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BY SCOTT LAUBER
Ruben Amaro Jr. hasn't divulged many details about what the Phillies thought of Pedro Martinez when he pitched a simulated game for them Tuesday in the Dominican Republic.
Indications are they were impressed.
It's believed Martinez's fastball velocity topped out at 93 mph, and Phillies scout Robinson Garcia told ESPNDeportes, "The decision to sign him depends on the front office, but as far as we are concerned, we saw a Pedro Martinez ready to help a team. I am surprised, I didn't think he would be in such good shape. His fastball was good, between 88 and 91 miles, and all his breaking pitches were moving very well.
"Pedro won't have problems throwing his fastball at 93 miles per hour. He really had a great session with us."
Stay tuned.
(Updated, 5:30 p.m.): According to a report in the Dominican Republic, Pedro will be in Philly tomorrow for a physical. The deal would be for $4 million. Still no word yet from Amaro or anyone in the Phillies' front office.
(Updated, 5:55 p.m.): Amaro said Pedro has not been signed. That said, the Phillies typically don't announce free-agent signings until after a player passes a physical. Asked if Pedro is en route to Philly for a physical, Amaro said, "No comment."
(Updated, 6:05 p.m.): Still waiting for a call-back from Pedro's agent, Fernando Cuza, but Martinez has told the Associated Press that Cuza is in negotiations with the Phillies. "The Phillies saw me this past Tuesday in a simulated game and I felt very good with my fastball and all my pitches," Martinez told the AP. "I feel the best I have for some time."
BY SCOTT LAUBER
Lost in the "Vote For Victorino" hoopla and Roy Halladay trade talk, there was another, fairly notable, development last night at the Bank:
Rodrigo Lopez injured his shoulder.
Now, Lopez insisted it isn't a big deal and said after the game that he already was feeling better. He said he felt some "tightness" (his word) in his right shoulder, and rather than risking additional problems, he thought it best that he leave the game after the fifth inning. But, according to Charlie Manuel, Lopez (left, AP photo didn't say anything until Rich Dubee approached him after noticing such a sharp drop in his velocity that he mistook fastballs for changeups. The initial diagnosis is "right shoulder inflammation," and for now, the Phillies haven't scheduled an MRI or any other tests. Because of the All-Star break, they won't need Lopez to pitch again until July 20 when the Cubs visit the Bank for the opener of a three-game series, and Lopez said he should be ready.
"So far, I don't think it's something bad," he said. "I think I can pitch by the 20th. It's a good thing for me that the break is coming because that will give me some more time, but I think I can pitch."
Stay tuned.
***
Matt Stairs teamed with Halladay for two seasons in Toronto, and during that time, they got to be close friends. Stairs said they would even sit together in the dugout and give each other tips. So, after batting practice yesterday, I asked Stairs if, should the Phillies and Jays work out a deal (a huge "IF," by the way), Halladay might waive his no-trade clause to come here.
"I can't answer that," Stairs said. "He's been there for so long [12 seasons], and he has such a good routine, it would probably be hard for him to leave. And I understand that. But he'd be successful wherever he is. If the right opportunity came up and he was going to the right situation where he enjoyed being around good guys, would he waive it? Maybe."
***
On tap today: Raul Ibanez will play in what the Phillies hope will be his final minor-league rehab game at Class AAA Lehigh Valley. If that goes well, he could be activated Friday, and if that happens, he'll be able to start for the NL in the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in St. Louis.
Speaking of which, Shane Victorino finally will learn today if he has won the online voting for the final NL roster spot. As of yesterday, he was trailing Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval, although we can't tell you the exact deficit because MLB doesn't release vote totals. That's a pet peeve of ours here at Philled In. If MLB wants people to take this "final vote" contest seriously, and not just regard it as a marketing ploy to drive additional traffic to MLB.com, it should provide actual numbers with its daily voting updates. Vaguely telling us that Sandoval leads in a "closely contested race" is akin to a television network not providing the score of a game during a blowout in order to keep viewers tuned in.
And, by the way, if Victorino doesn't win the vote, he still stands a good chance to make the NL team. Carlos Beltran won't play next week because of a bruised right knee, and because he was picked by the fans, Manuel doesn't have to replace him with the next-highest vote-getter in the player balloting (Matt Kemp had more votes than Victorino in the player balloting). So, if Manuel wants to pick Victorino, it's believed that he'll be able to do so.***Finally, in an utterly shocking move, the Blue Jays released erstwhile closer B.J. Ryan yesterday. In 2005, Ryan had 36 saves for the Orioles. He had 38 saves for the Jays in 2007. Just last season, he had 32 saves and a 2.95 ERA. Sure, Ryan has struggled this year (6.53 ERA), but something tells us it won't be long before he finds work, especially since any team that signs him will be responsible only for a prorated portion of the major-league minimum salary ($400,000). The Jays will foot the bill for the approximately $15 million remaining on his contract this season and next.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
Will the Phillies stop at nothing to get Roy Halladay?
