So, in case you missed it, Barack Obama reached a presidential milestone yesterday when he spent his 100th day in the Oval Office. It was a largely symbolic occasion, but naturally, it gave political analysts the chance to reflect (and pass judgment) on Obama's level of effectiveness during his first 100 days on the job. And, of course, everyone seemed to have an opinion.
Well, the Phillies hit their own marker last night. They played their 20th game -- and finished their first month -- of the season by losing to the Nationals, 4-1, at the Bank. Brett Myers threw OK, except for a bout of wildness in the third inning that included walking pitcher Scott Olsen and a bases-loaded walk to Ryan Zimmerman. Pin this loss, though, on the offense, which left 10 men on base, went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position, and wasted scoring opportunities in the fourth, sixth and eighth innings.
But I chose to take more of a big-picture approach with the game story in today's News Journal. The Phillies finished April with an 11-9 record, which is somewhat of a wonder when you consider the following:
a) Jimmy Rollins is batting .207 (.241 OBP), and as late as Sunday, was batting .162. b) The pitching staff has allowed 40 homers and has an NL-worst 5.63 ERA. c) Luckless ace Cole Hamels has pitched only 17-1/3 innings. d) The entire organization mourned Harry Kalas' untimely death on April 13. e) Knee problems have contributed to Brad Lidge's 7.27 ERA.
Given all that, you never would've believed the Phillies could have had a winning month, right? For that, they can thank sizzling Chase Utley (.342, 7 HR, 20 RBI, 1.105 OPS) and Raul Ibanez (.359, 7 HR, 17 RBI, 1.151 OPS) and a relentless offense that has scored nearly half its runs after the sixth inning and already has staged several memorable comebacks. It marks only the second time in Charlie Manuel's five-year tenure that the Phillies have had a winning first month. They went 15-13 last season after going 11-14 (after starting 4-11) in 2007 and 10-14 in both 2006 and 2005. But while Manuel thinks 11-9 is good, he also believes the Phillies can be better, even after facing so many early-season problems.
"You've got to handle all the adversity that comes at you," Manuel said. "That's part of it. We talk about staying focused on what we want to do. At the same time, we can't use those things as excuses. Our record is what it is. ... Fortunate? Yeah, in some ways, maybe we are fortunate. But it is what it is."
So, what do you think? All things considered, are you happy with 11-9?
*** Before last night's game, I had a conversation with Ryan Madson, the fill-in closer until Lidge is ready to pitch. You can read Madson's thoughts, plus get injury updates on Lidge, Hamels and Carlos Ruiz, within the notebook.
*** Day off for the Phils, but stop by later today for more on this weekend's series against the rival Mets. Also, don't forget to follow me -- and Philled In -- on Twitter and Facebook.
OK, here's all the pertinent info on the injured Phillies:
1. Cole Hamels (sprained left ankle): According to Ruben Amaro Jr., Hamels has some minor swelling in his sprained left ankle. The injury has been diagnosed as a Grade 1 sprain, which is considered minor. Hamels is scheduled to throw a between-starts bullpen session Friday. If he needs an extra day, Rich Dubee said Hamels could probably throw in the bullpen Saturday and still make his scheduled start Monday in St. Louis. And with the off day tomorrow, the Phillies don't absolutely need Hamels to start until Tuesday. That said, Hamels' status won't really be known until after he throws a bullpen.
2. Brad Lidge (right knee inflammation): He isn't available to pitch tonight. He's expected to throw in the bullpen Friday, and if that goes well, he may be ready to pitch over the weekend against the Mets. If he isn't ready by the weekend, the Phillies may have to consider placing him on the disabled list, retroactive to last Saturday. But if Brett Myers pitches deep into the game tonight, and with an off day tomorrow, the bullpen may be rested enough to get by without Lidge for another few days.
3. Carlos Ruiz (strained right oblique): Amaro said Ruiz will catch tomorrow night for Class AAA Lehigh Valley. After that, he will be reevaluated.
Thanks to everyone who participated in today's live Phillies chat. And for those who didn't, stop by next Wednesday when we will be live from Citi Field, assuming US Airways gets me from St. Louis to New York on time.
In spring training, he missed nearly a week with inflammation and stiffness in his left elbow. Then, last Thursday, he got hit on the left shoulder by Prince Fielder's line drive. Now here he was, having sailed through four innings against the lowly Nationals, hobbling to the dugout after rolling his left ankle while trying to field pitcher John Lannan's bunt.
Seriously, does someone out there have a Hamels voodoo doll, or what?
"Nah, I'd probably be on the disabled list with a surgery procedure if somebody hated me that bad," Hamels said last night, his ankle lightly wrapped. "Why would they toy around with me?"
OK, but if Hamels didn't have rotten luck, he'd have no luck at all.
The Phillies won a 7-1 giggler last night, their fifth straight victory. But it wasn't until later, when they got word on their ace, that they really were able to enjoy it. X-rays on Hamels' ankle were negative, and he was diagnosed with a "mild sprain." With the benefit of an extra day of rest (the Phillies are idle Thursday), Hamels said he expects to be able to make his next scheduled start, Monday in St. Louis, although that won't be absolutely certain until he throws a bullpen session Friday and sees how his tender ankle reacts.
"It's one of those things where some random things happen," said Hamels, his ankle lightly wrapped. "It was almost comedy. I don't know what else to do but laugh about it because nothing's been too serious. This ankle injury, it's not severe."
For four innings against the Nationals, Hamels cruised. He allowed just four hits, two walks and zero runners to advance beyond second base. His fastball velocity touched 93 mph. His command was good. He was not his sharpest, but after being slowed by his spring-training setback, he finally resembled the dominant ace who was named World Series MVP last fall.
And then this.
"I was like, what's next?" Shane Victorino said. "Poor guy."
At least Hamels' sense of humor is intact.
After throwing one warm-up pitch and deciding he wouldn't be able to put enough pressure on his ankle to be effective, Hamels flipped the ball in the direction of Charlie Manuel. It fell short. Asked if he had words for Manuel or pitching coach Rich Dubee as he left the mound, Hamels said, "I don't think the words I said should be written down."
"I guess I'll be good and rested by September," he added.
"His luck is going to turn," reliever Chad Durbin said, "and when it does, there's going to be a lot of teams that aren't going to be happy having to face him because his stuff is plenty good right now."
And, one of these days, he'll be able to use it for more than four innings.
*** Also in today's News Journal, the owner/operator of Proviant Technologies and ErgoPharm responds to J.C. Romero's lawsuit by issuing an e-mail statement to the media. And Brad Lidge says he doesn't view his knee injury as a long-term problem, and for now, the Phillies aren't thinking of putting him on the disabled list. But if Lidge isn't able to pitch in the next few days, they may have no choice.
Think Cole Hamels believes in the SI cover jinx now?
Hamels was cruising tonight against the Nationals, allowing four hits and two walks through 4-1/3 scoreless innings. Then, in the top of the fifth, he tripped while trying to field a bunt by pitcher John Lannan. He rolled his left ankle, and immediately, he knew something was wrong. On his back, Hamels flipped the ball in the air, rose gingerly and limped back to the mound.
Out came Rich Dubee and Charlie Manuel and assistant athletic trainer Mark Andersen. Hamels threw one warm-up pitch, then tossed the ball in the air in frustration and walked off the mound.
The initial diagnosis: A sprained left ankle.
