O’s Place Guerrero on DL

Added on Jul 18, 2011 by Scott in

MLB

One of the worst teams in baseball just got a little worse. The Baltimore Orioles have shipped designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero to the 15-day disabled list with a broken bone in his right hand. Guerrero suffered the injury on July 10th when he was struck by a pitch and hasn’t played since. The move is retroactive to July 11th, so he will be eligible to return on the 26th.

The 36-year-old future Hall of Famer was signed in the offseason to add a much needed veteran presence in the middle of the Orioles lineup. In 83 games played, he is batting .279 with seven home runs and 31 RBI. His average ranks third-best among everyday players.

Guerrero is a nine-time All-Star and the 2004 American League MVP, while with the Angels. A career .318 hitter, Vlad is within striking distance of baseball milestones. He needs 57 homers to enter the exclusive 500 club; a group that currently contains only 25 players. He’s also 36 shy of 1500 RBI; only 51 players in MLB history have reached that goal.

A series of lower body ailments have plagued Guerrero in recent years, limiting his ability to man the outfield. His signature swing is still potent, as he proved in 2010 as a member of the Rangers, missing only 11 games and hitting .300 with 29 roundtrippers and 115 RBI, primarily as a DH.

The O’s have used both Matt Wieters and Nolan Reimold at DH in Guerrero’s absence. Wieters has been more effective (three hits in two starts), although Reimold could see increased duties; he has belted five longballs in only 75 at-bats.

Baltimore has smacked 105 homers on the season, which ranks fifth in the American League; third baseman Mark Reynolds leads the roster with 20, also fifth highest in the AL. However, his Mendoza-like .223 average along with Derek Lee’s dreadful .235 percentage is hampering a young, talented lineup.

The Orioles have won two straight after dropping 14 of 15. On the season, they are 38-54 in the bottom of the AL East.

Source: ESPN.com