The Zo Zone

Cole Hamels has suffered a setback and will not start Sunday against the Marlins at Dolphins Stadium.

Hamels felt discomfort in his left elbow in his last bullpen session yesterday. They will shut him down from throwing for the next six days and progress him accordingly. The Phillies think he can be pitching competively again in seven to 10 days, but 10 days seems a safer bet.

Hamels has not pitched since August 16 at Washington.

Adam Eaton will start Sunday in Hamels' place.

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The team also traded Russell Branyan to the St. Louis Cardinals for a player to be named.

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The Phillies optioned Geoff Geary to triple-A Ottawa and purchased the contract of righthander Kane Davis to take his place. Geary will rejoin the team in Atlanta next week when rosters can expand.

They're not there yet.

But the Phillies are making the journey a fun one. Everybody knows yesterday's dramatic 11-10 victory over the Mets at Citizens Bank Park completed a four-game sweep and moved the Phillies within two games of first place in the NL East and NL wild-card races.

It's hard to believe they were seven games back in the division after Saturday's loss to San Diego.

It's hard to believe they looked cooked.

Buckle your seatbelts, folks.

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The latest Philliescast is up.

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Jim Salisbury writes about how a week of remarkable victories is giving the Phillies a feeling that something special is happening.

Salisbury talks more about the Phillies and the wild-card race.

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Not to be Debbie Downer, but Jimmy Rollins wants everybody to take a deep breath.

He knows the Phillies have been in this situation before. The Phillies held the wild-card lead with eight games to play in 2003 but finished 1-7 to lose the berth to the Florida Marlins. They held the wild-card lead with 16 games to play in 2005 but finished one game behind the Houston Astros. And last season, they held the wild-card lead with seven games to play but finished 3-4 to lose the berth to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

They're two back in both races this time, and 29 games is a looooooong time.

I still have concerns about this team's pitching. If they can get consistent pitching for the next 29 games, I think they have a great shot. If they don't ...

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Here are the pitching match ups for this weekend's series in Florida.

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Freddy Garcia had season-ending surgery yesterday. Yes, he earned $10 million for one win.

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Got on the phone last night and talked with Harry Mayes and Jamie Yannacone (aka The 700 Level Sports Fanatics) on Sports Radio 950. Listen to the podcast here.

Mayes streaked last night because he didn't believe the Phillies could sweep the Mets.

Thankfully for him, it wasn't cold out last night.

We're trying something different today on The Zo Zone. Like most of you, a bunch of people in the Inquirer newsroom are sitting at their desk watching this afternoon's Phillies-Mets game. So we thought we'd open up the blog and let them throw in their thoughts while the game goes on. You'll hear from departments across the paper over the course of the game. So sit back, follow the game with us, and have your say in the comments section.

Tony Fitts, Inquirer Online Desk
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Yes, the offense is looking great at the moment with homers by Howard, Burrell and Rowand, but what I'm excited about is how well Kyle Lohse has pitched since arriving here from the Reds. That could turn out to be a real steal of a deal; especially with Eaton and Moyer having been so inconsistent the past couple months.

Barry Zukerman
Inquirer Features

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These businessperson's specials remind me of grade school. Even where I grew up, in Nebraska, we sometimes got to listen to the World Series at school - back in the day when they played only day games. We didn't miss any school because we were staying up to the early hours of the morning watching a night game, but sometimes we didn't get a lot done because a baseball-fan teacher would have the radio on. Sometimes even a television.

Tony Fitts

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I think maybe Lohse figures he can get guys out more or less permanently by striking them with pitches. Oh-- Lastings is up and we know he has a sore knee already!

Susan B.
Features Copy Desk
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I think I put the kiss of death on Lohse. No sooner do I talk him up, and boom, he gives up a few runs and gets pulled from the game.

Barry Z.
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It wasn't your fault, Barry. Chris Wheeler jinxed him by hoping aloud that Lohse would shut down the Mets after the Phillies got it to 5-0.
Dave Boyer

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I'm being a good worker. I have the sound turned down and the captioning on. Which means I don't have to listen to Chris Wheeler. But of course I am really doing it so as not to disturb the other hardworking Inquirer reporters and eidtors. ...

Tony

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Ugh. Ryan Howard is a demi-god, but he has a toast-R-oven for a glove.
Dave
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What a catch by Rowand off the vexatious Jeff Conine! And Burrell gets lots of style points for the way he thrust both arms in the air exultantly in admiration of a play he couldn't possibly make himself.
Dave
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Clay Condrey gives two scoreless innings. Swarms of locusts to follow....
Dave
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Does Alfonseca understand that the white, five-sided object is his target?
Dave
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I think he looks like a very graceful, big egret. Of course, if we lose because of him, I'll have to add an "r" to that description.

Susan

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Three months ago, I hated Pat Burrell more than rice pudding. Now I would volunteer to be his reflexologist.
Dave
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Sweep nirvana!
Dave

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Yessssssss!

Susan B.

Rule 6.05(m): "... The objective of this rule is to penalize the offensive team for deliberate, unwarranted, unsportsmanlike action by the runner in leaving the baseline for the obvious purpose of crashing the pivot man on a double play, rather than trying to reach the base. Obviously this is an umpire's judgment play."

It's hard to believe that last night's ending could top Tuesday night's ending, but I think it did.

Ryan Howard hit a game-winning two-run homer in Tuesday's 4-2 victory over the Mets.

Been there. Done that.

(Kidding.)

But then C.B. Bucknor called intereference on Marlon Anderson to end last night's 3-2 victory over the Mets. If Bucknor had not ruled interference, the tying run would have scored and who knows what would have happened next? The victory moved the Phillies within three games of the Mets in the National League East and put the Phillies in position to sweep the four-game series this afternoon. This is the biggest game of the season, in my opinion. And for obvious reasons. The Phillies win, they're two games back with 29 to play. They lose, they're four game back with 29 to play.

Big difference.

But back to The Call.

Shawn Green hit a slow chopper to Jimmy Rollins, who flipped the ball to Tadahito Iguchi for the force at second.

Game's tied.

No way the Phillies could turn that double play, no matter how slow Green might be. Green just didn't hit the ball hard enough to give Rollins and Iguchi a chance. But then out of nowhere, Anderson crashes into Iguchi.

Holy cow. They're going to call interference on him.

They did.

"Marlon Anderson went after the second baseman to break up the double play and did not, and could not, reach the base, which is what he argued," crew chief Joe West said. "C.B. made a gutsy call, and he didn't back down from the call at all."

"As far as I know, as long as I've been playing in the major leagues, that's a pretty routine slide there," Anderson told reporters afterward. "You come hard. I played second base. Guys come in hard all the time. It's part of the game. As long as you can touch the bag, pretty much, you don't do anything wrong."

But Bucknor thought he did, which is all that matters.

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Jim Salisbury writes about the big plays that have helped the Phillies take the first three games from the Mets. Chase Utley's return Monday. J.D. Durbin. Aaron Rowand's 40-foot single to score the tying run in the eighth inning Tuesday. Howard's bomb. Shutout baseball from the bullpen. Pat Burrell. Jimmy Rollins. Bucknor.

Salisbury wrote:

"The Phillies have played in meaningful games down the stretch the last two seasons and not always handled themselves well. They led the wild-card race on Sept. 5, 2005, then blew the lead by losing three straight. Last season, they led it with seven to go and lost three of four.

"Now, they're coming through in the big games.

"The experience we've gotten the last two years has really shown up," manager Charlie Manuel said. "The more experience you get in this environment, the better you handle it next time."

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Rollins is trumpeting Manuel for NL manager of the year.

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Nobody has spoken with Adam Eaton about his fate in the rotation. The Phillies obviously will have six starters once Cole Hamels returns Sunday.

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The Phillies will have the following players in the Arizona Fall League: catcher Lou Marson; third baseman Mike Costanzo; outfielder Greg Golson; lefthanders Joe Savery, Josh Outman and J.A. Happ; and righthanders Joe Bisenius and Scott Mathieson.

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You always hear hitters say they see more fastballs when they have a base stealer on first base, but is that really true? John Dewan's Stat of the Week discovers there's not much of a difference.

The challenge tonight is keeping it going.

The Phillies moved within four games of the New York Mets in the National League East with last night's dramatic 4-2 victory in 10 innings at Citizens Bank Park. Aaron Rowand hit a ball 40 feet up the third-base line in the eighth inning to score the tying run, while Ryan Howard hit a ball 396 feet to left-center field in the 10th inning to score the winning run.

It might have been their best victory of the season.

So they don't want to come out tonight and lay an egg. Jamie Moyer faces Oliver Perez in Game 3. Moyer is 0-2 with a 13.50 ERA in his last two starts, but is 0-1 with a 3.46 ERA in two starts this season against the Mets. Perez threw seven shutout innings in his last start against the Dodgers, but had a 7.06 ERA in his four starts before that. In his only start against the Phillies this season, he walked seven and allowed three runs in 2 2/3 innings.

The Phillies could move within three games of the Mets with a victory tonight. They lose and they're five back again and in danger of the dreaded series split, which basically knocks them out of NL East contention.

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Bob Ford writes that the best news yesterday wasn't Howard's homer. It was Cole Hamels throwing a bullpen session without pain in his left elbow.

Hamels is expected to start Sunday in Florida.

So who gets bumped from the rotation? Adam Eaton or J.D. Durbin? Eaton, who has a three-year, $24.5 million contract, allowed five hits and two runs in 5 2/3 innings last night. Durbin, who is making the league minimum $380,000, is 5-2 with a 4.22 ERA in seven starts.

