4/30 -- Sweep?

PITTSBURGH -- Five minutes from the first pitch on a sunny Sunday at PNC Park ...

* With a win today, the Pirates will get their first three-game sweep of the Phillies since April 19-21, 2002, also at PNC Park.

* A few lineup changes for the Phils: 2B Chase Utley is getting a regular day off. Abraham Nunez, a former Pirate, is playing in his place. Also, manager Charlie Manuel is giving 3B David Bell some rest. Starting for Bell is Alex Gonzalez, who, when last we left the Phils last night, was grounding into a game-ending, bases-loaded double play.

* According to the Phils media relations department, they have received about 300 credential requests for next weekend when Barry Bonds comes to town with the San Francisco Giants.

More later.

4/29 -- Pregame notes

Greetings from Pittsburgh, where you can't walk two blocks without being bombarded by a Steelers' jersey or a vendor selling "Terrible Towels." You can't go into a restaurant, or a hotel, or any place with a TV, and not see coverage of the NFL Draft, either.

But there is a baseball game tonight, and here's what's going on at PNC Park.

The Phillies have altered their lineup, albeit slightly, against Pirates lefty Paul Maholm. In an effort to split up his left-handed hitters, manager Charlie Manuel has moved right-hander Aaron Rowand into the No. 3 spot and shifted Bobby Abreu to clean-up. Thus, the lineup looks like this ...

SS Jimmy Rollins (switch-hitter)
2B Chase Utley (lefty)
CF Aaron Rowand (righty)
RF Bobby Abreu (lefty)
LF Pat Burrell (righty)
1B Ryan Howard (lefty)
3B David Bell (righty)
C Mike Lieberthal (righty)
P Cory Lidle (righty)

Stay tuned to see if it works ...

***

People are still talking about Ian Snell's performance last night. Here are a few reactions that didn't make their way into your Saturday paper.

From Pirates manager Jim Tracy, "I would hope this is a game for Ian to build on. When you look at what he’s done in the minor leagues, there’s not a lot more for him to prove there. He’s a guy who can get major-league hitters out."

From Manuel, "I saw this kid in the minor leagues, and I like this kid. He’s pretty good. That tonight is an indication of how good he can be. He’s got real good stuff. If you look up there, he can throw 94, 96 when he wants to."

***

One more note on Snell: He told reporters after the game that he was pitching with a chip on his shoulder because of something that was said about the Pirates on ESPN. Turns out, Snell's father called him after seeing a segment on "Jim Rome Is Burning." The outspoken Rome was talking about the Pirates' wretched start (5-19), and a picture of Snell accompanied the commentary.

"[Teams] think they’re going to come here and bully us around," Snell said. "I didn’t want that to happen."

4/28 -- Snell shuts down Phils

PITTSBURGH -- The last time I saw CR grad Ian Snell pitch live, he was in Pawtucket, R.I., pitching for Class AAA Indianapolis last May. What impressed me that night was how electric Snell's fastball was. He blew away the Pawtucket lineup with a fastball that consistently hit 95-96 mph.

Fast forward almost a year, and the Snell I saw tonight is a more complete pitcher.

Granted, the Phillies haven't exactly been clicking offensively. But they have a strong lineup, filled with the sort of left-handed hitters that have been teeing off on Snell. Still, he baffled Ryan Howard and Co., with an assortment of pitches, including a nasty changeup that offset the blazing fastball.

As impressive was the confidence he showed me during his postgame interviews with the media. Regardless of his numbers so far this season, Snell thinks he's good, and, as evidenced by Gavin Floyd's problems for the Phils, that's half the battle.

Bottom line is this: If Snell pitches like this, with conviction and confidence, he can be dominant at this level.

***

On the Phillies front, tonight had to be a low for the season, thus far.

At first glance, tonight's game appeared to be a mismatch. Emerging ace Brett Myers facing the struggling Snell ... the Pirates riding a 7-game losing streak and off to a worse start than the 1962 Mets.

And here come the Phillies, laying a giant egg at PNC Park.

If Charlie Manuel wasn't owed so much money for the next two seasons, he'd be gone already (not that it's all his fault). But the Phils don't like to eat that much cash. I can't imagine them hiring an expensive manager like Lou Piniella and paying off Charlie.

***

Finally, PNC Park is beautiful. If you've never been here, plan a trip. It's worth it.

Ian Snell takes on Phils

Why root for the Phillies? It may be April but I've already resigned myself to realizing that the next Phillies postseason won't be this season.

So let's have our own Ian Snell go out for the Pirates tonight and handcuff those Phils, against whatever lineup Charlie Manuel cobbles together (Do you ever get the feeling that Manuel puts together a batting order by staring at a bulletin board all afternoon and making something up, like Kevin Spacey in "The Usual Suspects"? When will Pat Gillick drop the coffee cup and realize the answer?)