Not according to Ruben Amaro Jr.
With the Blue Jays confirming yesterday that they'll listen to offers for Halladay -- and with the Phillies making a well-stated, aggressive push for another starter -- Amaro spoke to the media for nearly 20 minutes in the Phillies' dugout. Now, Amaro isn't allowed to discuss specific players on other teams' rosters, so he wasn't able to comment directly about Halladay or anybody else. But the biggest revelation to come from the Q&A session was that there are certain playerse in the farm system that the Phillies absolutely won't trade.
"There are some untouchables in our system," Amaro said. "We feel like we're building a pretty strong farm system, which puts us in a decent position. That said, we have to be prudent about what our future's about. It's important for us to win now, and we have to understand the importance in that. But that said, there are players that we'd like ot keep for our future, and I'd say they're not as touchable as others."
So, if Amaro was faced with acquiring, well, the best pitcher in baseball, are there prospects he wouldn't trade?
"There are," Amaro said.
Charlie Manuel, whose in the business of winning immediately, is less hesitant to mortgage the farm system, but even he has limits. "It'd be tough for me to trade Drabek," Manuel said. "I like Drabek because he's strong in his legs and his hips and he's a drop and drive kind of pitcher. I'm not a pitching coach but I like his mechanics and I like where he comes from and he's a strong-bodied kid, like a Tom Seaver-type or a Bartolo Colon, and he's got that kind of stuff. And he's young, and I think he has a big upside to him."
Later, Amaro added, "As Paul Owens said and Dallas Green after that, they are prospects, and if moving one of them can help us improve our club to help get us in the playoffs and perhaps make a run at winning another championship, then we have to keep the lines open."
A few other highlights:
--Amaro didn't divulge much information on special assistant Charley Kerfeld's reports on Pedro Martinez's simulated game yesterday in the Dominican Republic: "I don't really want to comment much about it other than that we're trying to do what we can to add to our club. If we feel at the end of the day that Pedro is going to help us, then we'll make a run at him. ... I think if Pedro were to be on our club it would be more as a starter than anything else."
--The Phillies' payroll stands at a club-record $133 million, and they already have $95.5 million invested in 11 players for 2010. "We have some flexibility," Amaro said. "A lot of it depends on the player that we're talking about. But we have some flexibility. It's not unlimited."
--Amaro said he tends to agree with Pat Gillick's philosophy of not giving a pitcher more than a three-year contract. (Halladay, a free agent after the 2010 season, may be seeking an extension before he waives his no-trade clause, although Halladay's agent, Greg Landry, hasn't returned calls from Philled In today.) "I think that any time you get past three years, especially with free-agent pitchers, you put yourself in position where the productivity will drastically change the ability for that player to be productive or healthy," Amaro said. "Some teams have had success with that. Some teams have been burned. When you start talking about real long-term contracts, one of two things happen: You either get less production than you hoped, or the player feels like he wasn't paid enough for the production that he has. There's plusses and minuses for doing long-term deals, and then, there's times when maybe you have to bend your rules a little bit."
--Entering last night's games, 17 teams were within five games of a wild-card spot or a division-lead. But Amaro said he has seen the trade market begin to take shape, with buyers and sellers falling into their various roles. "There's just not going to be that much movement," he said. "That's just the nature of the beast. It's just too hard to make trades."
--Regarding the elusive search for another right-handed bat for the bench, Amaro said it may be possible to fill that need after the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline. Remember: Last year, the Phillies traded for Matt Stairs in August.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
So, if I'm Ruben Amaro Jr., and I read the comments made yesterday by Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi, I immediately do a few things:
1. Put Ricciardi on speed dial.
2. Keep calling until I work out a deal for Roy Halladay.
Halladay is, quite simply, the best pitcher in the American League. No offense to Josh Beckett or CC Sabathia or Zack Greinke or Justin Verlander or anybody else, but none of them are Halladay, who will take a 10-2 record, a 2.79 ERA, 98 strikeouts in 116 innings and three complete games to the mound tomorrow night at Tampa Bay. And it isn't just this season, either. Since 2002, Halladay has a 3.16 ERA and 40 -- 40! -- complete games. In five of the last seven seasons, he has pitched at least 220 innings. He won the Cy Young Award in 2003 and finished in the top five in 2006 (3rd), 2007 (5th) and 2008 (2nd). He's only 32, and he's never had significant arm trouble (though he did spend time on the disabled list last month with a groin injury). And, although the Jays play in the AL East and face the Red Sox and Yankees almost 20 times per season, he's 123-51 since 2002.
Charlie Manuel says he wants a horse. Halladay is the Secretariat of pitchers.