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There has been some recent speculation about Brett Myers' future. Starter? Closer? It depends on how much the Philllies improve their rotation or bullpen in the off-season. Myers likely will go wherever the Phillies have the greatest need. And Myers said he is fine with that.

Of course, Myers prefers to close.

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I wrote in yesterday's Phillies Report that Myers had struggled in non-save situations. He had a 0.61 ERA in 13 save opportunities since he became the closer May 3, and an 8.68 ERA in nine non-save opportunities. That included a 12.27 ERA (five earned runs in 32/3 innings) in four appearances when he entered with the score tied.

But last night Myers threw two scoreless innings with the score tied to pick up the win.

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ESPN's Jayson Stark found this interesting note about Jayson Werth, who went 5 for 5 Sunday and 4 for 4 Monday before he struck out looking in the second inning yesterday to end his chance to tie the NL record for hits in 10 consecutive at-bats:

According to baseball-reference.com’s Play Index, Werth is just the second player – and first National Leaguer – in the last 50 years to have a 5-for-5 game and a 4-for-4 game back-to-back. The other: Bernie Williams. He accomplished the feat Aug. 15-16, 2002.

The Phillies lineup looks a little better with Chase Utley in it, huh?

He went 3 for 5 with a double, home run and two RBIs in last night's 9-2 victory over the Mets.

He's hitting second this week because the Mets have some lefthanders in the bullpen and Charlie Manuel doesn't want to stack Utley next to Ryan Howard. It worked last night, so if Manuel's words hold true, expect Pat Burrell to remain in the No. 3 hole for the immediate future. That's not the worst thing in the world. Burrell is hitting .351 (13 for 37) with four home runs and 11 RBIs in his last 10 games.

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But how about Jayson Werth? He went 5 for 5 Sunday and 4 for 4 with a walk last night. He needs a hit in his first at-bat tonight to tie the National League record with hits in 10 consecutive at-bats.

The record is shared by nine other hitters: Matt Diaz, Bip Roberts, Ed Delahanty, Kiki Cuyler, Chick Hafey, Joe Medwick, Woody Williams, Buddy Hassett, Ed Konetchy and Jake Gettman. Delahanty accomplished his feat with the Phillies in 1897, which also makes that the franchise record.

Werth played well in Shane Victorino's absence, and has continued to play well once he returned from the DL. Werth is hitting .403 (29 for 72) with three home runs and 18 RBIs in 23 games since Aug. 1.

A teammate taped "W. Pipp" over Victorino's nameplate in his locker.

That person also must have taped "P. Rose" over Werth's nameplate.

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Jim Salisbury writes that Adam Eaton needs to step up and earn his paycheck in a big game tonight.

If not, does he remain in the rotation? Or does J.D. Durbin stay in there? Durbin is 5-2 with a 4.22 ERA in seven starts for the Phillies.

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Regular Zo Zone readers might recognize some of the numbers in this week's Phillies Report. I look at why a split this week against the Mets basically kisses the NL East goodbye, Brett Myers' struggles in non-save situations, Ryan Howard's recent home run drought and Padres players hating Phillies fans.

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Freddy Garcia could have surgery tomorrow, if James Andrews recommends it.

My bet? Garcia has it. He's clearly not pitching very well -- his fastball hovers around 84 mph -- so it's in his best interests at this point to have the surgery. I mean, it's not like he'd make a couple more rehab starts and bump somebody out of the rotation for the final couple weeks of the season.

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Pictures from last night's game.

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Righthander Andrew Carpenter threw a seven-inning perfect game last night for single-A Clearwater.

"There's no doubt it's a big series. It's time to put up or shut up. We have 33 games left. We have to step up and leave it all out there." -- Aaron Rowand.

So the Phillies beat the San Diego Padres yesterday at Citizens Bank Park, 14-2.

Big deal.

There's no question the Phillies have come up terribly small in this terribly important 10-game homestand. (Phil Sheridan likes to call that big-game shrinkage.) But they will try to salvage the homestand beginning tonight in a four-game series against the Mets, who have a six-game lead over the Phillies in the NL East. They absolutely must take at least three of four to put them in a semi-decent position heading into the final 29 games of the season.

Because here's the deal:

Say the Phillies and Mets split the series.

Say the Mets then finish the season at 15-14 (.517).

The Phillies would need to play 21-8 (.724) the rest of the way just to tie the Mets.

The Phillies haven't put together a stretch of quality baseball like that all season. They had a 17-9 (.654) stretch from July 8 through Aug. 8, and a 16-9 (.640) stretch from April 21 to May 16. They certainly haven't come close to playing better than .700 baseball for an entire month. So if the Phillies could take 3 or 4 it would at least make their chase a little more reasonable. If the Mets finish 15-14, the Phillies would need to play 19-10 (.655) the rest of the way to tie. That still is terribly tough -- there's certainly no guarantee the Mets would play .500 for the final month of the season -- but at least they can feel they still have something to play for.

But more and more it's looking like the Phillies will have a lot of late nights in September, staying up and watching the scroll at the bottom of the screen on ESPN to see how the Padres are faring on the West Coast.

The Padres hold a three-game lead over the Phillies in the NL wild-card race.

It looks like it's wild card or bust.

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The latest Philliescast is up.

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Chase Utley is expected to be back in the lineup tonight.

Yeah, that should help.

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Cole Hamels is scheduled to throw a bullpen session tomorrow.

Yeah, he would help.

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Pitching match ups for this week's series.

"You don't want to add pressure to yourself or anything like that. But everybody knows what's at stake. Everybody knows what's going on. I think it's going to be more of a test for us, to see where we are as far as being able to step up after something like (back-to-back losses to Pittsburgh)." -- Ryan Howard talking last Sunday about the team's 10-game homestand.

It's safe to say the Phillies have not stepped up.

No, they've come up terribly, terribly small in the biggest of situations.

The bullpen blew a one-run lead last night in a 4-3 loss to the Padres at Citizens Bank Park. If the Phillies lose today, they will enter their series against the New York Mets with a five-game losing streak, 1-5 on the homestand and 1-7 in their last eight games. Charlie Manuel held a team meeting before the game, but that could not prevent Tom Gordon from giving up a game-tying home run in the eighth inning and Brett Myers from giving up two home runs in the ninth inning.

The Phillies need to beat the Padres today to avoid a sweep. They also need to beat the Padres from falling five games behind them in the NL wild-card race, and from potentially falling eight games behind the Mets in the NL East.

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Myers is 2-3 with a 3.03 ERA (11 earned runs in 32 2/3 innings) and 12 saves in 13 opportunities in 30 relief appearances this season. From the time he picked up his first save May 3 to officially annoint him the closer, Myers has pitched in nine non-save situations. In those games, he has an 8.68 ERA (nine earned runs in 9 1/3 innings). Four times he has entered in a tie game. He has a 12.27 ERA (five earned runs in 3 2/3 innings) in those situations.

That means in his 13 save opportunities, Myers has a 0.61 ERA (one earned run in 14 2/3 innings).

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Bob Ford says Manuel should be National League Manager of the Year.

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Jim Salisbury's Sunday baseball column discusses an interesting possibility: Chase Utley winning the NL MVP, despite missing a month of the season with a broken right hand. Check out Extra Bases, Tale of Two Trades, On Deck and Stats 'N' Stuff.

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Cole Hamels threw yesterday. He says he's OK. Unfortunately for the Phillies, they could be buried in both races by the time he's back.

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Utley made another rehab appearance last night for double-A Reading.

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A Citizen's Blog announces its retirement after 2008. In my opinion, this is one of the best Phillies blogs out there. That's because blogger Michael Berquist comes up with his own analysis, crunches his own numbers and finds his own interesting takes, etc.

It's hard to remember, but exactly a week ago today the Phillies woke up tied with the San Diego Padres for the National League wild-card lead and just three games behind the New York Mets in the NL East.

They got there because from July 20 through Aug. 20, they went 18-8. And that happened because they pitched well. In that 26-game stretch, the Phillies had a 3.65 ERA. In 234 1/3 innings, they allowed 227 hits, walked 88 and struck out 154. Opponents hit .256 against them. Charlie Manuel was talking about how he liked the way his bullpen finally was beginning to take shape. He liked the way Cole Hamels anchored his rotation, and the way rookies Kyle Kendrick and J.D. Durbin had pitched.

But after last night's 14-3 loss to the Padres at Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies woke up this morning three games behind the Padres and six games behind the Mets.

How?

The pitching. The Phillies have an 8.37 ERA in the last six games. In 43 innings, they have allowed 57 hits, walked 28 and struck out 21. Opponents have hit .333 against them. Needless to say, if that continues the rest of the weekend against the Padres and next week against the Mets, the Phillies will bury themselves in both races.

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Phil Sheridan talks about how the Padres rose to the challenge after the Carlos Ruiz-Marcus Giles dust up in the fourth inning, and how the Phillies did not.

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Updates from Reading, where Chase Utley and Adam Eaton made rehab appearances.

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Ryan Howard continues his pace to the single-season strikeout record.

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The fans have spoken: Howard is the face of the Phillies.

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Balls, Sticks, & Stuff is frustrated about the poor pitching lately. We Should Be GM's wake up from their dream to see last night's nightmare.

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The Phillies need Ryan Howard more than ever this weekend.

