Aug. 31 -- HAMELS HAS A SETBACK

MIAMI GARDENS -- The euphoria has barely worn off from the Phillies' four-game sweep of the Mets, and already, there's some sobering news here in Miami. Cole Hamels felt discomfort in his strained left elbow during a bullpen session yesterday and will be shut down from throwing for 4-6 days.

Adam Eaton will start in Hamels' place Sunday against the Marlins.

Assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said the Phils expect Hamels will be able to pitch competitively in seven to 10 days. But Hamels said he's taking stronger anti-inflammatory medication that will prevent him from throwing until Thursday. Then, he'll test his elbow with two bullpen sessions. That probably will keep him from starting for the Phillies until Sept. 10 or so.

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In other news, the Phillies sent Geoff Geary back to triple-A Ottawa and purchased the contract of reliever Kane Davis. Geary will rejoin the team next week in Atlanta after the minor-league season ends.

Also, the Phillies traded all-or-nothing slugger Russell Branyan to the Cardinals for a player to be named. Amaro said the Phillies had information that the Cardinals were interested in making a waiver claim for Branyan, who was designated for assignment Monday.

Finally, Michael Bourn (sprained left ankle) is here, but he says he's at least a week, probably two, from playing. Amaro said catcher Rod Barajas and reliever Francisco Rosario will be the first players to join the team tomorrow when rosters expand. Scott Mathieson, coming back from elbow ligament replacement surgery, may arrive later this weekend or Monday in Atlanta, but Ryan Madson (strained right shoulder) hasn't started throwing yet and isn't close to returning.

Got all that?

It'll all be in tomorrow's paper in greater detail. Speaking of which, I should start working on that. Thanks to everyone for keeping the blog going during my travel delays today. Keep it coming!

Aug. 31 -- EPIC

Ordinarily, the daily task for sportswriters like me is to sift through game details and quotes and write a compelling story in a short amount of time. Yesterday, I found myself trying tackle another challenge. How on earth could I write a story that would be anywhere near as good as the game I had just watched?

It was a mission impossible. Not even my man Bill Shakespeare could've done it justice.

If you missed yesterday's game at the Bank, well, you missed one for the ages. I half expected to flip on ESPN Classic last night and see the game replayed. It was THAT good.

Yesterday's game had everything. With a chance at a rare four-game sweep of the Mets, their most heated NL East rival, that would move them within two games of first place, the Phillies blew leads of 5-0 and 8-5 only to score three runs in the final two innings against former Phils closer Billy Wagner. In the eighth inning, resurgent slugger Pat Burrell, who has hiked his average 70 points since July 1, homered off Wagner, whom Burrell once labeled a "rat" when they were teammates. In the ninth, Jayson Werth stole the two easiest bases you'll ever see after ripping a leadoff single and scored on a single over a drawn-in infield by Tadahito Iguchi. Two batters later, Chase Utley, in his third game after missing only a month with a broken right hand, singled home Iguchi, who was acquired July 27 to fill in while Utley was injured.

It was great theatre.

Here's my attempt to capture all of that excitement. But let's hear from you. Some of you already have e-mailed me to say how little work you got done yesterday because you were glued to a television or a radio (I won't tell your bosses, I promise). Where does yesterday's game rank with all the games you've seen?

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Within the notebook, there are details of Freddy Garcia's season-ending shoulder surgery yesterday. Now that Garcia has thrown his final pitch for the Phillies, I'll ask the question: Is he the biggest Phillies bust ever?

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I'm about to board my US Airways flight to Fort Lauderdale (hopefully; it's already been delayed once). I'll check in once I get to Florida.

Aug. 30 -- SURGERY FOR FREDDY (AND IN-GAME UPDATES)

This just in (although, it's hardly a surprise): Freddy Garcia is undergoing shoulder surgery today in Birmingham, Ala. Renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews is performing the procedure.

Of course, that means Garcia has thrown his last pitch for the Phillies.

I'm guessing, Phillies fans, that you aren't shedding any tears. Garcia will be a free agent this winter, and he can forget about getting a raise from the $10 million he made this season. That said, I guarantee he signs a low-base, high-incentive contract with a team that wants to take a chance that he can get back to being his old, innings-eating self. If he does, it will be of little consolation to the Phillies, who believed they had found their ace when they traded for him in December.

(Update, 1:28 p.m.): 2-0 Phillies in the first inning. Ryan Howard just crushed a pitch from Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez over the fence in left-center.

