Oct. 15 -- POSITION BY POSITION: CENTER FIELD

So, while I watch the Rockies continue their march toward the World Series -- seriously, are they ever going to lose again? -- let's begin our position-by-position look at the Phillies. I'll give y'all time to fire away with comments for a few days before moving on to our next position.

Anyway, my Sunday notes in the 50-center examines the diminishing odds that the Rockies will trade Garrett Atkins and the possibility of Curt Schilling returning to the Phils. But, on the Blog, we'll save third base and the starting rotation for another day.

I want to start this position-by-position series in center field, a spot where the popular incumbent for the past two seasons may have taken his final Phillies curtain call.

With that, let's get right to it:

AARON ROWAND
Opening-day age: 30
Contract: Eligible for free agency; $4.35 million in 2007
2007 stats: 161 G/612 AB; .309 average/.374 on-base pct./.515 slugging pct.; career-highs with 45 doubles, 27 homers, 89 RBIs; 47 walks, 119 strikeouts.
Career stats: 849 G/2,664 AB; .286 average/.343 OBP/.462 SLG; 166 doubles, 93 homers, 347 RBIs; 161 walks, 505 strikeouts.

SHANE VICTORINO
Opening-day age: 27
Contract: Not arbitration-eligible until after 2008 season; $410,000 in 2007
2007 stats: 131 G/456 AB; .281 average/.347 OBP/.423 SLG; 23 doubles, 3 triples, 12 homers, 46 RBIs, 37 steals; 37 walks, 62 strikeouts.
Career stats: 341 G/961 AB; .274 average/.336 OBP/.405 SLG; 44 doubles, 11 triples, 20 homers, 104 RBIs, 48 steals; 68 walks, 136 strikeouts.

MICHAEL BOURN
Opening-day age: 25
Contract: Not arbitration-eligible; major-league minimum $380,000 in 2007
2007 stats: 105 G/119 AB; .277 average/.348 OBP/.378 SLG; 29 runs, 3 doubles, 3 triples, 1 homer, 6 RBIs, 18 steals; 13 walks, 21 strikeouts.
Career stats: 122 G/127 AB; .268 average/.340 OBP/.362 SLG; 31 runs, 3 doubles, 3 triples, 1 homer, 6 RBIs, 19 steals; 14 walks, 24 strikeouts.

In the minors:
GREG GOLSON figures to open the season at double-A Reading, where he finished 2007. He batted .285 with 27 doubles, 12 homers, 52 RBIs and 25 steals in 99 games with single-A Clearwater, then batted .242 with 5 doubles, 3 homers, 16 RBIs and 5 steals in 37 games at Reading.

Available free agents:
MIKE CAMERON: Made $7 million to go .242 with 21 HR and 78 RBI in 151 G for San Diego
TORII HUNTER: Made $12 million to go .287 with 28 HR and 107 RBI in 160 G for Minnesota
ANDRUW JONES: Made $13.5 million to go .222 with 26 HR and 94 RBI in 154 G for Atlanta
COREY PATTERSON: Made $4.3 million to go .269 with 8 HR and 45 RBI in 132 G for Baltimore

To me, it seems the Phillies have a few options. a) re-sign Rowand, their top right-handed hitter; b) let Rowand walk and go with a combination of Victorino, Bourn and Jayson Werth in center and right, a possibility Pat Gillick said last week "would be a stretch"; c) let Rowand walk, sign another free agent, let Victorino and Werth split time in right and keep Bourn as a reserve outfielder; d) re-sign Rowand, attempt to deal Pat Burrell (he'd have to waive his full no-trade clause) and use Werth in left field and Victorino in right.

Contrary to reports that surfaced last week in other places, Rowand isn't likely to seek a contract in excess of four years and $10-12 million per year. That would be more than Chase Utley will make next season. It also would be a similar deal to the one the Phils gave Jim Thome before the 2003 season. Rowand knows he won't get that much moolah -- from anybody. Statistically, he and Eric Byrnes are nearly the same player. Byrnes got a three-year, $30 million extension from Arizona during the season. If the Phils guarantee Rowand four years, the average annual value may be $10 mill or less. If they guarantee three years, they may have to pay $11-12 million per year.

You could argue that Rowand is worth it. Yes, he had a career year in 2007. But he's their most vocal leader, and, at age 30, he may be entering his prime. Also, what are the Phillies' internal options? Victorino was a center fielder in the minors, but Charlie Manuel loves his arm in right. And there are questions about Victorino's durability. He's a smallish guy (5-foot-9, 180 pounds), and he hasn't proven he can hold up through a full season.

Bourn hasn't proven much of anything except that he can steal bases and catch the ball. He was used primarily as a pinch-runner and late-game defensive replacement. The Phils have no idea if he can hit well enough to play every day, and they won't know until he does it.

So, as Phillies chairman Bill Giles presents the NL championship trophy to the Rockies (could he sound more excited, by the way?), I'll leave it to you. How should the Phils address center field?

Oct. 13 -- THEY'RE BACK

As expected, the Phils finalized one-year contract extensions today with each member of Charlie Manuel's coaching staff, including bench coach Jimy Williams, who has been mentioned in conjunction with the Royals' managerial opening. That means Williams, pitching coach Rich Dubee, hitting coach Milt Thompson, first-base coach Davey Lopes, third-base coach Steve Smith, bullpen coach Ramon Henderson and catching instructor Mick Billmeyer all have jobs next season.

Not sure what you thought, but I was impressed with Lopes (pictured). In his first season with the Phils, his influence was obvious. The Phillies set a major-league record for the best stolen-base success rate (87.9 percent), and the outfielders led the NL with 39 assists.

Your take on the staff's return?

Oct. 12 -- MINOR MATTERS

Let's take a momentary break from the hot-stove talk (I guarantee it'll only be momentary) to address a few Phillies minor-league issues.

As I wrote in the 50-center the other day, Pat Gillick said the Phils don't have any prospects, except maybe catcher Jason Jaramillo, who will be ready for the majors by opening day. There are a few pitchers -- Carlos Carrasco, Drew Carpenter, Josh Outman, Joe Savery (pictured), J.A. Happ, Joe Bisenius -- who may be in line to contribute later in 2008 or in 2009. With that in mind, I turn your attention to the Arizona Fall League. Six Phillies prospects (Outman, Savery, Bisenius, pitcher Pat Overholt, third baseman Mike Costanzo and center fielder Greg Golson) are playing for the Peoria Saguaros, who aren't to be confused with the Peoria Javelinas. Games just began this week, and you can get some coverage of the league here. I'll try to keep you updated throughout the next six weeks.

