Polanco seperates shoulder, Santiago called up

[Dannomyte]

BOSTON (AP) -- Detroit second baseman Placido Polanco left Tuesday night's game against Boston with a separated left shoulder after making a diving catch in shallow center field.

Polanco went back on a flare from Doug Mirabelli with two out and a runner on second and the Tigers leading 2-1 in the seventh inning. He made the catch, preventing the tying run from scoring, but stayed on the ground while his teammates motioned frantically for the training staff.

He walked off a few minutes later with a trainer holding his left arm steady. Vance Wilson pinch-hit for him to lead off the eighth.

Tigers spokesman Brian Britten said in the ninth inning that Polanco has a separated shoulder and would undergo further testing on Wednesday.

Detroit, which has not been in the playoffs since 1987, has the best record in the major leagues.

Didn't look good at all. This injury could be season ending for Polanco. I still can't believe he held on to the ball.

[Dannomyte]

Injured Tigers second baseman Placido Polanco got some good news Wednesday morning. His left shoulder isn't broken.

That's as far as the good news goes, so far.

Polanco suffered a separated left shoulder in the seventh inning of the Tigers' 3-2 victory over the Red Sox on Tuesday night at Fenway Park. He has been placed on the 15-day disabled list. Infielder Ramon Santiago was recalled from Toledo to take his place on the roster, and at this point, it appears that Omar Infante will inherit the bulk of the playing time at second base.

X-rays on Polanco's shoulder Wednesday showed there is no fracture, but there is no timeline for the amount of time he'll miss, or if he's out for the rest of the season.

He will be examined by Tigers team physicians Thursday, after the Tigers return from Boston, at which time a more definitive outlook will be determined.


http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar ... /608160434

[mcqfesijiba]

Tough loss. After a rough start where he was battling minor injuries, Polanco seemed to rebound. He slumped a bit in August, but was great in June and July.

I'm not overly optimistic on Infante stepping in, but hopefully he'll step up with this opportunity. I am not a big fan of Santiago as the primary backup infielder. He has a good glove, but his hitting is dreadful. Shades of Rey Ordonez.

Here's hoping Infante steps up or Dombrowski has something up his sleeve and to a speedy recovery for Polanco. Still lots of baseball to be played and many crucial games to go. Can't let this get us down.

[Dannomyte]

Polanco out 4-6 weeks per Danny Knobler

Polanco: 4-6 weeks

DETROIT -- Here's the Polanco update:

He was examined today by Dr. Stephen Lemos, and the new estimate is that he'll be out 4-6 weeks, and there's even some chance he could be back sooner than that. In any case, there's a real chance he's back before the end of the season.

[moochman]

This stretches the weakest part of the team ever further. Infante is now a regular, a job he has never florushed in. And we now call up Santiago, a true AAA player. Somehow Leyland will make this work, I suppose, as he has been an absolute magician this season.

[mcqfesijiba]

That time table is actually pretty good news. Now the question is if they'll stick with Infante/Santiago, or look elsewhere for a minor deal to push Santiago back down to AAA.

[moochman]

That time table is actually pretty good news. Now the question is if they'll stick with Infante/Santiago, or look elsewhere for a minor deal to push Santiago back down to AAA.

I think they'll stick with what they have. Of course if they bomb the rest of the series with the Rangers (Thanks Maggs for yet another first pitch weakass ground out and stranding Monroe. He needs to be benched for awhile) and get swept again by the White Sux everything can change.