(Update, 2:15 p.m.): 5-0 Phillies, third. So much for El Duque being the Mets' good-luck charm. Pat Burrell belted a two-run homer and Aaron Rowand added a solo shot in the third inning. The Mets have won El Duque's last nine starts.

(Update, 2:40 p.m.): 5-3 Phillies, fourth. I was about to write that Kyle Lohse is cruising. The mere thought must've jinxed him. Shawn Green's RBI double and a pinch-hit RBI single by Lastings Milledge trimmed the lead to two runs and knocked Lohse from the game.

(Update, 3:10 p.m.): 5-5, fifth. Thought it was going to be an easy win, didn't you? Geoff Geary, who replaced Lohse in the fourth inning, allowed two runs in the fifth. Jayson Werth just missed throwing out David Wright at the plate on Green's game-tying sacrifice fly.

(Update, 3:30 p.m.): 8-5 Phillies, fifth. Crazy game. Two two-out bloop RBI singles by Carlos Ruiz and pinch-hitting Shane Victorino restored the lead, and Jimmy Rollins added an RBI single up the middle against reliever Aaron Sele.

(Update, 4:35 p.m.): 10-8 Mets, eighth. After Clay Condrey breezed through two innings, Antonio Alfonseca imploded, allowing four runs without getting an out. And while Alfonseca will draw intense criticism for his performance, if the Phillies lose, a greater amount of scrutiny will go to Charlie Manuel for his unorthodox decision to intentionally walk Jose Reyes to put the go-ahead run on base. After Endy Chavez's two-run single tied the game at 8-8, the Mets executed a double steal with Reyes and Chavez. When Ruiz's throw went into left field, Reyes trotted home with the go-ahead run.

I've got to start hacking away for the print edition, but I'll open the floor to you. What did you think of Charlie's decision. (As I type that, Burrell homered again off Billy Wagner, on for a two-inning save, drawing the Phils within 10-9. Crazy, crazy game.)

Aug. 30 -- SWEEP DREAMS

When the Big, Bad Mets walked into Citizens Bank Park on Monday, they had a seven-game lead over the Phillies in the NL East. A column in the New York Post had even proclaimed the race for the division crown was over.

Over?

Someone forgot to tell the Phillies.

Three games -- and some very dramatic plays -- later, the Mets' lead is down to three games. And, if the Phillies win today behind Kyle Lohse, they'll trail the Mets by only two games with 29 to play. But we have all day to discuss that possibility, and since it's a day game, we will. I'll try to post in-game updates throughout the day, and if you feel like procrastinating at work, feel free to comment early and often about the goings-on here. I'd like to gauge your opinion on what's happened this week. Do you think the Phillies have what it takes to sweep the Mets?

But before we get to all that, let's review:

The game story in the 50-center offers a detailed account of last night's final play, when Marlon Anderson was called out for interfering with Tadahito Iguchi's ability to turn a game-ending double play. The Mets contested the play, claiming Anderson touched the base. But here's the way I saw it: Jimmy Rollins had to charge the ball, which delayed his flip to Iguchi. Shawn Green would've been safe at first base, so there was no need for Anderson to go out of his way to break up the double play.

In making the call, second-base umpire CB Bucknor applied Rule 6.05(m), which reads as follows: "The objective of this rule is to penalize the offensive team for deliberate, unwarranted, unsportsmanlike action by the runner in leaving the baseline for the obvious purpose of crashing the pivot man on a double play, rather than trying to reach the base. Obviously, this is an umpire's judgment play."

To me, Bucknor made the right call. It was a gutsy call, too, considering it ended a fairly important game.

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This much we know: Lohse starts today. Kyle Kendrick starts the opener in Florida tomorrow night, followed by J.D. Durbin on Saturday and Cole Hamels (assuming he comes through his bullpen session tomorrow) on Sunday. After that, the Phillies aren't sure -- or they aren't saying. They could go to a six-man rotation, which would give Jamie Moyer an extra day of rest. That would mean Adam Eaton starts Monday in Atlanta, followed by Moyer and Lohse.

Talk amongst yourselves about the play last night and today's game. I'll be back later this afternoon.

Aug. 29 -- HALFWAY HOME (AND GUESS THE ROTATION)

Trailing 2-0 and heading into the eighth inning last night, Charlie Manuel (or should we call him "Kreskin"?) said he thought the Phillies would win. That feeling overcame Aaron Rowand after Jimmy Rollins opened the eighth with a solo homer.