Anyway, Snell needs a win. He's 0-2 with a 7.71 ERA and in danger of falling out of the Pirates rotation. So let's hope he gets off the schnide tonight.

By the way, I have May 22 in the Charlie Manuel pool, though May 8 looks good, too.

Get that piano off your back, Pat

I'm at the Phillies game today, filling in for the esteemed Scott Lauber, and I must say that Pat Burrell is quite slow. I was also at Monday's game. Each game, Burrell hit a one-hopper to the wall, and each time he rounded first and headed to second thinking he had himself a double, and each time he was thrown out. So now you know why Shane Victorino pinch-runs for him late in games.

What's it going to take for Burrell to hit a double? It would probably have to be a ground-rule shot. A triple? Forget it.

Also, did you see Cole Hamels' line from his Triple-A debut earlier today? 7 innings, 3 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 14 STRIKEOUTS. Incredibly, he threw just 98 pitches. Paging Gavin Floyd, paging Gavin Floyd, you have about 3 starts left to prove you belong in the big leagues. The clock is ticking.

4/26 -- Phillies notes (blog edition)

Left-handed reliever Rheal Cormier entered Wednesday night's game without having allowed an earned run in 5-2/3 innings this season, and manager Charlie Manuel has indicated he may look to use Cormier in an expanded role.

"If possible, I'd like to get Cormier really going good because I'd like to pitch him in the seventh or eighth inning for us," Manuel said. "If I had him and [Ryan] Franklin both, I could give Arthur [Rhodes] a blow when we've got to give him a day off. That's where I'd like Cormier to be."

***

As you may have read earlier today on www.delawareonline.com, the Phillies placed reliever Julio Santana on the 15-day disabled list with gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and intestines) and called up right-hander Clay Condrey from Class AAA Scranton-Wilkes/Barre.

Why Condrey, and not prospect Yoel Hernandez or even Brian Sanches?

All three have been pitching well in Class AAA, but because Santana isn't expected to be lost long-term, Manuel said the Phillies decided to go with the 30-year-old Condrey, who has minimal major-league experience with the San Diego Padres in 2002-03. Neither Hernandez (2.00 ERA, six saves) nor Sanches (1.80 ERA) have pitched in the majors.

Condrey has a 2.19 ERA in eight appearances for Scranton-Wilkes/Barre.

Santana has been absent from the team since Sunday with a stomach virus. The DL stint is retroactive to April 21, so he will be eligible to pitch May 6. Santana is expected to accompany the team on the upcoming five-game road trip to Pittsburgh and Miami, which begins Friday.

***

Book-keeping note: Cory Lidle got a call reversed from Monday night, and as a result, has given up one less earned run this season. The play in question, initially ruled a single for Brad Hawpe, has been changed to an error on Phils first baseman Ryan Howard.

***

Barry Bonds just homered in the ninth inning off New York Mets (and former Phillies) closer Billy Wagner. It was Bonds' third homer of the season and the 711th of his career. Bonds needs four more to pass Babe Ruth for second place on the all-time list, and the Giants are coming to Philadelphia in seven days.

Just imagine the reception he'll get here.

4/25 -- Same old Floyd

So, maybe the Phillies were a bit too hasty in putting Gavin Floyd in the starting rotation after a few good spring-training starts. Hindsight, always, is 20-20, but couldn't Floyd have benefited from a strong April in Scranton-Wilkes/Barre?

It's no surprise that manager Charlie Manuel is defending Floyd. The Phillies made it clear in spring training that the decision to put Floyd in the rotation belonged to Manuel and pitching coach Rich Dubee. To abandon Floyd now would be to admit he's wrong.

Here's the problem: If not Floyd, who?

Option A, Ryan Franklin, has become a valuable part of the bullpen. If Franklin goes to the rotation, who pitches 7th innings when the Phillies are ahead? Neither Geoff Geary nor Julio Santana have inspired much faith that they can do it.

Options B and C, Scranton-Wilkes/Barre lefties Matt White or Eude Brito, may not yield any better results than what Floyd is getting. Like Floyd, those guys are young (White is 28, but has only one previous major-league start), and young or inexperienced pitchers tend to be inconsistent.

Option D, prized lefty Cole Hamels, makes his Class AAA debut Thursday night. But even if he's as dominant there as he's been everywhere else, and even if the oft-injured Hamels stays healthy, he's still only 22. Felix Hernandez, the 20-year-old phenom in Seattle, is struggling. Scott Kazmir, a lefty who Hamels is often compared to, has endured growing pains in Tampa Bay. Why should anyone think Hamels can step into the Phillies' rotation this season and be an ace.

Ultimately, even though Floyd isn't ready for primetime, he may be the Phillies' best option right now, which, is as sad a commentary about the pitching staff as it is for Floyd.

