Injury-filled season for the Padres

Photo from 'SD Dirk' via Flickr

Padres’ first baseman Adrian Gonzalez missed two starts in a row and only pinch-hit Sunday, after playing a team-record 314 consecutive games due to a bicep injury.

It is reported that his absence was precaution, and nothing serious. Despite the seemingly minor pains, Gonzalez adds another name to the growing list of injuries for the team.

Other injured Padres include Kyle Blanks who finally returned to the lineup Friday after missing four starts due to an injured right foot.  He left after two innings after aggravating his injury.  Blanks is currently listed as day-to-day.

Outfielder Cliff Floyd has also been out since June 18 due to a torn labrum in the right shoulder and outfielder Brian Giles has not played since June 19 after a knee injury.  Young shortstop Everth Cabrera spent 60 days on the disabled list as well.

Mike Adams recovered from a shoulder injury and came back to the Padres after starting the season on the disabled list.  The pitcher suffered a second injury on August 22 causing him to return to the disabled list again.  It is Adams’ second shoulder injury in less than a year.

Other players who have been on the disabled list for the Padres in this injury-filled season include pitchers Jake Peavy and Chris Young who last pitched in mid-June, and catchers Nick Hundley and Henry Blanco.  Edgar Gonzalez is on rehab assignment after being hit on his helmet by a fastball from Rockies pitcher Jason Hammel in July.

As manager Bud Black told the Union-Tribune, “We’ve had our share, but every team has its share of injuries…For us, having C.Y. down and having Jake down for a good part of our season, that’s what makes it tough, when you lose starting pitching. And that’s upper-tier pitching. We’ve been a little bit beset by the DL, probably a little more than the average, but it’s all part of it. And that’s where you need the depth.”