Troublesome knee lands Arizona Diamondbacks’ 3B Eric Chavez on disabled list
Jun 10, 2014, 2:16 AM | Updated: 2:16 am
PHOENIX — Sometimes rest is often the best medicine.
That’s the direction the Diamondbacks and infielder Eric Chavez have chosen in an attempt to handle a knee issue that’s limited the 36-year-old veteran to 10 starts this season, but only one since May 26.
Chavez was placed on the 15-day disabled list with what the team described as a sprained left knee.
“Honestly, I should’ve done this probably about three-to-four weeks ago,” he said. “So we’re going to just try to let it calm down, give it rest. We’ve done everything we possibly could on the medical side other than just let it chill out for a little awhile.”
The move was not unexpected.
Manager Kirk Gibson had hinted at the possibility of shutting down Chavez a day earlier and talked further of the team’s planned course of action prior to the series opener against the Houston Astros on Monday.
“We’re looking to make (the knee) stronger,” Gibson said. “He’s just really been trying to play catch-up all year. It happened right before we went to Australia to where we couldn’t stay on top of it very good. So he’s went this long. I think he’s just trying to do a rehab and strengthening exercises; try to get everything strong as he can around there and then we’ll make another run at it and see if he can operate with that.”
Chavez, used primarily as a pinch-hitter and late-inning defensive replacement, is hitting .246 (17-for-69) with three doubles, one triple, three home runs and eight RBI in 43 games.
This is his 17th MLB season and second with the Diamondbacks.
“(The doctor) just said it’s a beat up knee,” he said. “I get swelling in there from time to time and we’ve drained it a few times. It’s just to the point where we’ve done all that other stuff so let’s just give it time to heal and see if we can get it better.”
Surgery is not an option according to Chavez.
“It’s never been brought up to me,” he said. “I’m sure always a clean-up is always a possibility, but at this point in my career, surgery is just not something I’m willing to do.
“Hopefully by the 15 days (the knee is) ready to go and we’ll be good to go.”