They opened their 10-game homestand by losing two of three to the Dodgers, which certainly is no way to make the postseason. The Phillies now need to go 5-2 against the Padres and Mets to finish the homestand with a winning record. But with their pitching crumbling before them they need as much as offense as they can get. That's where Howard comes in. Howard has been stuck in a terrible slump since Chase Utley broke his right hand July 26. He is hitting just .187 (17 for 91) with four home runs and 14 RBIs in that stretch. He has struck out 40 times. That includes a 0 for 3 effort with two strikeouts in yesterday's 5-2 loss to the Dodgers.

Howard is swinging at bad pitches, whether he's ahead or behind in the count.

Is he pressing? Probably. Charlie Manuel seems to think so, anyway.

But whatever the reason, the Phillies have just 36 games to play and they need the NL MVP to play better than he has. Because if the Phillies pitching staff continues to struggle like it has recently, it could be a long week. And possibly a fatal one.

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The latest Philliescast is up.

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Jim Salisbury writes about the importance of these next seven games.

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Utley begins a rehab assignment tonight in a doubleheader for double-A Reading. He is expected to play second base in Game 1, and be the designated hitter in Game 2. He will play second base again tomorrow for Reading.

And Sunday?

He could be playing second base ... for the Phillies against the Padres.

If he's not back Sunday, he certainly should be back Monday to face the Mets.

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Adam Eaton is throwing 40 pitches in a rehab start tonight for Reading. He said he expects to be activated for Tuesday's game against the Mets. I'd bet on that since the Phillies just optioned lefthander Fabio Castro to triple-A Ottawa and recalled righthander Brian Sanches.

There will be 31 games to play after Tuesday, which means Eaton could get six more starts -- assuming he remains in the rotation. It's hard to remember, but Eaton had an eight-start stretch from May 8 to June 17 when he went 4-2 with a 3.38 ERA. If Eaton can pitch like that the final month of the season, it would be a huge boost as this team fights to make the playoffs.

Can he do it? He was 2-4 with a 7.96 ERA in his last 10 starts before the Phillies put him on the DL.

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Bugs & Cranks finds baseball's best TV commercials on YouTube. Check out 11-20 here. Check out 1-10 here. Mike's Baseball Rants takes a look at Pat Burrell's season, and discovers he's more valuable than fans think.

Bugs & Cranks also finds Mythbusters busting the The Natural wide open (aka knocking the cover off the ball).

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Philadelphia Councilman Juan F. Ramos today will honor Abraham Nunez for his community service accomplishments and work with the youth of Philadelphia.

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Got on the phone last night and talked with Harry Mayes and Jamie Yannacone (aka The 700 Level Sports Fanatics) on Sports Radio 950. Listen to the podcast here.

Hey, it could've been worse.

It could've been 30-3.

The Phillies were half as bad as the Orioles last night in a 15-3 loss to the Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park. J.D. Durbin pitched OK in his first three innings before he allowed four runs in his final three. Derek Lowe had his sinker working, which stifled the Phillies offense. And Jose Mesa and Clay Condrey each got shelled to turn an easy five-run victory for the Dodgers into a laugher.

The Phillies could have used Cole Hamels, huh?

Hamels is eligible to be activated Sept. 1, which would be the following Saturday in Florida. He is confident he will be ready by then after learning he has no ligament damage in his injured left elbow. But you have to wonder what lefthander Fabio Castro is going to give the Phillies in the series finale this afternoon against the Dodgers.

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Jim Salisbury tries to figure out how in the world the Phillies are a game behind the San Diego Padres in the National League wild card standings.

I like how Jimmy Rollins explained that Tuesday: "Duct tape and Motrin."

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Adam Eaton will make a 40-pitch rehab start tomorrow for double-A Reading. I'm betting he will pitch next week against the Mets. He's eligible to be activated Monday.

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Wouldn't you know it? Baseball Tonight's Eric Young agrees with me: The Phanatic is the face of the Phillies.

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Remember when the Phillies' rotation was supposed to be filled with proven veterans? Yeah, not so much today.

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Shane Victorino is back and Chase Utley is taking batting practice.

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Photos from last night's debacle.

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John Dewan's Stat of the Week looks at the pitchers with the best and worst run support.

It's good news for Cole Hamels.

The Phillies' ace has no structural damage in his left elbow, after undergoing an MRI today. The ligament is fully intact.

The Phillies are calling it a "very mild" elbow strain and have placed him retroactively on the 15-day disabled list. Hamels said he believes he will miss just two starts and can be activated Sept. 1.

Fabio Castro will start tomorrow afternoon against the Dodgers. The Phillies also activated Shane Victorino from the disabled list. He will bat sixth tonight and start in rightfield.

So what possibly could happen next?

It seems just about everything that could go wrong has gone wrong for the Phillies. And yet they wake up today tied with the San Diego Padres for first place in the National League wild card race. The Phillies beat the Dodgers last night at Citizens Bank Park, 5-4, but news that Cole Hamels could miss up to three weeks with an elbow injury overshadowed that.

Understandibly, so.

Hamels is their ace. He's an all-star. But Hamels seems pretty confident that the injury is not serious. An elbow injury limited him to just four starts in 2004, and he thinks it happened because he kept quiet and tried to pitch through it. He said this time he is being cautious. He expects to miss two starts, but no more than that. Of course, he's no doctor. We will know more today when the Phillies announce his MRI results.

If it's three weeks, that's a major blow.

But the Phillies are confident they can get through another injury to another key player.

"We have heart, man," Brett Myers said. "I think this team has that edge. Teams that have been here the past four years haven't had that edge. . . . No disrespect to those other guys, but it just seems that will to win is here more this year than it has been in the past."

But how far can heart take the Phils?

"You've seen those feel-good movies," Myers said. "In Rudy, it took him all the way until the end and he got to play in a game, right? That's a true story, right? Heart takes you a long way, man. That's how you get off the canvas."

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J.D. Durbin starts in Hamels' place tonight.

So who pitches tomorrow night? The Phillies could move everybody up a day, which means they wouldn't need a fifth starter until Sunday against the Padres. Regardless, Fabio Castro is a possibility. He made six starts for triple-A Ottawa and went 1-4 with a 4.23 ERA. His turn in the rotation would be tomorrow, so that could make sense. Lefthander J.A. Happ is 2-0 with a 1.99 ERA (seven earned runs in 31 2/3 innings) in his last six starts for Ottawa. But he just pitched Monday, which means he wouldn't be available until Saturday. Carlos Carrasco, the team's No. 1 prospect, threw a rain-shortened no-hitter in six innings last night for double-A Reading. But in 12 starts for Reading, he is 5-3 with a 4.85 ERA. He's not ready.

Interestingly, Freddy Garcia is scheduled to pitch again tomorrow. But he pitched just two innings Saturday for the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Phillies. He doesn't seem to be stretched out enough to help the Phillies at the moment.

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Phillies doctor Michael Ciccotti said there's no reason Chase Utley can't be back for next week's series against the Mets, if he continues to feel great while swinging the bat. Utley seems pretty confident about that, too. But he's shooting to be back before the end of the weekend.

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New rule: Nobody on the Phillies can leave the clubhouse without being wrapped in a protective bubble.

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Here's some other injury news: Shane Victorino (strained right calf) and Rod Barajas (strained right groin) made rehab appearances last night for double-A Reading. Ciccotti said Victorino could rejoin the Phillies as early as today, if the Phillies think he is ready. ... Michael Bourn (left ankle sprain) is at least a week away from a rehab assignment, and could be back with the team in two to three weeks. … Mike Zagurski (strained right hamstring) suffered a tear and is likely lost for the season. … Ryan Madson (strained right shoulder) has not started to throw. Based on a strength test, Madson said his shoulder is about 50 percent. "He's a good ways out yet," Charlie Manuel said. Ciccotti said if Madson returns, it could be for the final week to 10 days of the season. … Adam Eaton (strained right shoulder) will throw a bullpen session today. … Yoel Hernandez (strained right shoulder) won’t throw for at least a week, possibly two weeks. He likely is out three to four weeks. ... Jimmy Rollins said he has some tendinitis in his knee, but said it's something he has every year at this time. He doesn't seem to be too concerned.

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Randy Wolf and Mike Lieberthal are back in town, but you won't be seeing much of them this week. Wolf is hurt, and Lieberthal isn't expected to be in the lineup with Russell Martin getting to start.

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Do the Phillies feel a little like MacGyver (or maybe it's MacGruber), trying to piece together a team without its key parts?

"Duct tape and Motrin," Rollins said.

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Balls, Sticks, & Stuff compares Castro to Happ. Eric Grissom from PhilliesFlow.com picks Ryan Howard as the face of the Phillies.

In a season of major injuries, this could be the worst.

At a time they can least afford it, Cole Hamels will miss tomorrow night's start against the Dodgers because of a mild medial strain in his left elbow. He will have a precautionary MRI tomorrow.

J.D. Durbin will start tomorrow night for the Phillies instead.

"His treatment and how much time he misses will be dependent upon how he feels and that MRI," team physician Michael Ciccotti said.

Ciccotti said Hamels has had some elbow soreness since before he last pitched Thursday in Washington. Hamels, who is 14-5 with a 3.50 ERA, has thrown 167 1/3 innings this season. He threw a career-high 181 1/3 innings last season at four different levels.

