Another day, another Tiger hits the disabled list.

Vance Wilson was put on the 15-day list with a sore elbow. Mike Rabelo will take his place. We’re only talking about a backup catcher here, though one of the best backups in the league, so it’s not a big deal.

A lot of unlikely Toledo players are getting their time in the spotlight, but at least these are guys who were around for one, maybe two International League AAA championships.

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John Lowe of the Free Press reported tonight that Kenny Rogers might have a blood clot. Might was in the headline, the information coming from an unnamed source. But Lowe’s article sounded confident in the source.

I read up on the injury immediately. I came to the conclusion it’s way too early to know what to think, other than “blood clot” is never something you want to hear. Tom Glavine had the same diagnosis last year. He came out of it fine. It could mean a short time off of baseball, like two weeks, like the 15-day DL. Or it may require surgery that keeps Rogers out of much of the season or longer. It is just too early to say, from a baseball standpoint, what the fallout of the injury is.

Bilfer is admittedly not medically trained, but he was able to bring some insight via his wife, a nurse. His is a must-read post.

In any case, this is not the kind of news you want to hear just before the season starts. But we’ll just have to wait to see what happens next.

Interestingly, lefty prospect Andrew Miller almost got a chance to start in Rogers’ stead, MLB.com reporter Jason Beck wrote.

“We really only talked about two options, basically,” Leyland said. “Those were [Andrew] Miller or Durbin. We decided to stay on our course with that. We checked with the Minor League people. Miller’s throwing good. He’s also working on some things, so we think that we want him to get some starts there under his belt. Durbin had a great year in Triple-A last year.”

So, wow. Miller is expected to make it back to Detroit this year, but it could be even sooner than most thought if things go bad for Rogers — and I sure hope not. The Tigers could be rolling the dice on a rookie starter for a second straight year.

–UPDATE

Will Carroll, injury guru at Baseball Prospectus, wrote about Rogers in his piece today.

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I could have sworn it was April 1 when I checked my feedreader and saw “Rogers put on DL” with a fatigued arm from about a million sources. No such luck. Still March. Crap. Not really the way you want to start the season. It gives Chad Durbin a chance to prove his worth — hmm, I wonder if the Tigers saw this coming. Bobby Seay thus makes the team as the second lefty reliever.

Rogers can return as soon as April 9, Jason Beck reported, as he went on the DL retroactive to March 25. Beck also reported Rogers was not feeling all that well after catching the flu. I know it’s a bad one this year, and our friends on the Pistons have been suffering as well. So I hope that’s all it is.

Ironically, Rogers’ photo is on the front of the Tigers web site still, as he was scheduled to pitch in his final minor league tuneup today.

Crap crap crap.

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Jason Beck reported Tigers’ Rule 5 draft Edward Campusano will miss the season, due to a ligament tear that will require Tommy John surgery to be performed Tuesday.

The Tigers will not lose the rights to Campusano due to the surgery. He must, however, remain active on the 25-man roster for at least 90 days in 2008 or be offered back to the Cubs. Beck reports normal recovery time should put him back on the mound for next season’s spring training.

It’s a real setback for a guy seen as a Rule 5 steal by the Tigers. Detroit had hoped for him to fill the lefty short-relief role. Unfortunately, that’s the way it goes for pitchers. There’s so many success stories following TJ surgery, such as Fernando Rodney, that you hope he can bounce back and be successful in Detroit or elsewhere.

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The Tigers may have their first real injury scare. Not a major player, not an injury you don’t want to see anyway. Rule 5 pick Edward Campusano left his split squad game against Atlanta Sunday. Jason Beck:

Campusano had just struck out Braves Minor Leaguer Willie Cabrera on a breaking ball when he hunched over, his hands on his knees. Assistant athletic trainer Steve Carter attended to him, and he was immediately removed from the game.

Depending on the diagnosis, the Tigers’ relief picture could become more complicated. Campusano was looking strong as a second left-handed relief option alongside Wilfredo Ledezma, a race that includes Bobby Seay, Felix Heredia and Tim Byrdak.

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Jason Beck and Danny Knobler reported Tony Giarratano, minor league shortstop and short-time Tiger, suffered another injury setback. Last year, it was his knee. Now it’s his shoulder that needs surgery. Obviously not a good sign for Giarratano, but not a real setback for the Tigers because he was unlikely to be the shortstop of the future anyway.

Knobler also reported Craig Dingman, who last year had a true health scare, rather than just a career scare, was trying to make a comeback this season from a torn artery in his shoulder. But he had that comeback cut short with pain this year. Another week’s rest was all that was prescribed for him.

