PHOENIX -- Baltimore Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday wtih a broken left wrist, ending his streak of consecutive games played at 1,152, the fifth-longest in big league history.
"I think this is better for me and for the team to have somebody in there who can help the team," Tejada said before the Orioles played at Arizona on Friday night. "Right now, I can't help the team."
The Orioles recalled outfielder Jon Knott from Triple-A Norfolk
to take Tejada's spot. Knott was expected to join the Orioles in time for Friday's game.
"I'm really proud of myself to be playing so many games in a
row," Tejada said. "I don't want to end it like this. What can I say? There's nothing that I can do.
Tejada, who is hitting .306 with seven homers and 41 RBIs in 72 games, fell 1,480 games short of former Oriole Cal Ripken's record
streak of 2,632, which ended in 1998.
"It makes you realize how special Cal Ripken was, and how no
one will ever even come close to touching that," interim manager Dave Trembley said.
Tejada was hit on the wrist by a pitch from San Diego's Doug
Brocail on Wednesday night. In what Trembley called a show of respect, he put Tejada in lineup Thursday at San Diego just long enough to extend his streak. Trembley lifted Tejada for a pinch runner after he reached on a fielder's choice in the first inning.
I'm really proud of myself to be playing so many games in a row. I don't want to end it like this. What can I say? There's nothing that I can do.
-- Miguel Tejada
"You have to have a passion for wanting to play with such
enthusiasm as Miguel plays," Trembley said. "I tell you, today was a real difficult day for me because I know this man is sensitive."
Chris Gomez replaced Tejada at shortstop Friday night. Trembley said Freddie Bynum also would play there.
Word that Tejada was out of the lineup quickly reached the
Diamondbacks' clubhouse.
"If I play a guy 150 games in a season I feel bad about it,"
Arizona manager Bob Melvin said. "For him to be able to do that, that's just a phenomenal feat."
Tejada last missed a game on May 31, 2000. He had started all
558 games since signing a free-agent contract with the Orioles before the 2004 season.
"My last day off, I don't really remember it," Tejada said.
Tejada, who wore a heavy black brace on the wrist, didn't act
like a man who had been given the day off. As the Orioles took batting practice at Chase Field, Tejada played catch on the sidelines with a couple of coaches, one of whom caught the ball and flipped it to Tejada to throw back.
Tejada is expected to return to Baltimore early next week to see
team doctors. He said he expects to return to the lineup when he's eligible to come off the disabled list July 7.
"I'll be back and I hope everything will be fine after I come
back," Tejada said.