So, when Ricciardi said yesterday that he's "willing to listen" to offers for Halladay, it suddenly spiced up a previously bland trade market. Of course, the Jays won't give away Halladay, and if they're wise, they'll shed the necessary portion of their $81 million payroll by moving the long-term contracts of Vernon Wells and/or Alex Rios rather than their ace pitcher. But if Ricciardi is willing to listen, Amaro must be willing to bend his ear, and all indications are that he will. (Bet on the Phillies having at least one scout at each of Halladay's starts between tomorrow night and July 31.) Here, though, are a few things to consider:
a) Halladay has about $23 million remaining on his contract (approximately $7 million more this season and $15.75 million next year) before becoming a free agent. The Phillies' payroll has reached a franchise-record $132 million, and they already have about $95.5 million committed to only 11 players for 2010. How much higher can their payroll go?
b) Halladay has a full no-trade clause. Would he waive it to come to the typically weaker National League? Absolutely. Would he waive it to come to Citizens Bank Park? Hmmm.
c) The Jays most likely would want a package that includes a top prospect (think right-hander Kyle Drabek), a few mid-level prospects (think slugging outfielder Michael Taylor or catcher Lou Marson), and perhaps even a player on the major-league roster (think J.A. Happ or Antonio Bastardo). They're also looking for a shortstop, and the Phils may be able to sell them on Jason Donald, who has played two rehab games in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League after having minor knee surgery last month. It's believed the Phillies regard Drabek, touted outfielder Dominic Brown and Class A right-hander Jason Knapp as "untouchables," but might they change their mind if Halladay is on the table? Should they?
One thing seems certain: If the Phillies trade for Halladay, it would have to be one of those five-for-one, Von Hayes-style swaps, and the cost will be steep. For Halladay, though, it may be worth it. Just think about a rotation that features the righty-lefty punch of Halladay and Cole Hamels, with Joe Blanton, Happ and Jamie Moyer picking up the rear. And if Drabek (pictured) is the bait, well, the Phillies would still have Knapp, Carlos Carrasco, Joe Savery, Vance Worley, Michael Stutes, Yohan Flande and other promising arms in the farm system.
So, how much would you give up for Halladay?
***
Seattle lefty Erik Bedard made his return to the mound last night with mixed reviews. Limited to 72 pitches in his first start back from a shoulder problem, he allowed two runs on two hits, walked one and struck out eight, but lasted only four innings. If the Mariners join the ranks of the sellers, both Bedard (5-2, 2.58) and Jarrod Washburn (5-6, 3.08) will draw the Phillies' interest.
***
In the seventh inning last night, Manuel made the eyebrows-raising decision to pinch-hit .147-hitting Eric Bruntlett. Manuel later explained that, with runners on the corners in a tie game, the Phillies needed only a hit, not a home run, and he felt Bruntlett had a better chance of making contact than Chris Coste or John Mayberry Jr.
I disagree. But, really, the fact that we're debating the various merits of Bruntlett, Coste and Mayberry just hammers home the point that the Phillies sorely need another right-handed bat off the bench, doesn't it?
BY SCOTT LAUBER
Before we get to last night's historic performance, a few notes:
1. After allowing seven runs on nine hits in only 4-2/3 innings last Wednesday night in Atlanta, Cole Hamels talked to us for nearly 10 minutes about why he'd been struggling since his complete-game shutout June 4 at Dodger Stadium. The conversation provided little insight, mostly head-scratching, but Hamels said he would search for answers by watching video. Turns out, a video session revealed a slight mechanical flaw in which Hamels was "leaking," pulling off before he released the ball. He concluded he was giving hitters a longer, better look at the pitch he was about to throw. He worked to correct the problem during his between-starts bullpen session last weekend, asking catcher Mick Billmeyer to set up farther behind the plate than usual. The idea: Hamels wanted to "throw through the target," extend his follow-through and his delivery and work out the problems. But, given a 10-run lead last night, he was able to make in-game adjustments, too. And after Johnny Gomes' opposite-field leadoff homer in the second inning, Hamels retired 11 consecutive batters and 17 of 18 to finish seven walk-free innings. "You've got so many runs to work with, you can just focus on what you need to do," he said. "It was perfect timing for us to put up so many runs while I'm trying to work on some things."
2. So, Charlie Manuel isn't overly excited about the prospect of signing Pedro Martinez. I'll bet he would be more excited about Roy Halladay. Well, Halladay (pictured) is available, Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi told the well-sourced Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com. Of course, he won't come cheap. For the Blue Jays to trade Halladay, they'll ask for at least two, maybe three, top prospects. I'm not sure who they'd want from the Phillies, but I'm certain Ruben Amaro Jr. will find out. Halladay is signed through 2010, and he'll make $15.75 million next season. That's a big financial commitment for the Phillies, whose payroll already has climbed above $130 million. But if they foot most of the bill for Halladay, the cost in talent won't be as great. If the asking price is Kyle Drabek and Dominic Brown, would you do it?