Sure enough, the Phillies did, thanks to Rowand's 40-foot bloop and Ryan Howard's nearly 400-foot blast.

Big win?

Is the sky blue?

But, as I outlined in Monday's entry to The Blog, it won't mean anything unless the Phillies win at least one of the next two games. A split with the Mets does them no good. In fact, it all but assures they won't win the NL East. Truthfully, that won't be easy even if they win three of four this week. Let's say the Phillies win tonight and lose tomorrow, or lose tonight and win tomorrow. They'll be 70-63, and the Mets will be 74-59. With 29 games left, the Mets could go 15-14 and the Phillies would have to go 19-10 just to tie them. Should the Phillies lose tonight and tomorrow, a 15-14 finish by the Mets would force the Phillies to to 21-8 to tie them.

You get the picture.

So, clearly, the Phillies need more of last night's magic to finish out this series. That, and they need a better start tonight from Jamie Moyer, who has allowed 13 runs and lasted only 8-2/3 innings over his last two starts.

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Speaking of which, let's talk about the Phillies' rotation. When the season started, they had six starters for five spots, and the odd-man out was Jon Lieber. Of those starters, Freddy Garcia (shoulder) and Lieber (foot) are out for the season. Adam Eaton (shoulder) just came off the DL and pitched well last night (two earned runs, 5-2/3 innings). Cole Hamels (elbow) is slated to start Sunday in Florida. Brett Myers, of course, is now the closer.

But, once Hamels returns, the Phillies again will find themselves with six starters for five spots: Hamels, Moyer, Eaton, Kyle Kendrick, Kyle Lohse, J.D. Durbin.

Who should stay? Who should go?

Here's the breakdown:
-Hamels (14-5, 3.50 ERA): The ace. If he's healthy, he pitches.
-Kendrick (7-3, 3.89): The surprise. He pitches until he falters.
-Lohse (1-0, 3.95 w/Phils): The import. They got him at the trade deadline for a reason.
-Moyer (11-10, 5.16): The veteran. He needs to pitch better. Odds are, he will.
-Durbin (6-3, 4.07): The rookie. As a starter, he's 5-2 with a 4.19. Not bad.
-Eaton (9-8, 6.23): The $24.5 Million Man. Did he turn a corner last night?

Martin Frank says the Phillies need to do something bold, forget about money or long-term contracts and go with whoever is pitching the best. Right now, that's Hamels, Kendrick, Lohse, Moyer and Durbin.

What do you think?

Aug. 28 -- PROVING HIS WERTH

On any other night, the spotlight would have shined exclusively on Jayson Werth -- and for good reason.

After going a career-best 5-for-5 Sunday against the Padres, Werth went 4-for-4 with a walk in last night's 9-2 win over the Mets. Between the two games, his batting average has skyrocketed from .270 to .312. His 9-for-9 streak also is one shy of tying the Phillies and National League records, accomplished by 10 players, including former Phillies Dick Sisler (1950), Eddie Watkins (1950) and Dave Philley (1958-59).

But Chase Utley dominates the headlines today with a rousing return from a broken hand. Werth's performance didn't go unnoticed, though. When he walked over to his locker after the game, a strip of tape with the name "PETE ROSE" had been placed over his nameplate. Across the room, atop Shane Victorino's locker, a strip of tape read "W. PIPP." Victorino, of course, has been hobbled by a muscle strain in his right calf, a lingering injury that has allowed Werth to stay in the lineup. In so doing, Werth has proven that he can be an everyday player.

A year ago, that didn't seem possible.

In spring training, I wrote about how Werth nearly retired last summer because his left wrist injury wouldn't heal. Unable to swing a bat and destined to miss the entire 2006 season, he returned to his Springfield, Ill., home. One day last May, he was walking to the mailbox when a neighbor suggested he go to the renowned Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Werth went to see Dr. Richard Berger, a specialist at Mayo, who diagnosed the injury as a split tear of the ulnotriquetral ligament. Werth underwent surgery, signed a one-year contract with the Phillies worth $400,000 plus incentives and set out to regain his 2005 form, when he had 16 homers and 47 RBIs in just 290 at-bats for the Dodgers.