Also, this tidbit got lost amid the Phillies' late-September surge to the playoffs. C.J. Henry, the top "prospect" the Phils got from the Yankees in the Bobby Abreu trade, was released after batting .184 with nine homers and 38 RBIs in 102 games for single-A Lakewood. According to this article in the Lawrence (Kan.) Journal-World, Henry is considering ditching baseball to play college basketball at Kansas. Kind of makes you wonder what the Phils ever saw in him, doesn't it?

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The Phils decision yesterday to not exercise Rod Barajas' $5 million option brings to mind this play in a mistake-filled ninth inning May 23 in Florida, when I think Barajas sealed his fate with the Phils. I'll never forget his quote after the Phillies beat the Marlins: "The fact that we won, we can look back and laugh at some of these plays."

Yeah, well, Brett Myers probably didn't find it very funny. Barajas' inability to block the plate allowed Hanley Ramirez to score and prolonged the inning for Myers to injure his right shoulder. He missed the next nine weeks.

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The Rockies won again last night (will they ever lose?). But did anybody watch? I thought it was a pretty good game, actually. Can't wait to see Ubaldo Jimenez tonight. He looked great against the Phils last Saturday night in Denver. His three-pitch strikeout of Aaron Rowand (on a 73-mph curveball, a 97-mph fastball and an 81-mph slider) was nasty.

Oct. 11 -- NUNEZ, BARAJAS GONE

Don't want to distract you from the previous post. Lots to talk about there. But I thought I'd pass this along: the Phils have elected not to pick up their $5 million option on Rod Barajas or their $2.5 million option on Abraham Nunez. Barajas will get a $500,000 buyout, while Nunez will get $300,000 to go away.

Everyone knew Barajas wouldn't be back. He batted .230, lost his starting job to Carlos Ruiz, and by the end of the season, was the fourth-string catcher behind Ruiz, Chris Coste and Pete Laforest. But I thought the Phils might retain Nunez, who didn't factor into their plans at third base but was their backup shortstop and second baseman. Nunez batted .234 with only 16 RBIs in 252 at-bats this season after batting .211 with two homers and 32 RBIs in 322 at-bats in 2006.

Also, the Phils designated reliever Kane Davis for assignment rather than offering him arbitration.

Oct. 11 -- DEAL OR NO DEAL?

So, about a half hour after Charlie Manuel's news conference concluded yesterday at the Bank, I was talking with David Montgomery about the Phillies' payroll. At no point did he sound like an owner who was ready to sell his share of the team. In fact, he sounded very much invested in retaining his stake in the Phillies in 2008 -- and beyond.

Now, I just finished my second season covering the Phillies, and at various times, I've heard rumblings about a potential sale. I've never uncovered any truth to those rumblings. So, I tend to file the most recent one under the "rumor" category. This ownership group bought the team in 1981 for $30 million. Forbes recently estimated the Phillies' value at $457 million. With attendance climbing above 3 million, TV ratings at an all-time high and the team making the playoffs for the first time in 14 years, it seems to me the franchise value will only increase in the coming years. Not sure why they'd sell now.

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It does, however, sound like the Phillies are willing to increase payroll. On opening day, they were spending $95 million on player salaries (including Jim Thome). By the end of the season, after acquiring Kyle Lohse, Tadahito Iguchi, J.C. Romero, Jose Mesa and others, Montgomery estimated the cost had risen to approximately $103 million. I asked him, point-blank, if he thought the payroll would be that high on opening-day 2008, and he said, "In that ballpark, or higher."

OK, good news, right? Well, only if Pat Gillick can identify enough quality players to justify spending the extra cash. And, that won't be easy.

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In the 50-center Wednesday, we posed the top five questions facing the Phillies. Yesterday, Gillick offered up a few answers, and a few other outtakes that didn't make the paper:

Pitching for help: "If you get pitching, it'll be more likely through a trade as opposed to free agency. That would mean moving someone off this roster at the major-league level." Gillick described the market as "dangerous." What he meant was that a lot of middling pitchers will get massive contracts. Do you want to spend $24.5 million over three years for another Adam Eaton? Gillick doesn't want to make that mistake again. "We got a dangerous one last year," he said, referring to Eaton. Gillick said the Phils won't consider bringing back Freddy Garcia or Jon Lieber. You probably knew that, but it was nice to hear Gillick say it.

Shelling out for Curt Schilling: "The guy has changed his style. He looks like he's been more of a finesse guy instead of a power guy. He's got a feel for pitching. If you can do that, you can prolong your career for a year or two." The other day, I posted a list of free-agent pitchers. Not many impressive names, are there? That's why I think Gillick will trade for a pitcher rather than signing one. Of course, he could also throw a two-year deal at someone like Schilling. Gillick prefers short-term deals.

Case closed?: "[Brett Myers] enjoys being in the bullpen, and Charlie and our staff feel that's the place for him. In sports, I don't know if you can say anything is etched in stone. Brett will do what's best for the team." Translation: If the Phillies can find a reliever, Myers may move back to the rotation. If they get a starter, he'll stay put.

Front and center: "[Aaron Rowand] does a lot of positive things for us – in the clubhouse, on the field. He likes to play, loves to win. Those type of guys bring a lot to the club. He's certainly somebody we'll strongly consider."

Jayson Werth, Shane Victorino and Michael Bourn sharing center and right field if Rowand departs: "I think that would be a stretch." Just a thought here: If the Phillies re-sign Rowand (for something like three years and $33 million), maybe they'd flip Victorino (or maybe even Pat Burrell?) for a pitcher.

Who's on third?: "We need to get better at third base." Gillick indicated it was 50-50 that they'd upgrade via free agency (Mike Lowell) or a trade (Garrett Atkins).

Forget about A-Rod: "He'd probably rule us out, too."

Catch 22: "We're comfortable with [Chris] Coste. We didn't feel comfortable [last winter] catching Coster if [Carlos] Ruiz got hurt, so we needed somebody to back Ruiz up, and [Rod] Barajas was a veteran guy. We were looking at Rod catching 90 games and Carlos catching 70, and working [Ruiz] in full-time in 2008. Now, we're in a different situation. [Prospect Jason] Jaramillo could come up if something happened to Ruiz or Coste."

