Placido Polanco will likely return on Wednesday to Philadelphia Phillies - MLB Update
Given how poorly the Philadelphia Phillies has fared in terms of defence, return by the third-baseman Placido Polanco will be welcome. As Polanco underwent an examination of his soured left wrist, initial reports suggest that he has no big issue at the moment
and will be playing soon.
For an offence which has floundered throughout the season, exclusion of Polanco due to injury was a big blow. In addition to clean protection he ensures on the field at third base, his on-plate belligerency matters hugely to the club.
He has been hitting .289 in the season, which is terrific in the context that rest of Philadelphia offence floored and struggled for hits in the season.
The fact veteran Shane Victorino fared poorer than him in terms of batting average can be another parameter based on which one can determine, how Polanco has been critical to the Phillies’ offence in the season.
Absence of Polanco had paved way for Ty Wigginton at third base. It had come with huge cost to the Phillies, as flurry of defensive fumbles were committed and unnecessary runs were caused by him.
That had exasperated Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel, whose concerns were already mounting due to failures in other areas.
Manuel was growing impatient with continuous late innings meltdowns by relievers. Bullpen which has deserted the Phillies frequently in the season had become constant strain for the manager.
Every time the Phillies draw relatively better performance from offence, the lead is blown by the relievers at a time when its protection matters the most.
Worse part was the fact that problem appeared perennial as it kept revisiting even when the Phillies had called up relievers from the Minor League farms.
Return by Polanco will soothe worries for the club, at least for a moment and will get them re-energised for upcoming games.
Until second baseman Chase Utley comes back, Polanco can lift the offence and provide the kind of hits needed half-way through the innings. As both Utley and Ryan Howard are on their way to appear in the season soon, one can believe that Philadelphia is
heading in the right direction.
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