Catcher Carlos Santana and DH Travis Hafner were placed on 15-day disabled list by the Indians. Left-hander David Huff and catcher Lou Martson recalled from Class AAA Columbus to replace them.
This collision with Boston's Ryan Kalish in the seventh inning of Monday's game at Fenway Park left Indians catcher Carlos Santana with a hyper-extended left knee and strained ligaments.BOSTON, Mass. -- This is a daily briefing of the Indians' 2010 regular season. The Indians play the Red Sox tonight in the second game of a four-game series at Fenway Park.
Fenway Park's dimensions: Left field line 310 feet, left field power alley 379 feet, center field corner 420, right center field power alley 380, right field line 302. Height of the Green Monster (left field wall), 37 feet.
Pre-game notes
Game 107: The bodies keep coming and going.
Rookie catcher Carlos Santana and DH Travis Hafner were placed on the 15-day disabled list before tonight's game. They each underwent MRI scans and other tests in Cleveland today.
Santana suffered a hyper-extended left knee and a high grade sprain (tear) of the lateral collateral ligament. The LCL is located on the outside part of the knee as opposed to the anterior cruciate ligament, which runs through the middle of the knee.
Lonnie Soloff, the Indians head athletic trainer, said the team is still gathering information on how to treat such an injury. He said surgery is a possibility.
Soloff said Santana, one of the key players in the Indians' rebuilding plans, could be out for more than 15 days. If surgery is needed, he'd could miss the remainder of the season.
"We're in the process of gathering information on how to handle this not only in a baseball player, but in a baseball player whose primary position is catcher," said Soloff. "We'll have a more efficient update later in the week."
Santana has the knee immobilized and is getting around on crutches.
Despite the possibility of surgery, Soloff considers Santana fortunate that he wasn't injured more seriously in the collision at the plate with Boston outfielder Ryan Kalish.
"I think all of us fear the worst just watching it on real time or on replay," said Soloff. "You fear for potential fractures, ligament injuries, the knee joint, cartilage issues.
"At this point, we did not unearth any of that. We do feel fortunate."
The stability of Santana's knee over the next few days, said Soloff, will probably determine if surgery is needed.
Hafner has been out of the lineup since July 29 with soreness and fatigue in his right shoulder. Hafner underwent surgery on his right shoulder two years ago.
"It's certainly the same shoulder, but I wouldn't classify it as the same injury," said Soloff. "Our sense is it will continue to improve as it has been over the last five days."
Hafner's treatment includes scapular stabilization, rotator cuff strengthening, ice, anti-inflammatory drugs and stretching.
New guys: David Huff and catcher Lou Marson were promoted from Class AAA Columbus to take Santana and Hafner's spots. Huff and Marson formed the battery for tonight's game against Boston.
They both opened the season with the Tribe.
"Marson will be our catcher," said manager Manny Acta. "He was our starting catcher before we brought up Santana."
Marson didn't turn any heads with his bat Columbus. He hit .202 (25-for-124) with seven doubles, four homers and 14 RBI. He's hitting .191 with the Indians.
Lineups
Indians (45-61): CF Trevor Crowe (S), SS Asdrubal Cabrera, RF Shin-Soo Choo (L), LF Shelley Duncan (R), DH Jordan Brown (L), 1B Matt LaPorta (R), 2B Luis Valbuena (L), 3B Jayson Nix (R), C Lou Marson and LHP David Huff (2-9, 6.04).
Red Sox (60-46): SS Marco Scutaro (R), CF Darnell McDonald (R), C Victor Martinez (S), DH David Ortiz (L), 3B Adrian Beltre (R), 1B Mike Lowell (R), 2B Jed Lowrie (S), LF Bill Hall (R), RF Ryan Kalish (L) and RHP Josh Beckett (2-1, 6.33).
Umpires: H Tim Welke, 1B Jim Reynolds, 2B Bill Welke, 3B Mike DiMuro. Tim Welke, crew chief.
Quote of the day: "A catcher and his body are like the outlaw and his horse. He's got to ride that nag till it drops," Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench from the Baseball Almanac.
Next: RHP Justin Masterson (3-10, 5.55) vs. LHP Jon Lester (11-6, 3.05) Thursday at 7:10 p.m.