It took him a while. Playing behind Pat Burrell, Aaron Rowand and Victorino, Werth made only four starts in April, six in May and eight in June. When he went on the DL June 28 with a strained left wrist, he had only 85 at-bats and was batting just .235. But Werth was a first-round pick of the Orioles in 1997. He's an excellent outfielder, with a strong arm and good range. His athletic ability is obvious. And, although he thought he'd be rusty Aug. 1 when he came off the DL to replace Victorino, Werth is batting .403 (29-for-72) with three homers and 19 RBIs.

Assuming the Phillies don't re-sign Rowand, what would you think of a Burrell-Victorino-Werth outfield next season?

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Within the notebook, there's news that Freddy Garcia may finally have surgery on his balky right shoulder. He'll find out Thursday when he sees Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala. Garcia hasn't pitched since June 8 in Kansas City. You may recall that Andrews suggested rest and rehabilitation would heal Garcia's shoulder. That doesn't seem to have happened. His velocity in his rehab starts hasn't climbed much higher than 85 mph. For the record, Garcia's agent, Peter Greenberg, told me in June that he thought Garcia would need surgery.

Also, Adam Eaton returns from the disabled list tonight to face the Mets. Could he be the key to the Phillies making the playoffs? And there's mention of Cole Hamels, who will throw a bullpen session today. I'll update The Blog with details of how it goes.

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Utley, by the way, looked like his usual self. Curiously, Charlie Manuel batted him second. Why? Well, Manuel said he wanted to split up his left-handed hitters against the Mets, who have three lefties in their bullpen (Billy Wagner, Pedro Feliciano, Scott Schoeneweis). With Burrell hitting well, he thought Burrell could bat between Utley and Ryan Howard.

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Here's how the game looked through Ginger Wall's camera.

Aug. 27 -- MEET THE METS

After yesterday's victory over the Padres, several players told me it was overstating matters to say this week's series against the Mets is a make-or-break proposition for the Phillies.

Math was never my best subject in school, but you don't need an advanced degree to suggest the NL East race may already be broken.

If the Phillies split the four-game series, they'll be 69-64. The Mets will be 75-58. That means, if the Mets went 15-14 to close the season, the Phillies would have to go 21-8 just to tie them. That won't happen. Even if the Phillies take three out of four and the Mets went 15-14 the rest of the way, the Phils would have to go 19-10 to catch them. Still a tall order, and there are no guarantees the Mets will play only .500 ball in September.

So, regardless of what happens this week, it may be time to start thinking wild card.

That said, this remains a big series, especially for the Phillies. Before I came to work at The News Journal, I covered the Mets' double-A team in Binghamton, N.Y. I know several of their players, including David Wright and Jose Reyes (above), and I know those guys would like nothing more than to come here and bury the Phillies this week.

Anyone care to predict how the Phils will fare?

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Before we completely turn the page on yesterday's game, here's another Ginger Wall photo gallery.

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Jamie can't possibly be the only person with thoughts on Kyle Kendrick's first 14 starts vs. the first 14 starts of several other notable pitchers. Check the post below for the stats. They're rather interesting.

Aug. 27 -- OVERNIGHT SENSATION

By the time I got through writing about the big-picture implications of the Phillies' had-to-have-it win yesterday and all that went with it (Ryan Howard's first home run in 47 plate appearances, a career-high five hits for Jayson Werth, Chase Utley's expected return tonight for the opener of a make-or-break series against the Mets, Brett Myers' non-apology to an Inquirer reporter, etc.), I'd exhausted all space in both the gamer and the notebook to thoroughly discuss Kyle Kendrick's latest solid performance.

Good thing, then, that we have The Blog.

On his 23rd birthday, Kendrick tossed six strong innings against the sizzling Padres and got a boatload of runs from his previously slumbering offense. The Phils love that he seemingly has no fear -- of opposing hitters or their home ballpark. In nine starts at the Bank, typically no friend to pitchers, Kendrick is 6-0 with a 3.26 ERA. "I like pitching here," Kendrick said, echoing words never before spoken about the South Philly bandbox. "I don't know what it is. I like the mound. I just like pitching here."