4/25 -- Phillies notes (extended blog edition)

PHILADELPHIA -- During the fifth inning of each game, David Dellucci, Alex Gonzalez and the Phillies’ other backups descend into the hallway between the dugout and the clubhouse to stretch, take extra swings in the batting cage, and generally prepare to play.

The routine hasn’t worked.

Through 18 games, the Phillies’ main bench players – Dellucci, Gonzalez, Abraham Nunez and Shane Victorino – were batting .141 (9-for-64) with one RBI. In pinch-hitting situations, they were a combined 3-for-27 (.111).

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel has chalked up their ineffectiveness to a lack of experience as backups. Dellucci and Gonzalez, in particular, have been everyday players for their previous teams.

“As a starter, I always respected guys that had to come in cold and have good at-bats,” Gonzalez said before Tuesday night’s game against the Colorado Rockies. “It’s a new role. I’m definitely getting used to having to get ready late in the ballgame.

“You have to do stuff in [batting practice]. You get loose differently. You weight train differently. Mentally, you have to know who’s in the bullpen, who’s coming up. You have to prepare yourself for the exact situation.”

As a player with the Minnesota Twins from 1969-72, Manuel often came off the bench, and therefore, he’s sympathetic to the struggles of Gonzalez and Dellucci.

Pinch-hitting is such a specialty that Manuel said former Twins manager Billy Martin often sent him to the plate ahead of stars like Rod Carew and Tony Oliva on rare days they didn’t start.

“[Hall of Fame Los Angeles Dodgers manager] Walter Alston used to say he never looked at averages,” Manuel said. “He looked at the end of the year, and if you won two or three games, or tied up two or three games, you did your job [as a pinch-hitter].

“Once they get used to what pinch-hitting is about, they’ll do fine.”

***
More after the game.

Not that they're John Smoltz...

but the Phillies are starting to see what can happen when you trade away prospects to get an established pitcher. Taylor Buchholz, who went to Houston in the trade for Billy Wagner, went 8 2/3 innings last Friday against Pittsburgh and gave up no runs and two hits. On Monday, Elizardo Ramirez, who went to Cincinnati in the Cory Lidle trade, gave up two runs in seven innings to get the victory.

Don't get me wrong. I would make the Wagner trade every day of the week, even though he took the money and ran to New York after two seasons and the Phillies have nothing to show for it. And Lidle has certainly been serviceable during his time in Philadelphia.

It's just that sometimes you make a trade like that, and it's one-sided because the prospects never amount to anything. And other times, the prospect you give up for a veteran pitcher is someone like John Smoltz, who was a minor-leaguer when the Tigers traded him to Atlanta for Doyle Alexander (Alexander went 8-0 the rest of the 1987 season for Detroit, which made the playoffs, but he fizzled after that). Smoltz, meanwhile, will most likely be in the Hall of Fame.

Buchholz and Ramirez have a long, long way to go before they're John Smoltz. Still ...

4/24 -- Movin' on up

Just got this note from the Phillies ...

* RHP Chris Booker had his rehabilitation assignment transferred to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA).
* LHP Cole Hamels (pictured) has been promoted to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA).

Both announcements are significant, for different reasons.

Booker, the hard-throwing reliever acquired in the Rule 5 draft in December, could be the solution to the Phillies' middle relief woes. But, he'll need to prove his surgically repaired knee can hold up. Booker was OK, not great, in Class A Clearwater during the first phase of his rehab. If he looks good in Class AAA, the Phillies can promote him and send down RHP Geoff Geary, who doesn't have to clear waivers and has been struggling the past two weeks.

But, a decision must be made by May 11. As a Rule 5 pick, Booker must either be activated by the Phillies or offered back to his previous team, the Washington Nationals, within 30 days of his first rehab assignment.

Hamels, meanwhile, is the gifted lefty with the sparkling career minor league numbers (237 strikeouts in 172.1 innings). But injuries have been his downfall. First, a broken hand (which happened in a bar fight). Then, a back problem. There have been other assorted maladies, too. Hamels is finally healthy, and has been so good the Phillies decided to skip him over Class AA Reading, where he made three strong starts last year.

I covered one of them last July, in which Hamels struck out New York Mets' prospect Lastings Milledge three times in as many at-bats. Milledge had no chance, and there wasn't another Class AA pitcher who made him look so silly. The Phillies will never admit it, but if Hamels dominates in Class AAA, he could be in the major-league rotation by July.

Stay tuned.

4/23 -- Ouch

Just when it seemed like things couldn't get worse for the Phillies ...

... bullpen catcher Mick Billmeyer nearly lost his ear.

Apparently, Billmeyer was catching Gavin Floyd's routine side session this morning when Floyd surprised him with a fastball. Billmeyer, it turns out, was expecting a curve. The ball struck him in the head, gashing his left ear.

