Diaz to DL; Soriano to be activated from DL

[PureBaseballFan]

Soriano to be activated from DL
Pitching coach McDowell calls 10-minute workout 'perfect'
By Mark Bowman / MLB.com

MILWAUKEE -- When Matt Diaz crashed into the wall, there was reason to believe he'd suffered a serious injury. When he limped back to his left-field position there was reason to believe, he'd be feeling awfully sore on Wednesday.

But it didn't take long for Diaz and the Braves to realize the first thought might be the more realistic one.

After Tuesday night's 3-2 loss to the Brewers at Miller Park, the Braves announced that Diaz is going on the 15-day disabled list with a left knee injury. The original diagnosis is that he suffered a posterior cruciate ligament strain. When he returns to Atlanta on Wednesday, the 30-year-old outfielder will get a better idea of the severity of his injury.

"He's going to be out a while," manager Bobby Cox said of his outfielder, who has been battling to find the form that helped him hit a combined .333 over the previous two seasons.

Diaz suffered the injury when he slid into the wall in an attempt to catch Prince Fielder's long fly into foul territory along the left-field line. His left knee hit the unpadded portion of the wall, causing the ligament trauma and creating a laceration that required four stitches.

Still Diaz finished the inning and even attempted to reach with a bunt single with one out in the seventh inning. He said on his fourth stride down the first-base line that he could tell something might be structurally wrong.

"When I got up and started moving around it started to feel better," Diaz said. "But when I laid that bunt down and tried to run that out, I could feel it give."

His willingness to play through the pain wasn't ignored by his teammates. "It just shows you what kind of guy that he is," Braves catcher Brian McCann said.

Diaz suffered a PCL strain during his Minor League days and was sidelined for six weeks. The Braves will have a better timetable for his return once their doctors get a chance to evaluate him.

Cox said the team expects to activate Rafael Soriano from the disabled list to take Diaz's roster spot.

With Diaz absent and Mark Kotsay battling a sore back, Omar Infante may start seeing more time in the outfield. Gregor Blanco will likely see time in left or center on an everyday basis.

Kotsay's injury could perhaps be far more important. If Kotsay has to go on the DL then you may see either Brandon Jones or Josh Anderson.

Another sidenote Mike Gonzalez will be making a rehab assignment in Double A Mississippi.

[chip&smoltz95]

is b.jones still struggling down in AAA? Yea, infante would not be the answer if kotsay goes to the DL.

[PureBaseballFan]

B. Jones still isn't hitting for much power in the HR department but is producing pretty well when it comes to dobules.

Brandon Jones Stats

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Brandon%20Jones&pos=LF&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=447761

Josh Anderson's batting average is what some people would call and empty one since he is mainly hitting singles, he does have 13 steals though and can play CF and cover more ground in the OF then Jones.

Josh Anderson Stats

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Josh%20Anderson&pos=CF&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=461811

A possible sleeper if Kotsay were to go on the DL is Jason Perry who is a former Georgia Tech player and has pretty much been a minor league journeyman. He is destroying Double A right now but may not get the call because he isn't really a prospect.

Jason Perry Stats

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Jason%20Perry&pos=LF&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=434634

[Pere]

Blanco in left, Anderson in center.