Careful Span taking time after sustaining concussion
ATLANTA -- Nationals center fielder Denard Span said he feels much better, but he agrees with the decision to put him on the seven-day disabled list because of a concussion.
The injury occurred in the eighth inning of Friday night's 7-6 loss to the Braves. With runners on first and second and two outs, Span singled to center field off right-hander David Carpenter, scoring Bryce Harper. Span was awarded second base for colliding with second baseman Dan Uggla, who was charged with interference.
Span also sustained a thigh injury on the play. He said the thigh injury hurts more than the concussion.
"I was trying to get to second base. I saw Uggla. I think he picked me up late," Span said. "Even with us colliding like that, I didn't think it would be an impact like that. I thought maybe we would have been able to brace each other.
"It's crazy, this game. You never know what's going to happen. ... I felt I got hit by a little stocky running back -- Maurice Jones-Drew."
Span was down for several seconds before being attended to by head athletic trainer Lee Kuntz and manager Matt Williams. Span remained in the game, but he acknowledged afterwards that he had a mild headache. He took a battery of tests, and it was revealed on Saturday that he sustained a mild concussion.
Span rested most of Saturday at his hotel room and rejoined the team on Sunday. He is expected to take more physical tests Monday to make sure that he is OK.
Span learned his lesson from three years ago. He missed a good portion of the 2011 season after he was involved in a home-plate collision with then-Royals catcher Brayan Pena. Span admitted that he rushed back to play and paid the price. This time, he is taking his time before he gets back on the field.
"I feel fine. If I had to play, I could have played [on Sunday]," Span said. "But I understand with my history that it was best for me to go ahead and go on the seven-day DL just to be safe. I'm thinking about the rest of the season and the rest of my life."