Otherwise, it's been a lazy Sunday morning at the Bank. At the moment, the Phanatic is celebrating its "birthday" by playing wiffle ball on the field with mascots from several other teams, including Mr. Met, Billy Marlin and The Bird (Orioles). If this "game" turns out to be more exciting than the regularly scheduled one, the Phils are in more trouble than I thought.

Finally, as you probably read in today's paper, Charlie Manuel promised to use his bench more often. Sure enough, today's lineup includes David Dellucci in left field and Abraham Nunez at third base.

More later.

On the air

The Phillies were rained out today (the game will be made up Sunday, July 30 as part of a day-night doubleheader).

But I'm reminded that I'll be a guest on the Great Big Sports Show on WGMD (92.7 FM) on Sunday night, some time between 6 and 7 p.m. I'll be talking Phillies, so tune in if you get a chance.

4/21 -- Frustration is mounting

With all that happened in tonight's game, plenty of good stuff was left on the cutting room floor. Here are some observations from the Phillies' latest loss, 4-3 to the Florida Marlins.

* Things are going so bad for the Phillies that manager Charlie Manuel can't even get thrown out of a game. Manuel, who stormed the field in the sixth inning to argue that Alex Gonzalez was safe at third trying to steal, threw plenty of obscenities at third-base ump James Hoye but didn't get tossed. "I thought I was going to get kicked out," Manuel said later. "I was using everything I had. I wasn't trying. But I voiced my opinion, and I said some things."

* For a second straight game, the Phillies faced a left-handed pitcher. And for the second straight game, Ryan Howard batted seventh. I understand that Manuel doesn't want to bunch three lefties (Bobby Abreu, Chase Utley, Howard) in the middle of his lineup. But this notion that Howard can't hit lefties is preposterous. He did so in the minors and got two hits off Marlins lefty Scott Olsen tonight.

* The Phillies are batting .186 (21-for-113) with runners in scoring position. Center fielder Aaron Rowand's take on that statistic: "We've had a lot of good at-bats with runners in scoring position. But how many times have we just hit the ball right on the screws at somebody."

* Reluctant ace Jon Lieber retired the first 13 Marlins before allowing two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings. But he wasn't happy with his outing. "I didn't have good stuff," he said. "If I had good stuff, maybe I put up two more zeroes [in the fifth and sixth]."

* For all that was made of Jimmy Rollins' 38-game hitting streak, Bobby Abreu is putting together an impressive run -- 9 straight games with at least one walk. Some quick research has turned up the major-league record for consecutive games with a walk: as of 2004, it was a 22-game walk streak held by Roy Cullenbine of the Detroit Tigers in 1947. I'll try to confirm that tomorrow.

That's all for now. More tomorrow, although, with heavy rain in the forecast, it's not looking like the Phils and Marlins will play.

4/20 -- Another loss (10-4)

Ryan Madson gave the Phillies no chance tonight, which, inevitably, will happen now and then when a pitcher with four career starts in the majors takes the ball. These are the growing pains Madson will go through. More important is whether he learns from it. Afterward, he talked about how the game was moving at warp speed and how he couldn't slow things down and focus. Apparently, he got no help on that front from catcher Mike Lieberthal or pitching coach Rich Dubee.

But you can read more about Madson's struggles in Friday's News Journal.

A few observations that probably won't make your daily paper:

* The left-field wall, pushed back 5 feet and raised 30 inches, resulted in three long outfield flies that would've been homers last year. Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman twice sent left fielder Pat Burrell to the warning track, and Bobby Abreu was robbed once on a nice catch by Alfonso Soriano against the wall. Looks like the Phillies got at least one thing right.

* For all his moaning about not wanting to play left field, Soriano is pretty good at it. Not only did he throw out Jimmy Rollins at home plate in the opener of the series Tuesday night, but he made several nice catches against the wall tonight. Soriano might actually like this new position if he gives it a try.

* Zimmerman is bound for stardom. I met him last season in the minors, and chatted with him a bit today, and he's as grounded as they come. He's also from the baseball hotbed of Virginia Beach. David Wright (Mets), BJ Upton (D-Rays) and Mike Cuddyer (Twins) are a few of the recent players to come out of there.

I'll be touching on that, and more, in Sunday's baseball notes.

That's all for tonight. Check back tomorrow when Jon Lieber goes for Win No. 1 against the young Florida Marlins.

04/18 -- Gold Glove?

A few thoughts from tonight's 10-3 Phillies loss, their sixth in seven games at home:

* Is it too late to rescind Bobby Abreu's Gold Glove award from last year? I'm not saying he should've made those plays on back-to-back doubles by Ryan Zimmerman and Ryan Church. The balls were hit awfully hard, and they did get to Abreu rather fast. But Abreu admitted he could've dove for the ball Zimmerman hit, and he looked silly twisting around in pursuit of Church's. Plays like that will ensure that Abreu's first Gold Glove will also be his last.