"He pitched in Washington, though," Ciccotti said. "And he felt fine while he was pitching, but it's just persisted and today he brought it to our attention. And as I said, his exam shows a mild medial elbow strain. We'll see what the MRI shows. Obviously, he's going to miss tomorrow. And any time that he might miss subsequent to that will be dependent upon the MRI findings and how quickly his mild pain resolves."

Ciccotti said Hamels could miss a week to three weeks.

OK, that's clearly an exaggeration, but there's no question the Phillies' 10-game homestand is a big one.

4-6 or worse? Sound the alarms.

5-5? Treading water.

6-4? They must at least finish this homestand with a winning record.

7-3 or better? Ideal.

There's no better way to move up in the standings than to beat the teams directly in front of you. The Phillies have that opportunity when they play the San Diego Padres this weekend and the New York Mets next week.

But first it's the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are just behind the Phillies in the NL wild-card race.

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The latest Philliescast is up.

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Chase Utley can start swinging a bat again, so the Phillies have that going for them. They hope he's back for next week's series against the Mets. And Shane Victorino could be back at some point this week.

The Phillies currently have 12 players on the DL. I have to believe that's some sort of team record. How the heck did Yoel Hernandez get hurt?

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In this week's Phillies Report, we look at Jamie Moyer's season, Ryan Howard's slump, the las time the Phillies scored nine runs in a three-game series and the bittersweet homecoming for Randy Wolf and Mike Lieberthal.

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I picked the Phanatic as the face of the Phillies. Crazy? I don't think so. When ESPN asked me to contribute they simply asked me who I considered the face of the Phillies. I basically could interpret that question any way I chose. So to me the question was: What do you think of when you think of the Phillies? (Besides 10,000 losses.) Jayson Stark chose Chase Utley, which was a fine choice. I immediately thought of Mike Schmidt. He embodies the Phillies. But I started to ask around and when I asked people, "What do you think of when you think of the Phillies?" I got quite a few people to say the Phanatic. While baseball fans, and especially Phillies fans, might pick Utley or Schmidt or Ryan Howard, I think the average person knows the Phanatic better than anybody.

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The Diamondbacks lead the NL West despite being outscored this season. Ken Rosenthal thinks run differential isn't an absolute truth.

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Is the Phillies' pitching really that bad? A Citizen's Blog examines.

Good news for Chase Utley.

He can start swinging a bat immediately. Utley, who received the OK today from hand specialist Randall Culp, can swing depending on his tolerance level. He also can continue his throwing program without wearing a splint. Utley said Saturday in Pittsburgh that if he feels no pain while swinging this week, he thinks he could be back in time for next week's series against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park.

In other injury news, Shane Victorino (strained right calf) and Rod Barajas (right hamstring groin) continue their rehab tonight at single-A Lakewood. Mike Zagurski (right hamstring strain) and Yoel Hernandez (sore right shoulder) both had MRIs today. Zagurski went on the DL on Saturday. Hernandez, who replaced Zagurski on the 25-man roster, went on the DL today.

I'm not sure what happened with Hernandez.

Get the feeling this could have been one of those weekends that haunts the Phillies come October?

They lost 2 of 3 to the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park, including yesterday's 8-4 loss. It dropped the Phillies five games behind the Mets in the NL East and one game behind the Padres in the NL wild card.

"Right now, you just want to want to figure out what happened and go home and try to right the ship," Ryan Howard said.

They must. They can't afford to stumble in their upcoming 10-game homestand against the Dodgers, Padres or Mets. Losses like the ones they suffered against the Pirates -- the Phillies held 4-0 leads in both losses -- could bury them in a hurry.

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Who is the face of the Phillies franchise? ESPN.com asked me to pick my face of the Phillies a couple months ago. Its project is going online today. Jayson Stark picked Chase Utley as his face of the Phillies. Great choice. Utley's blue-collar nature fits perfectly with Philly. Every fan I know loves him.

But Utley wasn't my choice. I went ... in a different direction.

(My choice will be posted tomorrow, so check back then.)

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Should Charlie Manuel have pulled Kyle Lohse one batter earlier? The Pirates had a runner on first with two outs in the seventh inning when Lohse loaded the bases with a single and a walk. But Manuel let Lohse pitch to Matt Kata, and Kata doubled to left-center field to clear the bases and make it 4-3.

Bad call?

"I thought about it," Manuel said, asked about having lefthander J.C. Romero face Kata instead. "I think Kata is a better righthanded hitter. I still thought Lohse had enough left to get him. He had two outs. If you want to know the truth, I liked him on Kata. That's why I left him in there."

Kata is a .216 hitter on the worst team in the National League, which Manuel took under consideration. He also thought Lohse had pitched well to that point, and wasn't out of gas. The only part of his explanation that didn't add up is when he said he considers Kata a better righthanded hitter than a lefthanded hitter. Kata, who is a switch-hitter, is hitting .270 (16 for 63) against righthanders this season and just .132 (5 for 38) against lefthanders. But before everybody goes crazy, keep in mind Kata's 2007 splits come from a very small sample size. Take away three of Kata's hits against righthanders and he is hitting .206 against them. Give Kata three more hits against lefthanders and he's hitting .211 against them.

I think the better gauge here are his career splits. In that case, Kata is a .249 hitter against righthanders and a .233 hitter against lefthanders. That's not a huge difference.

Simply put, Kata is not a good hitter from either side of the plate.

Reading between the lines in Manuel's explanation, I get this: He simply thought Lohse was pitching well and had a very good chance to get the weak-hitting Kata out.

It didn't work out.

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Manuel pulled Russell Branyan for Abraham Nunez after he hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning. He pulled Pat Burrell for Jayson Werth and Greg Dobbs for Chris Robreson in the seventh. At the time I thought it might be a little early with a four-run lead and the Pirates still having nine outs to go. But this is the way Manuel has worked his defense for most of the season, so he's been consistent in that regard.

"That’s kind of how we’ve been playing," Manuel said. "We've got a four-run lead. We’re cruising. We've got two outs out, one guy on and all of a sudden we can’t get the third guy out. That’s not good."

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Branyan has had five at-bats with the Phillies. He has two home runs and three strikeouts, pretty much how Pat Gillick described him last week in Washington.

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So what happens when my hometown Brewers don't make the playoffs?

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Anytime I read about how terrible the Philadelphia airport and US Airways are, I can't help but nod in agreement. I say this after another lengthy delay last night flying back from Pittsburgh.

Charlie Manuel bristled at talk yesterday about the Phillies taking a share of the lead in the National League wild-card race.

His theme:

It don't mean jack.

It certainly doesn't. The Phillies held the wild-card lead with eight games to play in 2003 but finished 1-7 to lose the berth to the Florida Marlins. They held the wild-card lead with 16 games to play in 2005 but finished one game behind the Houston Astros. And last season, they held the wild-card lead with seven games to play but finished 3-4 to lose the berth to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Phillies have 40 games to play following last night's ugly 11-6 loss to the Pirates. It dropped the Phillies four games behind the Mets in the NL East. The Padres lost, however, which means they still have a share of the wild-card lead.

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I wrote The Inquirer's Sunday baseball column and examined the Phillies' competitors in the NL East and NL wild card races. I'm not sure which four teams will make the playoffs. There are 40 games to play, so anything can happen. Anybody can get hot. And everybody has flaws. But for the moment I think the Mets and Cubs are good bets. If the Mets don't win the NL East, they will win the wild card. And I think the Cubs will win the NL Central by default. That leaves the NL West runner-up (Padres or Diamondbacks) competing with the NL East runner-up (Phillies or Braves) for the wild card.

Also check out Extra Bases and The Other Record.

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Chase Utley hopes to be back next week for the four-game series against the Mets at Citizens Bank Park.

Think the hometown crowd will be fired up for that?

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Jamie Moyer's Camp Erin opened yesterday in Bucks County.

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John Dewan's Stat of the Week takes a look at which spot in the lineup gets the most fastballs.

A couple hours after the Phillies beat the Pirates last night at PNC Park, 11-8, the Astros beat the Padres at Petco Park.

It put the Phillies and Padres into a first-place tie in the NL wild-card race.

It's almost hard to believe if you remember their 4-11 start.

J.D. Durbin pitched well and made people forget about Adam Eaton. He allowed four hits and three runs in six innings. That's a 4.50 ERA, but everybody in the Phillies clubhouse seems to be in agreement: If their starters can allow three or four runs in six or seven innings, respectively, the offense likes its chances. Durbin gave up two runs in the first three innings, but never seemed to be in any serious trouble. That's a good thing because Eaton seemed to be in trouble every other inning. If Durbin keeps pitching the way he has -- he is 4-1 with 4.11 ERA in five starts this season, and 4-0 with a 3.15 ERA in his last four starts -- it's going to be near impossible to pull him from the rotation with a month to play in the season.

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Shane Victorino is back with the team, but he sounds like he won't be back until later next week. He seems likely to begin another rehab appearance Monday. Freddy Garcia is pitching for the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Phillies today. Could he back at some point this season? It's possible, but nobody in the organization seems optimistic that Garcia will be able to contribute in a meaningful way. In other words, why would the Phillies put Garcia back into the rotation if he's still throwing 85 mph and struggling to get out hitters? They might as well keep Durbin and the others in the rotation if they are performing.

Ryan Madson has not started to throw yet. Michael Bourn is not running at full speed yet. Rod Barajas went 2 for 2 last night for single-A Lakewood. Remember Francisco Rosario? He has a 5.68 ERA in three rehab appearances for single-A Clearwater.

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Another blurb on Ed Wade being stuck in a tree.

