| ST. LOUIS -- All-Star right fielder Manny Ramirez was placed
on the 15-day disabled list Friday by the Cleveland Indians, who
can't seem to shake a season-long injury bug.
| |  | |
| Ramirez |
Ramirez, batting .322 with 47 RBI, injured his leg while
running out a grounder during Monday's game against the Anaheim
Angels.
He was unavailable for the past two games while the team decided
whether to put him on the DL or keep him on the roster while he
recuperates.
Ramirez, who did not accompany the team to St. Louis for a
three-game interleague series that began Friday night, is the
eighth Indians player to go on the DL. He's the seventh to be
disabled since May 18.
"You just try to get by," teammate Jim Thome said. "Manny is
such a big part of what we've done, we'll just try to come together
and fill in until he gets back."
The injuries haven't been disastrous, so far. The Indians were
27-22 and 1½ games behind AL Central-leading Chicago.
"We're playing good for what we've got," Thome said.
This is Ramirez's first trip to the DL in his seven-year career.
The 28-year-old slugger, who drove in 165 runs last season, is in
the final year of his contract with the Indians and is eligible to
become a free agent after the World Series.
Thome replaced Ramirez in the cleanup slot the last two games
and was back there again Friday night.
"We just moved them up," manager Charlie Manuel said. "That's
about all we can do."
The Indians recalled right-hander Jamie Brewington from Triple-A
Buffalo where he was 1-0 with a 3.04 ERA. He last appeared in the
majors in 1995 with San Francisco.
Manuel said Brewington would be used in middle relief.
"He's about a two-inning guy for us," Manual said. "In
Buffalo, that's what he was."
The Indians also transferred left-hander Ricardo Rincon from the
15- to the 60-day DL. Rincon has bone spurs in his elbow
and may need season-ending surgery.
Rincon still felt pain in his elbow while pitching a simulated
game Wednesday, and told Manuel he couldn't pitch. Manuel said
Rincon would visit Dr. James Andrews.
"I don't know if he's going to operate or not," Manuel said.
"I thought that was for sure, but it hasn't been scheduled."
Rincon was the Indians' most effective setup man before hurting
his elbow. Cleveland is also without reliever Paul Shuey, who had
surgery on his hip this week and is expected to be out for six to
eight weeks. | |
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