Jeffrey

Hammonds

Hammonds will be examined this afternoon. He has not taken part in hitting drills since suffering the injury.

Hammonds was limping noticeably after jamming his left ankle on the outfield wall. John Vander Wal, who filled in while Geoff Jenkins was out, should benefit from the injury.

Hammonds is not expected back until June. When in June? Ask the Brewers.

Manager Ned Yost doesn’t believe Hammonds will go on a rehab assignment, though he said Hammonds will have to be 100 percent before being activated, because it will cost the team the services of Brady Clark, Scott Podsednik, or Brooks Kieschnick.

Manager Ned Yost doesn’t appear very excited to get Hammonds back, instead dreading the roster move he will have to make. ''I don’t want to even think about it,’' Yost said.

Hammonds could return as soon as tonight. John Vander Wal has played well in his absence which could be an issue.

There is some speculation that the Brewers are stalling with Hammonds to see if they can move him, allowing them to go with other players. The team is so underwhelmed with Hammonds that they may even be willing to eat the remaining $7.25 million of his contract. Without Hammonds, John Vander Wal (789 OPS, five HR) could continue to man right field, while at-bats would open up for Brady Clark, at whom the Brewers would like to get a better look.

When asked when Hammonds will return, manager Ned Yost said, ''We’ll see when he’s healthy.’' Thing is, Hammonds says he’s ready to return, or at least go on a rehab assignment, but the Brewers haven’t scheduled that either. There is suspicion that Milwaukee might even be planning to release Hammonds.

So they say. It still doesn’t look like Hammonds is in Milwaukee’s long-range plans.

He stayed in the game initially, but left when the elbow stiffened. Hammonds was already scheduled to get today off. His status for Monday isn’t yet known.