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Balls, Sticks, & Stuff talks about being wild-card leaders. We Should Be GM's points out the Phillies are a season-best nine games over .500. And Mike's Baseball Rants comes up with some very interesting statistics regarding Adam Eaton's season.

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Back in the '70s and '80s when the Astros, Padres and Pirates wore some of the ugliest uniforms known to man, do you think they knew they looked terrible? I mean, do you think Nolan Ryan ever turned to somebody and said, "Man, I look like a damn clown in this jersey. I can't pitch like this. It's embarrassing." I ask because the uniforms the Pirates wore last night were terrible. This picture doesn't do them justice. They must be the worst jerseys in baseball.

The good news? The Phillies leave RFK Stadium, where they have had trouble scoring runs. The bad news? They get to play this weekend at PNC Park, where they have not won a series since 2001.

If they only could have Cole Hamels pitch for them every night. He threw the ball well again last night in a 4-2 victory over the Nationals. But tonight should be interesting because J.D. Durbin makes his first start in place of Adam Eaton, who has been moved to the DL.

Durbin is looking forward to the opportunity.

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More than 3,500 votes have been cast for Brett Myers' intro music: The winner is P.O.D.'s "Lights Out," which is the song Myers was leaning toward before he decided he would like the fans to pick his song for him.

Thanks to everybody who voted.

Check out the results here.

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The latest Philliescast is up.

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Ed Wade got stuck in a tree.

Swear. To. God.

Bill Conlin wrote about this yesterday for the Daily News, but it's interesting that for as much heat as Wade took as Phillies GM this team would be nowhere without the players that came aboard under his watch: Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, etc.

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Pitching matchups for this weekend's series in Pittsburgh.

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Is there a more overrated sandwich than a Primanti's sandwich?

Yes, I said it. Sue me.

(Please, don't sue me.)

Brett Myers asked YOU to pick his entrance march. You did.

You picked P.O.D.'s "Lights Out."

View the results here.

More than 3,500 voted, which is an impressive turnout.

Thanks to everybody who voted.

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Many people seem to be wondering how legitimate Adam Eaton's right shoulder inflammation is.

Eaton had said just recently that he felt fine physically.

Here's my answer: It exists, but it's something he could have pitched through if he had been pitching better. Both sides acknowledge this. But because he got a coritsone injection Sunday, it allowed the Phillies to put him on the disabled list. Pitching coach Rich Dubee said, "It depends on what his last three performances were like. If he was getting his arm slot up and getting a good angle on everything and commanding everything and pitching effectively and he could tolerate the pain, yeah, maybe [he could continue]. . . . Generally, when guys don't command well, there's an issue. Hell, if he had a 1.00 ERA over the last three games, he'd obviously be commanding the ball pretty good and throwing with a good angle."

I would not be surprised if Eaton is activated before the Phillies play the Mets. He has great numbers against the Mets. Then again, Charlie Manuel remained noncommittal about Eaton's spot in the rotation. I'm wondering what happens if J.D. Durbin puts together two or three quality starts and the Phillies win those games? Could they possibly remove him with so much to play for?

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The Phillies bats have gone silent. They had just five hits in last night's 3-2 loss to the Nationals at RFK Stadium.

I've received some spirited e-mails today blaming Manuel's decision to have Russell Branyan hit against lefthander Ray King in the seventh inning as the reason they lost. I see their argument, but I don't think that's why they lost. Manuel could have pulled back Branyan. But for who? He had Chris Roberson, Abraham Nunez and Greg Dobbs available, assuming Manuel was holding back Carlos Ruiz in case something happened to Chris Coste (something Larry Bowa did all the time).

Branyan is a .219 career hitter against lefthanders, which sounds terrible until you learn he is a career .231 hitter against righthanders. That's not much of a difference. No, I don't think that was the killer play of the game. Jimmy Rollins and Tadahito Iguchi both had chances to get hits after Branyan, but failed. Other reasons they lost? The blown call and botched play at first base in the second inning allowed two runs to score. But overall, the offense has been silent in Washington. They need to pick it up tonight in the series finale.

The Phillies have signed righthander Julian Sampson and outfielder Cedric Johnson, their 12th- and 19th-round draft picks, respectively. They have 30 of their 51 picks signed.

More to come.

Pat Gillick is pretty honest about why the Phillies picked up Russell Branyan from Cleveland last week.

"Basically, Charlie (Manuel) had him before," he said after Branyan's game-winning two-run homer last night in a 3-2 victory over the Nationals at RFK Stadium, "and we don't have any position players on option at double-A or triple-A. Consequently, we had 13 pitchers and 12 players and needed another player. We talked about getting somebody who might be able to run into a ball and win a game for us. Branyan was the guy we got."

So they weren't expecting miracles.

They just hoped he could run into a ball.

I will say this, when Branyan runs into the ball, it leaves the ballpark quickly.

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Branyan played for Manuel from 2000-02 in Cleveland. Both are fans of one another.

"I came up with Charlie," Branyan said. "I remember going to spring training early back in 1998 to work with Charlie. I like his approach. I like the way he thinks hitting. He's very knowledgeable. He has a way of communicating it to the hitters. It's nice getting back and seeing Charlie in good health and seeing him have fun. He's still around to work with hitters and talk with us. Just being around him is very, very helpful."

"Russell can make the other manager overthink," Manuel said. "He's got that kind of power."

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That eighth inning started with Ryan Zimmerman's throwing error from third base. Nats fans aren't happy. Keep an eye on those Nats fans, by the way. They could be up to some dirty tricks.

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Today looks like D-Day for Adam Eaton.

Is he in?

Is he out?

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It appears Shane Victorino suffered a setback last night with double-A Reading. Victorino, who is on the DL with a strained right calf, felt a grabbing sensation in the calf when he bounced a ball in front of the plate and tried to beat the throw to first. There's no new timetable on when he could be back in action, but it seems he won't be back with the Phillies before the weekend.

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Chase Utley said he "absolutely" expects to be back before the end of the month.

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Hitters love Citizens Bank Park more than any other ballpark in baseball. Why shouldn't they? Going from ballpark to ballpark, you really see how small the Bank is compared to other places.

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Loyal Zo Zone reader Matt Levengood from Urbana, Ill., sees a similarity between Jamie Moyer and Gyro Gearloose from Duck Tales. That's pretty good, although Moyer has said he thinks he looks more like Jim Varney.

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When Former Phillies Attack ... Former Phillies!

Jose Offerman played briefly for the Phillies in 2005. Matt Beech pitched for the Phillies from 1996-98.

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Tom Glavine Ominously Announces He Will Be Last 300-Game Winner

The Eagles lost, but there's no reason to freak out ...

The Phillies play tonight.

They open a three-game series tonight against the Nationals in dreary RFK Stadium. Unfortunately for the Phillies, the Nationals are playing very well. They have won 9 of their last 13, so the Nats might not be the pushover everybody expects. That said, this is a series the Phillies must win.

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The latest Philliescast is up.

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I took a look today at the motley crew in the Phillies bullpen. It's remarkable how well these guys have pitched recently. Especially if you consider where these guys have come from to get to this point. There are castoffs like Jose Mesa, J.C. Romero and Antonio Alfonseca. There is the injured former closer in Tom Gordon. There is the converted starter in Brett Myers. And Clay Condrey, who might have one of the driest senses of humor in the clubhouse, has been back and forth from triple-A Ottawa to the big leagues, oh, about 100 times.

They've come up big at a critical point of the season.

If the Phillies can just get Adam Eaton squared away, fans should like their chances the final 45 games of the season.

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Speaking of Eaton, I offer my take in this week's Phillies Report.

I did not mention the possibility of J.A. Happ, Freddy Garcia or Scott Mathieson taking Eaton's place. Why? Because I don't get the sense that any of those three are legitimate options in the minds of the Phillies brass. Happ has pitched well recently for Ottawa, but I think the Phillies like J.D. Durbin more. Garcia is pitching BP for the second time today in Clearwater. He remains a long shot to return to the club. Even if he does, is it worth having him make a few starts if he's still throwing 85 mph? And Mathieson would likely help in the bullpen if he rejoins the club next month.

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Chase Utley can begin gripping exercises. That means he could begin hitting within the week. And from what understand -- I could be corrected on this today -- from the time he starts hitting he could be back in the lineup within a week. That means Utley could be back before the end of the month, and possibly in time for that Mets series Aug. 27-30.

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Pitching match ups for this week's series against the Nats.

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A special thanks to Mike's Baseball Rants, who helped me in this week's Phillies Report.

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In studio last night with Harry Mayes and Jamie Yannacone (aka The 700 Level Sports Fanatics) on Sports Radio 950. Listen to the podcast here.

Jamie Moyer said last night did not feel like a playoff game -- it is early August -- but I think the crowd at Citizens Bank Park was into this one more than most games this season.

They seemed to sense its importance.

If anybody was uncertain about its importance, they only needed to look at Antonio Alfonseca's fist pump/leg kick in the seventh inning of the 5-3 victory over Atlanta. Alfonseca really loves to dance around the mound if he strikes out the last batter in the inning. But his strikeouts in the seventh inning were huge because it kept the tying run at third base and helped the Phillies to take 2 of 3 from the Braves.

Now the Phillies just need to beat up on Washington and Pittsburgh this week on the road.

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Charlie Manuel is making it clear he's unclear about Adam Eaton's future in the rotation. J.D. Durbin, anybody? Even Pat Gillick said last night that Durbin has better stuff at the moment than Eaton.

