San Diego placed Phil Nevin on the DL Thursday retroactive to May 12th. Nevin injured his elbow in late April during a game against the Phillies but was able to play with the problem until last weekend's series against Atlanta. A Monday MRI revealed a fluid buildup was causing soreness in the elbow, though there was no ligament damage.

Nevin had the fluid drained from the elbow on Wednesday and felt he might be able to play by the middle of next week. However, the Padres wanted to be cautious and all of the doctors agree he needed the rest. Several other San Diego players have been day-to-day with various ailments, so the team could also use the flexibility of adding another player to the bench while Nevin is out.

Sean Burroughs missed a week with a sore shoulder, and though he returned to the lineup yesterday, the injury is likely to bother him again throughout the season. He was first bothered by soreness in the shoulder late last season while still in the minors. Burroughs reportedly suffers from tendinitis in the shoulder, a carry over from an injury sustained swinging a bat last season. He attempted to strengthen the muscles over the winter, but the extra work evidently wasn't enough to prevent the problem from recurring this season. The Padres have no intention of placing him on the DL.

Although he has been sidelined by a sore right hamstring recently, Ryan Klesko is expected to return to first base during Nevin's stay on the DL. Bubba Trammell will receive the extra playing time in the outfield.

San Diego called up Alex Pelaez to replace Nevin on the roster. The 26-year-old third baseman spent last season at AA Mobile in the Southern League, though he had spent portions of the previous two seasons at AAA. The Padres drafted him out of San Diego State University in the 42nd round of the 1998 draft. His plate discipline needs improvement, but he has shown some power and his doubles indicate he could possess more. I expect Pelaez to cover the infield corners off the bench while he is in the majors, though I don't think he'll be up long as he likely needs a full season of AAA to work on his strike zone judgment.

The Padres placed Bobby Jones on the DL Thursday retroactive to Monday. Jones strained his left oblique and was scheduled to miss his next start. Consequently, San Diego decided to follow through with placing him on the disabled list to rest. Barring setbacks, he should return as soon as eligible.

San Diego called up Tom Davey to replace Jones on the roster. Davey missed the first month and a half of the season following off-season shoulder surgery. However, he's now reportedly recovered and ready to rejoin the bullpen.

Jason Middlebrook will replace Jones in the rotation. Middlebrook split the last two seasons between AA and AAA with a brief major league call-up last season. The 26-year-old's progress through the minors has been slowed by injury troubles and he's had some control problems in the past, but he's reportedly been able to overcome many of his difficulties. San Diego drafted Middlebrook out of Stanford University in the 9th round of the 1996 draft.

Unfortunately, the righty's start on Friday did not go as well as his 4.1 inning relief appearance last Saturday, which was his only other appearance this season. In 4.2 IP yesterday, he allowed 7 H and 2 BB with no strikeouts, whereas he struck out three and allowed no hits in his other appearance.

The Padres called up Middlebrook when they demoted RHP Andy Shibilo, who was called up to replace a demoted Ben Howard on the roster. The 25-year-old Shibilo moved from the rotation to relief work last season in the minors. He spent last season at A+ Lake Elsinore in the California League. In 83 IP, he posted a 105:27 K:BB with only 66 hits allowed.

St. Louis originally drafted Shibilo out of Pepperdine University in the 23rd round of the 1998 draft. However the Cardinals released him before the 2000 season, so he spent that year with Lehigh Valley in the independent Atlantic League. San Diego signed him prior to last season. His performance last year certainly warrants promotion, but he likely shouldn't jump directly from A-ball to the majors. He was only in the majors for two days and didn't make an appearance, though hopefully by returning to the minors he'll be able to continue a steady progression towards a full-time job in a big league pen.

Howard made two starts and a relief appearance before his demotion. His first start went fairly well, as he had a 4:4 K:BB and only allowed 4 H in 5 IP, throwing 86 pitches, 52 for strikes. However, he didn't make it out of the second inning in his second start, allowing 4 H and 4 BB in 1 IP with only 1 K. In his final appearance before returning to the minors, he pitched 4.2 innings in relief of Jones, compiling a 5:6 K:BB with 5 hits allowed. Howard also had difficulty keeping the ball in the park during his call-up, as he allowed 2 homers in both of his later two appearances. As I said when he was promoted, he needs more time in the minors, though he should still develop into a quality pitcher with the proper instruction and time.

Wiki Gonzalez also returned from the DL this week. Gonzalez broke the hamate bone in his left wrist during the first week of the season and only recently finished his rehab after having the bone removed. Fortunately, as hoped, the rest forced upon him by the wrist injury seems to have healed his strained elbow. He should resume his duties as the Padres primary catcher. Javier Cardona, who was called up in his absence, was demoted upon Gonzalez's return.