The Zo Zone

It's a big baseball weekend in Philadelphia.

It's a four-game series against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park. Jimmy Rollins looks ready to play. He went 4 for 6 with two clutch hits in last night's 8-7 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. He had a game-tying triple in the eighth inning and a game-winning single in the 10th, a line drive to right-center field that scored pinch-runner Jayson Werth from second base.

Manuel said last night the Mets series is "a big test."

Uh, yeah.

The Phillies, who are three games behind the Mets in the National League East, have rookie righthander J.D. Durbin starting in Game 1 this afternoon. Cole Hamels pitches Game 2 tonight. Rookie lefthander J.A. Happ makes his major-league debut tomorrow while rookie righthander Kyle Kendrick pitches Sunday.

If the Phillies somehow take this series, it would be quite a feat because the pitching match ups clearly are not in their favor.

Imagine for a second where the Phillies might be if ... 1) Freddy Garcia had panned out; 2) Tom Gordon had been healthy and effective, which would have allowed Brett Myers to remain in the rotation; 3) the Phillies could have traded Jon Lieber for the bullpen piece they thought they could get for him. In other words, picture the very real Phillies offense with what the Phillies hoped in the off-seasaon would happen to their rotation and bullpen.

Actually, try to picture just two of those four pitchers healthy and effective: Myers and Gordon, Gordon and Garcia, Lieber and Myers, whatever.

You get the picture, right?

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Charlie Manuel got some props this week when Tony La Russa asked him to be part of his staff at the All-Star Game. Manuel cannot attend because of a prior committment, but it seems people are noticing the job he has done this season.

Baseball also has asked Ryan Howard to defend his home run derby title during all-star week festivities. He has not yet made a decision.

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The Phillies placed Werth on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left wrist. Werth said after the game the injury is not related to the wrist injury that forced him to miss the 2006 season. He said it is something that has happened in the past. He is hopeful a little rest will help. The Phillies recalled catcher Chris Coste from double-A Reading to take his place.