By the way, Eaton no longer has the worst ERA in the National League.

He has the worst ERA in baseball.

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Chase Utley sees hand specialist Randall Culp today. Utley is hoping Culp gives him the OK to begin gripping and hand exercises. If he gets that OK, it might not be too much longer until he's back in the lineup.

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Photos from last night's game.

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Brett Myers said last night he likely has found his intro music: P.O.D.'s "Lights Out." Myers had thought about that song before, but wasn't sure because of the lyrics.

What lyrics? These lyrics:

It's lights out, game over, if you wanna, you can check my stats.

This song suits Myers perfectly, both in music and lyrics. I like it. Why not be brash? Closers should be, win or lose. But what do you think?

Here's something Charlie Manuel could mention if they really, truly talk about Adam Eaton's status in the rotation after another poor performance last night in a 7-5 loss to Atlanta at Citizens Bank Park:

In Eaton's 10 starts since he had a season-best 5.33 ERA on June 17, he is 2-4 with a 7.96 ERA.

Perhaps remarkably, the Phillies are 4-6 in those starts.

"Right now, he's in the rotation," Manuel said. "He has to be consistent and pitch better, that's all."

How serious is Manuel about discussing Eaton's future in the rotation? I'm not sure. Personally, I think Eaton sticks. First, they're paying him $24.5 million over three seasons to pitch for them, and it's very rare for a team to cut the cord on a player in the first year of a contract. (Hey, don't kill the messenger on this one.) Second, what are their options? J.D. Durbin? Freddy Garcia, if he miraculously recovers from shoulder problems?

The only two ways I could see Eaton being pulled from the rotation are: A) In his next two or three starts he can't get out of the third or fourth inning and they have no choice but to try Durbin. Durbin is 3-1 with a 4.38 ERA in four starts, but has serious command issues (he has walked 22 and struck out 21). B) They find this year's Jamie Moyer in a waiver trade.

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Phil Sheridan brings up an interesting name: David Wells. But even if the Phillies have no interest in Wells, Sheridan thinks the stakes are too high to keep sending Eaton out there.

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Balls, Sticks, & Stuff provides a soundtrack to Eaton's latest struggle.

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Jim Salisbury's Sunday baseball column talks about Rick Ankiel. I heard he used to pitch or something. Make sure to check out On Deck, Extra Bases and Time Flies Like a Potato.

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Destruction Of National Pastime Given Two-Minute Standing Ovation

Last night's 5-4 victory over Atlanta happened exactly like the Phillies planned it:

- Cole Hamels gave up four runs in the top of the first inning.
- They answered with four runs in the bottom of the first inning, which included a two-run homer from Wes Helms.
- Neither Hamels or (I'm) Chuck James allowed a base runner after that.
- The Phillies scored the go-ahead run on an error.
- They moved into second place in the NL East, three games behind the Mets.
- They remained in second place in the NL wild-card race, a game behind San Diego.

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Aaron Roward left the game with blurred vision in his right eye after striking out in the first. He will be examined today at Wills Eye Hospital.

"He told me when they were stretching that he had blurred vision," Charlie Manuel said. "He saw me again a half-hour before the game and said he was fine. But when he went up to hit, he said the ball looked fuzzy and gray. We'll get him checked out and see where we go."

What's next?

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The Phillies inducted the late John Vukovich into their Wall of Fame last night. I watched the ceremony on TV and chuckled to myself when Bonnie Vukovich said, "I can see him walking around right now and saying, 'All right, enough of this. Come on, let's go. We have a baseball game to play.'" Truer words were never spoken. Vuke was all business and Lord help the people involved in a ceremony or broadcast that delayed the game.

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Shane Victorino, who's on the DL with a strained right calf, won't begin his rehab assignment until Tuesday.

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You still can vote for what you think Brett Myers' intro music should be. The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army" has pulled into the lead.

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The Russians are here.

Brett Myers needed six words to sum up his last two nights at Citizens Bank Park:

"From the penthouse to the outhouse."

He allowed two runs in the ninth inning last night in a 4-2 loss to the Florida Marlins at Citizens Bank Park, after he struck out the side in Wednesday's victory. It was a bad inning from the jump. Mike Jacobs, who had gone a Marlins record 33 at-bats without a hit, singled to center to start the ninth. Maybe it's just me, but as soon as Jacobs hit that first-pitch fastball to center, I thought something was afoot. I mean, the guy had broken an offensive futility record held by Brad Penny. You know you're struggling when a pitcher can get a hit before you.

Myers entered the game last night to The Outlaw's "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky," which he has cued up to start at about the 31-second mark. That's one of the two songs he has used in the past. It's a good song, but you -- our loyal readers -- obviously have different ideas for what Myers should use.

So check out our poll and vote here.

(I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but Myers is very unlikely to pick Thunderstruck -- which would be a solid choice -- because Cole Hamels uses that song before his starts.)

I know Myers still likes The Outlaws as a full-time possibility. He also likes Ozzy Osbourne's "I Don't Wanna Stop," Disturbed's "Down with the Sickness," and AC/DC's "TNT."

I like The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army." But knowing that Myers likes something heavy, Drowning Pool's "Bodies," or POD's "Lights Out" work. The lyrics to Lights Out are perfect, but maybe a little too cocky for the baseball world. I'm sure somebody would be offended -- you know, there's that whole unwritten baseball code thing -- if Myers entered the game to a song that sang, "It's lights out. Game over. If you wanna, you can check my stats."

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The latest Philliescast is here.

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Phil Sheridan says this weekend's series could tell us if this year could be different than previous years when the Phillies came up small in big series.

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Charlie Manuel is happy to have Russell Branyan on his bench, while Shane Victorino might have suffered a minor setback.

The Phillies optioned Geoff Geary to triple-A Ottawa to make room for Branyan on the 25-man roster. Geary had an 8.31 ERA in six appearances since he joined the club after the first time the team optioned him. In 8 2/3 innings, he had allowed 14 hits and five walks. Simply put, Clay Condrey has pitched better. The Phillies also made room for Branyan on the 40-man roster by designating righthander Zack Segovia for assignment.

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Pitching match ups for this weekend's series against Atlanta.

Brett Myers needs your help.

You see, Mariano Rivera and Billy Wagner enter games to Metallica's "Enter Sandman." Trevor Hoffman enters to AC/DC's "Hells Bells." Eric Gagne enters to Guns N' Roses' "Welcome to the Jungle." Milwaukee's Francisco Cordero enters to Salvia's "Click, Click Boom."

Even Charlie Sheen's character Rick Vaughn in Major League entered to The Troggs' "Wild Thing."

Closers love their intro music.

Fans love it, too.

Myers has used both White Zombie's "Children of the Grave" and The Outlaws' "(Ghost) Rider in the Sky" as his intro music this season. But neither has really stuck and Myers has thought about what else he could use. That situation came to a head during last night's 6-4 victory over the Florida Marlins at Citizens Bank Park, where neither White Zombie or The Outlaws were played before he struck out the side to earn his eighth save.

No, Myers got KC & the Sunshine Band's "(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty" instead.

"It (ticked) me off," Myers said.

"They need to do a poll in the paper to tell people to pick my dang song," he added.

So what are you waiting for?

What should the Phillies play for Myers as he leaves the bullpen?

And assume that the entire KC & the Sunshine Band catalog has been chucked out the window.

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I tried telling Myers the other day that he needs to pick a song that people know, so they can get into it. That means nothing obscure. So here are three songs to get the ball rolling: Aerosmith's "Back in the Saddle," George Thorogood & The Destroyers' "Who Do You Love?," and Jimi Hendrix's "All Along the Watchtower."

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There seemed to be a little more buzz in the clubhouse last night. I think that's becaue Kyle Lohse pitched well -- four runs in 6 1/3 innings isn't a quality start, but he never seemed to be in real serious trouble -- and Antonio Alfonseca, Tom Gordon and Myers pitched very well in relief.

The Phillies have a 3.39 ERA in their last 21 games (14-7). In the last 18 games in which they have pitched, Phillies relievers have a 2.18 ERA.

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Don't look now, but the Phillies moved into second place in the NL wild card standings. They're just one game behind the San Diego Padres.

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Jim Salisbury considers Barry Bonds' record tainted. Ryan Howard does not. Phil Sheridan says people shouldn't be foolish enough to think the steroid era has ended. Would you want to be Mike Bacsik, and be part of the highlight reel forever?

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We Should Be GM's lets us know that former Phillies pitcher Jay Baller got arrested ... for guns and cocaine.

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Finger Food brings this to our attention: PETA loves the food at Citizens Bank Park. In fact, it's the best. They're not talking about the roast pork at Tony Luke's, either. They're talking about the fake steak at Rick's Steaks.

I agree with Finger Food. If I want to avoid meat, I avoid meat. I don't go for a fake cheesesteak, cheeseburger or whatever. Of course, being from Wisconsin, I think I'd dishonor my family if I swore off meats encased in pig intestines. I mean, can you imagine?

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If you wonder why Scott Stapp is famous -- in my opinion, Creed ranks up there with Nickelback as The Worst Band Ever -- you will enjoy this discussion at Randball.

The world didn't explode.

(See, there's a picture of the Earth as proof!)

