Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Posted: 7:45 p.m.
By Jim Salisbury
CSNPhilly.com
CLEARWATER, Fla.Imagine being an opposing team coming into Citizens Bank Park and having to face Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels in a four-game series.
Placido Polanco was thinking about it Wednesday.
Probably take that series off, said Polanco, joking about how he would react to facing the Phillies Big 4. Oh, my neck hurts. Ive got the flu.
If we were playing the Phillies in Philadelphia Id probably say, That Philly cheesesteak doesnt feel good on my stomach.
Suffice it to say that Polanco is glad hes a Phillie.
MLB
The teams third baseman and No. 2 hitter is also glad to finally be 100 percent healthy.
A Phillie from 2002 to 2005, Polanco rejoined the club as a free agent last year. Injuries were a huge problem for the 2010 club. Polanco was one of 18 players to spend time on the disabled list as there were times he just couldnt answer the bell because of a painful bone spur and damaged tendon in his left elbow.
Offseason surgery fixed both problems and Polanco is in spring camp early and ready to go.
My arm feels much better, he said. Its stronger and theres no pain.
Polanco, 35, has spent 13 seasons in the majors. Both injuriesthe bone spur and the tendon damagewere probably the result of wear and tear. The bone spur was only a minor nuisance until the night of April 21 when Polanco was hit on the elbow by a pitch from Atlantas Tim Hudson. The pitch inflamed the bone spur and caused Polanco pain the rest of the season. He had trouble extending on his swing and reaching for ground balls at third. He spent time on the disabled list and was limited to 132 games.
Despite the nagging injury, which required a couple of cortisone shots, Polanco managed to hit .298 with 52 RBIs. His ability to drive the ball, however, was compromised by his inability to get full extension on his swing. Polanco had six homers but none after July 22.
You have to extend to swing, so the surgery should make a big difference, he said. I learned to play with pain. Its good to be 100 percent again.
Polanco has two sizeable scars on his left elbow. He will wear a soft pad to protect his arm when he hits.
My best friend, he said, holding it up.
Manager Charlie Manuel will tinker with his lineup throughout spring training as he tries to find a No. 5 hitter to replace Jayson Werth. He will experiment with different leadoff guys but when its game-on you can expect him to have Jimmy Rollins in that spot.
Polanco was signed to give the strikeout-happy Phils a solid contact hitter in the No. 2 hole. Thats where hes staying.
From the middle of the 2005 season through 2009, Polanco played second base for Detroit, winning a pair of Gold Gloves. He handled the transition to third very nicely last season, making just five errors in 351 total chances. With a team built on pitching, the Phillies need good infield defense. Polanco fits well with shortstop Rollins and second baseman Chase Utley.
Rollins and Utley both missed long stretches with injury last season. So, too, did first baseman Ryan Howard, completing the infirmed infield.
With a return to health and their I-have-a-stomach-ache pitching staff, the Phillies might be the team to beat in the majors this season.
If we stay healthy, I like our chances, Polanco said. Every time we go out there, were going to have good pitching and thats a good feeling.
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E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com