The Detroit Tigers' playoff chances took a serious hit today, as 1B/DH Magglio Ordonez suffered a fractured ankle while sliding home in tonight's 3-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays:
Magglio Ordonez Fractures Ankle, Is Expected To Miss 6-8 Weeks
Ordonez, who had been limited to designated hitter duties the past week because of a sore ankle, suffered the fracture in the third inning trying to score on Miguel Cabrera's double. He was hurt sliding into home.
Ordonez remained on the ground after sliding, and was eventually helped off the field by team trainers.
As SB Nation Detroit notes, the injury will be particularly injurious to Ordonez’s bottom line:
Ordonez [...] needs 540 plate appearances or 135 starts in order for his 2011 option to vest. Currently, the 36-year-old has 363 plate appearances and has started just 71 games. Based on the current prognosis, Ordonez could only hope to return to action in the first week of September.
What’s on the line for Ordonez is $15 million in 2011, and now it is doubtful that he will achieve the stats required to get that.
Making matters worse, the Tigers' loss was their eighth in the last ten games, stretching back to the last game before the All-Star Break, and it drops the Motor City Kitties into third place in the AL Central. With Detroit already suffering from the losses of Brandon Inge and Joel Zumaya, Ordonez's departure couldn't have come at a worse time. Oh, and Detroit is due to start a road trip to Tampa Bay and Boston next week. Not good.
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