Despite what I heard and read for years, life didn't cease to exist once Barry Bonds broke Hank Aaron's career home run record. Bonds finally passed Aaron last night in the fifth inning at AT&T Park, where he launched a 3-2 pitch from Nationals lefthander Mike Bacsik -- Bacsik is an incredibly nice guy, he was in Phillies camp a couple springs ago -- into the stands for his 756th career home run. But the earth kept spinning. People weren't storming out of their houses in tears. I didn't hear about any rioting or the Four Horsemen of the Apocolypse riding through town.

Of course, I had my door locked so I could have missed it.

But is anybody else glad this is over?

I mean, not that The Controversy has ended. But at least The Chase has.

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Jim Salisbury has an interesting column about the guy from the Hall of Fame who's in San Francisco trying to collect what he can from Bonds. It sounds like Bonds doesn't want to give up much.

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But you're here for the Phillies, aren't you? Yes, you are. The Phillies pasted the Marlins last night, 11-1, thanks to Ryan Howard and Jamie Moyer. Howard had been stuck in a 10-game slump before he homered twice. Maybe this is a sign he's about to heat up like last season, when he caught fire (not literally) last August to win the National League MVP. Howard hit .365 with 23 home runs and 62 RBIs the final two months of the season. I'm sure the Phillies would welcome that production again.

Meanwhile, Moyer just continued to baffle the Marlins.

When he is on, he's fun to watch.

Especially because I just have to think some of those younger hitters in the Marlins lineup are left mutterng to themselves how a guy who can't break glass with his fastball is getting them out.

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Chase Utley talks about his recovery from his broken right hand. He still hopes to be back before the end of the month. Phillies assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. remains confident he will be.

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Bob Ford wonders what Kyle Lohse will bring to the ballpark tonight.

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Tim Riley is going to all 189 major- and minor-league parks in 159 days to raise money for cancer research.

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Another reason why the Phanatic is the best mascot in sports: He can drive.

The Phillies have some injury updates for us:

Chase Utley
He visited hand specialist Randall Culp today and had the stitches in his broken right hand removed. He has not been cleared for gripping or hand exercises. He will continue range-of-motion exercises and other non-related activities. Has sees Culp again Aug. 20.

Shane Victorino
Out with a strained right calf, Victorino began a running program yesterday and, if all goes well, is scheduled to begin a rehabilitation assignment this weekend.

Ryan Madson
Out with a strained right shoulder, he will be re-evaluated today and will not throw for one to two more weeks.

Michael Bourn
Team physician Michael Ciccotti met with Bourn yesterday. He could be ready for a rehabilitation assignment in two to three weeks, so it seems he remains a ways away from coming back.

Rod Barajas
Out with a strained right groin, he will begin a tossing and hitting program today and could be ready for a rehabilitation assignment in one week, if necessary. There's no rush with Chris Coste playing well.

Scott Mathieson
Will throw live batting practice Thursday and, if all goes well, will begin a rehabilitation assignment Sunday.

Freddy Garcia
Garcia, who hasn't pitched since June 9 with a strained right shoulder, will throw a bullpen session today. If all goes well, he is scheduled to throw live batting practice Friday.

Jon Lieber
Lieber met with foot specialist Norman Lichtenfeld last Friday and is cleared to begin a rehabilitation program. His season is finished, regardless.

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The latest Philliescast is up.

Jimmy Rollins received MVP votes in 2001, 2004, 2005 and 2006.

He finished as high as 10th in 2005.

He could finish even higher this year.

Rollins is having a career year. You could say he's having an historic year. He also has been a constant in a lineup that has seen Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Shane Victorino succumb to injuries and Pat Burrell struggle terribly through July 1. Rollins gets overlooked on this team because the first baseman and second baseman are so good. But he also gets overlooked because Jose Reyes plays shortstop for the Mets just a couple hours north.

Rollins hinted at it, but I think he has helped use that as motivation this season.

He wants everybdoy to know he's a pretty good shortstop, too.

So who's the Phillies' MVP to this point: Utley, Howard or Rollins? If Utley had not been hurt, he would have been my choice. But now I'm leaning to Rollins. The production he's putting up from the leadoff spot is impressive.

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Burrell says nothing has changed.

"Check the films," he said.

But Charlie Manuel said it's his stance and a cleared head that have turned things around. I will have to take Manuel on this one because Burrell is not one to talk about his successes or struggles. Regardless, he has been on a tear since July 1. So much so that Manuel finally moved up Burrell in the lineup. From sixth, where he had hit since June, to third, where he had not hit since 2002.

Aaron Rowand also would have made sense in the No. 3 spot, but the Phillies like Rowand hitting behind Howard.

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This week's Phillies Report looks at how the other free-agent pitchers in the previous off-season are doing compared to Adam Eaton. For those wondering if Eaton could be pulled from the rotation, I say this: Don't hold your breath. They signed him to a three-year, $24.5 million contract. They simply won't pull the plug on him today. They need to hope he can turn around his season and save their investment.

That's not the answer you probably want to hear, but that's reality.

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Jim Salisbury is in San Francisco following Barry Bonds. He says the pitcher who gives up 756 shouldn't be embarrassed. I agree. I also think the person who catches 756 should sell the ball IMMEDIATELY. Why? Because if you've followed home run records recently, it's not the record-breaking home run ball that is worth the most, it's the last one he hits. So if I catch 756 tonight, I'm selling that sucker. And fast.

I wonder if the people who gave back the historic home run balls to Mark McGwire -- for free -- still feel good about that decision, or do they regret passing up money that could have helped their families for a guy who likely juiced to get there? Plus, with Alex Rodriguez playing the way he is, Bonds might not hold the record for long. So sell, sell, sell!

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Pitching match ups for this week's series against the Marlins.

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Hopped on the phone last night with Harry Mayes and Jamie Yannacone (aka The 700 Level Sports Fanatics) on Sports Radio 950. Listen to the podcast here.

I can't remember the particulars anymore, but one night several years ago after some crazy happenings during a Phillies game, former Phillies manager Larry Bowa said, "That's why they call it baseball."

I said to myself, "I thought thought they call it baseball because they use bases and a ball?"

Nevertheless ... yesterday was one of those that's-why-they-call-it-baseball days. After the Phillies choked away a 5-1 lead Saturday against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park, they scored five runs in the top of the ninth inning yesterday to help beat the Brewers in 11 innings, 8-6. The Phillies had no business winning yesterday, just like the Brewers had no business winning Saturday.

But it happened both times.

"Ninth inning, we're losing by five, do you think we have a chance to come back?" said Jose Mesa, who picked up the save in the 11th (he now has a franchise record 112 saves). "The team was down from the first inning. In the ninth, somehow they picked it up. I don't know what happened, but we did it."

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The official scorer changed Aaron Rowand's ninth-inning hit into an error about an hour after the game. I agree with the change. There's no reason why Brewers third baseman Ryan Braun should not have made that play, which would have ended the game and preserved the Brewers' victory.

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Adam Eaton continues to be a major concern.

He has a 6.09 ERA, which is the worst ERA in the National League and the third-worst ERA in baseball. He has had just one quality start in his last nine starts, and none in his last six starts. He has been terrible in the first and second innings, allowing 19 runs in the the first inning and 23 runs in the second inning.

That's 42 runs in 46 innings.

He actually has had just four out of 23 starts where he hasn't allowed a run in the first and second inning.

Eaton is fully aware of his early-inning struggles. In fact, when I approached him in the visitor's clubhouse at Miller Park, he asked, "What's my first-inning ERA?" I told them that it's more than 7 ... I actually meant his ERA in his first two innings is more than 7. (But that's splitting hairs.) Eaton has been terrible early in games, and that must improve. Then again, everything must improve. Especially considering the Phillies signed him to a three-year, $24.5 million contract in the off-season, which must make front office officials more than a little queasy at the moment.

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I liked the fact that Charlie Manuel returned Jimmy Rollins to the leadoff spot, especially with Pat Burrell hitting the cover off the ball. It made no sense to hit Rollins third with the new leadoff hitter never reaching base, just like it made no sense to keep hitting Burrell sixth with no chance to drive anybody in. If Burrell can keep hitting -- even if it's not at his current pace -- this should be a much better lineup than the one Manuel fielded last week.

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Isn't it ironic that the Phillies get two decently pitched games from Kyle Kendrick and Cole Hamels on Friday and Saturday and lose, but get a poorly pitched game from Eaton yesterday and win? Unfortunately for Hamels, that tough luck likely will prevent him from becoming the first Phillies pitcher to win 20 games since Steve Carlton in 1982.

Hamels is on pace to finish 17-7.

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Jim Salisbury writes about the imminent conclusion of Barry Bonds' home run chase. Thank goodness. I have never been so uninterested about a historic performance before. Get. It. Over. With.

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Saw David Wright on a commercial for Fathead and couldn't help but notice that the one pitcher featured after a Wright homer was former Phillies pitcher Gavin Floyd. By the way, Floyd threw six shutout innings yesterday against the Tigers.

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The chorizo won the famous Sausage Race yesterday, but that's only because the hot dog plowed into the mini-hot dog (they have relay races Sunday at Miller Park) and knocked the mini-hot dog on his butt. This caused a traffic jam and allowed Team Chorizo to win easily.

Last night was the Phillies' worst loss of the season.

