The Phillies have certainly dealt with their fair share of bad injury luck early this season and the latest to hit the DL is catcher Carlos Ruiz with back inflammation. Of course, Chooch hasn't played in 11 days, so it's more or less like he's been the DL already. Since the move was made retroactive to the 28th, he could be available to come off as soon as later this week. The Phils waited so long to put him on the DL because they kept expecting him to feel better.
↵"I thought we were looking at a two or three day thing at first," Charlie Manuel said.
↵He was replaced on the Phillies roster by Joe Blanton, who himself was activated from the DL.Ruiz is hitting just .226 on the season, but last year led the Phillies hitting .302 average with a .400 OBP.
↵Ruiz is the seventh player expected to be on the opening day roster who has hit the DL this season. And yet, the Phillies still own the best record in the Majors at 22-11.
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