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Manuel says he wants to lose 20 to 30 pounds before next season. My humble suggestion for a training regimen:

Oct. 10 -- MORE ON MANUEL

So, I'm always writing in the 50-center and here on The Blog that Charlie Manuel is great at keeping the Phillies loose and relaxed, especially in tense situations. There was a great example of that last Saturday in Denver:

About three hours before Game 3, Manuel and Jimmy Rollins walked into their pre-game news conference and performed comedy. It started when Rollins was asked about the now-famous tarp incident in July, when the Phils lent their hands to the Coors Field grounds crew, some of whom were trapped under a runaway tarp during a major storm.

"Tarp duty is off this time," Rollins said with a smile.

"We're [down] 0-2," Manuel said. "We win tonight, we're 1-2. If there's any kind of tarp duty, hell no! Let [Rockies general manager] Dan O'Dowd get his own crew."

"Where we you at for all that, Chuck?" Rollins asked.

"I was in the dugout," Manuel said. "Supervising."

"As usual," Rollins said, smiling again.

Watching all of this, I almost forgot the Phillies were facing elimination. Manuel and Rollins couldn't have appeared more calm. Anyway, point is, Manuel was rewarded for his steady hand last night with a two-year contract extension. Got to run to the Bank for a 10 a.m. news conference, so I'll have more on this later.

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In today's 50-center, we examine the top-five questions facing the Phils now that Manuel's situation is resolved.

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Mentioned I was a guest of Harry Mayes and Jamie Yannacone (the 700 Level Fanatics) yesterday on Sports Radio 950. You can download the podcast here.

Oct. 9 -- MANUEL SIGNS EXTENSION

Just posted this on delawareonline.com ...

Charlie Manuel will manage the Phillies again next season.

And beyond.

After meeting with management today, Manuel signed a two-year extension with a club option for 2010, The News Journal has learned. Manuel, 63, managed the Phillies to an 89-73 record and the NL East crown this season despite a 4-11 start, a rash of injuries and a pitching staff that posted a 4.73 ERA.

An announcement is expected at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Citizens Bank Park.

"I am very happy to be back for another two years," Manuel said in a statement. "I'm proud of what the team accomplished this year and I'm looking forward to defending our division title and reaching our goal of winning a World Series for Philadelphia."

Manuel was seeking a multi-year contract. The Phillies were willing to give it to him even though general manager Pat Gillick is entering the final year of his contract and likely will retire after the 2008 season.

"We love what Charlie brings to the ballpark every day, which is an up-beat, positive attitude that rubs off on the players," Gillick said. "He helped lead our club back to the playoffs and he and his coaching staff did a great job, especially with the injury issues they faced throughout the season with a number of key players."

Manuel has guided the Phillies to a 262-224 (.539) record in three seasons. In September, he became the fastest Phillies manager to 250 wins since Pat Moran managed the club from 1915 through 1918.

Oct. 9 -- PLANNING AHEAD

In the executive offices at Citizens Bank Park today, the Phillies have begun their annual round of organizational meetings. Pat Gillick is huddling with his inner circle (Ruben Amaro Jr., Mike Arbuckle, Dallas Green, Charley Kerfeld and other people you rarely hear about) to lay the foundation for 2008.

First on their agenda is resolving Charlie Manuel's contract situation. Manuel and his agent Pat Rooney (who also represents Jim Thome) are scheduled to meet with Gillick today. It's clear the Phillies want Manuel back next year. They told him as much during the final week of the season. What's not clear is whether they're willing to give him or his coaches a multi-year contract. Gillick plans to retire when his contract expires after 2008, so he may not want to saddle the next GM with a manager he didn't hire.

But I think Manuel will take whatever the Phillies offer, and here's why: Last week, Ed Wade took the interim tag off manager Cecil Cooper, so if managing the Astros was ever a consideration for Manuel, it isn't anymore. I don't think he's going to have many offers, even though he did a wonderful job with the Phillies this season. A few weeks ago in Washington, Manuel, 63, told me he has no interest in retiring. And I think he knows the nucleus is in place for the Phillies to be good for a while. So, as much as he doesn't want to work on another one-year contract, ultimately, I think he will.

On the coaching staff, I think Davey Lopes, Jimy Williams, Milt Thompson, Ramon Henderson and Mick Billmeyer will be back, assuming they want to come back. Not sure about Rich Dubee or Steve Smith.

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Before we totally look ahead, we took one last look back in the 50-center today with The News Journal's annual end-of-season grades. Do you agree with the professor (me)?

Also, Kevin Noonan writes that Manuel shouldn't manage the Phillies next year. Looks like Kevin and I will have to agree to disagree.

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In tomorrow's 50-center, we'll take a look at the top five or 10 questions facing the Phillies in the offseason. I was on the radio yesterday with ESPN 920's Dan Schwartzman and today with Harry Mayes and Jamie Yannacone (the 700 Level Fanatics) over at Sports Radio 950, and I talked about how the Phillies won't have as much money to spend as everyone thinks. Yes, Freddy Garcia ($10 million) and Jon Lieber ($7.5 million) are off the books. But Ryan Howard will get a big raise through salary arbitration (probably something along the lines of $6 million or $7 million from his 2007 earnings of $900,000).

We don't want to scoop ourselves, but to whet your appetite before tomorrow's paper hits the shelves, here's a breakdown of the Phillies' budget. Off the top, they have $58.5 million committed to eight players: Pat Burrell ($14 million), Brett Myers ($8.5 million), Adam Eaton ($7.635 million), Chase Utley ($7.5 million), Jimmy Rollins ($7 million), Tom Gordon ($5.5 million), Jamie Moyer ($5.5 million), Wes Helms ($2.15 million). They still owe $5.5 million to Jim Thome, plus they have a $2.5 million option on Abraham Nunez and a $5 million option that they'll almost certainly decline on Rod Barajas. Howard, Geoff Geary, Ryan Madson, Jayson Werth and Kane Davis will get raises through salary arbitration, while the non-arbitration eligibles (Cole Hamels, Greg Dobbs, Shane Victorino, Kyle Kendrick, Michael Bourn and Chris Coste) will get smaller raises.