Overall, Kendrick is 7-3 with a 3.89 ERA in 14 starts since being rushed to the majors from double-A Reading. He has allowed 91 hits and 21 walks in 88 innings, not bad for any pitcher, especially one who wasn't invited to major-league spring training. I thought it may be interesting to see how Kendrick's first 14 starts stack up with the first 14 starts made by several other, more accomplished, pitchers. So, here goes:

Cole Hamels: 4-6, 4.97 ERA, 76 innings, 70 hits, 32 walks
Brett Myers: 4-6, 4.07 ERA, 84 innings, 85 hits, 35 walks
Dontrelle Willis: 9-2, 2.67 ERA, 84.1 innings, 78 hits, 27 walks
John Smoltz: 3-8, 4.96 ERA, 78 innings, 86 hits, 38 walks
Tom Glavine: 3-7, 5.13 ERA, 80.2 innings, 82 hits, 46 walks
Jake Peavy: 5-7, 4.73 ERA, 80 innings, 86 hits, 27 walks
Brad Penny: 3-6, 5.09 ERA, 70.2 innings, 69 hits, 37 walks
Randy Wolf: 5-5, 4.81 ERA, 86 innings, 88 hits, 44 walks
Ben Sheets: 9-4, 3.52 ERA, 87 innings, 88 hits, 33 walks
Kerry Wood: 7-3, 3.48 ERA, 85.1 innings, 60 hits, 47 walks
Mark Prior: 5-3, 3.38 ERA, 88 innings, 66 hits, 32 walks
Josh Beckett: 4-5, 3.13 ERA, 77.2 innings, 56 hits, 31 walks
Daisuke Matsuzaka: 8-5, 4.18 ERA, 92.2 innings, 88 hits, 30 walks
Erik Bedard: 3-2, 3.84 ERA, 70.1 innings, 71 hits, 38 walks
Scott Kazmir: 2-7, 4.72 ERA, 74.1 innings, 76 hits, 40 walks
Felix Hernandez: 4-5, 2.97 ERA, 94 innings, 70 hits, 31 walks

Talk amongst yourself. Looks to me like Kendrick has had as much immediate success, or more, than most guys. ... I'll check in later from the Bank to preview the big series with the Mets.

Aug. 26 -- MELTING DOWN

Brett Myers has been a relief pitcher since April 18, a closer since May 3. And, for the most part, he's had success in those roles. Last night's 4-3 loss, of course, was a notable exception. Myers entered a tie game in the ninth inning and allowed solo homers to Kevin Kouzmanoff and Terrmel Sledge, the latter barely clearing the left-field wall and landing in the flower beds.

Since Myers became a reliever, he has allowed 11 earned runs. Eight have come after he's entered a tie game. Nine of his 22 appearances since taking over for Tom Gordon as the closer have been non-save situations. He has an 8.68 ERA in those games, compared to 0.61 in his 13 save opportunities (he has converted 12 of 13).

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Eleven months after undergoing elbow ligament replacement (Tommy John) surgery, Scott Mathieson is throwing 95 to 97 mph in the minors. He's in line to join the Phillies bullpen, possibly as early as Sept. 3. Also within the notebook, there are updates on Chase Utley, Shane Victorino and Adam Eaton and more fallout from Carlos Ruiz's slide into Marcus Giles on Friday night. Ruiz got hit by a pitch last night, but then, the Phillies kind of figured he would. No retribution by Phillies pitchers, but that isn't surprising either. The Phillies need to win games, not get pitchers ejected from them.

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My Sunday baseball notes take a look at the Mets, who have endured their share of injuries this season, too. In fact, for all the fuss about the Phillies having 18 players on the DL, the Mets have had 17. And they're still leading the NL East.

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Check out Ginger Wall's photo gallery from last night's game.

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Surprisingly upbeat mood in the Phillies' clubhouse this morning. There was laughter, joking and all-around good spirit. Not quite what you'd expect from a team that has lost six of seven games at the most critical point of its season. But I took it to be a good sign, and sure enough, the Phillies have taken a 6-0 lead in the second inning against Padres rookie Tim Stauffer. Ryan Howard even has a homer, his first in 47 plate appearances since the fifth inning Aug. 12.

Aug. 25 -- PHADING PHAST

Two songs ran through my head during the Padres' 14-3 rout last night at the Bank. Having lost five of their last six games, I wonder if any of the Phillies drove home singing along to this tune. Or, perhaps this is a more appropriate theme song.

Either way, it's been a horrendous week.

When they awoke last Saturday in Pittsburgh, the Phillies were tied for the wild-card lead. This morning, they find themselves three games behind the Padres in the wild-card standings and six back of the Mets in the NL East. You need not be a baseball genius to figure out how they've fallen so fast. Just check out these numbers:

-A .238 batting average (111-for-467) with 60 runs in the last 14 games.
-An 8.70 ERA and 89 hits allowed in 61 innings over the last seven games.

Not good.

