Aug. 10 -- LIDGE UNAVAILABLE

BY SCOTT LAUBER

Morning, all. Hope you're enjoying your rainy Sunday.

Just heard from Charlie Manuel that, for a second consecutive game, closer Brad Lidge is not available to pitch today because of tightness in his throwing shoulder. But Manuel and Lidge insist it's nothing to worry about, and Lidge said he's hoping to be ready tomorrow night in LA.

Some background: Lidge warmed up six times before finally pitching in the All-Star Game on July 15 at Yankee Stadium. Manuel said "he's just now getting his strength back" after that experience, but Lidge said his shoulder began feeling "sluggish" before the All-Star Game. Lidge believes his shoulder troubles have stemmed from some faulty mechanics that were discovered last week by pitching coach Rich Dubee. Since the All-Star break, Lidge has made 11 appearances. And although he's 8-for-8 in save opportunities, most of them haven't been easy. He has has walked seven batters in 7-1/3 innings and put runners on base in eight of the 11 games. Of the last 209 pitches Lidge has thrown, only 122 have been strikes.

Lidge, who has been taking anti-inflammatory medication and seen team physician Dr. Michael Ciccotti but has not undergone at MRI exam, said he played catch this morning with Dubee and feels considerably better.

Clearly, though, this is a situation worth monitoring. To me, Lidge and ace Cole Hamels are the two players the Phillies can least afford to lose to injury.

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The Phillies are batting .232 in their last 11 games, but their pitching staff has compiled a 2.94 ERA. Nine of the last 11 starts have been quality starts (at least six innings, no more than three runs). Here's a look at that run.

July 29 at Washington: Brett Myers -- 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 2 K
July 30 at Washington: Jamie Moyer -- 6 IP, 6 H, 3 R (3 ER), 3 BB, 5 K
July 31 at Washington: Kyle Kendrick-- 6.2 IP, 7 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 4 K
Aug. 1 at St. Louis: Cole Hamels -- 6 IP, 8 H, 5 R (4 ER), 1 BB, 5 K
Aug. 2 at St. Louis: Joe Blanton -- 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 5 K
Aug. 3 at St. Louis: Myers -- 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 3 K
Aug. 5 vs. Florida: Moyer -- 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 4 K
Aug. 6 vs. Florida: Kendrick -- 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R (0 ER), 5 BB, 4 K
Aug. 7 vs. Florida: Hamels -- 6.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 7 K
Aug. 8 vs. Pittsburgh: Blanton -- 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 7 K
Aug. 9 vs. Pittsburgh: Myers -- 7.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 6 K