Chipper Jones to the DL

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CHICAGO -- When Chipper Jones headed into the batting cages behind Wrigley Field's ivy late Friday morning, he was hoping his sore right hand had made a dramatic improvement. By the time he came out, he came to the realization that he's destined for another stint on the disabled list.

After talking with Jones, Braves manager Bobby Cox announced that his veteran third baseman will be placed on the 15-day disabled list for the fourth time since the start of last season. The move will be made retroactive to May 24.

"The only frustrating part of this is I have seen no improvement whatsoever," said Jones, who bruised the palms of both of his hands during a fall that followed a May 11 collision with Pirates third baseman Jose Bautista.

Third baseman Yunel Escobar will be promoted from Triple-A Richmond to take Jones' spot on the 25-man roster. The 25-year-old top prospect from Cuba will arrive in Chicago in time for Saturday afternoon's game against the Cubs.

"He's a player," Cox said of Escobar, who is hitting .333 with two homers and a .456 slugging percentage in 180 at-bats with Richmond.

When Jones initially suffered the injury, he missed four games and then returned to play in the next seven. While hitting two homers and recording at least one hit in six of those games, he aggravated the bruising located where his right thumb meets his right palm.

Because he hasn't seen much improvement since getting a cortisone shot in his right hand May 23, Jones is getting a sense that he's suffered more than simply a bone bruise. When he swings from both sides of the plate, he's feeling some discomfort in both of his wrists.

"I think there's something else," Jones said. "I've got pain on the outside of both my hammock bones. I've got pain radiating in both my wrists."

Cox doesn't necessarily believe that this prolonged discomfort means that Jones has suffered anything more than a bruise.

"When he did it, I knew it was going to last a long time," Cox said. "Bruised thumbs can last forever."

Having seen multiple leg injuries and troublesome feet prevent him from playing in more than 110 games either of the past two seasons, Jones entered this year intent on playing at least 150 games. Before suffering this injury, he hadn't missed a game with a health-related issue.

Jones, who is hitting .300 with a .600 slugging percentage and 12 homers, would be eligible to come off the disabled list next Friday. In hopes of gaining some relief, he will not be swinging a bat over the course of the next few days.

"When I swing, my wrists hurt; my thumbs hurt," Jones said. "It's impossible to use my hands."

So much for that goal of at least 150 games. I was wishing that he wouldn't have to go on the DL this year. I hope when he returns next Friday, he is healthy enough to be able to rejoin the team. For some reason, a week doesn't seem long enough. Either way, he better be healthy and playing when I go to watch the Braves in Cleveland.

I like the idea that Yunel Escobar is going to get a chance. I think he can perform well enough to replace either Orr, Woodward or Prado.