Sept. 1 -- EATON, HAMELS, MARSON & MORE

BY SCOTT LAUBER

WASHINGTON -- OK, lots going on before today's game, so let's get right to it:

1. With Adam Eaton returning to the Phillies' clubhouse, Pat Gillick addressed the biggest blunder of his three seasons as GM. Gillick admitted he made a mistake by signing Eaton to a three-year, $24.5 million free-agent contract before the 2007 season. "You go back and look at it and you kind of evaluate how you might've screwed up, to be frank," Gillick said. "But you kind of got to forget about it and go on." Gillick also said that Eaton will have only a "small window" to pitch in September. It seems he'll only get the ball in blowouts. The real kick in the pants, though, for the Phillies is that Eaton is under contract for $8.5 million next season. Of course, Gillick is still planning to retire after the season, so Eaton will be the next GM's problem.

2. Charlie Manuel said there's a possibility that Cole Hamels could pitch Sunday night against the Mets at Shea Stadium. Hamels is slated to pitch tomorrow night here against the Nats. With a day off Thursday, the Phillies could shuffle their rotation to keep Hamels on his regular rest and start him Sunday night. During the last trip through the rotation, they had a similar opportunity, but they opted to give Hamels, who leads the NL with a career-high 195-2/3 innings, an extra day of rest. Will try to get to pitching coach Rich Dubee before the day is over. He should have more information.

3. Generally speaking, it's considered a good sign for a player when he's assigned a low number. Lou Marson has been given No. 3. "I was talking to our [minor league] catching coordinator Mike Compton, and he told me he knew one year he went to spring training that he was going to make the team just by his number," Marson said. "I'm not going to say that's going to happen [next year], but it was nice."

4. Gillick said the Phillies didn't come close to making another trade before last night's waiver deadline. Quite simply, the asking price was too high. Gillick did say the Phillies will call up a few more minor leaguers tomorrow. Shortstop prospect Jason Donald appears to be a possibility. Also, don't count out lefty-hitting Chris Snelling, although he and Donald would have to be added to the 40-man roster. Outfielder T.J. Bohn already is on the 40-man, and he's likely to be recalled.

5. As expected, Pat Burrell is getting a rest today against Nationals RHP Tim Redding. Burrell is 4-for-34 with 12 strikeouts in his last seven games, and he's only 6-for-25 with six strikeouts against Redding. Matt Stairs will make his Phillies debut in right field today. Jayson Werth shifts over to left.

Your full lineup against Redding (9-8, 4.54 ERA): SS Jimmy Rollins (.270/9/49), CF Shane Victorino (.283/11/49), 2B Chase Utley (.293/31/87), 1B Ryan Howard (.234/37/114), LF Jayson Werth (.282/21/56), 3B Greg Dobbs (.296/6/31), RF Matt Stairs (.250/11/44 with Toronto), C Chris Coste (.280/9/34), RHP Kyle Kendrick (11-7, 4.83 ERA).

Much, much more on all of the above in tomorrow's News Journal and here at www.delawareonline.com.