Just two games into his Rays tenure, outfielder Tommy Pham is headed to the 10-day disabled list due to a fractured foot, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter links). Lefty Adam Kolarek is being recalled from Triple-A Durham to take Pham’s spot on the roster for the time being.
Pham exited last night’s game after being hit on the right foot by an Andrew Heaney pitch, and while initial X-rays proved negative, further evaluation today revealed the hairline fracture. The injury is another stroke of bad luck to a Tampa Bay club that has already had plenty of that this season.
Topkin notes that the Rays hope that Pham can return in less than a month. The outfielder himself says he’s been given a two-to-four week estimate, so it seems that all expectations are for a relatively brief absence.
While the overall situation isn’t that concerning, then, it’s disappointing news given that Pham only just landed in Tampa Bay. The late-blooming outfielder came to the organization in a surprising deadline-day swap.
Of course, the Rays’ interest in Pham had more to do with future campaigns than the present one. There’s little hope of the team cracking the postseason this year, while the 30-year-old will reach arbitration eligibility for the first time this fall.
The way Mallex Smith is hitting the ball..not a terrible thing. Too bad for Pham though.
Part of me wishes the braves didn’t trade smith. Ultimately I’m fine with it, but I liked him a lot. No fit now though and I think the braves were right to trade him
Mallex is the perfect definition of a second-division player. puts up some nice numbers, so the fans can oh and ah, and then does at least 3 stupid things a week (gets picked-off, throws to the wrong base, forgets how many outs there are, etc.).
You can’t win with those guys, and the Braves knew it. When winning the games become important, all those squiggly little numbers mean less.
He’s a good fit in Tampa……
You sure you’re not describing Odubel Herrera?
While I try to limit over the top bias (Chase Utley aside), this is one I will contest. He’s been a consistent producer at the major league level now for four years and hits in the middle of the order for a team that is now competitive. I don’t think its fair to consider him second division.
Not sure you can ever be over the top about Utley……and I agree that Herrera’s power sets him apart from Smith….but he’s still a guy that contributes less to victory than his numbers might suggest……
Few even care about Smith’s famous brain farts (the other night he stopped at 3B, on a play your mother in law could have scored on) ; they happen in front of 8,000 (a BIG crowd in Tampa) and the games are meaningless. Herrera’s in a pennant race….there’s a pretty huge difference.
He actually fell down.
So about 5 minuets ago Mallex attempts to steal, and crosses 2B as KK hits a fly ball. On his way back to 1B, Mallex doesn’t touch 2B…..aka double play. It never ends with Mallex……
This was exactly the problem CLE had with Matt LaPorta during his 4-year career. His numbers weren’t terrible (though came nowhere near meeting expectations), but his mental lapses on a daily basis were maddening. One has to wonder how a professional player rises up through the minors, plays several years at the major league level, and still makes basic, fundamental mistakes game in, game out
What timing
Karma is something
What did he do that brought this on him? Or was it the Rays?
It’s the infamous “Curse of the Refsnyder”…….
Read the SI article, he hasn’t been worth a darn since it came out, bashed the Cardinals for leaving him down too long and he was the self proclaimed best OF in baseball and should have been paid. Good riddance, he was a major distraction for the Cardinals.
I can’t believe how fragile these players are. 75 mile curve brakes a bone?
Let’s go to the cage Happy Gilmore.
It’s still getting hit by a baseball at 75mph. Yeah, it’s not a fastball, but it’s still an object hitting you. Not to mention, it wasn’t in a location with any protection (muscle, fatty tissue, whatever). Straight up bone.
So yeah. It’s very reasonable that a 75mph curveball can break a bone on your foot, if it hits you in the “right” spot.
matt4baseball….tell you what. Get in your car and drive down a deserted road at just 65 MPH. Now stick your hand out the window and let the back of your hand hit a sign post, then come back and tell us how it went.
Lol
Haha. Excellent suggestion
Lmmfao
One of the best things I’ve read in a long time lol
Now that’s funny!
This guy has been fragile his whole career. That is part of the reason he was a late bloomer, he couldn’t stay on the field.
Vedder80 You get hit on the foot by a pitch at 80mph or greater and see how you go. Fragility has nothing to do with this injury whatsoever.
Are you 12?
I guess you can say he’s not a Pham of this DL stint.
At least he’ll get some time at home with his Phamily
If he had been traded to the City of Brotherly Love he would have been a Phillies Pham
Phamtastic jokes, guys.
The jokes write themselves!
I’m sure he will feel PHAMtastic when he gets back.
That sucks for Pham. The Rays weren’t going anywhere with him anyway. Maybe this opens things up for Meadows.
So I guess the Cardinals won this trade
Welcome to life with Tommy Pham. No one has ever doubted his ability, but unfortunately, the adage “can’t help the club from the tub” has always been his achilles heel. And it’s no fault his own, which sucks.
Phamous last words 😉