Aug. 21 -- LITTLE BIG LEAGUE

What do you like to do on your days off? Ryan Howard spent his hanging out with some Little League World Series teams in Williamsport, Pa.

Howard joined the famously slimmed-down Subway spokesman Jared Fogle for a promotional appearance yesterday. According to this account, Howard talked to the kids about eating right and staying in shape. That's been a popular topic for the Phillies, who met with a nutritionist in spring training. Howard also told them about the time he crushed a Little League homer that hit the side of a Red Lobster.

It should be noted that Howard and many other Phillies players were watching the Little League World Series games in the clubhouse last weekend in Pittsburgh. Aaron Rowand even joked that he doesn't have the leaping ability to match the homer-robbing catch made by Walpole (Mass.) center fielder Michael Rando on Saturday.

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Shane Victorino (strained right calf) went 1-for-4 with a double last night for single-A Lakewood. In the same game, Rod Barajas (strained groin) went 0-for-3. It sounds like Victorino will play one more minor-league game tonight, either for Lakewood or double-A Reading, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him back in the Phillies' lineup Wednesday night against the Dodgers. Also, within the notebook, there are more details on the good news Chase Utley got yesterday.

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Big homestand for the Phillies starts tonight. OK, HUGE homestand. Here's a breakdown of the Dodgers, Padres and Mets.

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Almost a year ago, the Phillies acquired Jeff Conine from the Orioles to aid in their playoff push. He played pretty well, too, batting .280 with 17 RBIs in 28 games. But the Phillies didn't think they had room for Conine and Jayson Werth, so in December, they dealt Conine to the Reds for three minor leaguers. Yesterday, Conine was traded to the Mets. I'm betting he gets at least one big hit against the Phillies down the stretch.

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Came across this picture from the Dallas Morning News' 2006 baseball preview. The cover boys: once-and-future Phillies pitchers Adam Eaton, Kevin Millwood and Vicente Padilla.

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There's an excellent feature by Philly native Tyler Kepner in today's New York Times about Joba Chamberlain, the flame-throwing 21-year-old reliever for the Yankees who has struck out 11 batters in seven scoreless innings. The Yanks drafted Chamberlain with the 41st overall pick in the 2006 draft, a selection that was obtained as compensation from the Phillies when they signed Tom Gordon.

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Had a chance to chat yesterday with Mike Gill on ESPN 1450 AM. Listen to the segment here: Lauberpart1.mp3, lauberpart2.mp3.