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As only he can, Carlos Ruiz explains exactly what he was trying to do by trying to take out Padres second baseman Marcus Giles at the knees in the fourth inning. Regardless of whether it was a dirty slide or not, it certainly fired up the Padres.

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Within the notebook, there's more on Chase Utley and Adam Eaton and possibly a setback for Shane Victorino. Wanna bet Utley is playing second base for the Phillies on Sunday?

Aug. 24 -- EATON, UTLEY UPDATES

Some things never change. Among them, it seems, are Adam Eaton's first-inning struggles.

In 24 starts for the Phillies, Eaton has allowed 20 runs and a .361 opponents' batting average (35-for-97) in the first inning. Apparently, the double-A hitters from Akron got that message. The first three batters tonight reached base against Eaton, who allowed two first-inning runs before settling down in the second. He left after that inning, having reached his 38-pitch limit.

Eaton hit leadoff man Trevor Crowe, allowed a single by Brandon Pinckney and an RBI single to Jordan Brown. With runners on the corners, Michael Aubrey lifted a sacrifice fly to drove in Pinckney.

Chances are, Eaton's next start will be Tuesday night against the Mets. Are you comfortable with Eaton starting that game, keeping in mind that he's 5-0 with a 1.89 ERA vs. the Mets in his career?

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Chase Utley went 1-for-3 in the first seven-inning game of the doubleheader for Reading. In the first inning, he grounded to first. In the third, he laced a one-out single to right field. In the fifth, he flied to right. ... Utley went 0-for-3 in the second game. He's scheduled to play again for Reading on Saturday, but it wouldn't surprise me at all to see him play for the Phillies on Sunday.

Aug. 24 -- FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

It's going to be a big Friday night in Reading. Chase Utley and Adam Eaton will be making rehab appearances there in an Eastern League (double-A) doubleheader against Akron.

Utley, as you know, is recovering from a broken right hand. He'll play second base in the first game, DH in the second. He's scheduled to play second base again tomorrow, and although the Phillies have offered any definitive plans for him Sunday, GM Pat Gillick said Utley won't be activated until Monday. But, if Utley feels no pain the next two nights, I'm betting he's in the lineup Sunday against the Padres, which, in many ways, is a bigger series than the four games against the Mets. The wild card is looking like a more realistic path to the playoffs than winning the division, even though the Phillies don't want to hear that.

Eaton, placed on the disabled list last week with right shoulder inflammation (and a National League-worst 6.36 ERA), will start the first game tonight and throw about 40 pitches. It'll be like a more intense bullpen session, with Eaton aiming to start Tuesday night against the Mets, a team he has dominated (5-0, 1.89 ERA) during his career.

Check back here tonight for updates.

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From the Didn't Make The Paper files: Tom Gordon insisted he felt fine during the eighth inning of yesterday's 5-2 loss to the Dodgers, even though he allowed three runs on two hits and two walks and didn't retire any of the four batters he faced. For the past week, Charlie Manuel has been saying Gordon is close to being able to pitch in back-to-back games. Yesterday, Gordon agreed.

"I've got to get out there," he said. "I think I'm very close. I just hope I'm not tricking myself. I hated that happened [yesterday]. It's definitely not the way I wanted it to go, at all. I hated to put [reliever Geoff] Geary in that situation. I hated to put our team in that situation."

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Kevin Noonan wonders what's wrong with Ryan Howard. Is he just struggling, or was he a one-year wonder? You tell me.

Aug. 23 -- IN-GAME UPDATE

Silky smooth first inning for Fabio Castro. Three-up, three-down. No problems. He walked the bases loaded in the second, but got out of it by striking out Dodgers pitcher Chad Billingsley (after running the count full) on what should've been ball four. Through two innings, Castro is up to 42 pitches. Billingsley, a hard-throwing right-hander, hasn't allowed a hit.

Had an interesting conversation before the game with bullpen coach Ramon Henderson, who made the suggestion two months ago that Castro become a starter for triple-A Ottawa. Before that, he had been used exclusively as a reliever by the Phillies, in the majors, triple-A and double-A. You can read more about that tomorrow in the 50-center, but if Castro pitches well here today, Henderson will look pretty smart.

(Update, 2:01 p.m.): Castro is up to 69 pitches through four innings. He's allowed only one hit but five walks. Still 0-0, thanks to two double plays turned by the Phils.