* The Phillies should be concerned about setup man Arthur Rhodes, whose velocity has dropped in each of his last two appearances. Rhodes was barely touching 91-92 against the Nats. More often, he was around 88-89. He is 36 years old, so the drop may be natural. But I'm not sure Rhodes can be as effective without his blazing fastball.

* Don't look now, but Phillies catcher Mike Lieberthal is batting .364. Lieberthal doesn't want to get too excited about the fast start, saying he doesn't evaluate his performance until at least the 100-at-bat mark. Believed to be the weak link in the Phillies' lineup (along with 3B David Bell), Lieberthal may benefit from the added rest manager Charlie Manuel seems intent on giving him.

* Finally, I felt anything less than a 7-3 homestand against the Nationals, Marlins and Rockies would be disappointing. That means the Phils have to win seven of the next nine. The way they've played at home, it's hard to see that happening.

Phillies farm system

Before I started writing about the Phillies for The News Journal, I covered minor league baseball. Last week, while I was in Atlanta with the Phillies, Class AA Reading was in Binghamton. N.Y., facing the Mets team I used to cover.

Anyway, I asked my good friend Rob Ford, the Binghamton Mets' excellent radio announcer, for his impressions of some of the Phillies' top prospects. Rob was gracious enough to offer these thoughts.

* Scott Mathieson, RHP (right):
"Wow, what stuff. A mid-90s fastball and a good slider. However, I can see why he hasn’t posted great numbers. He gets down on himself too quickly when things go wrong. Also, Reading left him in way too long Tuesday (116 pitches). He shouldn’t have come out for the sixth and, after he gave up a leadoff double to Jay Caligiuri in that inning, he definitely should’ve been pulled after facing the lefty Brett Harper (who he struck out). Instead, he was hung out to dry and Binghamton got three runs off him that inning to take the lead.

* Jason Jaramillo, C:
"My favorite position player on this team. He’s unbelievable behind the plate, whether it be blocking balls or throwing out baserunners. He has a quick release and an accurate arm. I was really impressed with him as a hitter. He wasn’t overwhelming, but I could see him hitting .240-.250 in the majors in a couple of years. He did seem to clash with some of Reading’s veteran pitchers on pitch selection, but that’s to be expected.

* Daniel Haigwood, LHP (acquired from the White Sox in the Jim Thome trade):
"Not overpowering, but he knows how to pitch. His fastball sat in the upper 80s and he hit 90 a few times, but he commanded it well. They call his breaking ball a slider, but it looks like a curve to me. Either way, it’s a good pitch and is very effective against both righties and lefties. He only threw a handful of changeups, but they looked decent. He’s probably going to need to throw more changeups to be successful as a starter as he moves up. He’s apparently miffed that he didn’t
start the year in AAA but, if he pitches like he did here, he’ll be in Scranton in no time.

Boomer and Buster, please

ESPN is losing credibility by the second thanks in large part to Chris Berman and Buster Olney's apologist views on Barry Bonds. And how can ESPN air Bonds' "reality" show? Olney actually expressed concern Sunday that MLB would downplay Bonds' chase of homer 716. Gee, that doesn't make any sense. Here's Bonds, a focus of a Major League Baseball probe into steroid use, chasing Henry Aaron, one of the most respected men in all of sport, much less baseball.
I can't wait for ESPN's newest reality offering: "Rose on Rose"

4-2 road trip

DENVER -- Brett Myers made history at Coors Field today. Sort of.

Myers was magnificent, holding the Colorado Rockies to seven hits and pitching the Phillies to a road-trip-ending 1-0 win. It was only the second 1-0 game ever played in the 12-year history of Coors Field. The other one came last year when Rockies starter Jason Jennings beat the San Diego Padres.

Overall, the Phillies have to be happy with a 4-2 trip. They head back to Philly for a 10-game homestand, and the first six games are against NL East patsies Washington and Florida. Anything less than four wins -- and really, they should win more than that -- has to be looked at as a disappointment.

Ryan Howard hit his first homer (and drove in his first run) since Opening Day. It's a good sign, for sure, but I don't think anyone was really worried that Howard had lost his power stroke.

Here's something to look for this week: Arthur Rhodes' velocity seemed to drop in the eighth inning today. I don't think there's anything wrong with Rhodes' left arm, but the Phillies have taken care with how they've used him. Not sure there's any connection to the velocity drop. I'll look into it more Tuesday at the Bank.

OK, time to catch my flight. See you back home.

Wrapping up the roadie

DENVER -- Hello again from Denver. Last day of a seven-game trip for the Phillies. I'll be sorry to leave the Mile High City. As I've mentioned before, this is a great city. But it'll be nice to get back home for a while, too.

If the Phillies win here today, they'll come home with a 4-2 mark on the trip, not bad considering Atlanta and Denver aren't easy places to play. If they lose, they'll be 3-3, disappointing after taking two of three from the Braves. Needless to say, their flight will be much more chipper with a win.

