Stars battling through injuries

San Diego Padres General Manager Kevin Towers is supposed to stop by Cashman Field tonight to get a glimpse of Las Vegas Stars pitching prospect Matt Clement.

Stars manager Jerry Royster is hoping he brings along a couple of healthy players with him.

"I woke up this morning and we had only six healthy players for (Monday night's) game," Royster said before the Stars' 4-1 loss to the Vancouver Canadians.

Indeed, the Stars look more like a M.A.S.H. unit these days instead of a triple-A baseball team.

Among the injured:

Outfielder Charles Poe, who had an MRI on his right knee before Monday's game after injuring the knee while sliding into home in Sunday's win over Vancouver.

"It kind of buckled," said Poe, who has a 14-game hitting streak but didn't dress Monday. "I couldn't really straighten it out. ... (The doctors) told me I really shouldn't be walking on it."

Poe should learn the results of the MRI today ... after visiting his dentist for a root canal.

First baseman Jason Thompson is scheduled to have an MRI on his shoulder today. He injured it while making a game-ending diving grab on Friday night and was put on the disabled list.

"He's going to be out for at least a few more days," Royster said.

Starting pitcher Stan Spencer (3-0, 3.07) also was put on the disabled list because of a sprained toe which has kept him hobbling for almost three weeks.

Outfielder Chris Prieto is on the disabled list because of his reaction to pain medication for a thumb injury.

Outfielder Aaron Guiel has been forced into playing despite having blurred vision caused by stigmatisms in both eyes. He is awaiting new glasses which he hopes will correct the problem which could eventually require surgery.

"Missing Poe, Thompson and Guiel at the same time is going to hurt," Royster said. "That's a big part of our offense."

Especially since the promotion of cleanup hitter Eddie Williams to the Padres two weeks ago. Guiel, Thompson and Poe usually represented the 3-4-5 hitters in the lineup when they were healthy.

But Royster did get some reinforcements on Monday.

Thirty-three year-old first base coach Craig Colbert, who batted 1.000 (2-for-2) in emergency duty for the Stars in 1997, was activated and immediately was inserted as the designated hitter for Monday night's game. Colbert, who played 72 major league games with the San Francisco Giants, made sure none of the players on the Stars missed the fact he was in the lineup by circling the locker room before the game and pointing to his name on the lineup sheet.

Then Colbert went out and, despite only taking batting practice for the last two days, lined an RBI single in the second inning for the Stars' only run of the game.

Two players from San Diego's extended spring training roster, outfielders Brandon Hemmings and Brent Horsman, were also flown in from Peoria, Ariz.

Hemmings started in right field, batted ninth and made an excellent throw to nail Orlando Palmeiro trying to stretch a single into a double in the first inning. He also had a single in his three at-bats.

Extended spring training is for players who don't make single-A teams. Most are later farmed out to Rookie League teams.

"(The Padres) called this morning and asked what I needed," Royster said. "I made out a lineup card and went from there. ... I haven't seen either guy play before.

"It's pretty tough," Royster continued. "Right now we're just trying to wait and see what happens on the major league level to make the proper moves. These were kind of desperation moves."

Help could be coming as soon as today when the Padres are expected to activate third baseman Ken Caminiti off the disabled list. If so, chances are good the Padres may send an everyday player down to Las Vegas.

If not, the Stars' offensive woes figure to continue for a while.

archive