No joy in Mudville; injuries mount for World Champs

S.F. Chronicle / Augest 17, 2011

The (San Francisco) Giants have reached the stage of legitimate crisis. Their injuries are mounting, the standings speak of despair, and in the wake of Tuesday night's 2-1 loss in Atlanta, there's a sense that perhaps it just won't be their year.

Nothing has happened to dampen the team's spirit or competitive drive, nor has that ever been an issue through this most difficult season. There is only so much misfortune, however, that a team can withstand - even for the defending world champions who brought so much joy to San Francisco last season.

Picture manager Bruce Bochy before the game. He didn't just have a man down, or two, but five players making news with injuries. Relief pitcher Sergio Romo and recently acquired outfielder Carlos Beltran were placed on the disabled list. Nate Schierholtz (foot), Jeff Keppinger (wrist) and Aaron Rowand (ribs) were too sore to start, although Rowand entered the game as a late-inning pinch-hitter.

And just when the situation seemed almost comically dire, the Giants' starting pitcher, Jonathan Sanchez, left the game with an ankle injury in the third inning. At a time when Pablo Sandoval is hobbling on an injured foot and ace relief pitcher Brian Wilson is nursing an aching back, this was hardly what the team needed.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/08/16/MNHG1KO20N.DTL&type=sports

Repeat? Forget it...

:cry:

CF Andres Torres (DL)
2B Freddy Sanchez (out for the year)
RF Carlos Beltran (DL)
C Buster Posey (out for the year)
LF Pat Burrell (DL)
OF Nate Schierholtz (foot)
2B Jeff Keppinger (hand)

P Sergio Romo (DL)

And Sandoval and Rowand were hurting. Heck, Rowand pinch hit even though he can't play in the field. Only two players were available off the bench.

Normally, most of these guys would have been starting. I can't remember a Giants team this beaten up. I guess the baseball gods are exacting some revenge for all the good fortune the Giants received last season..

All the Giants can do is keep fighting...maybe some health and a corresponding Sept. run is in the offing, but in reality it just doesn't look like their year..