SARASOTA, Fla.And the hits just keep on coming
As if the Phillies needed anymore injuries to add to medical report, they just got another one. The latest injury, a broken fourth metatarsal on the right foot, belongs to Michael Martinez. What makes this injury a bit more concerning is that Martinez plays the position where the Phillies appear to be the thinnest.
With Chase Utleys status still unknown, the Phillies have just four healthy middle infielders in camp, and that includes starting shortstop, Jimmy Rollins, starting third baseman Placido Polanco and probable starting second baseman, rookie Freddy Galvis.
With Martinez out, the Phillies have just Pete Orr as a utility middle infielder.
Martinez suffered the injury during the seventh inning of Tuesday afternoons 4-1 victory over the Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium. After being hit by a pitch from Jim Johnson, Martinez stayed in the game to run the bases and ended up scoring Galviss go-ahead triple.
Martinez came out of the game after the inning and was wearing a protective boot in the clubhouse after the game.
The Phillies gave no timeframe on how long Martinez will be out, but athletes like soccer players Wayne Rooney and David Beckham have missed 4-to-6 weeks with broken metatarsal injuries.
E-mail John R. Finger at jfinger@comcastsportsnet.com