When it's all said and done, the Phillies will have about $75 million or so committed to those players. If the payroll remains at $95 million, they'll have $20 million left over to re-sign Aaron Rowand and J.C. Romero, upgrade the pitching staff (Kyle Lohse is a free agent) and fill their other holes, namely third base (Mike Lowell is someone to keep a close eye on). That's not really a lot of money.

How would you spend it?

Oct. 8 -- WINNING FROM LOSING

In 1980, the Phillies won the World Series. But in 1976, 1977 and 1978, they lost in the NLCS. The Yankees blew a 2-0 lead in the 1995 ALDS before winning the World Series in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000. Before the Blue Jays won back-to-back World Series in 1992 and 1993, Toronto teams built by Pat Gillick lost in the ALCS in 1989 and 1991.

Point is, sometimes teams have to lose in the playoffs before they can win.

Could that be the case for these Phillies? Maybe. As they were packing their bags Saturday night in Denver, several players talked about that. Jimmy Rollins said it'll be different next time. Ryan Howard said this experience will only make the Phillies hungrier. Jamie Moyer said he hopes the younger Phillies can learn something from this.

Will they? What do you think?

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Martin Frank didn't think Gillick's comments Saturday night were particularly promising. It's true: the free-agent pitching market will be wafer-thin. But, on the night the Phillies were eliminated from the playoffs, it doesn't inspire much confidence when the GM says, "There's only so much out there. It's a supply-and-demand situation. There's not a lot of pitching in supply, and there's more demand for it."

Speaking of which, here's a partial list of potential free-agent pitchers:

Starters: Kris Benson, Paul Byrd, Shawn Chacon, Roger Clemens, Matt Clement, Bartolo Colon, Josh Fogg, Freddy Garcia, Tom Glavine, Livan Hernandez, Jason Jennings, Joe Kennedy, Brian Lawrence, Jon Lieber, Kyle Lohse, Rodrigo Lopez, Greg Maddux, Wade Miller, Eric Milton, Brian Moehler, Tomo Okha, Ramon Ortiz, Russ Ortiz, Chan Ho Park, Odalis Perez, Andy Pettitte, Joel Pineiro, Mark Redman, Kenny Rogers, Glendon Rusch, Curt Schilling, Aaron Sele, Carlos Silva, John Thomson, Brett Tomko, Steve Trachsel, Tim Wakefield, Jeff Weaver, Kip Wells, David Wells, Randy Wolf, Jamey Wright, Jaret Wright, Victor Zambrano.

Relievers: Jeremy Affeldt, Antonio Alfonseca, Armando Benitez, Joe Borowski, Doug Brocail, Francisco Cordero, Elmer Dessens, Octavio Dotel, Scott Eyre, Aaron Fultz, Eric Gagne, Eddie Guardado, LaTroy Hawkins, Matt Herges, Dustin Hermanson, Roberto Hernandez, Jason Isringhausen, Todd Jones, Jorge Julio, Joe Kennedy, Byung-Hyun Kim, Ray King, Scott Linebrink, Ron Mahay, Jose Mesa, Dan Miceli, Trever Miller, Mike Myers, Joe Nathan, Troy Percival, Cliff Politte, Chris Reitsma, Al Reyes, Arthur Rhodes, David Riske, Mariano Rivera, Felix Rodriguez, J.C. Romero, Rudy Seanez, Paul Shuey, Russ Springer, Julian Tavarez, Mike Timlin, Ron Villone, Luis Vizcaino, Rick White, Bob Wickman, Jay Witasick, Kerry Wood.

I think you'd agree that the field of relievers is stronger than the field of starters. Potential closers on the market are Borowski, Cordero, Isringhausen, Jones, Nathan and even Dotel, Guardado and Reyes. To me, if you're going to throw $10 million or $12 million per season at a pitcher, you'd be better off with Cordero or Nathan than a middle-of-the-rotation starter like Lohse. Brett Myers said the other night that the Phillies haven't told him what his role will be for next season. They could always sign a closer and move Myers back to the rotation.

Would that be a good move?

Oct. 8 -- THANKS

Landed in Philly a little while ago, season two in the books for me covering the Phillies for The News Journal. As I get set to write my annual end-of-season report card (check for that in Tuesday's 50-center), just wanted to say thanks to y'all for dropping by The Blog throughout the season. When we started this endeavor last season and posted with greater frequency during the off-season, I thought this would be another outlet to provide Phillies information.

But thanks to you, this has become a spot for good Phillies conversation, too. We've got a few regulars (Matt In Philadelphia, Jamie, Paul W., Ed S., Bananafish, Marcus Grimm, Andy, Zack, etc.) and some anonymous folks, but all of you have contributed to The Blog. You've helped fuel the discussion, and you've even helped me come up with a few story ideas. For that, I thank you.

Please keep checking back here during the off-season. The posts may not be as frequent, but I promise they'll make you talk. Later this week, I plan to start breaking down the Phillies, position-by-position. We'll take a look at free-agent comings and goings. And, as always, I'll welcome your opinions and comments.

So, thanks again, and stay tuned.

Oct. 7 -- LIGHTS OUT

DENVER -- One week ago, the Phillies were popping champagne, pouring beer over their heads and celebrating their first NL East championship and playoff berth since 1993.

Today, they're flying home and packing for the off-season.

Hard to believe, isn't it?

If you were able to stay up late last night, you saw the Phillies lose, 2-1, to the Rockies, who completed a three-game sweep of the best-of-five NL Division Series. Jamie Moyer pitched brilliantly for six innings, and Shane Victorino homered in his return to the lineup. Other than that, there was little to cheer about for the Phillies, who mustered only three hits against studly Rockies rookie starter Ubaldo Jimenez.

Incredibly, it was the Phillies' offense, not their pitching, that let them down in this series. After leading the NL with 892 runs scored, the Phillies scored only eight runs in three games against Colorado. They batted .172 (16-for-93) in the series. And the fearsome foursome of Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Aaron Rowand were a combined 8-for-46 (.174) with 19 strikeouts.

"I feel like we got cheated," closer Brett Myers said in the quiet of the clubhouse. "Three games? That's all we got to play in the playoffs. It would've been good to play five. At least that would've meant we played the full series."

Depending on where you live, your Sunday paper may have different versions of our Phillies articles from here in Denver. Here, then, are some links to the most updated stories.

