Luckyluciano
03-02-2006, 03:57 PM
Is this guy ever going to be healthy. Would of thought it was time to cut their losses and work in someone else at 3rd base!!
Story:
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- News that David Bell tweaked his back during Wednesday's workouts raised a familiar red flag, the same one that's waved throughout his stay in Philadelphia.
His back is back to being bothersome.
While the oft-injured third baseman was already scheduled to miss the Phillies' first two exhibition games with a sore left elbow, this adds another chapter to the already long tale of Bell's Philadelphia back story.
He'll be examined Thursday by Dr. Thomas Tolli, an orthopedic surgeon based in St. Petersburg, Fla. Tolli has also been working with pitcher Cole Hamels, who is recovering from what was diagnosed as a stress reaction.
Bell missed half of the 2003 season with lower back and hip injuries, while batting .195. He rebounded in 2004 to post his best season with the Phillies, hitting 18 homers, driving in 77 runs and batting a career-high .291.
He stayed off the disabled list for the second straight year in 2005, though he missed time with back spasms and other strains, and he struggled to hit .248. Bell was especially ineffective against righties, batting .199.
The team couldn't say whether the tweak Bell felt was related to any of his previous ailments, but it doesn't matter at this point. The words "back pain" have haunted the 33-year-old since he signed a four-year, $17.5 million contract in November 2002.
Concerns about his health and bat prompted the Phillies to sign Abraham Nunez and Alex S. Gonzalez in the offseason. Both logged extensive time at third base last season, and they batted a combined .278 with 33 doubles and 14 homers.
Story:
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- News that David Bell tweaked his back during Wednesday's workouts raised a familiar red flag, the same one that's waved throughout his stay in Philadelphia.
His back is back to being bothersome.
While the oft-injured third baseman was already scheduled to miss the Phillies' first two exhibition games with a sore left elbow, this adds another chapter to the already long tale of Bell's Philadelphia back story.
He'll be examined Thursday by Dr. Thomas Tolli, an orthopedic surgeon based in St. Petersburg, Fla. Tolli has also been working with pitcher Cole Hamels, who is recovering from what was diagnosed as a stress reaction.
Bell missed half of the 2003 season with lower back and hip injuries, while batting .195. He rebounded in 2004 to post his best season with the Phillies, hitting 18 homers, driving in 77 runs and batting a career-high .291.
He stayed off the disabled list for the second straight year in 2005, though he missed time with back spasms and other strains, and he struggled to hit .248. Bell was especially ineffective against righties, batting .199.
The team couldn't say whether the tweak Bell felt was related to any of his previous ailments, but it doesn't matter at this point. The words "back pain" have haunted the 33-year-old since he signed a four-year, $17.5 million contract in November 2002.
Concerns about his health and bat prompted the Phillies to sign Abraham Nunez and Alex S. Gonzalez in the offseason. Both logged extensive time at third base last season, and they batted a combined .278 with 33 doubles and 14 homers.