, I got to tell you. Maybe chippers numbers are dropping off because hes almost 40. Perhaps 35 is out of ones prime? Are you kidding me with this garbage? Interesting Chipper fact? He has more career hits and rbi than Mickey Mantle in 113 fewer games. MUST BE THE JUICE EH?
Paulman, thats enough you moron. I hate the Braves more than the next man but I WILL NOT, and I repeat WILL NOT, have you tarnish the name of the great Chipper Jones in that way. Same for Chase Utley.
Kill yourself.
Add in A-Roid, A Soriano,M McGuire, A Belle, Juan Gonzales, R Palmiero, S Sosa, R Clemens, L Dykstra, M Morandini and most all players who played in the 90’s- Early 2000’s as it was all around the game and not illegal to take back then and many players took supplements to help restore energy and recovery time from a 7 month season..
dude, Morandini?! who never hit over .300 in a season or had more than 8 homeruns?? you dont have a clue what youre talking about.
yea on Micky, good friends with Lenny Fraudstra, He went from 170 lbs to 190lbs and brought his average from .240 to a respectable .280 and from 1 Hr to 8 HR…
youre stats are screwed up man, look at the whole picture, he went from 1 to 8 hrs, but 2 years before that he hit 6. Thats hardly like a brady anderson type jump! And same goes for batting average, players have down years, its how baseball works. but he was fairly consistent thoughout his career- in his prime while getting starter number of at-bats he hit 292, 283, 250, 295, 296. Bottom line is youre accusing a singles/doubles hitter that no one outside of the NL east ever heard of- of using PEDs when there is no tangible statistical impact to back your theory.
Manny Ramirez, Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi, Miguel Tejada,Garrett Anderson,
Jay Gibbons, Brady Anderson, Brian Giles, Andrew Jones,Luis Gonzales,
Garry Sheffield, Steve Finley,Vladimir Guerrero, Richard Hidalgo, Preston WIlson, Ricky Ledee, Jason Michaels, Dave Dellucci, So Taguchi…. and so on.
my point is, that 80% of the players were taking stuff back then for it was not illegal to do so, and the bigger point is that when a player stops taking all these things, their bodies tend to break down wit muscle pulls, oblique strains and a lot of hip and back injuries .. (Hips being a big one since a lot of the needles are shoot in the hips which help deteriorate the bone/muscle in those areas..) I am no Doctor by any stretch, but look at all the players with Hip issues and almost everyone was a HGH/Steroid User..
I pulled a muscle in my neck sneezing last month that was pretty bad, and kinda have a shaky knee sometimes at the gym while i run, i figured it was just part of turning 30- but youre right, there must have been PED’s in my water i was drinking in college. Thanks for the help.
Grab a glove dthaman and try out for 3B for the Phils next season for it appears they will be looking for one..
that WAS my position in HS, ill consider it. But a guy like Aramis Ramirez might make more of an impact for us as a potential replacement
All joking aside, 3B Aramis Ramirez would be an awesome pick-up for the Phils and we know Rueben has a great rapport with latino players who are free-agents(Ibanez/Polanco)
Imagine a line-up with him in it would go a little like this for 2012…
#1) J Rollins – SS
#2) C Utley – 2B
#3) H Pence – RF
#4) Howard – 1B
#5) Ramirez- 3B
#6) Victorino- CF
#7) D Brown – LF
#8) C Ruiz – C
#9) Pitcher Spot
Although Polanco is an outstanding player, his contribution has been minimal this year, particularly at the plate…Both Martinez and Valdez are quality replacements, and I don’t feel that Polanco’s presence in the lineup will make or break the Phillies season.
This said, his experience and professionalism are a welcome addition to the lineup…Pedro Feliz is playing across the river in Camden.