--The game story features more reaction from the sullen clubhouse.
--Martin Frank wonders if the Phillies just weren't good enough.
--Charlie Manuel told the Phillies he didn't want to talk about his contract until the season is over. Now he finally can. On that note, there will be plenty written and said over the next few days about Manuel's future. I'm confident the Phillies will offer him a one-year contract extension. Personally, I think they'd be crazy not to offer at least a two-year deal. And, if they do, I believe he'll accept.
--Victorino gave the Phillies' lineup a jolt. But not enough. Also, within the notebook, there's some information on the very erratic weather here in Denver.
--There were many similarities between the Phillies and Rockies. One of the most glaring was their reliance on inexperienced pitchers. In Game 3, Jimenez dazzled. In the fourth inning, he struck out Rowand on a 73-mph curveball, a 97-mph fastball and an 81-mph slider. That's just nasty.
--A photo gallery from Game 3.

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One other note that didn't make the paper: J.C. Romero gave up the winning run in the eighth inning on three straight singles, including a pinch-hit RBI single by Jeff Baker. It was the first run allowed by Romero since Aug. 30, a span of 23 appearances and 17-1/3 innings. But Romero was nothing short of an ironman since joining the Phillies in June after being claimed off waivers from the Red Sox.

"From a personal standpoint, I'm pleased with what I did this season," Romero said. "But my main goal was to help this team achieve something else, something they haven't achieved. We wanted to get to the second round and the World Series. So, our job was partially done. Unfortunately, we came up short."

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Just because the season's over doesn't mean we won't keep writing about the Phillies in the 50-cent edition. Over the next few days, I'll be recapping the season and looking ahead to 2008. Also, I want to keep The Blog fresh throughout the off-season.

For now, though, I'll leave you with this question: Was the season a success or did the prompt playoff exit sour your feeling on how the Phillies fared in 2007?

I'll try to post more tomorrow.

Oct. 6 -- GAME 3: WE'VE GOT LINEUPS

For the Phillies:
SS - Jimmy Rollins
2B - Chase Utley
LF - Pat Burrell
1B - Ryan Howard
CF - Aaron Rowand
RF - Shane Victorino
C - Carlos Ruiz
3B - Abraham Nunez
P - Jamie Moyer

Note that Shane Victorino is back in the lineup. In a pregame meeting with the beat writers who cover the team, Charlie Manuel said he wanted Victorino's speed and left-handed bat (he's a switch-hitter) against Rockies right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez. Also, slick-fielding Abraham Nunez is playing, as he normally does when Jamie Moyer pitches.

For the Rockies:
2B - Kazuo Matsui
SS - Troy Tulowitzki
LF - Matt Holliday
1B - Todd Helton
3B - Garrett Atkins
RF - Brad Hawpe
CF - Ryan Spilborghs
C - Yorvit Torrealba
P - Ubaldo Jimenez

More later.

Oct. 6 -- GAME 3: WIN ... OR GO HOME

DENVER -- Heard from a friend this morning who has tickets to Game 5 back at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday night. Will he get to use them? We'll find out shortly, won't we?

As I wrote on The Blog and in the 50-center, the Phillies were a relaxed bunch yesterday during their workout at Coors Field. I think we'll know fairly quickly tonight if they're still relaxed. Their first- and second-inning swings against Rockies rookie Ubaldo Jimenez will tell the tale.

Wanted to touch on something that Brett Myers said the other day. Myers, the Phils' high-strung closer, said he sensed many of his teammates were satisfied with just making it to the playoffs. Talked to several players yesterday, including Ryan Howard and Tom Gordon and Greg Dobbs, and none of them had that same sense. Are they happy to be in the playoffs? Absolutely. Are they satisfied at getting this far? Hell, no.

"Brett's never been here before, so he doesn't know what it's like," Gordon told me. "You never get used to it. As a player, you never know when you're going to be back. Are you happy to be in the playoffs? Definitely. It's a special time. But you’re never satisfied with just getting in. You want to win."

You watched the first two games. What did you think? Did the Phillies play like a team that was just happy to be here?

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Is rallying from a 0-2 deficit in a best-of-five series a mission impossible? Not exactly, according to Gary Matthews, Davey Lopes, Dallas Green and others who have had it happen to them, in one way or another.

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But, if the Phils have any prayer, the offense needs to return to its league-leading form. Fast.

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Intrepid columnist Martin Frank wonders if it's all over for the miracle Phillies.

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If you're a Blue Rocks fan, you knew all about how good the Rockies are long before the rest of the country. To me, that's the coolest thing about minor league baseball, getting to see guys like Garrett Atkins and Matt Holliday before they become Garrett Atkins and Matt Holliday. Know what I mean?

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Remember when Myers was a starter? Back then, he was 4-0 with a 2.63 ERA at Coors Field. I asked him to share his secrets, and lo and behold, he did. I'm sure he and Jamie Moyer will be talking about it, if they haven't already. Also, within the notebook, the Phillies re-live their tarp rescue from July. Scroll down to see it again. I posted it on The Blog earlier in the week.

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OK, I've told you how the Phillies are coping with their do-or-die situation. How are you, the fans, holding up?

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Had one of the best dinners of my life last night with a bunch of fellow scribes. I think I've told you how much I like Denver, especially the LoDo section of town. If you're ever here, check out this place (I promise they don't play the theme song in the restaurant).

Check back later for much more, including lineups and updates from Coors.

Oct. 5 -- A TASTE OF THE ROCKIES

DENVER -- So, the Phillies just concluded their off-day workout here at Coors Field. A few of you have e-mailed me today, wondering what sort of mood they're in with their season on the brink of extinction. And, having spent the past few hours in the clubhouse or the dugout, I can tell you the Phillies are in good spirits.

Actually, they couldn't be looser.

To wit: As the workout ended, Ryan Howard stood near the top step of the dugout, patted each teammate on the head or the rear and said, "Hey, take the rest of the day off." There was laughing and joking, just like any other day. Of course, it's easy to be relaxed today. There's no game tonight. The real test will be tomorrow when they report to the clubhouse and start thinking more about what's at stake.

I've got to start hammering away at articles for the 50-center. For now, I'll leave you with a few links from yesterday's game. Don't forget to weigh in on whether you think the Phillies can win three straight games and take the series.

