Now Paging Doctor Anybody

On Sunday, April 20, the Phillies put Jimmy Rollins on the 15-day DL. Rollins was originally hurt on April 8th at Shea Stadium, and listed as "day-to-day." Scuttlebutt heard on local talk radio is that Rollins did not get an MRI until April 16. Rollins continued to be called upon to pinch hit in nearly every game, despite being in obvious discomfort walking, swinging the bat, and generally performing acts necessary to play baseball.

[Urge to kill rising....RISING....RISING!!!]

If this all seems vaguely familiar, that's because the Phillies medical staff is completely incompetent, and/or the Phillies habitually lie to their fans. Let's recap the last two seasons, shall we?

Tom Gordon: sent back to Philadelphia in Spring of '07, which the Phillies claimed was a regularly scheduled check up. [LIE] They then claimed Gordon was suffered from biceps tendinitis [LIE]. Gordon was then put on the 15-day DL, which turned into the 60-day DL. Turns out, Tom Gordon has a fairly serious shoulder issue (either a partial rotator cuff tear or a frayed bursa sac in the shoulder), and surgery would end his career. So we give him the eighth inning.

Freddy Garcia: The Phillies traded for Freddy Garcia before last season, despite reports from scouts and media that he had lost approximately 10 mph off his fastball. The Phillies then did not have him examined by team doctors prior to making the trade official. Garcia opened the season on the DL with "biceps tendinitis."[LIE] Freddy Garcia made 11 starts, collected 1 win, and was paid 10 million dollars before going down for the season with a right shoulder injury which required surgery.

Brett Myers: Last season, Myers was put on the 15 day disabled list on May 25, with what was called a "strained right shoulder." Myers did not pitch again until July 28, more than 60 days later. No clarification of his injury was provided.

Ryan Madson: Madson was placed on the 15-day DL on July 30 last year, again with the ever-popular "shoulder strain." He did not pitch again that season. No clarification of his injury was ever provided.

Forgive me, then, if I believe that Rollins' injury might be more serious than what I'm being told. The Phillies front office is apparently not good with facts, and the doctors aren't all that good at doctoring. Other than that, no reason to worry.