(Update, 2:20 p.m.): 1-0, Dodgers. A walk -- to Billingsley -- finally bit Castro. After walking the Dodgers pitcher, Castro allowed a Rafael Furcal RBI double. Ryan Howard isn't having a good day defensively. He failed to turn two double plays earlier in the game, cut a throw to the plate on Furcal's double and nearly threw the ball away trying to get Furcal at third.

(Update, 2:58 p.m.): 1-1, sixth inning. Pat Burrell's two-out double scored pinch-hitter Shane Victorino, who drew a leadoff walk. Castro is out of the game (5 innings, two hits, one run, SIX walks, four Ks). Aaron Rowand could've put the Phillies ahead, but with Burrell on second and Ryan Howard (intentional walk) on first, Billingsley struck out Rowand.

(Update, 3:11 p.m.): 2-1, Dodgers. Well, that was quick. J.C. Romero allowed a leadoff single to .178-hitting Ramon Martinez, and three batters later, Juan Pierre dunked a two-out RBI single into shallow center field.

Aug. 23 -- COULD'VE BEEN WORSE

Quick turnaround today, but I guess that's good for the Phillies. Less time to think about the 15-3 drubbing they took last night against the Dodgers. Hey, at least they were only half as bad as the team to the south, which allowed 30 runs last night at Camden Yards. That's hard to fathom. To put that in perspective, the Ravens haven't allowed 30 points since Nov. 25, 2005. But I digress ...

Back to the Phillies. The theme last night is the same as today's: Pitching, pitching, pitching. With Cole Hamels on the shelf, J.D. Durbin took the mound last night and was, well, not very good. He also took exception to a heckler who wants him to run out routine ground balls, but you can read about that in the game story. And, now, to win this three-game series, the Phillies are pinning their hopes to Fabio Castro, a rookie left-hander who has been a starter and a reliever for triple-A Ottawa.

"Don't be surprised, whatever happens," catcher Chris Coste said.

And, so, it has come to this. Like Forrest Gump's mama used to say, "The Phillies' rotation is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get." Well, that wasn't exactly what she said, but you get the point. Durbin, Castro, Jamie Moyer, Kyle Lohse and Kyle Kendrick don't exactly inspire confidence for a long winning streak, do they?

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Have no fear: Adam Eaton and his 6.36 ERA are close to rescuing the Phillies. Also within the notebook, there's news of a seemingly accelerated recovery for Chase Utley, and Ruben Amaro Jr. explains (kind of) why the Phillies chose Castro over J.A. Happ for today's start.

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Stuff that didn't make the paper: Charlie Manuel said Antonio Alfonseca aggravated his injured left ankle last weekend in Pittsburgh. Alfonseca is able to pitch, but maybe only to a batter or two and definitely no more than one inning. ... Shane Victorino only slightly favored his strained right calf last night as he went 0-for-4 in his return from the disabled list. ... As you know, Ryan Howard stole his first base Tuesday night and found the base in his locker Wednesday, courtesy of Victorino. Taped to it was a piece of paper with the words, "I am the greatest." That's what Rickey Henderson said when he broke the all-time stolen-base mark. ... Disappointing to hear the mixed reaction (more boos than cheers, I thought) for Mike Lieberthal last night. Is that any way to treat a guy who has caught more games than anyone in Phillies history?

Day game today, so if y'all are unable to sneak out of work and get to a TV, I'll try to post some in-game updates here. More later.

Aug. 22 -- LUCKY BREAK

Good news for Cole Hamels.

An MRI exam today revealed the Phillies' ace has no structural damage in his left elbow. Hamels has been diagnosed with a "mild elbow strain." The Phillies placed him on the disabled list, retroactive to Aug. 17. He can be activated Sept. 1, and both Hamels and assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said today they expect he'll be ready to pitch by then. Meanwhile, Fabio Castro will start tomorrow against the Dodgers. Castro had been starting at triple-A Ottawa before being called up earlier this week to help out of the bullpen. Castro was 1-4 with a 4.23 ERA as a starter, 4-1 with a 3.24 ERA as a reliever.

Also, as expected, Shane Victorino, sidelined since July 30 with a strained right calf, has been activated (he'll take Hamels' spot on the roster) and is in the lineup tonight, batting sixth and playing right field.

Finally, spoiler alert, check the 50-center tomorrow for news on Adam Eaton, who threw 35 pitches in the bullpen today.

Aug. 22 -- HAMELS HURTIN'

During the fourth inning last night, Dr. Michael Ciccotti was updating reporters on the condition of the Phillies' injured players.

