The Indians just had to get in on the long-term-injury-to-a-key-player kick, too.
The day after media reports had Browns tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. missing the entire 2005 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, Indians outfielder Coco Crisp is now reportedly gone until at least mid-August with a partial tear of a thumb ligament.
At least Crisp injured himself playing. He injured the thumb sliding into an out at third base in Tuesday's 13-5 win over the Angels. Televison replays showed Crisp holding and shaking the hand as he walked back to the dugout.
Within 24 hours, Crisp was on the disabled list and Jody Gerut was recalled from Buffalo. Gerut had been rehabbing a knee he injured making a sliding catch attempt in the outfield last September.
Crisp takes speed, defense and a team-high .283 batting average with him to the disabled list. The good news is Gerut gets some much-needed playing time, and Grady Sizemore (second on the team with a .282 average) gets to stay in the bigs.
If and when Juan Gonzalez gets healthy enough to play, the Indians will have to figure something else out to clear a roster spot for him. Sizemore is the only outfielder with any minor-league options left, but it's hard to believe they would demote who is now their best hitter.
Gonzalez begins a rehabilitation stint in Buffalo next week. When the Charlotte Knights come to town, they will be toting fellow broken-down big leaguer Frank Thomas, also on a rehab stint. If Jesse Orosco comes out of retirement to pitch for one of the teams, I might buy a ticket and drive up there.
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Watching the Indians in the series against the Reds has made me wonder a few things. They look like they'll win 2 of 3, but I have to ask a couple of questions:
Why is Peralta sitting, when he is one of the few guys doing well at the plate?
Why can't Hafner play first base if he's good enough to hit? That takes the best hitter out of the lineup when the Indians play in NL parks. I know he's poor defensively, but it's not like first base is shortstop.
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