It marks the second consecutive start in which Hamels has left the game with an injury. In the fourth inning last Thursday, he suffered a bruised left shoulder when he got hit by a Prince Fielder line drive.
In an e-mail sent to media outlets today, Patrick Arnold has fired back at J.C. Romero.
Arnold (pictured), the chemist who owns and operates ErgoPharm Inc. and Proviant Technologies, said Romero should take responsibility for his own actions, including reading a warning label on bottles of 6-OXO Extreme that he says reads, "Use of this product may be banned by some athleti or government associations (including military)."
"If an athlete chooses to ignore an explicit warning on the label of a dietary supplement product, fails to conduct reasonable inquiry, and thereafter tests positive for a banned substance, the athlete should take responsibility for their actions," Proviant's two-page unsigned statement said.
It should be noted that Romero has alleged the two bottles of 6-OXO Extreme that he purchased (one from a Vitamin Shoppe in Cherry Hill, N.J., the other from a GNC in Fairhope, Ala.) didn't contain any warning labels.
Not surprisingly, I had no trouble reaching Romero's legal counsel, which is being led by Southern California-based attorney Howard Jacobs, whose Web site describes him as "a true athlete's lawyer." Even less surprising was the silence coming from spokespeople for the four defendants cited in the suit: ErgoPharm Inc., Proviant Technologies, Vitamin Shoppe and GNC. I doubt they expected to be sued by Romero, and they're probably figuring out how to handle the initial wave of publicity that comes along with this.
Jacobs was unable to discuss any specifics of Romero's case that weren't already outlined in the lawsuit. But we talked for a while, and he mentioned that he has represented about a dozen athletes in cases against supplement companies. Only two of those cases have reached a trial. Only one, a 2005 case involving swimmer Kicker Vencill, went to a jury verdict. He said he has never dealt with a case that involved 6-OXO Extreme, the supplement in question in Romero's case.
"A lot of supplement companies will say they've sold millions of products that don't result in positive drug tests," Jacobs said. "But the only members of the consumer public that would know are athletes who are subject to drug testing. If an average person buys a supplement, they don't know what might be in there unless they take a drug test."
And while that's true, here are a few things to keep in mind:
1. A simple Google search will reveal that ErgoPharm and Proviant are owned and operated by Patrick Arnold. If that name sounds familiar, it's probably because Arnold is the chemist who invented the stealth drug THG (also called "The Clear") and spent time in federal prison for his involvement in the BALCO affair. I think most people, especially athletes, would stay away from taking any supplements that are connected with Arnold.
3. If Romero had called MLB's toll-free drug hotline, MLB vice president Rob Manfred says he would've been warned about 6-OXO. And the MLB drug hotline is probably a better source of information than employees at GNC and Vitamin Shoppe, most of whom are just trying to make a sale and aren't particularly well-versed on which over-the-counter supplements could trigger a positive test.
I'm not saying GNC and Vitamin Shoppe are absolved of blame here, and I'm certainly not defending ErgoPharm or Proviant. Romero probably has a case, and if it gets to trial (I doubt it will), he may well win.
But you have to wonder how he ever allowed the situation to get to this point in the first place.
*** My favorite stat of the season so far: Of the Phillies' 111 runs, 55 have been scored in the seventh inning or later. Just think about that for a second: 49.54 percent of the Phillies' runs have come in the late innings. Amazing, isn't it?
Wondering why Ryan Madson, not Brad Lidge, was pitching in a save situation in the ninth inning tonight?
Evidently, Lidge has some inflammation in his right knee, according to Charlie Manuel. Yes, that is the knee that Lidge had surgically repaired twice before the 2008 season. He had torn cartilage fixed Oct. 1, 2007 (and was walking with crutches at his introductory news conference with the Phillies), then had his meniscus repaired on Feb. 25, 2008. Our man, Geoff Mosher, was in the Phillies' clubhouse tonight when Lidge admitted he got an MRI last week. If Lidge is having knee trouble, that would explain his mechanical problems and his flawed control. Few saves have been stress-free for Lidge lately. On Saturday night in Florida, he loaded the bases before white-knuckling his way to a 34-pitch save.
Lidge listed as day-to-day, but obviously, the Phillies aren't going to take any chances with their All-Star closer, especially with Madson throwing 97 mph in the ninth.
So, apparently, while I've been talking with attorneys and reaching out to PR folks about J.C. Romero's lawsuit, Carlos Ruiz was scratched from the lineup in Lehigh Valley tonight with "discomfort." Ruiz has been sidelined since April 11 with a strained right oblique. Phillies says he will be reevaluated tomorrow, but I think it's safe to call this a setback. So, everyone who has been flooding my inbox with "Play Lou Marson" e-mails (you know who you are) probably will get to see the top catching prospect for a little longer.
*** Meanwhile, barring any rainouts, the pitching matchups are set for this weekend's series against the Mets at the Bank. And, they are ...
Friday: RHP Mike Pelfrey (2-0, 6.32) vs. RHP Chan Ho Park (0-0, 7.16) Saturday: LHP Oliver Perez (1-2, 9.31) vs. LHP Jamie Moyer (3-1, 5.09) Sunday: RHP John Maine (0-2, 7.47) vs. RHP Joe Blanton (0-2, 7.31 going into tonight)
So, J.C. Romero has hired a lawyer and filed suit against both the company that manufactured the supplement that triggered his positive drug test and the retail store that sold it.
Some details: The 27-page lawsuit was filed today in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Camden County, against ErgoPharm Inc., Proviant Technologies Inc., VS Holdings Inc. (Vitamin Shoppe) and General Nutrition Centers Inc. Romero has enlisted the legal counsel of L.A.-based Howard Jacobs, Atlanta-based David Cornwell and N.J.-based Jeffrey Craig. Jacobs has represented athletes in lawsuits against supplement companies arising from contaminated nutritional supplements. Cornwell was a finalist to replace Gene Upshaw as executive director of the NFL Players' Association. Craig specializes in personal injury, product liability and employment matters.
Romero, as you know, was suspended 50 games for testing positive for androstenedione, a steroid banned by Major League Baseball. He contends that he took 6-OXO Extreme, an over-the-counter supplement purchased from a GNC in Cherry Hill, N.J., believing that the product wouldn't cause a positive test. MLB has suspended him for being "negligent" in the matter and not thoroughly checking out the product before he used it.
"Everything he was told led him to believe it was a natural product that was produced naturally," said Dominic B. Sanginiti Jr., an attorney in Craig's office who is helping to prepare the lawsuit. "Mr. Romero is looking to put this behind him but also to let everybody know that he didn't purposely take something that was banned."
Here's the statement from Romero released today by his legal team: "I purchased an over-the-counter supplement that I was told and believed would not cause me to test positive. These events have hurt me deeply and placed a cloud over my career, accomplishments and family. It is my hope that I can finally start to put this event behind me and protect the interests of others who rely on manufacturers and retailers to be honest about their products."
Still attempting to get comment from ErgoPharm, Vitamin Shoppe and GNC.
FORT LAUDERDALE -- Hello from Gate E3 at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. It's 4:57 a.m., and like the rest of the Phillies' traveling press corps, I'm awaiting a 6 a.m. flight home.
1. Neither Jamie Moyer nor Chad Durbin nor J.A. Happ allowed a home run in the 13-2 drubbing over the Marlins, marking the first time in 17 games to open the season that the Phillies didn't give up a long ball. That was a major-league record, by the way, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. "Woooo-hoooo!" Moyer said. "Now I can sleep tonight."