A few observations:

* For the second time in three games, I thought Charlie Manuel made a strange choice with his bullpen. Instead of sticking with Rheal Cormier, who came on for one batter in the seventh and fanned Todd Helton, Manuel went to Geoff Geary. What followed? Walk to Garrett Atkins, bases-loaded double by Matt Holliday. Manuel defended the move, saying he wanted Geary against the right-handers Atkins and Holliday. But Tom Gordon, Ryan Franklin and Julio Santana weren't available, so it was weird that Manuel burned Cormier after only one batter.

* Check out Brett Myers' career numbers here at Coors Field: 3-0, 3.66 ERA in three starts. That has to bode well for the Phils.

* Who would've thought, through 11 games, Ryan Howard would have more infield singles (3) than homers (1)? When Howard went sliding head-first into third base last night, the Phils had a good laugh in their dugout. But, for such a big man, Howard actually runs well.

OK, time to see what's going on in the clubhouse. More after the game.

Phils win a wild one

DENVER -- OK, so the Phillies won their third straight game here tonight, but it was a white-knuckle kind of win. Leading 10-4 in the ninth inning, Julio Santana gave up four runs to make it interesting.

The Rockies may have had more, too, if not for Jason Smith's bone-headed baserunning play. Smith tried to go first-to-third on Miguel Olivo's single to left and was thrown out by Shane Victorino, a late-game replacement. If making the last out of an inning at third is a cardinal sin in baseball, what is making the last out of a game there?

But you can read more about that in tomorrow's paper.

The game didn't start off well for Ryan Madson, who needed 13 pitches to retire Rockies leadoff hitter Cory Sullivan. "I'd rather [Sullivan] hit a home run on the first pitch there than have a 13-pitch at-bat," Madson said, although it worked out for him. Madson threw 30 pitches in the first inning, but only 72 in the next six to give the Phils a quality start.

I promised to ask Charlie Manuel about the decision to use Franklin last night instead of Rhodes. Turns out, the Phillies want to be careful with the 36-year-old Rhodes. Manuel said he's reluctant to use him more than two days in a row. But 3-2/3 innings in 10 games seems a little too conservative, doesn't it? After all, Rhodes is the primary setup man.

Finally, Madson said Pat Burrell told him the Phillies would score 10 runs tonight. Think Burrell feels confident about hitting in Coors Field?

That's all for now. More from Denver tomorrow.

We've offended Boston

Check this blog post out from The Boston Globe's Eric Wilbur

Eric, Let's clarify a couple of things. The Royals were popular with Rocks fans BECAUSE they were bad. Their lack of success at the big league level meant Rocks fans got to see high draft picks almost every season. Also, because the Royals couldn’t afford big free agents, they built through their farm system. At last count, 80 Rocks who played here as part of the Royals system reached the big leagues since 1993, including Johnny Damon, Carlos Beltran and Jon Lieber.
Last year’s Rocks team lost and looked unprepared doing it. And while there are many more Red Sox fans in the region than Royals fans, this is the only professional team in the state. Even if we're not diehard Rocks fans, we don't like losing every night.

Play ball (Blue Rocks edition)

The first inning is complete tonight at the Blue Rocks' home opener at Frawley Stadium. The Rocks fell behind 2-0 in the top of the first, courtesy a two-out, two-run home run by Salem catcher Lou Santangelo.

But in the bottom of the first, the Rocks played some old-fashioned small ball, a rare sight last season. Jacoby Ellsbury, a prospect so hot it's a good bet he won't be here by the second half, led off the bottom of the first with a single to raise his batting average to .400 (I think there was another Red Sox player once who liked to hit .400.)

It didn't take long for Ellsbury for steal second, putting him in place to easily take third when Jeff Corsaletti grounded out to the right side. Little leaguers take note, this is how you play.

After an error, a walk, a hit batter and another walk, Mr. Celery had made Dances No. 1 and 2 on the year. A double play left the game tied 2-2 after one, and the first inning took 26 minutes to play.

Eight more innings and a promising season to go.

04/14 -- Pregame stuff

DENVER -- Greetings from the Mile High City.

It's about four hours before tonight's first pitch, and Phillies have arrived here at Coors Field. It's my first trip to Coors (or Denver, for that matter), and so far, I really like the city. The view driving into downtown from the airport is interesting. There are a few skyscraper-type structures, but they're dwarfed by snow-capped mountains. There's nothing resembling snow on the ground, though. It's about 70 degrees, zero humidity. Beautiful weather.

The ballpark is gorgeous. I'm looking out at the field from the press box, and there's an unusual second deck above the batter's eye in center field. It's got to be hard to watch a game from there. Think of Bob Uecker talking about being in the "front row," and you get the idea.

So, the Phillies go for three in a row here tonight. Colorado is fresh off a 5-1 road trip and playing really well.