3. The Phillies scored more runs last night (22) than in any game they hve ever played at Citizens Bank Park, but really, that's not a big deal. The Bank has only been open since 2004. The more impressive stat: By beating the Reds, 22-1, the Phillies achieved the most lopsided win in modern franchise history, surpassing a 19-run, 26-7 throttling of the Mets on June 11, 1985 at the Vet. It also was the third-most runs they'd scored in a nine-inning game in modern franchise history, trailing only that 26-run eruption against the Mets and 23-run outbursts June 13, 1900 at Pittsburgh and Aug. 25, 1922 at Chicago.
More in a bit.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
If Charlie Manuel could have Pedro Martinez, circa 1999, he'd take him. Who wouldn't? Back then, Pedro was positively dominant, and at the height of his dominance, he threw 10 scoreless innings against the Indians in the AL Division Series. In the decisive Game 5, he even tossed four shutout innings of relief on only four days' rest.
"Back then," said Manuel, then the Indians' hitting coach, "he was throwing great against everybody."
A decade later, Martinez is out of work and a shell of his future Hall of Fame self. And although Ruben Amaro Jr. has changed his mind about Martinez's potential to help the Phillies (the nearly non-existent trade market probably has done more to change Amaro's mind), Manuel isn't so sure. With the Phillies set to dispatch special assistant Charley Kerfeld to the Dominican Republic to watch Martinez's workout Tuesday, Manuel doubts whether Martinez would qualify as an upgrade.
"He can give you five, six innings, probably," Manuel said today. "His fastball is going to be 86 to 90. He's still got a good changeup. He's got a good feel for pitching.
"When I talk about getting a starter, I think of a top-of-the-rotation guy. I'm talking about a [No.] 1 or 2, a guy who can take you seven, eight innings. When he goes out there to pitch, you've got a good chance at beating somebody that day. Five-inning pitchers, I think you can find those guys."
Count that as a vote against Pedro.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
Ryan Howard said yesterday that he would compete in the Home Run Derby next Monday night in St. Louis if MLB asked him to.
Well, MLB asked him to.
And Howard, as expected, accepted the invitation. So, it will be Howard, Albert Pujols, Adrian Gonzalez and Prince Fielder -- four slugging first basemen -- competing in the Derby for the NL. No word yet on the AL participants. It will mark the sixth consecutive season in which a Phillies player has competed in the Derby: Jim Thome (2004), Bobby Abreu (2005), Howard (2006, 2007, 2009), Chase Utley (2008). Abreu won in 2005, while Howard won in 2006.
(Updated, 12:30 a.m.): Regarding the comment posted by Anonymous, it should be noted that Howard never has been negatively affected by participating in the Home Run Derby. (Generally speaking, I tend to agree with Jim Leyland, who said this last week about the idea that hitters can mess up their swing by competing in the Derby: "That's the biggest bunch of BS in the history of baseball.") Anyway, check out Howard's splits:2006Pre-Derby: .278, 28 HR, 71 RBIs, .923 OPS Post-Derby: .355, 30 HR, 78 RBIs, 1.259 OPS 2007Pre-Derby: .256, 21 HR, 67 RBIs, .933 OPS Post-Derby: .280, 26 HR, 69 RBIs, 1.016 OPS
***
If you follow Philled In on Twitter, you already know this, but Raul Ibanez (strained left groin) played five innings in left field for Class AA Reading today and went 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored. He will play for Class AAA Lehigh Valley tomorrow night, take a day off Wednesday, then play for Lehigh Valley again Thursday. It's possible he could rejoin the Phillies before Friday night's game against the Pirates.
***
In the early returns, Shane Victorino ranks second in the All-Star final vote, trailing the Giants' Pablo Sandoval. Victorino said Mayor Michael Nutter went knocking on doors in South Philly today to help campaign for him.
Here's a look at the stats for the final-vote contenders, entering tonight's games:
Shane Victorino (Phillis): .300 AVG, 5 HR, 35 RBI, .447 SLG, .363 OBP
Pablo Sandoval (Giants): .333 AVG, 12 HR, 44 RBI, .566 SLG, .388 OBP
Matt Kemp (Dodgers): .305 AVG, 10 HR, 44 RBI, .474 SLG, .369 OBP
Mark Reynolds (Diamondbacks): .269 AVG, 24 HR, 61 RBI, .568 SLG, .354 OBP
Cristian Guzman (Nationals): .318 AVG, 3 HR, 21 RBI, .429 SLG, .333 OBP
BY SCOTT LAUBER
Less than 10 days ago, the Phillies looked like a last-place team in an ugly, Friday-night loss in Toronto. So, they called a 20-minute, closed-door meeting to discuss their issues. The following day, J.A. Happ tossed a complete-game shutout, and once again, everything was wonderful in the Phillies' universe. It was at that point that I decided to channel my inner-James Carville and come up with a slogan to explain what had just transpired.
