Ibanez on DL Is Bad Timing for Phils

By DMcDowell

Prior to Thursday afternoon’s 8-7 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, the Philadelphia Phillies placed outfielder Raul Ibanez on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left groin.  This comes just days after the left fielder missed Sunday’s win against the Boston Red Sox with a sore Achilles’ tendon caused by his new shoes. 

Raul, whose name itself has become a popular chant down at the ballpark, is the fourth member of the team placed on the 15-day DL in recent weeks, joining teammates Brett Myers (right hip), Brad Lidge (right knee), and Scott Eyre (calf).  In his absence, the Phillies have recalled John Mayberry, Jr. to fill the newest void left on the roster. 

Apparently Ibanez, who has never played in an All Star Game yet is the leading outfield vote-getter for the National League this year, has been troubled by his groin issue since April, but only now is it appearing to affect his play on the field.  Ibanez was an uncharacteristic 0-for-8 in the first two games of the Blue Jays series and was just 16-for-63 dating back to the start of June, when he said the injury began to get worse. 

The injury could not have come at a more disastrous time for the Phillies.  Granted, they do hold a two-game lead over the rival Mets in the NL East, but things do not seem to be shaping up well for the defending world champs. 

The performance of the pitching staff is the biggest concern right now, as starters need to go deeper into games.  In the last cycle through the rotation, no starter has made it through the seventh inning, except for Antonio Bastardo in Friday night’s game against Orioles.  This consequently has forced manager Charlie Manuel to call on his already overworked bullpen even more than he would like.  If the starters go deeper into games, then the relievers don’t have to pitch as much and maybe they can actually hold on to a lead. 

The lackluster play in the field is a concern too.  Against the Red Sox last week, the Phillies committed five errors in two games, and they miscued twice against the Blue Jays in that series as well.  Perhaps the biggest blunder of all came in the seventh inning of Thursday’s game when the Phillies middle infield took a siesta and allowed shortstop Marco Scutaro to steal second base after a walk.  Scutaro would later score what was then the tying run. 

The Phillies also have the second worst home record in all of baseball.  They are 13-20 in games played at Citizen’s Bank Park, a place where no visiting team won in the 2008 postseason.  They are a putrid 1-6 on this current nine-game home swing and are coming off a 7-2 loss at the hands of the last place Baltimore Orioles on Friday.  If not for their 23-9 road record, then the ball club would be looking up at most teams in the division instead of shakily sitting atop of it. 

The two-week absence of Ibanez will hurt the Phillies offensive numbers a bit, but frankly that is the least of the club’s worries right now.  They need to step up their play in all facets of the game and especially in front of the home crowd, or else it won’t be “Rauuuuuul” they chant, but it certainly will sound similar.  

By DMcDowell