- The game story takes a look at what a difference four days make at the Bank.
- Martin Frank writes about Jamie Moyer, the pitcher and the teacher. The season is riding on his left arm.
- Cole Hamels won't pitch again this season unless there's a Game 5. Selfish or smart? You tell me.
- Kyle Kendrick was lifted after 3-2/3 innings yesterday. Guess what: Rockies starter Franklin Morales was replaced after only three innings. And whether or not you agree with Charlie Manuel's decision to replace Kendrick, the difference was the Rockies' bullpen getting outs and the Phillies' bullpen getting rocked.
- A closer look at Water-Gate.

Oct. 5 -- GAME 2 WRAP: SEASON ON BRINK

So, I was walking out of the Bank last night when a security guard said to me, "See you Tuesday."

Um, I wouldn't count on it.

With yesterday's 10-5 loss to the Rockies, the Phillies fell behind 2-0 in the best-of-five NL Division Series. Crunched some numbers after the game, and it turns out, since Division Series play started in 1995, 28 teams have slid into a 2-0 hole. Only four have recovered to win the series, and only one (the 2001 Yankees) have done so after losing the first two games at home.

It's not looking good.

I've got to catch a 6:27 a.m. flight to Denver, so I need to get a few hours of sleep. For now, though, I'll leave you with two questions:

1. Did Charlie Manuel pull Kyle Kendrick too soon yesterday? If not, should he have brought in Kyle Lohse, a natural starter, with the bases loaded in the fourth inning?

2. Are the Phillies finished?

Talk amongst yourself. I'll check in later today, either from the airport or from Coors Field (the Phillies are scheduled to work out at 3 p.m., Eastern time).

Oct. 4 -- GAME 2: ROCKIES 6, PHILLIES 3 (5th)

What, no comments on Water-Gate? Come on, folks. I know you have an opinion on this, and I haven't heard from some of you in a while. Chime in!

Meanwhile, Charlie Manuel had a quick hook with Kyle Kendrick, pulling the rookie right-hander with the bases loaded in the fourth inning. When he did, Dennis Deitch of the Delaware County Daily Times turned to me and said he didn't like the idea of bringing starter Kyle Lohse into a bases-loaded situation. Turns out, Double-D was right. Former Mets sensation (and flop) Kazuo Matsui lifted a grand slam into the right-field bleachers to turn a 3-2 Phillies lead into a 6-3 deficit.

Oct. 4 -- GAME 2: HOME RUN DERBY ...

...but, first, more on Water-Gate.

Rockies manager Clint Hurdle had this to say about the footage of Manny Corpas pouring a liquid on his shirt before the ninth inning yesterday: "Until I get further direction, I think we'll handle it internally. I think there's a lot of different things that sometimes, not just our players do, but opposing players do to try and get some type of feel for things in an altitude situation like we're in Coors Field, and from my understanding, poured water on his jersey. I don't know of anything else after that. If we've got to try and redirect some opportunity for him to find a better grip on the ball, I'm sure we can do that."

It seems Hurdle is saying that Corpas pours water on his jersey to get a better grip on the ball. Who knows? But, like Charlie Manuel said earlier, the Phillies will be watching it.

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2-1 Rockies after one: Troy Tulowitzki and Matt Holliday homered in the first inning against Kyle Kendrick. Jimmy Rollins answered with a leadoff homer against Franklin Morales.

But Chase Utley struck out again, marking the first time in his career that he's fanned in five straight at-bats. Ryan Howard also struck out. Between them, they're 0-for-10 with eight strikeouts in the series so far.

Not good.

Oct. 4 -- GAME 2: WATER-GATE

So, there's footage from TBS' broadcast yesterday of Rockies closer Manny Corpas throwing a liquid substance on his shirt in the bullpen before he entered the game in the ninth inning. Then, at various points in the inning, Corpas wipes his hand on the dirt and goes to his shirt.

Asked Charlie Manuel this morning about it. Right now, the Phillies aren't making a big deal about it, but they'll be watching Corpas very closely. "We'll watch him, but at the same time, what I got out of it was how much liquid he threw on himself," Manuel said. "It's not like he took a cup cup of water or something."

More on this story as it develops throughout the day. And, I guarantee you it will develop.

Oct. 4 -- GAME 2: WE'VE GOT LINEUPS

For the Rockies:
2B - Kazuo Matsui
SS - Troy Tulowitzki
LF - Matt Holliday
1B - Todd Helton
3B - Garrett Atkins
RF - Brad Hawpe
CF - Ryan Spilborghs
C - Yorvit Torrealba
P - Franklin Morales

For the Phillies:
SS - Jimmy Rollins
2B - Chase Utley
LF - Pat Burrell
1B - Ryan Howard
CF - Aaron Rowand
RF - Jayson Werth
3B - Wes Helms
C - Carlos Ruiz
P - Kyle Kendrick

Note that Jayson Werth is in the lineup against the lefty Morales. Werth is batting .375 against lefties. That means Shane Victorino will be on the bench. Also, Charlie Manuel said this morning that Jamie Moyer will start Game 3.

More later.

Oct. 4 -- GAME 1 WRAP: ROCKIES 4, PHILLIES 2

So, Game 1 didn't go quite like the Phillies expected, did it?

Instead of knocking the cover off the ball yesterday, as they did for most of the season, the Phillies' league-leading offense sputtered against Rockies starter Jeff Francis in a 4-2 loss. Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard -- all playing in their first postseason game -- went a combined 0-for-11 with eight strikeouts. And, other than the back-to-back solo homers by Aaron Rowand and Pat Burrell in the fifth inning, the Phillies got nothing going. Meanwhile, cool Cole Hamels was a bit too hot in the second inning. Wearing long sleeves on an 80-degree day, his control wavered in the Rockies' three-run second inning. He shed the sleeves before the third inning and sailed along for 4-2/3 more innings. But when he left with two outs in the seventh, the Phillies were still trailing. And the team that led the majors in come-from-behind victories didn't have enough to come back.

So, here's the question: Can the Phillies come back in this series?

Everyone I talked to in the clubhouse after the game -- Rowand, Shane Victorino, Utley and a few other players -- are confidence the Game 1 loss is nothing more than a momentary setback. But, clearly, there's little margin for error. And if Kyle Kendrick doesn't pitch well today or the Phillies' bat don't awaken, well, they'll be in big trouble.

What do you think? Can the Phillies recover?

