A source tells Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com that Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins has a Grade 2 calf strain and could miss some time. Usually an injury like this will require a stint on the DL, but we’ll see what happens.
Rollins was running wind sprints before today’s home opener and was suddenly yanked from the lineup before the game against the Nationals even started. It happened so abruptly that backup shortstop Juan Castro had to quickly find his spikes and get ready to play.
“I didn’t know what happened,” one Phillie said after the game. “I just saw Jimmy limp by me.”
Teammate Greg Dobbs had a calf injury before and knows it isn’t fun.
“I don’t know the severity of Jimmy’s,” Dobbs said. “But with me, it nagged and nagged all season and I wasn’t even an every-day guy. You have to tackle it right from the get-go. I should have gotten off mine sooner.”
Dobbs said Rollins was shocked by the injury.
“He was kind of in disbelief, kind of like, ‘I can’t believe this is going on,’” Dobbs said. “I felt for him.”
So who replaces Mr. Rollins? Well, there is the aforementioned 37-year old Castro, but don’t forget they liked Triple A’s Wilson Valdez in spring training and might want to give him a shot if Rollins hits the DL.
First J Blanton, then J Werth and now J Rollins (along with relievers Romero & Lidge)
This will be a good sign on what the Phillies Bench Depth as well at minor leagues look like.
It will be a good thing to get some younger players some big leauge experience and some bench/role players some playing time right out of the gate which will help the club in the long run (as long as they keep winning that is)
**$#@@#%$^& Cant we just dominate and not deal with this!