Here's why:

- The Phillies had a 5-1 lead entering the bottom of the sixth inning at Miller Park with Cole Hamels on the mound. Cole Freakin' Hamels. The Phillies absolutely must win when they have a four-run lead and their ace on the hill. No excuses. No questions asked.
- Tom Gordon threw a meaty 1-2 fastball over the heart of the plate to Prince Fielder, who crushed the ball for a two-run home run in the eighth inning to hand the Brewers a 5-4 lead.
- Corey Hart robbed Tadahito Iguchi of a home run in the top of the ninth inning with a great catch at the wall.
- A victory would have put the Phillies four games behind the New York Mets in the NL East.
- Their fate rests in the hands of Adam Eaton, who needs to beat the Brewers today to avoid a series sweep. Eaton has the worst ERA in the National League.

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Pat Burrell is hitting third today against the Brewers. Jimmy Rollins is back in the leadoff spot, where he belongs.

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Gordon returned from the disabled list July 15, and this was his first appearance with fewer than two days rest. He said last week that he typically has felt tightness in his shoulder two days after he pitches. Last night was that second day, but Gordon said he felt fine and said health had nothing to do with his failures last night. I agree. It had everything to do with putting a pitch in a bad spot.

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I've already received a few e-mails killing Charlie Manuel for pinch-hitting Abraham Nunez in the eighth inning instead of Chris Coste or Wes Helms.

Manuel did not make himself available after the game, but I'm guessing this is what he considered: Nunez could hit lefthanded against righthander Derrick Turnbow, while Coste and Helms are both righthanded hitters. I'm sure he also wanted Nunez to replace Greg Dobbs defensively at third base. Remember the Phillies had a one-run lead at the time and by using Coste or Helms instead of Nunez, Manuel burns two players to make one move (because Nunez then would be inserted for defensive purposes). And Manuel is working with a four-man bench.

Personally, I would have loved to see Coste hit in that spot. No doubt about it. But I'm not going to kill Manuel for it, either. There are far bigger reasons they lost than Nunez's double play. How about the squeeze that Chris Roberson didn't execute in the sixth inning? Or Hamels being unable to get out of the sixth? Or Gordon's pitch? To me those were much bigger reasons. Roberson acknowledged afterward that the failed squeeze is a play he must make if he expects to remain in the big leagues.

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Jim Salisbury's in San Diego and got to see Bud Selig stick his hands in his pockets after Barry Bonds hit his historic 755th home run.

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Bob Ford writes about the differences between Brett Myers and Julio Mateo and Michael Vick and Kevin Kolb.

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Salisbury's Sunday baseball column talks about Alex Rodriguez's chances to break Bonds' eventual home run record. Don't forget to check out Extra Bases, I See You Vookie and On Deck.

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Philadelphia Will Do finds this Hardball Times link that points out an error in Bill Giles' autobiography.

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The Polish Sausage -- the sausage of my people (in the hood we just call it kielbasa) -- literally high-stepped to victory last night in Milwaukee's famous Sausage Race.

The Hot Dog finished last.

Poor bastard.

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Where would the Phillies be right now without Kyle Kendrick?

They certainly would be more than five games behind the Mets in the NL East, and they might not have bothered to pick up Tadahito Iguchi or Kyle Lohse at the trade deadline. That's how much Kendrick has meant to this team. He has exceeded expectations, which included another strong performance last night in a 2-1 loss to the Brewers at Miller Park.

Charlie Manuel was asked afterward if he thinks Kendrick is the real deal?

He said he has been ... through his first 10 starts.

I think that's Manuel's way of saying, "He's pitched great, but we can't be relying on a 22-year-old rookie to carry us into the postseason. We need Adam Eaton, Jamie Moyer and Kyle Lohse to step up the last two months."

They do.

Can they?

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It's amazing. Rod Barajas goes on the DL yesterday with a strained right groin and Chris Coste is involved in two close plays at the plate -- that result in two Brewers runs.

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Jim Salisbury is in San Diego following Barry Bonds' home run chase. He writes about how Bonds won't have it any easier catching Hank Aaron in Petco Park, which is monstrous compared to Citizens Bank Park. Seriously, folks. You don't realize how absolutely miniature the Bank is until you go to other ballparks like Petco, Dodger Stadium and AT&T Park. It really stands out.

I got quite a few calls, texts and e-mails yesterday that went like this:

"What the hell happened to Kyle Lohse?"

The Phillies happened.

Or maybe it just seems that way. He lasted just one inning in his Phillies debut in a 10-6 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Jacque Jones, Lohse's teammate in Minnesota, smoked him in the right forearm with a line drive. Lohse suffered a bruise and had to leave the game.

Lohse said he should be able to make his next start Wednesday.

But he probably should avoid sharp objects, stairs, jaywalking, spicy foods, cracks in the sidewalk and games of tag in the meantime.

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Could have seen this one coming. After the way the Phillies used their bullpen the last two games in Chicago, they needed another arm for tonight's game against the Brewers at Miller Park. So they placed catcher Rod Barajas on the DL with a strained right groin and purchased the contract of righthander Clay Condrey from triple-A Ottawa.

This is Condrey's fifth stint with the team this season. To make room for him on the 40-man roster, the Phillies placed Francisco Rosario on the 60-day disabled list.

Barajas becomes the 13th Phillies player to spend time on the DL this season, and the fifth in the last eight days. The others are: Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino, Jayson Werth, Michael Bourn, Brett Myers, Tom Gordon, Rosario, Ryan Madson (twice), Jon Lieber (twice), Freddy Garcia (twice) and Scott Mathieson.

Barajas barely has played recently, especially the way Chris Coste has been swinging the bat. But I still would not be surprised if Barajas is not with the team by the end of the month, especially if Victorino, Bourn and Utley are activated. Then again, they could just keep him on the disabled list until the team's roster expands Sept. 1. That way they have a third catcher.

We'll see.

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Part of the reason the Phillies made this move is because Gordon probably won't be available until Sunday based on recent history. I know the Phillies said they felt they made two big trades at the deadline by having Gordon and Myers activated, but if Gordon can ony pitch twice a week that's not the boost they need.

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The Northwest Herald's David Brown goes 20 Questions with Jimmy Rollins. Good stuff. Definitely worth checking out. Check out his other 20 Questions, too.

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Pitching matchups for this weekend's series against the Brewers.

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The Phillies should beat up on the Brewers this weekend. Milwaukee opened the season 24-10 for the best record in baseball, but are just 34-41 since, which is the fifth-worst record in the National League. They actually have the second-worst record in the league since June 30. They are ready for the taking.

That didn't take long.

Kyle Lohse, making his Phillies debut today, lasted just one inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. He allowed two hits, one run and hit two batters. He threw 29 pitches. But Jacque Jones smoked the 29th pitch right back at Lohse. It hit him in his right forearm. He picked up the ball and threw to first to end the inning, but did not return.

He has a contusion.

That's a bruise.

Stay tuned.

Charlie Manuel likes to say, "Watch the game."

He doesn't mean that as an insult to anybody. He means, "Don't just remember what happened at the end. Remember what led us to that point." In other words, everybody will remember how Brett Myers' two wild pitches led to a 5-4 loss to the Chicago Cubs last night at Wrigley Field. But the Phillies also left 12 runners on base. They had the bases loaded with no outs in the top of the first inning, but scored just once.

They had other opportunities, too.

Could the absence of Chase Utley, Shane Victorino and Michael Bourn be catching up to them?

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In case you were wondering why Manuel let J.C. Romero pitch after he walked the bases loaded in the eighth inning, he had little choice. Tom Gordon was unavailable because of shoulder tightness.

Gordon said he is not concerned, but it's clear Manuel can't count on Gordon too much right now.

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Tadahito Iguchi could take ground balls at third base at some point. He will need a place to play once Utley returns from the disabled list.

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Jim Salisbury writes about how much Bud Selig just loves following the Barry Bonds Circus.

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ESPN's Jayson Stark gives his stake on the Phillies' performance at the trade deadline.

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Spliterati gives its take on Julio Mateo.

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Just a terrible tragedy yesterday in Minneapolis. Keep those folks in your thoughts and prayers. I attended the University of Minnesota and the 35W bridge is next to campus. In fact, I spent a summer in a house on the corner of 8th and University Avenue, which is blocks from there. I know that area well.

The National League East has been a three-team race since the season started:

Mets, Braves, Phillies.

But while just 3 1/2 games separate the Big Three, Jim Salisbury talks about how the Braves announced to the world that they're serious about winning the division title after picking up Mark Teixeira and Octavio Dotel before yesterday's non-waiver trade deadline.

The Braves also got lefthanders Ron Mahay and Royce Ring for their bullpen. The Mets got Luis Castillo, although Pedro Martinez should be pitching again in the near future ... and he's not a bad pick up. The Phillies got Kyle Lohse, Tadahito Iguchi and Julio Mateo.

Have the Braves' moves made them the clear-cut favorite? Or are the Mets still the team to beat? They are in first place. Can the Phillies compete?

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I'm not sure what kind of reaction there is about the Phillies acquiring Mateo, who was arrested and charged for assault in May for allegedly punching, choking and biting his wife in a Manhattan hotel, but it seems risky for the Phillies. They certainly remember the fallout from Brett Myers' arrest.

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Adam Eaton struggled again in last night's 7-3 loss to the New York Mets. Eaton's 5.87 ERA is the worst in the National League, and if he continues to struggle like this I just can't see how the Phillies can hang with the Mets and Braves down the stretch.

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The Phillies are going to try to survive without Chase Utley, Shane Victorino and Michael Bourn in their lineup for the next couple weeks. Victorino and Bourn are on the DL.

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Talked last night with Harry Mayes and Jamie Yannacone (aka The 700 Level Sports Fanatics) on Sports Radio 950. Listen to the podcast here.