The Injury Beat Goes On. Middlebrooks Breaks Wrist.

The season of the snakebite continued last night for the Boston Red Sox. Amidst a great performance by Clay Buchholz was more sobering news about an injury that will further hobble the club through the remainder of the of the 2012 campaign.

Will Middlebrooks dug in against Indians righty Esmil Roper in the ninth. With the count 2-0, Roper threw a 96-mph fastball middle in – way in – to Middlebrooks, hitting him squarely on his right wrist. Middlebrooks’ reaction revealed everything needed to know. He ran from the plate holding his wrist bobbing up and down, his grimacing face telling the story. He was removed immediately from the game. It would only be a matter of time before x-rays would confirm that Middlebrooks had indeed broken his wrist.

Middlebrooks became Boston’s 24 player to go on the DL this year. It was Boston’s 28th time they’d sent a player to the DL in 2012.

Middlebrooks’ injury may open the door for Danny Valencia, who the Sox obtained from the Twins on Aug 5. Valencia is a career .260 hitter over parts of three seasons but has been hitting only .198 this season. He has played two games for Pawtucket since the trade.

Gloom, despair, and agony on me
Deep, dark depression, excessive misery
If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all
Gloom, despair, and agony on me
– Gloom, Despair, And Agony On Me, Buck Owens and Roy Clark