"It's the pitching, stupid."
Now, here we are, fresh off the Phillies' three-game sweep of the Mets and talking about Jimmy Rollins' revival, Brad Lidge's flashback to 2008, and whether Raul Ibanez will be ready to play in a major-league game before the All-Star break. But, really, the reason for the Phillies' successful weekend was the same as it always is whenever they're playing well.
"It's the pitching, stupid."
From 33-year-old retread Rodrigo Lopez's surprising results Friday night, to Jamie Moyer's 6-1/3 quality innings Saturday, to Joe Blanton outdueling the great Johan Santana for 7-1/3 innings yesterday, the Phillies' weakest link was their tone-setting strength against the free-falling Mets. In the past four games, Happ, Lopez, Moyer and Blanton have combined to allow five runs on 22 hits in 27 innings for a 1.67 ERA. Tonight, it's Cole Hamels' job to keep that going against the Reds.
"That's exactly what we want to see," Charlie Manuel said.
Which brings us to this morning's rumblings that the Phillies are planning to scout out-of-work future Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez in the Dominican Republic this week. For months, Ruben Amaro Jr. said the Phillies weren't interested in Pedro. But when your starting rotation has the worst ERA in the National League (5.09), and you fancy yourself a World Series contender, and there's little pitching available with the trade deadline only 3-1/2 weeks away, you do whatever it takes to upgrade your staff.
That said, let's put this into context:
The Phillies will be scouting A LOT of pitchers between now and July 31. A source with knowledge of the Phillies' front office told me over the weekend that the Phillies will have a scout at each of Erik Bedard's starts before the trade deadline to determine if the Mariners lefty is healthy enough to help a contender. If there's a deal to be made for Cleveland's Cliff Lee (right now, there isn't), Amaro & Co. will know about it. If Jason Marquis suddenly becomes available (right now, he isn't), someone with the Phillies will be dialing Denver. They'll get an up-close look at Aaron Harang tomorrow night, but as long as the Reds are hanging around in the wild-card race, they're not selling either.
And, as a source told me this morning, if Pedro Martinez is healthy and effective enough to pitch in the majors, the Phillies certainly won't rule him out.
But Amaro has said, over and over, that the Phillies want to acquire a pitcher who will be a clear upgrade over what they have. It's hard to imagine that Pedro, who went 5-6 with a 5.61 ERA last year with the Mets and hasn't pitched at all in 2009, would be an upgrade over Lopez. But I haven't seen him throw lately. Neither have the Phillies, which is why they'll watch him work out this week in the Dominican. And, for now, that's all this is, a mission to make certain they're doing their due diligence.
Something else to keep in mind: In April and May, Martinez reportedly wanted to be paid $5 million this season, a sum that was too rich for the Phillies. But now it's July, almost the All-Star break, and he remains unsigned. Perhaps his demands have come down. Perhaps they haven't. But when pitching is in such short supply, you want to keep your options as open as possible, and that's exactly what the Phillies are doing, no more, no less.
***
Here's your preview for the four-game series against the Reds:
REDS (40-40) at PHILLIES (42-37)
Tonight, 7:05: RHP Johnny Cueto (8-4, 2.69) vs. LHP Cole Hamels (4-5, 4.98)
Tomorrow, 7:05: RHP Aaron Harang (5-8, 3.86) vs. LHP J.A. Happ (5-0, 2.96)
Wednesday, 7:05: RHP Homer Bailey (1-0, 5.94) vs. RHP Rodrigo Lopez (1-0, 2.84)
Thursday, 7:05: RHP Micah Owings (6-8, 4.48) vs. LHP Jamie Moyer (7-6, 5.72)
Hot: Reds 1B Joey Votto is batting .419 (18-for-43) with two homers and eight RBIs in his last 10 games; Reds CF Willy Taveras is batting .400 (14-for-35) in his last eight games; Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins is 7-for-15 with one homer, five RBIs and a .556 on-base percentage since breaking his career-worst 0-for-28 slump; Phillies CF Shane Victorino is batting .349 (53-for-152) in his last 38 games.
Not: Reds SS Paul Janish has two hits in his last 19 at-bats, dropping his average from .278 to .233; Reds RF Jay Bruce is batting only .217 despite leading the team with 18 homers; Phillies C Carlos Ruiz has seven hits in his last 60 at-bats (.117); Phillies 1B Ryan Howard, named to the All-Star team Sunday, has one hit in his last 11 at-bats.
(To read/comment about the Phillies' All-Stars -- Chase Utley, Raul Ibanez, Ryan Howard, and possibly, Shane Victorino, please click here. To read more about Ibanez's rehab appearance Monday night at Class AA Reading, please click here.)
