Kevin Correia Joins Paul Maholm On The Phantom DL

Not surprisingly to me, Kevin Correia has been placed on the 15-day disabled list. The reason the Pirates gave was a "left oblique strain".

This happens after Correia compiled a 7.74 ERA in his last 6 starts and has eclipsed his 2010 innings total by more than 10. Last week, Paul Maholm went on the DL with a "left shoulder strain" 2 days after pitching a game in which he got roughed up but didn't look injured at all, and one day after he golfed at a charity event.

These guys can't really be injured. Sure, they might be hurt a little bit like all professional athletes probably are at this point of their season, but I'm not buying that these two are not in shape to pitch. This is just a team move to give them some time off to recoup from their high innings totals and recent poor performance without embarrassing them by sending them to the bullpen or benching them.

There is definitely nothing to be worried about here, and it should be interesting to see Brad Lincoln and Ross Ohlendorf get some starts at the big league level again.