As though turning 30 wasn't daunting enough, Arizona placed Danny Bautista on the DL Friday. Bautista incurred serious damage to his shoulder when he dove for a ball hit by Benito Santiago in the second inning of Wednesday night's game against the Giants.

According to the AP, a Thursday MRI revealed "a torn labrum, tears in the anterior capsule and a ligament and a bruised humerus bone." He needs to wait for the swelling to go down but is scheduled to have surgery to repair the damage in the next 7-10 days.

He'll likely need at least three months to recover and so won't be back until September at the earliest. As the Diamondbacks don't have the luxury of a DH slot in which to bring him back gradually without the stress of playing defense, especially in right field which requires good arm strength, Bautista could very will miss the rest of the season.

Arizona activated David Dellucci from the disabled list to fill Bautista's roster spot. Dellucci strained his left hamstring in a late April game in Atlanta, which led to his DL trip a week later. He rehabbed the injury and possibly could have returned last week, but without an urgent need for him in the majors, the Diamondbacks had little reason to rush the roster decision.

The Diamondbacks plan to platoon the left-handed Dellucci with righties Jose Guillen and Quinton McCracken unless one player breaks out and claims the starting job. When Dellucci went on the DL, Arizona called-up Danny Klassen but outrighted him a few days later in anticipation of Jay Bell's return from the DL. Unfortunately for the Diamondbacks, shortly after that Bell, on the disabled list since the start of the season with a torn right calf muscle, strained his left calf. He's still on the DL recovering from the injuries and will need at least another week as he recently experienced a setback in his rehab.

When they couldn't activate Bell, Arizona decided to add an extra pitcher for a few days by promoting Erik Sabel. The 27-year-old RHP has spent most of the last three seasons in AAA with brief call-ups in 1999 and 2000 and an extended stay with the big league club last year. None of his skills are particularly strong but none are particularly horrible, so he can eat some innings in the pen without causing significant damage.

Sabel didn't spend long in the majors before Arizona replaced him with Alex Cintron. The middle infield prospect stayed with the team until mid-May, when the Diamondbacks were able to activate Erubiel Durazo from the DL. Durazo had a huge game on his second day back, going 4-5 with 3 HR and a double for 9 RBI. He hasn't kept up that torrid pace but has managed a hit in every game since then.

Arizona doesn't want Durazo over-exerting himself, so he has had two rest days since his return. Durazo currently has a 5:7 BB:K with 7 H (2 2B and 5 HR) in 18 AB for a .389 BA, .522 OBP, and a 1.333 SLG. The Diamondbacks should likely continue to baby him with off days, but it looks like he's really ready for the breakout season predicted for the last few years and should get the playing time to make it happen.

Mark Grace fouled a ball off his ankle two days before Arizona activated Durazo. Consequently, he wasn't even able to make a case for keeping his playing time and has now been reduced to volunteering for right field at-bats. Arizona does not intend to take him up on his right field offer, so he should continue to ride the pine as a pinch hitter and defensive replacement, filling in on Durazo's rest days.

Arizona replaced Todd Stottlemyre on the DL in early May. Stottlemyre went down for the season last June but hoped to pitch in 2002 after the thoracic nerve in his shoulder regenerated over the off-season. He suffered a setback in mid-March and was forced to start the season on the DL. The Diamondbacks activated him on April 9th but his inability to recover between starts induced his return to the injured list. He's worked up to throwing bullpen sessions in his rehab, though I expect Arizona to send him on a long rehab assignment before activating him this time in order to insure that he's really ready, so I don't expect him back much before the All-Star break.

The Diamondbacks activated Greg Swindell from the DL to replace Stottlemyre on the roster. Swindell began the season on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis. He's pitched very little since his activation, compiling a 4:1 K:BB in 5.2 IP with 5 H, 1 HR allowed.

Miguel Batista took Stottlemyre's place in the rotation. Batista had to leave his last start due to a lacerated right thumb brought about by a blister. However, Arizona expects him to make his next start.

Arizona made another pitching change at the end of April, one induced by ineffectiveness rather than injury. The Diamondbacks demoted Bret Prinz and called up Jose Parra. Prinz had a 6:8 K:BB and had allowed 8 H in 6.1 IP. The team sent him down to work on his control in AAA.

The 29-year-old Parra has bounced around the last seven seasons, spending time in the Korean, Japanese, and Taiwan leagues as well as with various AAA franchises. He's had a few brief stints in the majors, including 12 starts for the Twins in 1995. However, since that time he's primarily worked in relief. His skills, like Sabel's, shouldn't harm a club but won't dominate hitters. In 10.2 IP this season, he has a 9:8 K:BB with 10 H allowed.