June 23 -- MORE ON HOWARD, CONDREY/LIDGE, IBANEZ

BY SCOTT LAUBER

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Lots going on here today, so let's get right to it:

1. As we Twittered a few hours ago, Ryan Howard has rejoined the Phillies and will be in the lineup tonight. Initially, he was slated to play first base, but Charlie Manuel opted to use him as the designated hitter and put Chris Coste at first. Howard said his commercial flight arrived at about 12:30 p.m. (about two hours after mine). He said doctors put him at ease Saturday when they said he didn't have the flu (or swine flu). Instead, he was diagnosed with acute sinusitis. He's still taking antibiotics, but he says he's feeling about 75 percent better than he was over the weekend, when he felt pretty awful. Howard said he has felt that sick only two other times: In spring training 2006, when he had the flu, and in May 2006, when he was stricken with food poisoning in Cincinnati.

2. Clay Condrey said his oblique strain began two weeks ago as lower back pain. It didn't bother him as much last Tuesday night against the Blue Jays as it did two days later. He didn't pitch at all last weekend, and the Phillies figured it was best to put him on the disabled list to avoid the chance that he could make it worse.

3. More and more, it's sounding like Brad Lidge will be activated tomorrow if everything goes well in his eighth-inning appearance tonight for Class A Clearwater. "I think the quickest we can get Lidge back and get him on the mound rolling, that's what I want us to do," Manuel said. "Lidge has got talent. He has a good slider, he has a tremendous fastball, and he's got talent enough to strike you out. The fact of who he is and everything and how we're going to use him, he plays a very critical part in our bullpen. Do we want the Lidge of last year? Of course. But at the same time, I've never looked for Lidge to be perfect like he was. Somewhere along the line, someone's going to score a run off him. When Lidge comes back, I just want him to pitch good and be healthy, and I think his talent will take care of itself."

4. Caught up with Raul Ibanez for a few minutes. In addition to taking early batting practice (he'll take BP with the rest of the team, too), Ibanez did some jogging to test his strained groin. The result: "It's gotten way better," he said. "It's definitely way better than it was [Sunday]. I couldn't do anything I did today." Ibanez doesn't have a rehab schedule yet, but he said he's still optimistic that he'll be able to return from the disabled list on (or close to) July 3.

5. Tonight's lineup against Rays LHP David Price:
SS Jimmy Rollins (.217/6/27)
CF Shane Victorino (.304/5/32)
2B Chase Utley (.297/15/45)
DH Ryan Howard (.257/20/54)
RF Jayson Werth (.256/12/38)
3B Pedro Feliz (.294/3/35)
LF John Mayberry Jr. (.300/2/4)
1B Chris Coste (.244/2/7)
C Carlos Ruiz (.260/3/13)

Consider yourself caught up. Check back later for an update on Lidge's outing.