Ryan Howard on DL with Sprained Ankle
The Philadelphia Phillies have had their own injury bug this year. That bug has now caught with the Phillies top slugger, first-baseman Ryan Howard.
Howard was placed on the 15 day Disabled List with a sprain in his left ankle. Howard was leading the National League with 81 RBIs.
The injury comes at a bad time for the Phillies, who have appeared to finally find their game.
"We're hopeful he'll be back in two weeks," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "It may be longer than that. We're not sure."
Howard sustained the injury in Sunday’s game against the Washington Nationals when he slid into second base. He travelled with the team to Miami, Florida, but swelling went up in his ankle and he returned to Philadelphia for an MRI exam.
Manager Charlie Manuel now has some challenges ahead in the absence of the 2006 NL MVP: "It's a big one. ... We've only had our starting lineup six or seven games since the season started. We've got to get well, and we've got to keep going."
The Phillies have called up John Mayberry Jr. from the minors to take Howard’s place in his absence.
The Phillies are trying to catch up to the Atlanta Braves in the east, who have been the surprises of the National League this season. The Phillies have struggled at the plate this year, as their intimidating line-up has been ordinary this season, a big reason why they are not leading their division.
When Howard was examined by team doctors, it was discovered that the injury lay in two ligaments outside the ankle.
"The good news is that it wasn't a severe ankle sprain," Amaro said, "in that it only affected the lateral side (the outside).”
Howard was injured when running back to second base to beat a throw from right field. His manager and trainers helped him off the field, but they didn’t think the injury was serious, which is why Howard flew down to Miami with the team.
"The other day I didn't think it was going to be quite a while [that Howard would be out] because he told me, 'Chuck, I'll be all right,' said Manuel. "But once I saw it on TV -- his ankle came under him, and all his weight was on his ankle. When he got back to the hotel, it started swelling up, and the next day, according to the trainers, it was puffed up pretty good."
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