May 11 -- OUTTAKES

Space in Saturday's 50-cent edition was tight (even tighter than usual). Lucky for us, we have The Blog. Here goes ...

* It didn't happen today, and it probably won't happen tomorrow. But I still wouldn't be surprised if Ryan Howard goes on the DL. After having two MRI exams this morning, Howard waited until after 6 p.m. to get the results from team doctor Michael Ciccotti. The MRIs didn't reveal much that Howard didn't already suspect -- there's no structural damage to the sprained ligament below his left knee, and the pain in his left quad is being caused by a collection of blood in the area. But he didn't play again tonight, and Charlie Manuel said he won't play tomorrow. With Cubs lefty Ted Lilly starting Sunday, I doubt we'll see Howard then, either. Asked if the test results mean Howard won't go on the DL, assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said, "We're not sure. He's day-to-day, at this stage. We have some concerns about making sure he's healthy."

* Jamie, our fearless Blog participant and resident Pat Burrell defender, must be Nostradamus. Look, I don't think Burrell is, or ever will be, a better all-around player than Alfonso Soriano, regardless of what this guy says. But he certainly gave the Phillies what they needed tonight.

* Tom Gordon can't catch a break. But, evidently, he can catch an upper-respiratory infection.
* Jon Lieber wouldn't divulge how he cut his finger, causing his start to be pushed back from tonight to Sunday. Neither would Manuel nor pitching coach Rich Dubee. But, leave it to Amaro to spill the beans (sort of). He said he thinks Lieber was using a knife to cut some food when he sliced his finger instead.

* Cole Hamels was upset with home-plate umpire Larry Poncino for what he perceived to be an inconsistent strike zone. "It is a little difficult sometimes when you're throwing the same pitches as the other guy, and you're not getting the calls," Hamels said. Regardless, Hamels was good, allowing little more than the solo homers by Soriano and Aramis Ramirez.

* Freddy Garcia's first manager in the majors was Lou Piniella. So, with Garcia set to face the Cubs today, Piniella recalled watching him pitch for the Mariners from 1999 to 2002. "When we had him, he was a young kid that wanted to throw hard," Piniella said. "Now, he's become a nice pitcher. Freddy's had a real nice career for himself."

* Piniella on Jamie Moyer, another of his former pitchers with Seattle: "We brought him over from Boston, and I think the change of league was good for him. He's a crafty guy. His game has always been messing with the hitters' timing. It speaks volumes that he's been around as long as he has. This kid keeps himself in really good shape. He doesn't beat himself. You've got to take what he gives you." That's right. The 63-year-old Piniella actually called the 44-year-old Moyer a "kid."

* To elaborate on my point from the previous post: Curt Schilling had the perfect forum to speak his mind about Barry Bonds when he testified before a Congressional committee in March 2005. But, oddly, none of the indignation that he expressed in this week's radio interview in Boston came out during that hearing.