Philadelphia Phillies Already Bitten By Injury Bug

Seven games into the 2010 MLB season, we already know a few things about the Philadelphia Phillies.

Roy Halladay is good.

Chase Utley is the man (as Harry Kalas so eloquently and correctly stated, may he rest in peace).

Cole Hamels is…well scratch that, I don’t think even Cole himself could tell you what is up with him at this point.

And we also know that no season ever goes on without a hitch.

Only seven games into the 2010 MLB season and the Phillies have already been bitten by the dreaded injury bug.

They began the season with Joe Blanton, J.C. Romero, and Brad Lidge already on the disabled list. For those of you keeping track at home, that would be their third starter, late-inning lefty specialist reliever, and closer (can we even still call him that?).

And although it has not been confirmed yet, it is looking increasingly likely that you can now add a shortstop, leadoff hitter, and sparkplug, Jimmy Rollins, to that list.

Only seven games in and that list of walking wounded is already adding up pretty fast.

If Jimmy Rollins is the latest casualty, this will be a particularly harsh blow for the Phillies.

Jimmy Rollins is the leadoff hitter and the engine of the Phillies high-priced muscle car of an offense.

When Rollins is slapping triples, getting on base, and stealing bases, it adds an entire new dimension to the lineup filled with sluggers such as Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth.

What is worse is that Rollins had been doing these things particularly well so far this season. He has even been taking walks, which to anyone who has watched him throughout his career, is particularly surprising (in a good way).

To add insult to injury, Rollins has been diagnosed with a calf injury. For those that are unfamiliar with calf injuries, they share a certain quality with that weird in-law that your family always seems to invite over.

They linger.

Although the Phillies offense has been dominating the opposition so far (albeit the very, very weak opposition of the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals) a lingering calf injury to Rollins could be just the screw that could derail this train.

If Rollins is out for an extended period of time, its looks like the task of replacing him will fall to Juan Castro. Castro is not the equal of Jimmy, either with the glove or the bat, but the Phillies could certainly do a lot worse. But losing Rollins not only makes the top of the lineup weaker, it also makes the bottom of the lineup weaker, by having to move Shane Victorino up, and slotting in Castro.

This makeshift lineup could certainly hold up for a time without completely handicapping the Phillies but I think all Phils Phans are in agreement in hoping that Rollins can come back quickly and healthy, and return to his dynamic self.

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