2. Moyer's seemingly hypnotic mastery of the Marlins continued. In 13 career starts against Florida, he's 12-1 with a 3.17 ERA. And every time he beats the Marlins, I -- or another of the reporters who covers the game -- inevitably asks Moyer about why he dominates the Fish. His answer is always the same: No clue. But as long as it keeps going, he doesn't really care either.
3. For me, though, the biggest thing that came out of the postgame conversation was a noticeable change in Charlie Manuel's mood. It was only a week ago, before a rainout at the Bank, that Manuel said he had noticed "some difference in guys" after the Phillies won the World Series. He didn't name names, but he wondered if some players were getting "too big for their britches." Told about Manuel's comments, several players either flat-out disagreed with his assessment or didn't know what he was talking about.
But after a sweep of the Marlins, Manuel couldn't be happier with the Phillies.
"I like the attitude on our team," he said yesterday, rocking back in a chair behind his desk at Dolphin Stadium.
So, what changed? Was it simply a matter of winning three straight games?
"Some good self-evaluation sometimes takes care of that," Manuel said. "Also, all you've got to do is have some 0-for-4s, or have your pitchers get banged around a little bit. That'll wake you up."
*** Here's a preview of the series that starts tonight at the Bank.
NATIONALS (4-13) at PHILLIES (9-8) Tonight, 7:05: RHP Shairon Martis (2-0, 4.11) vs. RHP Joe Blanton (0-2, 7.31) Tuesday, 7:05: LHP John Lannan (0-2, 4.43) vs. LHP Cole Hamels (0-2, 9.69) Wednesday, 7:05: LHP Scott Olsen (0-3, 7.29) vs. RHP Brett Myers (1-1, 4.91) Hot: Nationals 3B Ryan Zimmerman is batting .308 (20-for-65) with 10 RBIs during his 15-game hitting streak, the majors’ longest; Nationals C Jesus Flores is 11-for-27 (.407) with nine RBIs in his last eight games; Phillies 1B Ryan Howard is 5-for-15 (.333) in his last three games; Phillies RF Jayson Werth is batting .333 (17-for-54) with two home runs and nine RBIs after starting the season 1-for-11. Not: Nationals OF Josh Willingham went hitless in seven at-bats over the weekend against the Mets; Nationals 2B Anderson Hernandez has three hits in his last 20 at-bats (.150); Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins is batting .162 (11-for-68) with a .205 on-base percentage; Phillies C Chris Coste is 5-for-30 (.167) with nine strikeouts since Carlos Ruiz went on the disabled list April 11.
MIAMI GARDENS -- Meet Graham Taylor, a 24-year-old lefty making his major-league debut today for the Marlins.
Jimmy Rollins won't have a chance to introduce himself.
For the second time in seven games, J-Roll isn't in the Phillies' lineup. Yet again, his absence has to do with his early-season slump. Charlie Manuel said Rollins will take some swings in the cage again today, although not as many as last Sunday at the Bank. Through 16 games, Rollins is batting .162 (11-for-68) with one homer, five RBIs and a wretched .205 on-base percentage.
"He's not swinging good," Manuel said. "He doesn't have his timing."
Odds are, Rollins will play tomorrow night against the Nationals, Manuel said.
Here's the full lineup vs. Taylor, who was 2-1 with a 3.24 ERA at double-A Jacksonville:
CF Shane Victorino (.258/2/9) SS Eric Bruntlett (.167/0/2) 2B Chase Utley (.322/5/14) 1B Ryan Howard (.281/3/10) RF Jayson Werth (.292/2/10) LF Raul Ibanez (.269/5/11) 3B Pedro Feliz (.269/1/9) C Chris Coste (.207/0/5) LHP Jamie Moyer (2-1, 6.35)
MIAMI GARDENS -- Quick turnaround here today (12:10 p.m. start after a 10-inning game last night), so we'll keep this fairly brief, although if the Phillies have taught us anything this weekend, it's that there's no need to rush. In each of the first two games of this series, they've rallied in the ninth inning and pulled out victories over the Marlins.
Better late than never, right?
"You like to get in front and hold on to it, but we've given ourselves opportunities late in the game, and that's all we can ask for," Ryan Howard said after last night's 6-4 win. "We've always had that attitude."
By now, though, we should know the Phillies do their best work when they absolutely have to. They've made a habit of September playoff pushes and late-game rallies. The other night, Jayson Werth mentioned that they're the type of team that "hangs around" before making its move. So, really, the late-game heroics here this weekend are no surprise. In fact, they're standard protocol.
*** Charlie Manuel got ejected in the 10th inning last night, but after the game, he seemed more angry at himself than home-plate umpire Ed Montague. Evidently, Manuel was arguing a ball-strike call that, it turns out, wasn't close. He just didn't know that until he saw the replay in the clubhouse.
So, is Charlie going to apologize to Montague today?
"You guys will have to do that for me," he said.
*** Within the notebook, we asked pitching coach Rich Dubee a purely hypothetical question: If the Phillies needed a starter, would they simply move J.A. Happ into the rotation?
"Depends," Dubee said, noting that Carlos Carrasco has been pitching well at Lehigh Valley.
Hmmm.
*** Howard was impressed by Chan Ho Park's opposite-field power, but it turns out, each of Park's three career homers have gone to right field.
"Lucky," Park said with a smile. "Wind was blowing in."
*** And, finally, in our Sunday MLB notes, we look at Marlins ace-in-waiting Josh Johnson, whose proud grandfather lives in Delaware.
Enjoy your Sunday. ... Back in a bit with lineups.
FORT LAUDERDALE -- So, there I was, sitting in the Dolphin Stadium press box last night and getting ready to apply the finishing touches to my game story for The News Journal's first edition when first-year Marlins closer Matt Lindstrom entered in the ninth inning.
And, suddenly, I had flashbacks to 2005.
Allow me to explain. In 2005, I was covering the Mets' double-A, Eastern League affiliate for the Press & Sun-Bulletin in Binghamton, N.Y., and Lindstrom was a Mets prospect. He was a starter back then, and he threw a fastball that often pushed radar guns to triple digits and left scouts drooling. There was no denying Lindstrom had an electric right arm. Problem was, he had little control. In 73-1/3 innings for Binghamton that season, he walked 55 batters, and after 10 starts, the folks on the Mets' player-development staff decided he was best-suited to be a reliever. In fact, if he could ever harness his command, they were sure he could be a good late-inning reliever. And, lo and behold, after being traded to the Marlins in November 2006, that was he became. He did a nice job for the Marlins last year as a setup man, and after Kevin Gregg (the bespectacled reliever, not the Phillies' PR man) was sent to the Cubs in the offseason, Lindstrom ascended to the closer role.
But there he was in the ninth inning last night, allowing a one-out double to Jayson Werth, walking Raul Ibanez and giving up a pinch-hit RBI single to Matt Stairs. And there I was, thinking I had seen this all before. Lindstrom was struggling to locate his pitches, and all of a sudden, the Phillies had life. Sure, they had done absolutely nothing offensively in the previous 28 innings. (They were batting .153, 15-for-98, and had scored two runs since the seventh inning Tuesday night.) But the Phillies are nothing if not relentless, and I knew Lindstrom was in trouble. After he struck out pinch-hitting Eric Bruntlett, I thought he might get out of it. But when he walked struggling Jimmy Rollins with the bases loaded to cut the margin to 3-2, I began punching my delete key and rewriting my story.
