San Diego – Willy Taveras stood at his locker late Tuesday night, right leg wrapped in an ace bandage, his season unraveling.
The Rockies’ speedy center fielder cannot outrun a lingering quadriceps injury that flared up while running the bases and landed him on the disabled list.
“It’s frustrating because I want to be there for my team,” Taveras said. “I haven’t been healthy. You saw that tonight. If I was, maybe we score some runs early and the game is different.”
No corresponding roster move was announced, though Seth Smith is a possibility given his hot streak in Triple-A. Ryan Spilborghs, who has 43 RBIs in 154 at-bats, will likely start in Taveras’ absence. Taveras is hitting .311 with 29 steals, four shy of his career high. He had hoped that rest would cure his leg problem, after not starting five of the past six games before Tuesday. However, he felt the muscle pull slightly in the first inning on an infield single. The pain grew worse as the game grew longer.
In the third inning, Taveras was unable to score from first on a Matt Holliday double, laboring around second base. He will return to Denver today to begin treatment and workouts.
“I don’t think it should take much longer than the 15 days. I did something similar when we were Atlanta and it felt better,” Taveras said. “I just want to get it right so I can do what I am capable of and help this team.”
Staff Writer Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com.
