June 23 -- IS "THE PEN" CURSED?

BY SCOTT LAUBER

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- If you're following Philled In on Twitter, you already know this, but Clay Condrey officially has been placed on the disabled list with a left oblique strain. And if you're counting, that's three Phillies relievers who have gone on the DL (Brad Lidge and Scott Eyre are the others) during the same month that "The Pen," a reality TV show about the Phillies' bullpen, premiered on MLB Network.

So, I ask this: Is "The Pen" cursed?

Your thoughts?

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Condrey will be replaced by left-hander Sergio Escalona, who is back from the minors again.

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Lidge, meanwhile, is scheduled to pitch the eighth inning tonight for Class A Clearwater at nearby Tampa. If all goes well, Lidge is going to lobby to be activated from the disabled list tomorrow. It's possible, perhaps even likely, though, that the Phillies will want him to make one more minor-league appearance here Thursday before being activated for the weekend series at Toronto.

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Raul Ibanez is here, and he took batting practice a few minutes ago. No sign of Ryan Howard yet, though. In about 10 minutes, when the Phillies' clubhouse opens to the media, we'll get an update on Ibanez's strained left groin and Howard's travel plans.

Stay tuned to Philled In and Twitter for updates throughout the afternoon.