Injury Updates.

My Fellow Phans,

The injury bug is taking its good old toll on the Phillies this season and our guys seem to be dropping like flies.

Starting with Chase Utley. Utley had surgery on his thumb the other day and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks. Yes, 6-8 weeks! This puts him back in uniform around September sometime. Can the Phillies last that long without a suitable replacement? I really do not think so. Valdez is great, but he will fade soon enough and then we will be struggling to find a second baseman who doesn't ground into bases empty double plays.

As for Polanco, NBC sports reports that "Polanco saw a doctor in New York on Thursday after being placed on the disabled list Wednesday with discomfort in his left elbow. He has already been given a few cortisone shots and will probably need offseason surgery. For now, Juan Castro and Wilson Valdez will fill the gaps in Philly."

Castro, Greg Dobbs, and Valdez are adequate replacements for temporary injuries. However these are going to last weeks. We need a steady replacement for at least one of our two injured infielders.

Another report I read says that Carlos Ruiz is still experiencing concussion symptoms and is not ready to start a rehab assignment. If that wasn't comforting enough, Phillies trainers have no timetable for backup catcher Brian Schnieder's return either. Oh goody....

As for our injured pitchers:

Righthander Ryan Madson (broken right toe) will pitch for double-A Reading in his third rehab outing Friday. Madson will throw 30 pitches to extend his arm. He could be activated before the all-star break. "If all moves right," Sheridan said, "yes, we'd like that to happen."

Lefthander J.A. Happ threw a bullpen session Thursday in Pittsburgh without pain. He will pitch for triple-A Lehigh Valley in Pawtucket on Sunday, his sixth rehab start. "He's not reporting any problems, It's a matter of him feeling comfortable on the mound with his pitch ability as opposed to other things."

Chad Durbin (strained right hamstring) is rehabbing in Florida. He will begin throwing in rehab games in the next week. Durbin could return before the all-star break, but he'll likely come back after the break, when the Phillies are in Chicago.

Lefthander Antonio Bastardo (left elbow inflammation) will throw a bullpen session Saturday in Pittsburgh. Beyond that, the Phillies have no long-term plans for Bastardo's progression.

Is it time to sit an pray for good health? I don't know bout you, but it just may be time to start..

Until we meet again Phillies Fans; Happy Readings and Go Phillies!