By SCOTT LAUBER
So, thanks to Charlie Manuel, Ryan Howard is headed to the All-Star Game on July 14 in St. Louis, his hometown.
But will he compete in the Home Run Derby?
"If they ask me to, I'll probably hop in there and do it," Howard said. "I think it would be fun to do it in my hometown."
Howard, of course, won the Derby in '06 in Pittsburgh. He was invited back in '07 in San Francisco, even though he wasn't selected to play in the All-Star Game, and finished seventh. The Phillies have had a player in the Home Run Derby in five consecutive years: Jim Thome (2004), Bobby Abreu (2005), Howard (2006, 2007), Chase Utley (2008). Abreu and Howard are Derby winners.
How much fun would it be to see Howard and Albert Pujols square off in the Derby? The local kid against the Cardinals star. Wonder who St. Louis would root for?
BY SCOTT LAUBER
Following today's All-Star announcement, perhaps the biggest question is this: Will Raul Ibanez, on the disabled list with a strained left groin since June 18, be able to play in his first All-Star Game?
The answer: He'll try.
Ibanez will play about five innings in left field tomorrow night for Class AA Reading. Beyond that, the Phillies don't have a schedule for Ibanez. But both Charlie Manuel and Ruben Amaro Jr. said last week that Ibanez needs to get 10-12 at-bats in the minors before he's ready to be activated. That's about three games. So, if Ibanez plays tomorrow night, feels good, and plays two more games, that would put him in line to be activated Thursday or Friday.
"I think we kind of knew that [the rehab assignment] was going to be early this week last week," Ibanez said. "The only time you feel nothing in this sport is the first day of spring training. It's a 162-game season. You're always feeling something. You just try to grind through it, and you know the difference between something that's not good and something you can fight through."
So, how will Ibanez know if he's healthy enough to play in the All-Star Game?
"Getting ready for the All-Star Game has zero influence [on when he'll be ready to play]," Ibanez said. "These guys are not going to let me go out there and play for the Phillies if I can't do it. So, if I can't do it here, I'm not going to go out and do it there. The only way they're going to turn me loose is if I can play, period."
More from Ibanez and other Phillies players later at Philled In and tomorrow in The News Journal.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
So, Chase Utley and Raul Ibanez were voted by the fans to start for the National League in the All-Star Game.
No surprise there.
The real drama on Selection Sunday (All-Star version) was whether Ryan Howard would make the team. It's not that Howard wasn't worthy. I mean, 20 homers and 60 RBIs are nothing to sneeze at. But, in the NL, first base is an ultra-talented position. Albert Pujols (.336/.460/.744, 31 HR, 82 RBIs through Saturday night) was voted to start, and deservedly so. No NL player has been as good as Pujols, an MVP candidate every year. Howard had an ally in the manager's office (Charlie Manuel is skippering the NL team this year), but it was impossible to ignore the candidacies of Prince Fielder (21 HR, 75 RBIs) and Adrian Gonzalez (24 HR, 50 RBIs).
And, really, how many first basemen can one team, even an All-Star team, have?
In the end, though, they all made it.
Gonzalez was selected in the player balloting, conducted last weekend. (Actually, Pujols, the fans' pick, got the most player votes with 650, and Gonzalez was second with 356.) Howard and Fielder, meanwhile, were picked by Manuel, who had eight selections, including three position players. Howard will be appearing in his second All-Star Game and first since his 2006 MVP season, and in all likelihood, he'll participate in the Home Run Derby, too. Howard won the Derby in 2006 in Pittsburgh and was invited back in 2007 in San Francisco, although he didn't win. This will be a special All-Star Game for Howard, considering it will be played in his hometown of St. Louis.
For Ibanez, it will mark his first All-Star Game, although he has been on the disabled list since June 18 and it's uncertain if he'll be able to play in the game. In addition to finishing second in the fan balloting with 4,053,355 votes (Ryan Braun had 4,138,559 votes), he finished first in the player balloting with 670 votes, more than any player in either league. Utley, who won the fan balloting with 5,027,029 (second overall in the NL to Pujols' 5,397,734), has been an All-Star starter for the past four seasons. Interestingly, both Ibanez and Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran are injured. Beltran almost certainly won't play in the All-Star Game. Makes you wonder if Shane Victorino, batting .304 entering today's game, could be selected as an injury replacement.(Updated, 2:09 p.m.): Victorino has been named to the Final Vote ballot, meaning fans can still send him to the All-Star Game in a special voting to be held this week. His competition: Cristian Guzman (Nationals), Matt Kemp (Dodgers), Mark Reynolds (Diamondbacks), Pablo Sandoval (Giants). Details to follow.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
Jimmy Rollins tried everything else to break out of the worst slump of his career.
So, at last, he listened to his hitting coach.