Sure enough, Shane Victorino belted a grand slam -- not as memorable as his slam in Game 2 of the NLDS against CC Sabathia, but clutch nonetheless. The Phillies suddenly were leading 6-3, and Chase Utley made it 7-3 with a solo homer. It capped an improbable comeback for the Phillies and an absolutely ginormous win. They avoided a three-game losing streak, inched within 3-1/2 games of the suddenly shaky Marlins (several people said it was funereal in their clubhouse after the game) and may have finally found that elusive rhythm they have been talking about for the past two weeks.
And while we'll have plenty of time to analyze this particular Phillies victory, I found myself driving back to the hotel and thinking about Lindstrom. After Utley's homer, Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez walked to the mound and replaced his closer, who walked slowly to the dugout. At one point, they put the camera on Lindstrom, and he appeared shell-shocked.
I had seen him look that way before.
*** Within the notebook, more on Cole Hamels. Also, J.C. Romero is spending the weekend with the Phillies, and he had an emotional reaction to the Nick Adenhart tragedy.
MIAMI GARDENS -- As Cole Hamels walked by a small group of reporters in the clubhouse a few hours ago, he was asked how his bruised left shoulder is feeling today.
"No comment," he said.
Uh-oh?
Fear not, though. Through a team spokesman, athletic trainer Scott Sheridan said he examined Hamels this morning and there doesn't appear to be any additional damage. Hamels will throw a bullpen session here tomorrow, but pitching coach Rich Dubee said he expects the ace lefty to make his next start as scheduled, Tuesday night against the Nationals at the Bank.
Whew.
Before being struck on the shoulder by a Prince Fielder liner, Hamels went 3-1/3 innings and gave up two runs on a homer by Ryan Braun, the batter before Fielder. It was an improvement over his first two starts when he allowed 12 runs in only 9-2/3 innings.
"He's coming. He's getting close, that's for sure," Dubee said. "This is just a minor setback."
*** Brett Myers on the mound tonight for the Phillies, who are trying to stop a major-league-record streak of 14 consecutive games of allowing a home run. Not the sort of streak you want to have.
Here's the lineup for the Phils: SS Jimmy Rollins (.169/1/4) CF Shane Victorino (.250/1/5) 2B Chase Utley (.333/4/12) 1B Ryan Howard (.278/2/9) RF Jayson Werth (.288/2/9) LF Raul Ibanez (.345/5/11) 3B Pedro Feliz (.304/1/9) C Lou Marson (.333/0/0) RHP Brett Myers (1-1, 5.03)
MIAMI GARDENS -- Greetings from Dolphin Stadium, where the Phillies are about to open a three-game weekend series against the Marlins. A few notes before the clubhouse opens to the media and we get things started here:
--Want the biggest reason for the Phillies' 6-8 start? Pitching. Pitching. Pitching. Phillies pitchers have allowed at least one home run in each of the 14 games to start the season. That's a major-league record, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Phillies starters have a 7.08 ERA. Think about that for a moment: 7.08! The best of those starters, Brett Myers, lugs a 5.03 ERA to the mound tonight. The Marlins' starters, meanwhile, have a 4.38 ERA, led by tonight's starter, Josh Johnson (2.91).
--Offensively, the Phillies really could use a Jimmy Rollins hot streak. You know the numbers. Last year, the Phillies were 42-15 (.737 winning percentage) when Rollins scores a run. But this season, Rollins is batting .169 with a putrid .206 on-base percentage. Maybe, just maybe, facing Florida is what Rollins needs. Since the Marlins' inception in 1993, no player has more triples (12) or stolen bases (40) against them than Rollins, who also ranks second among major leaguers in hits (188), runs (112) and total bases (294) against the Marlins.
--If there's any update on Cole Hamels' bruised left shoulder, we'll let you know. Although, it's doubtful there will be anything new until Hamels throws his between-starts bullpen session, likely tomorrow. At that point, he'll know if the "tattoo of a baseball," as Hamels put it yesterday, caused by Prince Fielder's line drive will delay his next start. Hamels is scheduled to pitch Tuesday against the Nationals at Citizens Bank Park.
Carlos Ruiz will begin a rehab assignment with triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday when the IronPigs host Pawtucket at Coca-Cola Park. Charlie Manuel said yesterday that Ruiz likely will play four games, alternating games between catching and designated hitting. Ruiz has been out since April 10 with a strained right oblique.
*** Here's my colleague Kevin Tresolini'sinitial recap of Cole Hamels' bruised left shoulder.
Good morning, all. While we wait for Cole Hamels to take the mound today, Forbes has released its 12th annual rankings of MLB franchise values, and the World Series-champion Phillies came in seventh at $496 million, a 3 percent increase from last season when they ranked 10th at $481 million. Not bad, considering the present ownership group bought the team for $30 million in 1981.
Here's a list of the top 10 most valuable franchises:
1. New York Yankees -- $1.5 billion 2. New York Mets -- $912 million 3. Boston Red Sox -- $833 million 4. Los Angeles Dodgers -- $722 million 5. Chicago Cubs -- $700 million 6. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim -- $509 million 7. PHILLIES -- $496 million 8. St Louis Cardinals -- $486 million 9. San Francisco Giants -- $471 million 10. Chicago White Sox -- $450 million
Forbes reported the Phillies' overall revenue is $216 million, and they have an operating income of $16.3 million.
So, after the Phillies' 3-1 loss to Braden Looper and the Brewers last night, a few of us beat writers were chatting with Jayson Werth. Asked for his breakdown of the club's less-than-stellar 6-7 start, Werth invented his own word.
Rhythmatic.
You won't find that one in the dictionary.
But we all knew what Werth meant. We were discussing the many stops and starts in the April schedule that have prevented the Phillies from playing on more than four consecutive days. Since the season-opener April 5, there have been three scheduled off days, two rainouts, four pregame ceremonies, a memorial service for Harry Kalas and no opportunity for the Phillies to get into any sort of normal routine. The results have been as disjointed as the schedule. The Phillies win a few games, then lose a few. And just when they think they're getting things started, there's another interruption.
"I'm sure that's had an effect," Werth said. "We're pretty rhythmatic in that sense."
Uh, Jayson, don't you mean rhythmic?
"However you want to put it," he said with a smile. "You guys are the writers. Throw it in quotes, and I'll look stupid. It's fine."
Werth's point is, the Phillies aren't panicking. They have never been fast starters. Two seasons ago, they opened with a 4-11 record that was so alarming they called a team meeting before a game in Cincinnati. Last year, they were 11-11 on April 23. Both seasons, they won the National League East.
"We'll be all right," Werth said. "We're a team that hangs around and hangs around, and when it's time to kick in gear, we do. That's what we've done the past two years. I'm not saying that's the right way to do it, but it's definitely an excuse for right now."
He's right, of course, and after only 13 games, there isn't any reason to panic. That said, if they can avoid it, the Phillies would rather not have to rely on another late-season surge to win the division.
*** Within the notebook, Pedro Feliz is finally healthy (and it shows) and Carlos Ruiz will begin a rehab assignment any day now.
*** All eyes today will be on Cole Hamels, who pitched better in his second start than he did in his first. How will he do in his third? Will the real Cole Hamels finally show up? Charlie Manuel is every bit as curious as you are.
"I'm confident that I'm going to see Cole Hamels pretty soon," he said. "He's going to get better. Hopefully, it's [today]."
Mark your calendar: Monday's game against the Padres, which was postponed by rain, has been rescheduled for 7:05 p.m. on Thursday, July 23. Tickets to the April 20 game will be honored on July 23.
Also, the Phillies-Nationals game that was rained out last Wednesday night in DC has been rescheduled for Saturday, May 16 at 1:05 p.m. Thus, that will now be a double-header at Nationals Park. Can't wait.
*** Tonight's lineup vs. Brewers RHP Braden Looper: SS Jimmy Rollins (.173/1/4) CF Shane Victorino (.245/1/5) 2B Chase Utley (.372/4/12) 1B Ryan Howard (.313/2/9) RF Jayson Werth (.289/1/8) LF Raul Ibanez (.375/5/11) 3B Pedro Feliz (.359/1/9) C Lou Marson (.500/0/0) RHP Joe Blanton (0-1, 9.00)
So, here's the problem with covering the Phillies right now: It's too early in the season to draw many conclusions.
The season-opener was 17 nights ago. During that time, the Phillies have played 12 games. They've had two rainouts and three days off. They've played games after lengthy ceremonies for a) raising the World Series banner; b) receiving their World Series rings; c) general opening-day hoopla in Colorado and Washington. They also played a game in Washington less than two hours after Harry Kalas passed away, and last Saturday, they faced the Padres a few hours after loading Kalas' coffin into a hearse at the end of an emotional memorial service. Through it all, the Phillies haven't played more than four games in a row, so there hasn't been any rhythm or flow to the season.
Point is, until they get into a consistent routine, it's tough to look at a hitter (or even a pitcher) and figure out if they're hot or if they're struggling. Clearly, though, Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino have had slow starts. Charlie Manuel talked about Victorino before yesterday's game, and after he got two hits in last night's 11-4 victory, he was the focus of my game story in today's News Journal. Does that mean Victorino is out of his early-season funk? Check back with me after tonight's game -- or even after tomorrow's.
*** Within the notebook, we look at the underrated Raul Ibanez. Also, there's word on Carlos Ruiz's progress. It seems he could make a minor-league rehab assignment this weekend and come off the disabled list next week.
*** Thanks to everyone who joined our Phillies chat today. If we didn't get to your question, don't despair. Just ask it again next week. I'll be doing an online chat every Wednesday, from noon to 1 p.m.
It was raining pretty hard at about 4 p.m. yesterday, so in the interest of keeping our notepads dry, Charlie Manuel kindly moved his daily pregame chat with the beat writers from the dugout to his office. It was the first time this season that I'd spent any considerable time in Charlie's office, and the first thing I noticed was that the framed pictures on the walls had been changed. Action shots of many of the players had been replaced by photos from last season's playoff run. All the indelible images were there, from the champagne celebrations after the NLCS and World Series to the parade down Broad Street and most of the unforgettable on-field moments in between.
Looking at those walls brings a smile to Manuel's face. But, mostly, he prefers to keep his thoughts on this season.
He isn't sure all of his players have the same focus.
And before last night's game got rained out (a makeup date hasn't been scheduled, although May 11 is a decent bet), Manuel said he has "seen some difference in guys" this season. He didn't name names or cite specific examples, but he indicated some players may have grown complacent.
"There will always be things that will make us think of last year," he said. "If you look at the pictures on the wall, that's the fact that we won. But at the same time, the celebration comes to an end. These are memories, but the game goes on. For us to compete and win again, we've got to do the same thing we did last year. We've got to play the same way. Don't get me wrong. A lot of our guys have the same drive. But there's a few that, what I'm trying to say is, don't slack up."
Jimmy Rollins insists the Phillies' focus is in the right place, and it's probably true that the Phillies' 5-6 start has more to do with the pitching staff's worst-in-the-NL 6.87 ERA than anything else.
But what about those changes that Manuel says he has seen?
"[Brett] Myers and Ryan [Howard] have lost weight," Rollins said. "That's about all I've seen. Sometimes managers see things much differently than anybody else. They have a lot of pressure on them."
Personally, I think Manuel's claims are valid. I can't put a finger on it, or pinpoint any specific example, but I've noticed some changes, too. Maybe it's just what happens when you win a championship. You tend to puff out your chest and walk with a little more swagger. I also think it's natural to have a post-championship hangover. In January, Ryan Madson admitted that he and several players wondered if they'd be able to replicate the postseason intensity in the regular season, when the consequences of winning and losing are less dire. After going on that magical ride through October, it's natural, I think, to have somewhat of a letdown.
"We've got some very professional players," said Manuel, who doesn't believe the situation is serious enough to warrant a team meeting. "We've got some players that love the game just like they always did. But now we've also got some guys who, I think they need to look back at how we got there and what we did to be a winning team, and I think sometimes you can do things that get away from the fact that winning the game is the first priority. I've seen some changes in the way guys go about their business and how they act. I'm not saying they're for the worse. We won, and we're getting a chance to repeat. So don't have our mindset change. Just don't get into a thing where you think you're too big for your britches. I don't know if I'd call it confident. Self-inventory is what I call it."
What do you think? Are the Phillies overconfident? And is that necessarily a bad thing?
*** Within the notebook, we look at Rollins' swing, J.A. Happ's motivation and Carlos Ruiz's strained right oblique.
And here's your primer for the Phillies-Brewers series that opens tonight:
BREWERS (4-8) at PHILLIES (5-6) Tonight, 7:05: LHP Manny Parra (0-2, 6.97) vs. LHP Jamie Moyer (1-1, 6.55) Tomorrow, 7:05: RHP Braden Looper (1-0, 3.27) vs. RHP Joe Blanton (0-1, 9.00) Thursday, 1:05: RHP Dave Bush (0-0, 5.40) vs. LHP Cole Hamels (0-1, 11.17) Hot: Brewers 2B Rickie Weeks has reached base in nine of 11 games and has a team-leading nine runs; Brewers RF Corey Hart has four hits in his last 11 at-bats; Phillies LF Raul Ibanez is 14-for-29 (.483) with four homers and seven RBIs during his seven-game hitting streak; Phillies 1B Ryan Howard has five hits in his last 12 at-bats (.417). Not: Brewers 1B Prince Fielder has one hit in his last 11 at-bats; Brewers SS J.J. Hardy is hitless in 12 at-bats; Phillies RF Jayson Werth has one hit in his last 14 at-bats; Phillies CF Shane Victorino is in a 3-for-17 slump.
*** For his work in raising money for ALS, Shane Victorino has won the 2009 Lou Gehrig Award, presented by the Phi Delta Theta fraternity at Columbia University. Gehrig was a member of that frat, although somehow I doubt it was anything like this.
So, here's how this newspaper-writing thing works: As a beat writer, you get access to Charlie Manuel and the players before the game. Usually, that's when you gather all or most of the information that will appear in the Phillies notebook. But before night games, it's also helpful if you can pick up a few pregame nuggets that can be included in the game story. And, for about eight innings Saturday night, it was shaping up perfectly for me.
You see, earlier in the day, I had asked Manuel about Raul Ibanez, who quietly has had a stellar start to his Phillies career. He has popped a few home runs, but we always knew he could hit. What has impressed me about Ibanez are the little things. He has played relatively well in left field. He runs the bases well (not fast, but intelligently). He doesn't seem to make many mistakes. I don't know why this is particularly surprising. Ibanez has been a good player for a while. But he also has played the past five seasons in Seattle, where the glare of the East Coast-oriented spotlight rarely shines. I guess I'm saying that I -- and judging from the e-mails I received after the Phillies signed him to a three-year, $31.5 million contract, many of you, too -- didn't realize just how good he is.
So, I asked Manuel for his early impressions of Ibanez.
"So far, for us, he's proved that he plays a steady left field, and he's definitely a good baserunner," Manuel said. "He's been taking the extra base. He tags up on balls and moves up on a base, especially when the ball is hit deep in the outfield. He gets a jump off third. You can play contact baseball with him. He's done a good job for us. From what I've seen so far, he plays the game hard, and he wants to play it right."
A few hours later, almost on cue, Ibanez laced a one-out single in the eighth inning, then went from first to third on Jayson Werth's single to center, a baserunning play that I rarely saw Pat Burrell make during the past three years. Ibanez, who also homered earlier in the game, scored on Pedro Feliz's sacrifice fly, and at the time, he was the go-ahead run.
My game story was golden. I mean, after all, Brad Lidge never blows a save, right?
Well ...
So, none of that stuff about Ibanez appeared in your Sunday News Journal. Good thing, too, otherwise my colleague Martin Frank wouldn't have had anything new to write today when Ibanez popped a walk-off, two-run homer against Padres reliever Edwin Moreno.
Anyway, check out Ibanez's numbers through 11 games with the Phillies:
Not too shabby -- and that's just the statistics you can quantify. It's the little things, like going from first to third on a single to center field, that make him a worthwhile replacement for Burrell.
*** Don't forget to weigh in on our reader poll below: Should the Phillies start a new seventh-inning tradition and play Harry Kalas' rendition of "High Hopes" during every game this season?
So, we've heard so much over the past few days about how it will be impossible to replace Harry Kalas. Well, I spoke yesterday with someone who actually had that task. Hank Greenwald was the play-by-play broadcaster for the San Francisco Giants for many years. But in 1965, he took over for Kalas as the voice of the Hawaii Islanders of the triple-A Pacific Coast League.
"I quickly realized that Harry left a pair of shoes that couldn't ever be filled," Greenwald told me by phone. "He had ingratiated himself with the community, and he was sorely missed. He was a tough act, an impossible act, to follow."
*** Programming note: On Wednesday at noon, I'll be hosting an online chat about the Phillies. So, please drop by with your questions. We're hoping to make this a weekly thing, each Wednesday at delawareonline.com. ... Also, don't forget to follow me -- and Philled In -- on Twitter.
*** READER POLL: For the past two games, the Phillies have played a video of Kalas singing his favorite ditty, "High Hopes," during the seventh-inning stretch. So, what do you think? Should "High Hopes" become the new tradition at Citizens Bank Park?
It happened quietly. There was a leadoff double, and with the Phillies' infield playing back, two runner-advancing groundouts. Just like that, the perfect closer was perfect no longer, his streak snapped at 47 consecutive regular-season saves, 54 including last year's playoffs.
But it gets worse.
After receiving a warm ovation from an appreciative sellout crowd, Lidge walked back-to-back batters, then tossed two more balls. His next pitch, a 92-mph fastball, was launched to the left-field seats by San Diego's Kevin Kouzmanoff, who had not gone deep in 45 at-bats this season.
"I tried not to think about what it would feel like when it ended," he said after the Phillies fell 8-5 to the surprising Padres, their losing streak swelling to three games. "Now that it's over, I'm proud of what I did. But this is a new season, and I need to pitch better now. I need to get myself on track and get a new streak."
*** In case you're wondering, Lidge's consecutive save streak was the third-longest all-time. Here's a look at the top regular-season save streaks.
84 -- Eric Gagne (2002-04) 54 -- Tom Gordon (1998-99) 47 -- BRAD LIDGE (2007-09) 41 -- Trevor Hoffman (1997-98) 41 -- Rod Beck (1993-95) 40 -- Dennis Eckersley (1991-92)
*** So, an emotional day that involved a ballpark memorial service for Harry Kalas ended with a dramatic loss. Full coverage in Sunday's News Journal, and more here, at Philled In, tomorrow morning.
Sorry for the dearth of posts over the past couple days, but Blogger.com has been having some, well, issues. Hopefully, the bugs have been worked out, and we can get back to normal.
Couple of things this morning:
-In six innings last night against the Padres, Cole Hamels allowed five runs, including three homers. But, believe it or not, that constituted an improvement from his 2009 debut last Friday in Denver. Hamels threw back-to-back bullpen sessions this week (he usually throws only one) and said he was happier with his arm slot. Charlie Manuel was encouraged by Hamels' velocity, which consistently reached 90 mph (he averaged 86 mph against the Rockies). Clearly, though, he still isn't quite himself. "It's just another working point towards my next start," he said. "Obviously, I don't want to have too many of these because it's not going to benefit the team at all. I really do need to just kick it in gear and be the pitcher they expect me to be because I know I'm capable of doing it."
-Before the game, I chatted with Greg Dobbs, who admits he's frustrated at not getting a chance to hit against left-handed pitching. Twice in the past four games, Charlie Manuel has burned Dobbs for righty-swinging pinch-hitter Eric Bruntlett when the opposing manager has brought in a lefty reliever. But Dobbs also understands that the odds aren't in the Phillies' favor when he faces a lefty. He's a .250 hitter in only 52 career at-bats against lefties. Against righties, meanwhile, Dobbs is a .278 career hitter in 726 at-bats. "I tried to use spring training as a proving ground, and they let me face lefties a lot and I did well off lefties in spring," Dobbs said. "In tight situations, managers are going to play the matchups because the odds go in your favor. But in light of how I handled lefties in spring training, I'd like to think I've gained some of [Manuel's] confidence, too."
-In today's News Journal, colleague Geoff Mosher brought you all the details from a stirring tribute to Harry Kalas last night. Mike Schmidt offered this quote: "Harry Kalas may have -- if you can look past Ben Franklin and William Penn -- been the greatest person ever to grace Philadelphia in the history of this city. As many lives as he affected over the time that he lived in Philadelphia and around this area, who would have had a bigger impact on the city? Who would?"
--Sitting in the press box here at the Bank, overlooking a very orderly memorial service for Harry The K. Fans are filing on to the field from the third-base stands, pausing for a few seconds at Kalas' casket behind home plate and taking a seat in the first-base field boxes. Hard to tell how many people have come through because the gates opened at 8 a.m., but one fellow reporter told me at about 11 a.m. that the turnstile count had topped 4,000. At about 1 p.m., Kalas' friends and family will pay their respects before a reception begins at about 1:30 p.m. The News Journal has team coverage here today, so please keep it locked to the Web site's main page for updates. Also, a quick reminder that you can find me -- and Philled In -- on Twitter.
Almost game time, but I wanted to post a picture of the plaque that has been posted outside the television broadcast booth, which has been renamed for Harry Kalas. Also, as expected, Harry's signature has been printed on the field, on the first-base and third-base lines, and a banner with the initials "HK" has been added to the left-field fence.
It's understandable, of course. There's a rhythm, a beat, to the baseball season. Every day for six months, players follow the same schedule: Get to the ballpark, stretch, take batting practice, watch video of the opponent, play a game. And when one day ends, another just like it is about to begin.
Their routine is every bit as repetitive as lather, rinse, repeat.
But in the 12 days since the season started, the Phillies have had three days off, one rainout and four extended pregame ceremonies. And a few hours before Monday's game in Washington, they were informed about Harry Kalas' sudden death in a broadcast booth only seven floors above the clubhouse.
Nothing about the last 12 days has been routine. And, surely, it must be taking a toll on the Phillies.
"It's a possibility, yeah," Utley said.
Last Wednesday, after the players received their World Series rings, Jamie Moyer said something interesting -- and, I thought, telling. He said, and I'm paraphrasing here, that he always wondered what it would feel like to win the World Series. But he never thought about what happens next. After reaching the pinnacle, where do you go from there? How do you move on, especially when you're constantly being reminded of your World Series championship with banner-raising ceremonies, ring presentations, an invitation to visit President Obama at the White House, even a patch on the sleeve of your uniform.
So, clearly, the Phillies already were dealing with distractions just by virtue of being the defending champs. Throw in Monday's events at Nationals Park, and they've experienced absolutely no normalcy over the past two weeks.
"We won a World Series, and I know there's still ceremonies that linger through the front part of the year," Charlie Manuel said. "And Harry passing away, that plays a part on our team because he was one of us. We've had a lot of stuff that's gone on. But I'd like to see us get that behind us and start playing baseball. We need to get on with our season. Once we get that stuff behind us and get settled in, we'll be OK."
I think Manuel is right. As I wrote in this space yesterday, the Phillies coped with personal tragedy in the postseason last year. On the same day during the NLCS, Manuel's mom and Shane Victorino's grandmother died. If anything, I thought it brought the Phillies even closer together. They flew across the country to L.A., and after losing Game 3, they knocked out the Dodgers by winning Games 4 and 5.
Ultimately, I think they'll get through this, too. It just may take some more time.
*** Within the notebook, we examine Jimmy Rollins' slump, which has swelled to 3-for-33. Also, it was a nice 2009 major-league debut for Lou Marson, who singled, doubled and threw out a runner at second base.
*** On tap for tonight: Normalcy won't come yet. The Phillies have scheduled several tributes to Kalas before and during the series-opener against the Padres. On the field, the story will revolve around Cole Hamels. Will he be any better than last Friday in Denver? He better be.
"I'm expecting progression," pitching coach Rich Dubee said. "His delivery is getting there. But, again, he needs reps."
*** PADRES (7-3) at PHILLIES (4-4) Tonight, 7:05: RHP Chris Young (2-0, 1.38) vs. LHP Cole Hamels (0-1, 17.18) Tomorrow, 7:05: RHP Shawn Hill (1-0, 3.60) vs. RHP Brett Myers (1-1, 5.54) Sunday, 1:35: RHP Walter Silva (0-0, 6.52) vs. RHP Chan Ho Park (0-0, 10.38) Monday, 7:05: RHP Kevin Correia (0-0, 4.50) vs. LHP Jamie Moyer (1-1, 6.55) Hot: Padres 1B Adrian Gonzalez has hit safely in eight of his last nine games (9-for-30, three homers, eight RBIs); Padres OF Chase Headley snapped an 0-for-7 slump by going 4-for-4 last night against the Mets; Phillies RF Jayson Werth is 9-for-21 (.429) with five RBIs in his last five games; Phillies 3B Pedro Feliz has six hits in his last 16 at-bats (.375). Not: Padres RF Brian Giles is in a 1-for-17 slump; Padres 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff has four hits in his last 23 at-bats (.174); Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins has three hits in his last 33 at-bats; Phillies C Chris Coste is in a 1-for-13 funk.
WASHINGTON -- From the Phillies, more details on Saturday's tribute to Harry Kalas:
--Beginning at 8 a.m., on a first-come, first-served basis, fans will have the opportunity to pay their respects on the field as they pass by Harry’s casket which will be located behind home plate. To accommodate as many fans as possible, the starting time of the memorial tribute program has been moved back to 1:30 p.m. Fans will pass by the casket until approximately 12:45 p.m., at which time all persons in attendance will be directed to seats. Beginning at approximately 1 p.m., current and former players -- some of whom are traveling great distances to be here -- broadcasters, front-office employees, and friends and family members will pay their final respects before the on-field tribute begins at 1:30 p.m.
--Fans will be directed to enter Citizens Bank Park through the Third Base Gate at Pattison Avenue and Citizens Bank Way and will be asked to leave the ballpark through the First Base Gate. Although fans are not being asked to bring flowers or other mementos, if they choose to do so such items should be left in the area of the Mike Schmidt statue prior to entry at the Third Base Gate.
--Parking will be free. Fans are encouraged to park in the lots on the west side of the ballpark, located on the site of the former Veterans Stadium. Limited concession stands will be open.
--All fans in attendance will receive a commemorative program, an 8-by-10 photograph of Harry and a poem written by him in 2002 as a fan tribute.
*** Also, former Phillies center fielder Doug Glanville offers his thought on "HK" in yesterday's New York Times.
WASHINGTON -- Good morning, all. And let me tell you just how good a morning it is: At last, after nearly three days of clouds and rain, the sun is shining here in DC, one of my all-time favorite cities. And that, of course, means one thing: There will be baseball tonight, finally, at Nationals Park.
It's been three days since Harry passed away, and while there aren't enough words to describe his loss, if I know him (and I got to know him a little bit over the past 3-1/2 years), he'd probably say, "Enough already!" There are plenty of games left to be played in 2009, and at some point, maybe tonight, we all have to get back to the business of playing/watching/covering them. So, at the risk of making an awkward transition back to baseball, here goes:
--Talked yesterday to Carlos Ruiz, who rejoined the team after having an MRI Monday in Philly. The MRI confirmed Ruiz has a strained right oblique (rib cage) muscle. He's not eligible to come off the DL until April 26, and it wouldn't surprise me if he takes longer than that. Obliques are tricky injuries. If you rush back, they don't heal properly. And although Ruiz is already riding the exercise bike, he said it still hurts occasionally when he laughs. So, clearly, he's not close to being ready to play yet.
--Joe Blanton on the mound tonight, which means Cole Hamels will be pushed back to tomorrow. If the rainout will affect anyone, it may be Hamels. He's already behind schedule because he missed a week in spring training with the infamous elbow tightness. The Phillies would like to get him out there as soon as possible, and now, it'll be a full week since his last start, also known as the Denver Debacle. "I don't know if the rest, the extra days, are good for him or not," Charlie Manuel said. "It won't hurt him, but you get him out there and keep him regular for two or three turns, that sounds to me like what he needs to come around."
--Had there been a game here last night, Lou Marson would've made his first start of the season (and his second career start) behind the plate. I fully expect him to be back there tonight, and it'll be interesting to see how quickly/slowly he adapts to calling a game at the major-league level. Catching in the majors carries a lot more responsibility than in the minors, where managers and pitching coaches often assist in the pitch-calling process.
--Finally, I did a radio interview last night with Mike Gill of ESPN-1450, and Mike asked a question that many of you have posed in e-mails to me over the past few days: How are the Phillies coping with Harry The K's death, and will it affect them on the field? The short answer is they're dealing with it in their own way. Manuel yesterday spoke wistfully about Harry. He recalled how he'd purposely clear his schedule to watch "Inside The NFL" on HBO just to listen to Harry's voice. He said Harry was "bigger than the Phanatic." Others in the clubhouse have been less vocal about it, but consecutive days off have allowed everyone to remember Harry in their own way.
That said, once the games resume, I'd be surprised if the Phillies are unable to regain their focus. Remember: This is a team that dealt with two deaths (Manuel's mother and Shane Victorino's grandmother) during the NLCS in October. By all accounts, it was a solemn cross-country flight after Game 2. But the Phillies played well in Los Angeles, winning Games 4 and 5 to eliminate the Dodgers and advance to the World Series. There has been little evidence to suggest that they won't respond equally well this time around.
WASHINGTON -- A look at the "HK" patch on the Phillies' uniforms. ... No game tonight. No makeup date announced yet, but there will be only one game here tomorrow. The starting pitchers for today will pitch tomorrow -- RHP Joe Blanton vs. RHP Shairon Martis.
Fans are urged to arrive early for Friday night's game at Citizens Bank Park. It will be the first home game since Hall of Fame broadcaster Harry Kalas' death. The Phillies will honor their legendary voice prior to the game with several tributes:
--The television booth in which Harry broadcast since Citizens Bank Park opened in 2004 will be named the Harry Kalas Broadcast Booth, "That ball's outta here!" A plaque will be hung to officially name the booth. The neighboring radio booth is named the Richie ("Whitey") Ashburn Broadcast Booth, "This game's easy, Harry."
--The ceremonial first ball will be thrown by Harry's three sons, Todd, Brad and Kane. Prior to the national anthem, to be sung by Kane Kalas, there will be a moment of silence.
--All fans will receive an 8-by-10 color photograph of Harry.
--Harry's signature will be displayed on the field during the seven-game homestand beginning on Friday.
--Also for the seven games, a black drape will appear in front of the Phillies radio and TV booths and the Phillies flag in Ashburn Alley will be hung at half-mast.
--A video of Harry's career will be aired on PhanaVision.
--During the seventh-inning stretch, a video of Harry singing "High Hopes" will be shown on PhanaVision. Fans will be encouraged to join in.
--During the first half-inning of the game televised by Comcast Network Philadelphia (formerly CN8), there will be no announcer commentary.
--Throughout the remainder of the season, a billboard honoring Harry will be displayed on the outfield wall.
--As previously announced, an "HK" patch will be worn on Phillies uniforms this season.
--Throughout the 2009 season, following every Phillies home run, Harry's legendary "Outta Here!" home run call will be played over the PA system as the Liberty Bell lights up.
Bud Selig: "Major League Baseball has lost one of the great voices of our generation. Baseball announcers have a special bond with their audience, and Harry represented the best of baseball not only to the fans of the Phillies, but to fans everywhere."
Bill Giles: "Harry was a special friend of mine and my family for 44 years. Baseball broadcasters become an integral part of baseball fans' families. They are in the homes of fans every day for the entire season. No one will ever be able to match the joy Harry and Richie Ashburn brought to our fans for all those years. He had a great voice, understood and loved the game, and loved people. That's why I brought him here in 1971. My family and I and all of our fans will always have a place in our hearts for Harry."
David Montgomery: "There are no words to express the sadness that the entire Phillies organization is feeling with the news about Harry's passing. Harry was the voice of the Phillies, but he was also our heart and soul. He loved our game and called it like none other. The entire baseball world has suffered a great loss today."
Mike Schmidt: "I was saddened today to hear of the sudden passing of my longtime close friend Harry Kalas. I know I can speak for the Phillies when I say Harry Kalas was loved by everyone. All of us could relate to our daily confrontations with his smile, his charm, and his warmth. He spread his passion for people, and baseball, all over the country for almost 50 years. His voice will resonate in my mind the rest of my life. I will never be called 'Michael Jack' again without seeing his smile. I and my wife Donna pray for the entire Kalas family that they might find peace during this trying time."
John Kruk: "It's devastating. Harry Kalas IS the Phillies. The fans lost a friend and we [those who were fortunate enough to be able to spend time with him] lost more than that, we lost a family member."
Mitch Williams: "It was an honor to have Harry call ANY play I ever made. The fact that he called me Mitchy-poo on air ... I didn't want any one to know about that nickname, but somehow with Harry it was OK. He is probably one of two announcers that you didn't have to see to know who it was. He was the best!"
Danny Ozark: "I first got to know Harry when I was managing Spokane in the Pacific Coast League. He had started his career in Hawaii in the same league. He loved the game of baseball back then. When I got to Philadelphia, I learned first-hand how much he loved the Phillies and their fans. He was a great human being with a great voice. He will be sorely missed by millions of fans."
Greg Luzinski: "We came up together. In my mind he WAS the Philadelphia Phillies. I've never heard a voice like his and I never will again. He was not only a great person, but a great friend."
Bob Boone: "He was one of the all-time great voices, and to lose him like this is shocking. He has been such a class person, and has so many friends around baseball -- he just lived it."
Greg Gross: "I spent my whole baseball life listening to Harry. All the highlights. He had such a distinctive voice. He was a fan favorite and a favorite of all the players, too. He will be missed."
Andy Musser: "Harry was as good a colleague as any sportscaster could hope to have. He was easy to get along with and I certainly enjoyed my 26 years sharing the booth with Harry. When I joined the Phillies in 1976 I had been a sportscaster in Philadelphia doing Eagles and 76ers games, and although I had been a baseball fan since my youth, I had never really broadcast the game. Harry showed me the ropes like only he could. I am more than grateful and will miss him every day I am fortunate enough to remain on this earth."
Richard Ashburn on behalf of the Ashburn family: "We loved Harry in so many ways. He was like a father to me and my brother John. He was my father's best friend in life. My four sisters loved him dearly. I can honestly say he was a true friend to us, the Phillies and to the entire Delaware Valley. He will be missed but never forgotten. He kept my dad's spirit busy, I can tell you that. I want everyone to know how much time and energy he gave to the Richie Ashburn Baseball Foundation. His love for my father was endless. He made sure we got what was needed to make the foundation a success, and for that we will always be in debt to Harry. He was a gracious and kind man. He cared for all the people that were close to him and it showed. The Phillies have lost the greatest broadcaster of all time, but we will have some of the most spectacular memories to replay for years to come. Harry, we love you and all of Philadelphia loves you and always will."
Ron Reed: "He was one of my favorite people of all-time. We both loved to go to the dog track during spring training. Every day after the workout or game, we would sit by the pool and go over the track form for that night. If you didn't love Harry, something was wrong with you."
Glenn Wilson: "The greatest man I ever met, Harry Kalas. Kim and I named our youngest son after Harry Andrew Kalas Wilson. What a pleasure to have been able to be around him for four years."
Darren Daulton: "The Phillies organization took pride in making sure everyone felt like they were part of a family. All of the years I spent with Harry seemed to take it a step further. Harry was considered a teammate. Relationships and circumstances were certainly different back in the day. We ate together, drank together, went on vacations together. There is a bond and level of respect that will remain always. As our loved ones pass on, it truly amazes me the impact they have made on so many lives. Harry obviously impacted us on a global scale. I have only been to Cooperstown once in my life -- the day Harry was inducted."
Thanks to The 700 Level for posting audio of Scott Franzke's and Larry Andersen's sign-on to yesterday's game:
OK, your turn. Share your memories of Harry The K. Please leave a comment below, or if you prefer, e-mail me at slauber@delawareonline.com.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