A few notes from last night's game in Atlanta:

* I'm wondering why Charlie Manuel went to Ryan Franklin instead of Arthur Rhodes in the eighth inning. Rhodes, of course, is the setup man. He was well-rested, and Franklin had pitched in four of the last five games. I'll ask Charlie before the game and let you know what I find.

* I didn't write much about Gavin Floyd in today's paper, but that doesn't diminish his performance. Floyd looked good. Much better, certainly, than his debut last week in Philly. After the game, Aaron Rowand wandered by as Floyd was talking to us and said, "Tell them how nasty your curveball was." That's an apt description. Floyd got Andruw Jones waving at a curve in the sixth inning. It's not often Andruw looks that bad.

More after the game.

(g)Nats broadcasting crew

I'm usually the least harshest critic of a broadcast crew, but I'd rather listen to an Andrea Boccelli CD backwards (no offense, Andrea fans) in an unpadded room than hear another game broadcast by the Nationals' crew.

Seeing as I can only watch my Mets games via MLB Extra Innings (thanks, Comcast!), which connects you to the network of the home team's play-by-play television crew, I was forced to listen to the (g)Nats' crew for Thursday's getaway game.

Not only did they shill for the Mets in an obvious attempt to sugarcoat the three-game sweep the listless (g)Nats had just endured -- practically comparing the Mets to the '85 Oakland A's after eight games -- they also lacked, oh, fundamental knowledge of baseball.

Behold: In the ninth, former Phillie Marlon Byrd hit a routine grounder to short. Jose Reyes overthew Chris Woodward at first, forcing Woodward to go airborne just to keep the ball from the stands. Clearly an error on Reyes, right? Not so, said the (g)Nats' broadcast crew, which dipsuted the error, arguing Byrd should be awarded a hit. For what? A routine throw by Reyes and Byrd's out by a mile.

Phillies fans, next time you complain about your team's TV crew, rememeber this: it could be worse. I've heard the evidence.

Same old new Rocks

Eight games into the season, and the Blue Rocks are suffering from the same plight that plunged last year's squad into the basement - no offense. On paper they have more talent than last year, but that talent isn't playing as a team just yet. That chemistry may come later rather than sooner as their top player thus far - outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury (left) - is hitting too well to stay in the Carolina League for long.
Unfortunately, Rocks fans were spoiled by the Royals' big-league suffering, which led to high draft picks, which led to lots of talent funneling through Wilmington.
That's not going to happen with most organizations, much less the Red Sox. Rocks fans may have to suffer through another "subpar" year. But take heart, the Rocks can shop around for another affiliation next season. Hello Devil Rays!

04/13 -- Pregame notes

ATLANTA -- About 3.5 hours until gametime here, and I can't wait to see what the Phils get from Gavin Floyd.

Floyd, a talented 23-year-old right-hander, says he feels "completely different" than he did last year when the Braves lit him up for 13 hits, 17 runs and 12 walks in two starts. His first start of the season, last Friday night in Philly against the Dodgers, wasn't too good (he lasted only 2-2/3 innings and gave up five runs, three earned). So, we'll see what he has tonight.

Otherwise, it's a pretty quiet day here so far. Brett Myers has been running sprints in the outfield, and relievers Geoff Geary and Aaron Fultz are doing laps around the warning track. It's good to see Myers, who has a tendency to gain weight during the season, concentrating on his conditioning.

More after the game.

What a difference a win makes

ATLANTA -- So, I walked into the Phillies' clubhouse tonight to blaring rap music and smiling faces, both rarities so far this season. But this offense was due to break out at some point, and Braves starter Jorge Sosa was the first victim.

I'm not one to criticize official scorers (talk about a thankless job), but Aaron Rowand's second-inning scorcher that was kicked by Atlanta shortstop Edgar Renteria should've been scored a hit. Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins has talked about the "fast infield" at Turner Field, and it's hard to think Renteria would've had a play on Rowand even if he'd gotten to the ball.

Cory Lidle's line: 6 IP, 10 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 7 K. That's basically what you get from Lidle, and with the Phillies' offense, it may be enough for him to win 10-12 games.

But Lidle's biggest play was scoring from second base on the ball Rowand hit in the second. "That was going to be a big run," said Lidle, who never considered stopping at third.

Rollins downplayed the importance of his second-inning relay throw from Rowand that beat slow-footed Braves catcher Brian McCann to home plate by about 40 feet. "It's not like it was [Braves outfielder Jeff] Francoeur running. It was McCann. All I had to do was make a good throw."

Isn't it amazing how a baseball team can be 1-6 one day, and optimistic that it can win a series from the 14-time division champs the next?

