Turner sits with right quad injury
New York Mets' Justin Turner reacts after being thrown out at first base in the ninth inning to end 3-2 loss to San Diego at Citi Field. (Aug. 11, 2011) Credit: AP
PHOENIX -- Justin Turner looked comfortable relaxing on a clubhouse recliner before Friday's game at Chase Field. In reality, Turner is hurting from an aching right quad that also is affecting the hip area, which is why manager Terry Collins gave him the night off and will probably sit him Saturday as well.
Turner suffered the injury roughly two weeks ago when the Marlins' Logan Morrison crashed into his quad on a double play and he's been fighting through it since. The worry now is that if Turner keeps favoring it, the problem will further put a strain on the hip and maybe his groin as well.
Any of those issues would likely land Turner on the disabled list, and the Mets are dealing with a shortage of players as it is. Even so, Turner isn't optimistic that two days off, and perhaps another in San Diego, is going to do remedy his problem. Not at this stage of the season.
"I'm not sure how much good it's going to do," Turner said.
At the very least, he doesn't have to worry about aggravating the injury. Now that he's been slowed by the condition, Turner said it's been tougher to move his leg out of the way on double plays, and that keeps putting him in harm's way. As a result, he plans to work some with Chip Hale on different moves around second base to try and avoid some of the contact. It may be necessary to keep him in the lineup.
"He's playing through some things that a lot of guys wouldn't play with," Collins said, "so I need to give him a break."
