News
Padres place Floyd on 15-day DL
Right shoulder sidelines veteran slugger; Macias recalled
By Corey Brock / MLB.com
04/06/09 6:37 PM ET
SAN DIEGO -- In the interest of being completely honest with his new manager Sunday, Cliff Floyd didn't attempt to talk his way onto the 25-man roster or downplay the pain in his right shoulder when Bud Black asked him how he was feeling."He asked if I could promise him that I would be ready in a couple of days," Floyd said. "I told him I couldn't. [Black] wants me to be 100 percent when I go up there. I couldn't argue. It's not fair to the team, it's not fair to him."
On Monday, the Padres placed Floyd on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 5, and recalled outfielder Drew Macias from Triple-A Portland to fill the void of a bat off the bench as well as someone who can pinch-run and play a good defensive outfield.
"The best-case scenario is to wait a couple of weeks, get myself close to 100 percent and come back," said Floyd, who was understandably disappointed he wasn't on the Opening Day roster.
Floyd strained his right shoulder in a Spring Training game against the Cleveland Indians on March 25, when he took a big swing at a changeup low and away from Indians pitcher Carl Pavano. The shoulder tightened on him shortly thereafter, and he left the game.
Floyd, who had shoulder soreness earlier in camp, underwent tests by Padres doctors in Peoria, Ariz. Nothing substantial was found, and Floyd rested the shoulder. He missed six games.
Floyd played on Thursday in the Cactus League finale against Seattle. He then pinch-hit in Friday's exhibition game against the Angels and had two at-bats Saturday in another game against the Angels in Anaheim.
And even though he's 3-for-6 since returning from missing the six games, Floyd, who hit .344 this spring, said his shoulder has limited him from taking the kind of swings that he is normally accustomed to.
"The other day I got a hit on a 2-0 fastball, but I felt I could have got it a little better. ... It wasn't my swing I normally have. I can't live with half-swinging a bat. They want me to be 100 percent," Floyd said.
Black noticed as much, which is why he actively pushed getting some resolution to the issue so that the Padres can get Floyd healthy and back in the mix for good.
"It was probably best for Cliff ... let's get this thing resolved," Black said. "We noticed some things on certain pitches, certain pitches where he wasn't where Cliff needs to be."
In Macias, the Padres get a player who would have played every day in center field for the Beavers, the Padres' Triple-A affiliate. The Padres like Macias and think he can project to be a Major League outfielder at some point, possibly a fourth outfielder. They like his speed and ability to play a very good center field.
Macias had a good spring, hitting .294 in 51 at-bats with three home runs and 10 RBI. He had four hits in 20 at-bats last season for the Padres, two of which were home runs.
Corey Brock is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