For about a month, as Rollins' batting average plummeted and his on-base percentage sagged, Milt Thompson advised him to revert to the "two-tap," a timing mechanism in which he steps twice with his front leg as he strides toward the plate. Rollins used the technique in 2007, when he was crowned NL MVP, but as his slump deepened over the past two weeks, he resisted Thompson's suggestion.
"He was stubborn," Thompson said yesterday.
But Rollins' slump grew to 0-for-28, and finally, before last Thursday night's game in Atlanta, he relented. He inched closer to the plate and stepped twice with his front leg, giving himself a longer look at the pitch. The result: A two-hit game against the Braves, followed by another two-hit game Friday night against the Mets. And yesterday, he reached base three times (two walks, two-run double). Rollins has five hits in his last 12 at-bats.
"When you hit rock bottom," Thompson said, "usually you figure it out."
Said Rollins, "At times I get away from [the two-tap] because it's just not working. A stride is just a stride. It's a move forward to me. That's what I really lost. I've been able to find something, so hopefully, I can hold it."
***
Within the game story, we look at the most positive element of yesterday's 4-1 win over the Mets: The five-up, five-down performances of Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge.
***
For the past two days, Rollins has been using some of Michael Jackson's greatest hits, specifically "Billie Jean" and "Smooth Criminal," as his walk-up music before each at-bat. And while that's a perfectly nice tribute to the King of Pop, I humbly suggest that Rollins step it up a notch today by moonwalking to the plate. Or, perhaps, he can wear a silver sequin batting glove? Could be a good, new look for J-Roll, don't you think?
***
Wondering about Raul Ibanez's status? Join the club. Ibanez was supposed to start a rehab assignment Wednesday at Class AA Reading, but that was pushed to Thursday. On Thursday, it was pushed to Friday, and on Friday, it was delayed indefinitely. Meanwhile, the Phillies continue to say that Ibanez's strained left groin is improving, and an examination by team physician Dr. Michael Ciccotti confirmed that.
So, what gives?
"The big thing with a situation like this is you're trying to not have it reoccur," Ibanez said yesterday. "They have a big-picture mentality, and so do I. That's what we're striving for, to make sure I stay on the field, not just for a couple weeks or a month. We're thinking about three months."
Asked if he expects to play in minor-league games this week, Ibanez said, "I hope so."
***
Reserve catcher Paul Bako, who has started three of the last four games, said something interesting yesterday: "I'm just giving Chooch [Carlos Ruiz] a break. Once Chooch gets feeling good again, I'm sure he'll be in there. I'm just here to help out and complement him, if you will."
So, is there something wrong with Ruiz?
Through a team spokesman, Ruben Amaro Jr. said Ruiz is physically fine. He is, however, batting .123 (7-for-57) since June 7.
***
Big day today, with the AL and NL All-Star rosters slated to be announced at 1 p.m. We know Ibanez and Chase Utley will start for the NL, but will Ryan Howard be selected to play in the All-Star Game in his hometown of St. Louis? Will Shane Victorino make the team? Within our Sunday MLB notes, Charlie Manuel said he will give strong consideration to his own players.
Please check back here later for a full list of 2009 All-Stars, and most of all, enjoy your Sunday.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
Over the past few weeks, Ruben Amaro Jr. has expressed doubt about whether the Phillies will be able to deal for a starting pitcher before the July 31 trade deadline. And that's reasonable. I mean, the market isn't exactly flooded with sellers. So many teams are contending for a playoff spot (or have tricked themselves into believing they're contending) that the buyers greatly outnumber the sellers.
Still, every scout I've spoken to over the past few weeks is convinced the Phillies will come up with someone. Two weeks ago, in fact, a National League scout with knowledge of the Phillies' front office told me they may even get two pitchers. So, Rodrigo Lopez's performance last night, while it was a nice story of triumph after a long comeback from Tommy John elbow surgery, may be long forgotten by the time the season is over.
Then, again ...
Within the game story in today's News Journal, Martin Frank wondered if Lopez could be the 2009 version of Kyle Kendrick, circa 2007. Nobody thought Kendrick would be around for more than a few starts, but he pitched well enough to stay in the rotation, even after the Phillies dealt for Kyle Lohse at the trade deadline. Kendrick was so good that he's widely credited with saving the Phillies' season. And with Jimmy Rollins looking more like his MVP self, there was a decidely 2007 feel last night at the Bank.
Lopez pitched very well for 6-1/3 innings, even if it was against a Mets lineup that, minus Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado and Jose Reyes, wasn't much better than any he saw in Class AAA. But, considering he hadn't started a major-league game since July 26, 2007, and might've asked for his release and returned to Mexico last month if he hadn't been talked out of it by Lehigh Valley pitching coach Rod Nichols, Lopez gave the Phillies far more than they could've expected.
He'll get another chance Wednesday against the Reds. Beyond that, who knows? Maybe, like Kendrick in '07, he'll stick around longer than anyone could imagine. Or, maybe, Amaro will make a deal that will turn Lopez's performance last night into a footnote from a long season.
