Phoenix – Kaz Matsui grimaced as he sat down Sunday afternoon, his stiff lower back throwing a kink into his terrific start. Matsui, a catalytic force at the top of the order, was placed on the disabled list, with teammates fearing he could be gone several weeks.
The second baseman will undergo an MRI today or Tuesday. Last season, he missed more than a month with a related injury, though he said the pain resides lower in his back this time.
“Of course it’s frustrating. I want to be out there for my team,” said Matsui, hitting .361 with five stolen bases in five attempts. “But it’s in the past. I have to focus on the future, getting back on the field as soon as possible.”
Multiple teammates worried that Matsui would be gone for two months, a piercing blow to the lineup because of the problems his speed has created for opposing defenses. Matsui’s injury – he’s unsure if he hurt it swinging the bat or reaching for a popup in Saturday’s loss – triggered the first of potentially multiple roster moves.
Jamey Carroll, last year’s starter, replaces Matsui at second base, with Clint Barmes promoted from Triple-A Colorado Springs to fill the utility role.
“I am ready to do whatever they want me to,” said Barmes, who joined the team midway through Sunday’s game after arriving from Tucson.
The club also faces a decision today on pitcher Brian Lawrence. Lawrence made his final Triple-A rehab start Sunday, allowing six runs on 10 hits in six innings. He’s eligible to come off the DL, where he could be replaced by Byung-Hyun Kim. Making a spot start Sunday with Rodrigo Lopez pushed back with a sore elbow, Kim left in the fourth inning with a bruised right thumb.
Money is a factor in Lawrence’s decision. His salary jumps from $500,000 to $1 million when placed on the 25-man roster. Asked about possibly going on the DL, Kim said: “I don’t know what’s going to happen. I don’t think I will be able to pitch for a couple of days.”
Kim suffered the injury during a second-inning at-bat and his thumb gradually grew numb as the game advanced.
Footnotes
Lopez threw a side session Sunday at 70 percent and admitted “it wasn’t my best, but I feel better.” He will throw again today, and barring a setback, will start Wednesday. … Todd Helton, on his first home run: “I have hit that ball hard the other way a few times, so it was nice to finally have one carry out.”
