Outfielder Shane Victorino was removed from tonights game against the Cubs, and the early diagnosis is a calf strain. Which calf it is, is unknown.  WGN reported it was his right calf, but MLB.com is reporting it’s his left calf.

Victorino made the final out in the sixth inning, and was seen limping a bit to first.  It’s unsure whether he hurt his calf getting out of the box, or possibly earlier in the game when he made a “Webgem”, robbing Mark DeRosa of an extra-base hit, crashing into the wall in the top of the second.

This is the same injury Victorino suffered last season, causing him to miss almost a month (ironically the injury occured against the Cubs). 

While it’s better Victorino suffers an injury early in the season, this really couldn’t happen at a worse time.  Victorino had a very slow start this year, and appeared he was finally turning the corner.  He was 4 for his last 7, and only struck out twice in his last 19 at-bats.  When Victorino returned last season from the same injury, his post-injury batting average was thirty points lower and he only had five steals.  This season, we can’t afford to see the same results.

With Jimmy Rollins missing the past four games with an ankle sprain, and most likely unavailable tomorrow, the Phillies will be without the first two players in the batting order.  Even with with those possibilities, I wouldn’t think Charlie Manuel starts Rollins tomorrow.

More will be known tomorrow.  Hopefully it’s not too severe.