Philadelphia Phillies Third Baseman Placido Polanco to Visit Spinal Cord Specialist Tomorrow

Placido Polanco’s ailing back isn’t getting any better, and tomorrow the All-Star third baseman will visit a spinal cord specialist in Philadelphia. Polanco is scheduled to start for the National League in the All-Star Game on July 12, and he says he still plans to do so. As of now though, Polanco has been held out of the lineup for consecutive games with a pinched nerve in his back, and the 35-year old is hitting just .216 with two home runs in his last 57 games, numbers that would shame Wilson Valdez. Polanco says the pain extends down to his legs, causing some numbness. A DL stint may be necessary for Polanco, but then again, he has played through the pain so far this season.