Some more good news provided by Beck was how Kyle Sleeth continues to recover from Tommy John Surgery. For those who forget, he was Justin Verlander before Justin Verlander was uhm, Justin Verlander. He was the future big-time pitcher for Detroit before suffering the setback with his elbow. He may be better off for it. The surgery went fine, and last year Sleeth said he started to put it all together. He has pretty much no shot at making the Tigers this year, but he has been receiving praise from Jim Leyland and others in the Tigers camp, the News’ Tom Gage reported. It’s definitely a good sign for his career. He is set to pitch in Tuesday’s exhibition Spring Training opener against Florida Southern.

Mike Maroth has recovered well, too, Beck said, and will start the ST home opener Thursday.

After getting hit by a line drive in Orioles camp and being taken to the hospital, Jamie Walker is fine. Mild concussion. He throw 10 minutes today, the Baltimore Sun reported. Walker sounds like he’s his old self.

“No internal damage,” he said. “Heck, you can’t do any damage if you don’t have a brain.”

And finally I’ve got to hat-tip Knobler for news on Humberto Sanchez’s possible injury. It wasn’t one. But there was a scare in Yankees’ camp. Tightness in his throwing forearm kept him from throwing live batting practice, but he resumed his normal routine today. But that does again prove why I didn’t mind giving him up for Gary Sheffield. It seems like there’s always reason for fear with Sanchez. You hope the best for him, but it just keeps coming up.

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USA Today updates on Joel Zumaya, who apparently is suffering from a wrist injury and worries whether he’ll be able to throw again in the ALCS.

I’m just taking it day-to-day, but it’s sore,” Zumaya said. “It’s the second time I’ve had this. It’s a little worrisome.

“I’m a big factor on this team, but I couldn’t pitch with it. That’s all I have to say.”

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John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press is reporting first baseman Sean Casey has a torn muscle and will receive treatment and a later re-evaluation.

There was not yet word on what the new lineup will look like.

The lineup according to Jason Beck

1. Granderson, CF
2. Perez, SS
3. Polanco, 2B
4. Ordonez, RF
5. Guillen, SS
6. Rodriguez, C
7. Monroe, LF
8. Gomez, DH
9. Inge, 3B

From Danny Knobler: 1) Sean Casey might be lost for the postseason. 2)

Leyland said he regards Perez and Ramon Santiago as his two top options at short, and Perez has better numbers against Esteban Loaiza. He said would consider using Omar Infante at short later in the series, if the Tigers are struggling offensively. As to why Polanco is batting third, Leyland said he’s best able to deal with hitting there.

I have nothing against Neifi Perez personally. But why in the world is he batting second and Alexis Gomez is DHing? Does Jim Leyland not realize this game counts? Beck says it’s for the lefty-righty matchup. But Thames hit right-handers fine. Why are we rehashing problems from last month? *sigh* BLECH!

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John Lowe is reporting Placido Polanco is feeling better and spoke out of frustration Sunday. Polanco plans to take batting practice.

Jason Beck adds that Polanco thought he was hurt worse because of a reaction to the cortisone shot. The pain got worse before better. Polanco didn’t know that was apparently  normal because he’d never had it before.

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Placido Polanco was supposed to be back in time for the Chicago series. He was sore after batting practice Saturday and wouldn’t be available. Now, Polanco says he’s out for the year. Trainer Kevin Rand says he’s day-to-day. So, who knows. From AP writer Larry Lage:

“I’m out for the year,” Polanco said after the Tigers lost to Baltimore 12-8 on Sunday.

If Polanco is out for the season — and not just reacting emotionally to a possible setback — it would be a blow to the slumping Tigers.

Tigers trainer Kevin Rand said Polanco still has day-to-day status, according to team spokesman Rick Thompson.

Adds Jason Beck:

Placido Polanco said after the game, “I’m out for the year and maybe spring training.” However, the Tigers training staff said through a spokesperson that they’re still working with him on a day-to-day basis and that no decision has been made. His bag was packed for the trip to Chicago.

What’s Spring Training got to do with it that his training staff doesn’t know about? Maybe they’re declining to confirm anything until any further tests.

Here is Beck’s full story.

Any setback is of course bad news. Losing Polanco for the season would suck. It’s not a total statistical killer as much as it is an emotional blow, though. It does make life more difficult for the Tigers, though. Maybe his teammates would feel inspired to win one for the Placi. Hopefully.

UPDATE:
Beck updated his blog:

“Just got off the phone with Dave Dombrowski, who said Polanco remains on track to take batting practice Monday in Chicago and possibly return later on after that. He’s not sure whether Polanco was frustrated at questions or what happened, but he says Polanco is NOT out for the year and into next spring training.”

FINAL (?) UPDATE:

Jon Paul Morosi of the Freep makes it sound like Polanco was just frustrated, as Beck wrote.

However, by Sunday evening, it appeared that Polanco had made those remarks because he had felt bothered by constant questions about his health. He traveled with the Tigers to Chicago and may, in fact, take batting practice later this week.

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