Tomas

Perez

“I tried to play with it, but I can’t happen [now],” he said. Perez is expected to rest for 4-5 games.

Signing utilitymen to multi-year deals is almost always a bad idea, but at least the Phillies aren’t doing this because Perez is coming off a career year. He hit .216/.257/.415 in 176 AB this year. For his career, he’s at .246/.301/.359.

“He can’t put weight on it,” manager Larry Bowa said. “It’s sort of scary. He didn’t look good walking in today.” Perez could go on the disabled list, allowing both Doug Glanville and Chase Utley to make the Phillies.

With Jimmy Rollins also out, the Phillies will go with Nick Punto at shortstop.

He went 2-for-4 with two doubles. If Perez has picked now to get hot, it’s bad news for Chase Utley, who was expected to be the primary second baseman during Placido Polanco’s absence.

Perez has been sore and manager Larry Bowa doesn’t want to wear out one of his key reserves. Polanco isn’t yet ready to return, so Nick Punto or Travis Chapman could see some time at third base.

Maybe it’s time for Delmon Young to come up, because any team reduced to playing Perez in the outfield has serious problems. The veteran utilityman is on his way to posting a sub-.200 average for the fourth time in five months this season.

Perez is batting .344 this season. It’s a fluke, but until he cools off, the Phillies might as well keep using him over Bell.

Perez, who will remain a utilityman for the Phillies after agreeing to a two-year deal last month, is batting .289/.396/.456 in 25 games for the Lions.