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Some articles from the 50-center that may interest you as you get ready for Game 2:

-Martin Frank takes a closer look at Kyle Kendrick through the eyes of another mid-season sensation, Bob Walk.
-Utley had one of the worst days of his career.
-Kevin Noonan looks at Hamels' poor second inning.
-Jayson Werth wasn't in the lineup for Game 1, but he was ready. Also within the notebook, Carlos Ruiz made a speedy recovery and Hamels shed his clothing.
-Matt Holliday got booed at Citizens Bank Park, but he had the last word.
-A photo gallery from Game 1.
-Some fans even skipped work to watch the game.
-There was plenty of enthusiasm at Citizens Bank Park before and during the game. Afterward, not so much.
-Game 1 was a tough, tough ticket.

Oct. 3 -- GAME 1: ROCKIES 3, PHILLIES 2 (mid 6th)

For four innings, the Phillies took a bunch of bad swings against Rockies ace lefty Jeff Francis. But, in the fifth, Aaron Rowand and Pat Burrell hit the first back-to-back homers in Phillies playoff history, cutting the margin to one. Burrell's homer was a classic Citizens Bank Park wall-scraper that landed just over the left-field wall in the flower pots.

Somewhere, I'm sure John Smoltz was cringing.

Hamels has settled down since the second inning. Interesting matchup, Hamels vs. Francis. They were both first-round picks in 2002. The Rockies took Francis with the 9th overall pick. Hamels went 17th overall to the Phils. Francis got to the big leagues faster, arriving at the end of 2004. Hamels, of course, was slowed by injuries and didn't debut for the Phillies until last season. But they both had big 2007 seasons. Francis went 17-9 with a 4.22 ERA. Hamels went 15-5 with a 3.39.

Oct. 3 -- GAME 1: ROCKIES 3, PHILLIES 0 (mid 2nd)

So, the Rockies hadn't faced Cole Hamels before today, which is unusual considering Hamels has been in the majors for a year and a half and this is Game 1 of the NLDS.

"I don't know if it's an advantage or not," Rockies first baseman Todd Helton said before the game. "He does have good stuff. There's no doubt about that. Looks like he has a really good off-speed and changeup and is in command of the strike zone. It's going to be a tough challenge for us. Looks like he hides the ball pretty well, too. So, I'm looking forward to getting out and facing him and see what happens."

So far, so good.

The Rockies scored three runs in the second inning and would've had more if Matt Holliday hadn't struck out with the bases loaded after crushing a ball just foul down the left-field line. Hamels' control has betrayed him a bit (he walked Ryan Spilborghs with one out, loaded the bases on a walk to Kazuo Matsui and forced in a run by walking Troy Tulowitzki). But Helton also ripped a leadoff triple, and Garrett Atkins hit a double fairly hard. Yorvit Torrealba, who batted .389 against the Phils during the regular season, continues to kill them with an RBI single.

Quick history lesson, though (and a good omen for the Phils): In four of the seven regular-season games against the Rockies, the team with a 3-0 lead wound up losing.

Oct. 3 -- GAME 1: ALL ABOUT THE TARP

Game is about to start, but I wanted to post this moment from the Phillies' July 8 win in Denver. If they win the series, there will be many reasons. Good karma from bailing out the Rockies' grounds crew can't hurt.

Oct. 3 -- GAME 1: WE'VE GOT LINEUPS

For the Rockies:
2B - Kazuo Matsui
SS - Troy Tulowitzki
LF - Matt Holliday
1B - Todd Helton
3B - Garrett Atkins
RF - Brad Hawpe
CF - Ryan Spilborghs
C - Yorvit Torrealba
P - Jeff Francis

For the Phillies:
SS - Jimmy Rollins
RF - Shane Victorino
2B - Chase Utley
1B - Ryan Howard
CF - Aaron Rowand
LF - Pat Burrell
3B - Wes Helms
C - Carlos Ruiz
P - Cole Hamels

Couple of surprises there.

First, Victorino is playing against a left-handed pitcher. Down the stretch, Jayson Werth was getting most of the at-bats against lefties. But Charlie Manuel said he wanted Victorino's speed in the lineup. "We want to take advantage of maybe stealing a bag," he said.

Second, Ruiz is starting after feeling so much pain in his bruised left elbow yesterday that he underwent an MRI exam. But Ruiz came to the Bank at 8:30 this morning, played catch with pitching coach Rich Dubee and felt no pain. "I was so happy this morning when I woke up and felt good," Ruiz said. "I'm ready to go. I didn't want to miss this."

More later.

Oct. 3 -- MIRROR IMAGES

Greetings from Citizens Bank Park, where Game 1 is now only about three hours away. The Phillies are on the field. Pitchers are taking batting practice, and position players will follow in a few minutes.

Had an interesting conversation yesterday with several Phillies players about the similarities between the teams. When the Phillies look at the Rockies, they see a lot of themselves: A big hitting team with young pitchers that were rushed to the majors this season to fill in for injured veterans.

You can read the position-by-position matchup in today's 50-center, but here are a few other things that didn't make the paper. The Phillies led the NL with 892 runs and went 13-4 in their last 17 games to overtake the Mets. The Rockies were second in the NL with 860 runs and went 14-1 down the stretch to outlast the Padres. The Phillies lost starters Freddy Garcia and Jon Lieber to season-ending injuries and replaced them with Kyle Kendrick and J.D. Durbin. The Rockies survived losing starters Aaron Cook, Jason Hirsh and Rodrigo Lopez by plugging in youngsters Franklin Morales and Ubaldo Jimenez.

The Phillies and Rockies are as different as night and later that night.

“There’s a lot of common fabric between the clubs when you start breaking it down," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "You have a cluster of offensive players that are the most identifiable characteristic with the club. You’ve got pitchers that have had to battle and scratch and claw to get outs. You have had a bullpen that has turned over a couple different times, but it’s turned over at the right time. The similarities are numerous.”

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The cover story in today's Phillies preview section in the 50-center was about Jimmy Rollins, who learned his first lessons about baseball from his mother, Gigi. Rollins also credits Gigi for the confidence to have declared the Phillies "the team to beat."

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Cole Hamels takes the mound today. On Monday night, Hamels went to see "Good Luck Chuck," the new film with Dane Cook and Jessica Alba. Charlie Manuel thought Hamels' movie selection was appropriate.

