Jim Thome on the disabled list as Philadelphia Phillies call Erik Kratz - MLB Update
Pinch-hitter Jim Thome has been put on the Disabled list following back strain he started to experience on Saturday. The team waited to see if he would recover quickly, but as the injury prolonged and the Phillies played games with a player short, it was
obvious that he had to be taken out and replaced with someone.
Catcher Erik Kratz received a surprise call as a replacement. He was playing in Triple A Lehigh Valley. The call is similar to the one he had last season in September, which led him to play two Major League games. While he went 2-for-6 back then, he will
love to come out better this year.
Phillies inked a Minor League contract with him just before the start of the 2011 season. As he played in AAA Lehigh Valley IronPigs afterwards, his .288 hitting and 15 home-runs he had there explain his batting prowess.
This season presents another opportunity for him to express his talent on the big stage, one that he has not been able to thus far in his career.
Meanwhile, Thome will go down and will work to recuperate as quickly as he can. His performance in the season so far has not been that great. He has struggled on the plate and has not provided the kind of hits the Phillies needed for most part of their endeavours
in the season.
He can be one of the scapegoats behind the poor performance the Phillies’ offence put up in the season.
As manager Charlie Manuel believes, injury can be a blessing in disguise for him and will allow him a time for rest.
Thome can recover and can have few at-bats in the Minor-League now before returning to the season.
The fact he has poise and is able to think beyond limitations being imposed during matches in the Major League help him to better understand as to where his weaknesses lie.
This will help him contribute to the Phillies to an extent he is supposed to as a pinch-hitter in the season ahead.
For the moment, he will be looking forward to see his back-strain turning out only a mild one, so that he can resume his play at the earliest.
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