***
Within the notebook, the latest on Raul Ibanez, who took batting practice, shagged fly balls and saw team physician Dr. Michael Ciccotti yesterday.
***
Wherever you are, whatever you're doing, have a great Fourth of July.
(To read more about the struggles of Brad Lidge and Ryan Madson in the back of the Phillies' bullpen, please scroll down to the next post or simply click here.)
BY SCOTT LAUBER
Travel day for me, so Martin Frank is filling in at the Bank for tonight's series-opener against the Mets. And Martin chimes in with this nugget: To make room for tonight's starter, Rodrigo Lopez, the Phillies have designated lefty reliever Jack Taschner for assignment.
Can't say I'm surprised. Taschner, it seemed, had nine lives with the Phillies despite clearly lacking the confidence of either Charlie Manuel or Rich Dubee. He was 1-1 with a 5.20 ERA in 21 games, but consider this: Even though the Phillies' bullpen has been stretched thinner than Ally McBeal by injuries and overuse, Taschner pitched only twice since June 19. Sergio Escalona, the most frequent rider on the Lehigh Valley-Philly shuttle, made the same number of appearances during that span. For me, that was an indictment of how little faith the Phils have in Taschner compared to, say, Tyler Walker, who has just as much major-league experience and a 2.00 ERA in seven outings since being called up last month.
***
So, what can we expect from Lopez tonight?
That's exactly what I asked Sam Perlozzo, one of the Phillies coaches who knows Lopez best. Perlozzo was the Orioles' manager during the second half of 2005, when Lopez won 15 games, and in 2006, when Lopez lost 18. And while he hasn't been around Lopez since he underwent elbow ligament replacement (Tommy John) surgery in August 2007, he offered this anecdote and scouting report: "He'd get in trouble and it looked like you might have to use your whole 'pen, and he'd say, 'I'll get you four or five more [innings].' And I'd say OK, and son of a gun, he'd go out and do that and pitch his butt off and save your 'pen. ... I know he's been on the comeback trail, but when he was healthy, he was a great competitor. He knows how to pitch. He's a veteran guy. He knows how to hit his spots, and when he does, he's good. I hope he's close to being where he was before. If he's like that, then he will help us."
BY SCOTT LAUBER
ATLANTA -- If there was one area, above all others, that separated the Phillies from everyone else last season, it was the bullpen. More specifically, it was the back of the bullpen, the setup men and the closer, who safeguarded late-inning leads like the Secret Service protects the President.
When the Phillies led after seven innings, they were 65-9, thanks in extra-large measure to Ryan Madson (right, AP photo). He took over in late August for injured setup man Tom Gordon, threw with unprecedented high-90s velocity and posted a 0.63 ERA in his last 14 regular-season appearances.
And, when the Phillies led after eight innings, they were 79-0, making them one of three teams (the Yankees were 77-0, the Giants were 60-0) to remain undefeated in such situations. Brad Lidge, of course, was most responsible for that, going 41-for-41 in regular-season save opportunities and posting a miniscule 1.95 ERA. He had, quite literally, the perfect season.
This year, Madson and Lidge haven't been so perfect.
The Phillies are only 29-6 when leading after seven innings, 4-4 when tied after seven, 31-6 when leading after eight and 4-2 when tied after eight. Last night, at Turner Field, Madson allowed three eighth-inning runs on Brian McCann's leadoff single, Matt Diaz's one-out RBI double and Garret Anderson's two-run homer into the Atlanta bullpen, turning a 2-2 tie into a 5-2 Phillies loss and a Braves' three-game sweep.
As they return to the Bank tonight to open a three-game series against the Mets, the Phils are in a first-place tie with the Marlins, one game behind the third-place Mets and only two games behind the fourth-place Braves. Suddenly, it's anybody's game (well, anybody's except Washington) in the NL East. And while there's plenty of blame to go around in the Phillies' clubhouse (.209-hitting Jimmy Rollins and a starting rotation that doesn't pitch deep enough into games deserve their fair share), the fact is that if Madson and Lidge were having merely mediocre seasons, the Phillies might be leading the division by four or five games.
Instead, Lidge is 0-3 with a 7.57 ERA and six blown saves in 20 chances. Madson, meanwhile, after getting off to a great start, is 0-3 with a 10.80 ERA and three blown saves since June 16.
That's worth repeating: Between them, Madson-post June 16 and Lidge all season are 0-6 with nine -- nine! -- blown saves.
"You can't continue to lose games in the eighth and ninth inning," Charlie Manuel said last night.
This season, the Phillies certainly do. And while the late-inning struggle for Madson and Lidge might make for great drama on "The Pen," the relievers' six-episode reality TV show on MLB Network, it too often has been the root of the Phillies' demise.