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Adam Eaton was excluded from the Phillies' playoff roster. Speaking of which, here's what that 25-man roster looks like: Cole Hamels, Kyle Kendrick, Kyle Lohse, Jamie Moyer, Brett Myers, J.C. Romero, Tom Gordon, Clay Condrey, Jose Mesa, Antonio Alfonseca, Carlos Ruiz, Chris Coste, Rod Barajas, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Abraham Nunez, Wes Helms, Greg Dobbs, Tadahito Iguchi, Pat Burrell, Aaron Rowand, Shane Victorino, Jayson Werth, Michael Bourn. Also, within the notebook, we have updates on the health of Ruiz and Geoff Geary.

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Everyone's getting geared up for Game 1, as Martin Frank writes.

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Re-live the top 10 moments from the Phillies' season here.

Oct. 2 -- TALE OF TWO CITIES

Sorry for the lack of bloggage today. When you see the 50-cent edition tomorrow, you'll know why. Things were a little hectic at the ballpark, with the Phillies holding a workout and the Rockies arriving after a late night in Denver.

But, before we completely turn our focus to Game 1 of the NLDS, I wanted to talk about the final outcome in the NL East. Nationally, most of the attention is going to the Mets' historic collapse. By now you know, no team has ever led a division by seven games with 17 to play and missed the playoffs. But that's exactly what happened to the Mets, who went 5-12 down the stretch, including 1-9 at Shea Stadium. The final nail in their coffin came Sunday, when they bowed to the Marlins 8-1 in the worst loss of Tom Glavine's 20-year career.

But, to me, not enough attention is being paid to the Phillies' late-season surge. Without the Phillies winning 13 of their last 17 games, the Mets would've survived their September swoon. But while the Mets couldn't win, the Phillies rarely lost. Even after getting beat last Tuesday night by the Braves, they rebounded to defeat both Tim Hudson and John Smoltz before winning two of three against the Nationals.

So, I ask you this: Years from now, when you think back to what happened in the NL East over the final three weeks of the 2007 season, which will you remember more, the Mets' meltdown or the Phillies' surge?

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The Phillies wouldn't be where they are without The Big Three -- J.C. Romero, Tom Gordon and Brett Myers. But, when you consider where those relievers were in the middle of June, it's nothing short of astounding that they were able to come together for this playoff push.

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More on the Phillies' rally yesterday: Charlie Manuel got one of the loudest ovations, but his contract situation won't be resolved until the playoffs end. By the way, it was hard to tell who was booed more loudly, Mayor John Street or Adam Eaton.

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Martin Frank is optimistic that the Phillies will stay hot against the Rockies.

Oct. 2 -- DO YOU BELIEVE IN JINXES?

If so, I have bad news. Jimmy Rollins is on the cover of this week's Sports Illustrated.

But, don't fear. Rollins is also the cover boy for The News Journal's playoff preview section, for which I'm hammering out some stories right now. So, maybe we'll be able to neutralize the SI jinx.

Oct. 1 -- PLAYOFF-BOUND

"I believed in these guys behind me, and some that aren't here,

that we were going to be the team to beat in the East.

And the world thought I was crazy. Some of these dudes thought I was crazy, too.

That's OK because I am. But, lo and behold, at the end of the day,

the National League East belongs to one team in one city,

and that's the City of Brotherly Love."

-Jimmy Rollins at today's City Hall pep rally

So, I was taking a shower this morning when my editor left a message on my phone. Thinking I might still be sleeping, he said, "Wake up. It wasn't a dream. The Phillies really did make the playoffs."

Yes, they did.

I've been a baseball writer since 2000, and between the minor leagues and the majors, the teams I've covered have reached the playoffs only twice. That's why baseball teams celebrate the way they do after clinching a playoff spot. It's not easy, and unless you're the post-1994 Yankees, it doesn't happen every year.

No team can attest to that quite like the Phillies. Since 2003, they had never won fewer than 85 games in a season, and they had never made the playoffs. There was a near-miss in 2003 and another in 2005. Last season, it came down to the final weekend, but the Phillies fell short again. That's why yesterday's champagne celebration was so wild. There was a lot of pent-up emotion being released.

Went to the rally at City Hall Plaza today, and it was more of the same, only without the alcohol. In a funny moment, Chase Utley gave the crowd a chance to practice it's booing. "Now batting, Matt Holliday," he announced to a chorus of boos. "Todd Helton?" Again, jeers. "That's what we need," Utley said.

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Rollins wasn't always confident, though. As I wrote in the game story, he revealed yesterday that he had doubts about the Phillies' chances back in June when he thought it may be a rebuilding year. He quickly banished the thought, and with his MVP-caliber season, led the Phils to the playoffs.

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Speaking of MVPs, you can make a case for 50-homer Brewers slugger Prince Fielder to win the NL MVP award. And you can certainly make a case for Matt Holliday, who has sparked the Rockies to tonight's play-in game. But Rollins had a season for the ages, becoming the first-ever 200-20-20-20-20 guy (200 hits, 20 doubles, 20 triples, 20 homers, 20 steals). That's historic. He also jumpstarted the Phillies yesterday in the first inning with a leadoff single and two stolen bases. That was a tone-setter.

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Jamie Moyer grew up in the Philly suburb of Souderton and skipped school in 1980 to attend the Phillies' championship parade. Pretty cool, I thought, that he got the start -- and the win -- in the clinching game.

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Within the notebook, Pat Burrell gets emotional about the late John Vukovich, who would've loved a day like yesterday.

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Martin Frank captured the emotion of the day at Citizens Bank Park.

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Earlier today, TBS revealed game times for the NLDS and ALDS. Looks like Phillies fans will have some work-free days and some late nights this week. Here's the schedule:

Game 1: Wednesday, at Philadelphia, 3 p.m.
Game 2: Thursday, at Philadelphia, 3 p.m.
Game 3: Saturday, at San Diego or Colorado, 9:30 p.m.
Game 4: Sunday, at San Diego or Colorado, 10 p.m. (if necessary)
Game 5: Tuesday, at Philadelphia, 6:30 or 8:30 p.m. (if necessary)

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A photo gallery from yesterday's celebration. The delawareonline.com newscast has video from the rally today.

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Looking to get pumped up before Games 1 and 2. Harry Mayes and Jamie Yannacone, the 700 Level Fanatics, will broadcast live from McFadden's from noon to 3 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. Check 'em out live or on 950-AM.

Oct. 1 -- WHAT A DIFFERENCE EIGHT MONTHS MAKE

I'll write more later, once I return from the Phillies' rally at City Hall.