Baltimore is now Fenway Park South

I attended the Orioles-Red Sox game at Camden Yards last Friday and was amazed at the amount of Boston fans at the game. The stadium has officially turned into Fenway Park South and will likely turn into Yankee Stadium South when New York comes to Baltimore.
The cheers for Boston's David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez far outweighed the light clapping for the Orioles' Miguel Tejada and Brian Roberts.
What has happened to all of the Orioles fans? Did they get demolished along with Memorial Stadium on East 33rd Street? Or are they just sick of the stigma of eight consecutive losing seasons?
Maybe it is partly because Washington now has the Nationals and the "tourist happy" Camden Yards has lost its lure with so many retro-style ballparks popping up around the country.
Whatever it is, I sure do miss Wild Bill Hagy and the Roar from [Section] 34.
"Let's go Red Sox! Let's go Red Sox!" just does not sound right in the Inner Harbor.

04/12 -- Pregame notes

ATLANTA -- I promised extra news, notes and quotes on this blog, so here goes ...

- Brett Myers chucked 95 pitches in only five innings Monday night. Not exactly a model of efficiency. The good news? He recognized the problem and vowed to correct it. "There are no going to be many more times when I go [only] five innings, I'll tell you that," Myers said. "I'm fed up with it. I can't go 2-2 on every guy and go seven innings. I felt like every hitter, I turned around and got to 2-2. That's not executing."
Myers wasn't through with his critical self-evaluation.
"My whole goal was for the team to win the starts I start. It hasn't happened, and I take full blame for it."
Truth is, Myers hasn't pitched badly. At least not as badly as Cory Lidle, tonight's starter, or Gavin Floyd, tomorrow's night. But he can be better, and the Phillies need him to be better.

- Ryan Franklin knew exactly why he gave up the decisive homer to Marcus Giles in the seventh inning Monday night. "The four-seam [fastball] is not supposed to sink. It sank about six inches over the outer-third of the plate." ... Yeah, and Giles hammered it.

- Finally, Cole Hamels' line last night for Class A Clearwater:
5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 K
Think it's too late to put him on an express flight to Atlanta?

More later from Turner Field.

Welcome aboard

ATLANTA -- So, the Phillies opened the 2006 season last week at Citizens Bank Park. And last night, they opened the Braves' home schedule here at Turner Field.

Today, then, is Opening Day for The News Journal's Phillies blog.

I'm Scott Lauber, and I write about the Phils for The News Journal. What you'll find here is information that will supplement the coverage of the Phillies and Major League Baseball that appears in the print version of the newspaper. The great part about blogging is that space is endless, so I plan to post any anecdotes and other nuggets that get edged out of the newspaper right here.

Please check back often, as this blog will be updated daily -- or, sometimes, several times a day by me or my colleagues.

Clearly, the Phillies aren't happy with their 1-6 start. After last night's game here in Atlanta, the clubhouse was quiet and several players analyzed video of their at-bats. Today is a rare off-day in the schedule, and if ever a team could use a day away from the ballpark, it's the Phillies.

A few early-season observations.

- In spring training, doubters cited shaky pitching as a reason the Phils won't win the NL East. But, really, since the first few games, the pitching has held up well. It's been the offense that hasn't produced. I just spoke with general manager Pat Gillick, who said 3.4 runs per game isn't good enough. More on that in Wednesday's newspaper.

- The most popular player on most football teams is the backup quarterback. Heck, even Koy Detmer was liked by Eagles fans, at least until he started playing. Perhaps the most well-liked Phillie is long-haired and Fu Manchu-mustached backup catcher Sal Fasano (a former Blue Rock), who has already inspired a fan club called "Sal's Pals" in the right-field bleachers at the Bank. But unlike Detmer and certainly Mike McMahon, he took quick steps to justify the fans' applause by belting a homer into the second deck in left field last week. I'm betting Fasano will have a nice season, playing in about 60 games as Mike Lieberthal's understudy.

- Ryan Madson is going to win 12-15 games for the Phillies as a starting pitcher. Still, the feeling here is he may be more valuable to the team as a late-inning reliever. New closer Tom Gordon (38 years old) and setup man Arthur Rhodes (36) have lots of mileage on their arms, and Ryan Franklin is prone to giving up long balls (the solo shot he allowed to Marcus Giles last night would've been more palatable in the first inning than the seventh). Somewhere along the line, manager Charlie Manuel and pitching coach Rich Dubee will wish they had Madson to pitch seventh, eighth or even ninth innings. Of course, the Phils need to first get a late-inning lead for it to matter.

- Before the season ends, Jimmy Rollins will have at least one more long hitting streak. Maybe not 38 games, but it'll be substantial.

- In the paper, I predicted the Phillies would finish second, behind Atlanta and ahead of the Mets. While that forecast isn't looking too good after one week, I'll stick with it. The Mets have too many question marks, including the health of Pedro Martinez, to win this division. Then again, the Phillies are probably too good to have started 1-6, too.

Thanks for reading. I'm looking forward to hearing from you.