Injuries Mounting

Well, this is a classic case of good news/bad news. The Reds had a very successful 6-3 west coast road trip but in the process, the injuries sustained on that trip may be devastating. Jim Edmonds hurt himself by swinging and missing and is probably done for the season if not career.

Now for the other important injuries that occurred and may change the look of this roster. Laynce Nix sprained his ankle in Mondays game and tried to pinch hit yesterday but couldn’t even run to first base after grounding out. Any disabled list time for him would constitute a trade for an outfielder. The Louisville Bats have only three true outfielders on their roster currently. Oh, how I long for Gary Matthews Jr to still be playing down there. He would have the perfect piece to replace Nix if needed.

Now to the most serious injury. Brandon Phillips was hit in the back of the hand by a Santiago Castilla 95-mph fastball. The injury happened in the 5th inning of yesterdays game. He came back to play the field in the bottom half but left the game after that. His initial x-rays came back negative but they will do another one after arriving back in Cincy and when the swelling subsides. Any long term absence of Brandon Phillips would be debilitating to this club.

First and foremost, the starting shortstop, Orlando Cabrera is still nursing his strained oblique and is out. Paul Janish is filling in for him and has actually been productive both offensively and defensively. But, who in the hell would play second base if Phillips misses any time. Miguel Cairo could and probably would take over barring a trade but then who spells Rolen at third. The Reds brought up 2b/ss minor league all-star Chris Valaika up this week but he glove and definitely his bat will be a huge downturn. Plus, Brandon has been leading off, which poses another problem with this lineup.

I am not sure how many former St. Louis Cardinal second baseman are out there and readily available but a move will be imminent if Phillips injury is serious. There are 35 games remaining on this schedule including three with the 2nd place Cardinals. If Phillips has to go on the disabled list, he would miss approximately half of the rest of the games and that is if he comes off right on time. To not have his glove and bat in this lineup, I fear the worst. Unless, of course, a trade would be made to maybe fill in better than Chris Valaika. If the Reds play .500 ball the rest of the year, they win 90 games. Which, I predicted before the season started. Tooting my own horn. But, I am not sure that would or will be enough to hold off the Cardinals and/or secure a wild card spot. Let’s all just hope its a bruised hand and he can play this weekend or even next week. Luckily the lowly Cubs are limping into town this weekend. It looks as though they are phoning it in but they normally play well here in Cincy. Although in the past, they had more fans in attendance than the Reds did. Come on MRI, be good news.