Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Injury updates on Ethier, Ellis, and Coffey

Andre Ethier tried all he could to avoid the DL, but as has been the case with countless other Dodgers this year, that just wasn't going to happen.

Ethier is now a member of the 15-day DL, retroactive to June 28.  He strained his oblique on a swing the day before, and hasn't appeared in a game since.  It wasn't considered major, and the hope was that he'd be back somewhat soon.  Well, with Matt Kemp's injury debacle when he tried to rush back too soon, the Dodgers weren't going to watch the same thing happen here.

Not surprisingly, Ethier isn't too happy about the news, as he feels he can play right now.  But, in a good sign of maturity, acknowledges that he understands the approach.  With the All-Star break soon here, he should be good to go right after.

Coming off the DL for the first time since May 18 is Mark Ellis, whom the Dodgers desperately missed.  It's not like has overpowering numbers (.273, 4 doubles, 2 homers, 9 RBIs), but it was his professional approach to the game that made him so valuable.  Now he can resume hitting in the #2 hole, which has not been a productive spot recently.  Throw in his good defense, and it's great to see him back.

As for Coffey, the news is not good at all.  He'll have to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery.  It's the second one of his career, as he had the same procedure in 1999 while he was a minor leaguer with the Reds.  He was starting to turn things around, as he went 10 scoreless appearances in June.  But after giving up a triple to Todd Frazier of the Reds on Monday, he knew something was wrong.  And boy was it ever.

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