Dave Roberts to the DL

[HollywoodLeo]

By: BRIAN HIRO - Staff Writer

ANAHEIM ---- The Padres will place left fielder Dave Roberts on the disabled list after an MRI exam Sunday revealed a deep bruise on his right knee.

Team doctor Jan Fronek, who examined Roberts in San Diego, told trainer Todd Hutcheson that Roberts could be out as long as four to six weeks.

"We'll play it by ear and see how long it's going to take," Hutcheson said. "He'll be re-evaluated in two weeks."

Hutcheson, in his ninth season as head trainer after seven years as an assistant, said he can't recall seeing a bone bruise as severe as the one Roberts sustained in the sixth inning Saturday. In pursuit of a tailing fly ball off the bat of the Los Angeles Angels' Dallas McPherson, Roberts slid near the left-field wall at Angel Stadium, and his knee slammed into the strip of concrete below the padding.

Roberts escaped structural damage, but the swelling will prevent him from doing any rehabilitation until the Padres return to San Diego on Friday.

Manager Bruce Bochy planned to discuss with his staff on the flight to Texas on Sunday night which player to promote from Triple-A for Roberts' roster spot. The top candidate is Ben Johnson, who was sent down on May 13 after batting .200 in 35 at-bats. Johnson, who turned 25 on Sunday, has struggled at Portland (.191 average in his past 19 games) but he offers the versatility of being able to play all three outfield positions.

Other options are Terrmel Sledge and Paul McAnulty, both of whom have had stints with the Padres this year.

Replacing Roberts in left and atop the order, Eric Young went 0-for-5 and was the only Padres starter without a hit in their 7-3 victory over the Angels.

The 39-year-old veteran told Bochy he'll play as much as the manager will allow.

"Dave is our catalyst. He's our spark plug on the field and in the clubhouse," Young said. "We're going to miss him. But I'm looking forward to the challenge of more playing time."

http://nctimes.com/articles/2006/06/...1806193635.txt

[riverdunesrat]

Que lata.......

[Rufio181]

I say a combo of Ben Johnson/ EY could work for a while.

[padrefanforever]

....Cubs might trade Pierre.........problem solved, and possibly upgraded ??

[trevortime101]

Carl Crawford anyone?

lol

[padrefanforever]

Crawford would be great.....but he's going to cost us more than Cabrera probably would...lol...but Pierre would probably be attainable for reasonably cheap......and the Cubs are about a week away from waving the white flag until next year....

[HollywoodLeo]

Ryan Klesko has a better OF arm than Juan Pierre.

I probably do as well.

Enough said.

[padrefanforever]

Ryan Klesko would spike himself trying to cover the ground Pierre would cover in LF....and Pierre's arm is no worse than Roberts....hell those two are pretty much clones as far as skills go IMO

[HollywoodLeo]

have you seen Pierre throw the ball? Were you at the game against the Cubs where we got a go ahead run because Pierre attempted to gun someone down at home and the ball barely even made it to 2nd base?

Roberts doesn't exactly have a gun, but he's no Juan Pierre.

edit: I know you were at that game, it was the one where we were supposed to meet up at.

[HollywoodLeo]

now, this is not to say I wouldn't like to have Juan Pierre due to the circumstances, it's just that I don't want to give up a lot for him in some desperation move because Dave Roberts went down for two reasons.

1) It might not be pretty, but i'm confident the Padres can survive for the time DR is down.

and

2) I don't want us to blow what little playing cards we have in a desperation move for a temporary fix that could otherwise go towards a 3rd baseman like (and I might be dreaming here, but who knows) Miguel Cabrerra.

[padrefanforever]

Well good neither do I.......I think Pierre comes pretty cheap right now....like for a Stauffer or some other prospect we've basically given up on

[padrefanforever]

have you seen Pierre throw the ball? Were you at the game against the Cubs where we got a go ahead run because Pierre attempted to gun someone down at home and the ball barely even made it to 2nd base?

Roberts doesn't exactly have a gun, but he's no Juan Pierre.

edit: I know you were at that game, it was the one where we were supposed to meet up at.

Yes I've seen Pierre throw the ball, and I've seen him run down balls and not need to make a throw. I've seen Klesko throw, and I've seen him spike himself trying to make routine plays....I've seen Roberts throw, and Roberts has a weak arm also......You will never get me to think Pierre has a weaker arm than Roberts.......I say they are close to the same.....

[padrefanforever]

also......this is to replace Roberts........not our "big move" toward the deadline....this to me is a lateral move

[HollywoodLeo]

Yes I've seen Pierre throw the ball, and I've seen him run down balls and not need to make a throw. I've seen Klesko throw, and I've seen him spike himself trying to make routine plays....I've seen Roberts throw, and Roberts has a weak arm also......You will never get me to think Pierre has a weaker arm than Roberts.......I say they are close to the same.....

Roberts can at least get the ball into the infield.

[HollywoodLeo]

also......this is to replace Roberts........not our "big move" toward the deadline....this to me is a lateral move

which is why I wouldn't want to give up too much for him, or any other replacement.

If we give up too much for Pierre then there won't be any "big move" because we'll have already used the pieces to make the latteral move.

Roberts, as it stands, should be back in roughly 6 weeks, it's not as bad as it first appeared.