No Vacancy on Colorado Rockies' DL as Three More Go Down

There must be something in that Rocky Mountain air. This weekend, on May 25, The Colorado Rockies placed All-Star left fielder Matt Holliday on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring.

Holliday joins an already good company of players fighting and battling back from injuries. It has gotten so bad in Denver that according to Thomas Harding of MLB.com, a whiteboard has been placed in the Rox clubhouse stating: Disabled List Inn: No Vacancy.

The previous day, on May 24, the Rockies were forced to put Brad Hawpe, Holliday's counterpart in the outfield on the disabled list with a right hamstring sprain along with infielder Clint Barnes (right knee sprain).

Holliday, Hawpe, and Barnes join an already crowded disabled list. Relief pitchers Ryan Speier (right shoulder contusion), Kip Wells (blood clot in right hand), Micah Bowie (strained left forearm), Luis Vizcaino (strained right shoulder), and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (left quadriceps tendon tear) have all been placed on the disabled list this season.

Starting pitcher Jason Hirsh, coming off a broken leg in 2007, was placed on the disabled list in March after straining his right shoulder in spring training.

It appears, however, that the list may grow even more. If Garret Atkins and Willy Tavares can't fight off their respective injuries, they may be forced to join their brethren on the disabled lists

Atkins, the third basemen who is leading the club in runs batted in, and is tied with Holliday for lead in home runs, is fighting a stiff neck. Center fielder Tavares, the bunt base-hit and stolen base extraordinaire, is trying to stay off the disabled list as he heals from a bruised knee he suffered when colliding with the center field wall making a catch.

Both players sat out the weekend series against the New York Mets. Atkins has been taking muscle relaxants for his neck and said it feels better if he stays moving. Tavares said he is felling better, and is available for play on Monday when the team starts their three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies.