BY SCOTT LAUBERIf you're following Philled In on Twitter, you already know a lot of this. If not, a couple of notes before today's Phillies-Orioles series finale:
1. Ryan Howard was re-admitted to the hospital after last night's game. According to a team spokesman, he has been released, but it's unclear if he will be in uniform today. The Phillies' clubhouse closed to the media about give minutes ago (12:35 p.m.), and there still was no sign of the big first baseman. Howard checked into the hospital at 3:30 a.m. Saturday with flu-like symptoms and a fever of 103.9. He checked out at about 10:30 a.m., came to the ballpark, and although he wasn't in the starting lineup, he belted a pinch-hit, three-run homer in the seventh inning to give the Phillies a 5-3 lead in their 6-5 loss. As I wrote in today's News Journal, Howard had done something like this before. On May 14, 2006, he spent a night in a Cincinnati hospital with food poisoning, then came off the bench to hit two home runs, including the game-winner in the 12th inning, against the Reds.
2. Talked to Brad Lidge for a few minutes this morning. He'll fly to Tampa with the Phillies and pitch Tuesday night for Class A Clearwater at Tampa. If that goes well, it's possible he'll be activated Wednesday or Thursday. It's also possible Lidge could make one more rehab start for Clearwater on Thursday before being activated before Friday night's series-opener in Toronto. Lidge said he felt absolutely no pain in his right knee during last night's appearance at Class AA Reading. The guess here is, barring any setbacks Tuesday, he'll be activated before the Phillies leave Tampa. He's eligible to come off the disabled list Tuesday.
3. In the Sunday MLB Notes in today's News Journal, I wrote about what the Phillies miss most by not having Brett Myers: They miss his ability to log innings. We'll discuss this in greater detail in a later post, but clearly, the Phillies need what Charlie Manuel calls "a horse," a pitcher who can throw at least seven innings per start and give the bullpen a break. Jason Marquis likely will be available, and in today's Boston Globe, baseball writer Nick Cafardo mentions that the Reds are dangling Bronson Arroyo, who is 8-5 with a 5.16 ERA but has averaged 6.36 innings in his 14 starts. Arroyo is making $9.5 million this year and will make $11 million in 2010. He has an $11 million club option (or a $2 million buyout) for 2011. So, what do you think? Does Arroyo appeal to you?
Today's lineup vs. Orioles RHP Jeremy Guthrie (4-7, 5.42):
SS Jimmy Rollins (.220/6/27)
CF Shane Victorino (.300/5/32)
2B Chase Utley (.300/15/45)
LF Matt Stairs (.279/3/11)
RF Jayson Werth (.260/12/38)
1B Greg Dobbs (.210/3/8)
3B Pedro Feliz (.297/3/35)
C Carlos Ruiz (.267/3/13)
LHP Cole Hamels (4-2, 4.48)
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