-Chase Utley (broken right hand) may play next week against the Mets.
-Shane Victorino (strained right calf) may be activated today.
-Michael Bourn (sprained left ankle) won't start running until next week.
-Ryan Madson (strained right shoulder) is still at least a week, maybe more, from throwing.
-Mike Zagurski (strained right hamstring) has a torn muscle and is out for the season.

And on, and on.

Then, when it seemed Ciccotti was finally through, he dropped this bombshell: Rather than going for his 15th win tonight against the Dodgers, Cole Hamels would be going for an MRI exam on a sore left elbow. J.D. Durbin will pitch tonight.

Surprise!

Of all the injuries the Phillies have had this season, this could be the biggest blow. Hamels said he doesn't think the "mild medial strain" in his elbow is anything to fret over. He said the point of today's MRI is mostly for his own peace of mind. Hamels talked about last season, when he missed two starts in May because of an unusual feeling in his shoulder. Turns out, it was nothing serious, and Hamels pitched the rest of the season without incident.

But Hamels already has pitched 167-1/3 innings, the most he has ever thrown in the majors. It would make sense that he'd have some elbow soreness right about now. The Phillies just have to hope he can pitch through it.

"We'll see what the MRI shows," Ciccotti said. "Obviously, he's going to miss [tonight]. And any time that he might miss subsequent to that will be dependent upon the MRI findings and how quickly his mild pain resolves."

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Meanwhile, the Phillies keep winning. By now, think of Charlie Manuel like MacGyver, trying everything possible to keep the Phillies together. "Duct tape and Motrin," Jimmy Rollins said.

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Contrary to popular opinion, the Phillies aren't the only team that's been besieged by injuries. The Mets, in fact, have the best record in the National League despite having had 13 players on the disabled list, including their starting outfield (Carlos Beltran, Moises Alou and Shawn Green), both catchers (Paul Lo Duca and Ramon Castro), second baseman Jose Valentin, reliever Duaner Sanchez, and of course, Pedro Martinez.

Nevertheless, the Phillies' ability to withstand so many injuries to so many key players (Ryan Howard, Utley, Victorino, Bourn, Freddy Garcia, Jon Lieber, Brett Myers, Tom Gordon, etc.) is remarkable. But how much can they possibly handle?

"You've seen those feel-good movies," Myers said. "In Rudy, it took him all the way to the end, and he got to play, right? That's a true story, right? Heart takes you a long way, man. That's how you get off the canvas."

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Lost in all the injury news, Mike Lieberthal and Randy Wolf returned to the Bank as members of the Dodgers. It hasn't exactly been smooth sailing with their hometown team, and they can safely say, they both still follow the Phillies.

Aug. 21 -- LITTLE BIG LEAGUE

What do you like to do on your days off? Ryan Howard spent his hanging out with some Little League World Series teams in Williamsport, Pa.

Howard joined the famously slimmed-down Subway spokesman Jared Fogle for a promotional appearance yesterday. According to this account, Howard talked to the kids about eating right and staying in shape. That's been a popular topic for the Phillies, who met with a nutritionist in spring training. Howard also told them about the time he crushed a Little League homer that hit the side of a Red Lobster.

It should be noted that Howard and many other Phillies players were watching the Little League World Series games in the clubhouse last weekend in Pittsburgh. Aaron Rowand even joked that he doesn't have the leaping ability to match the homer-robbing catch made by Walpole (Mass.) center fielder Michael Rando on Saturday.

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Shane Victorino (strained right calf) went 1-for-4 with a double last night for single-A Lakewood. In the same game, Rod Barajas (strained groin) went 0-for-3. It sounds like Victorino will play one more minor-league game tonight, either for Lakewood or double-A Reading, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him back in the Phillies' lineup Wednesday night against the Dodgers. Also, within the notebook, there are more details on the good news Chase Utley got yesterday.

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Big homestand for the Phillies starts tonight. OK, HUGE homestand. Here's a breakdown of the Dodgers, Padres and Mets.

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Almost a year ago, the Phillies acquired Jeff Conine from the Orioles to aid in their playoff push. He played pretty well, too, batting .280 with 17 RBIs in 28 games. But the Phillies didn't think they had room for Conine and Jayson Werth, so in December, they dealt Conine to the Reds for three minor leaguers. Yesterday, Conine was traded to the Mets. I'm betting he gets at least one big hit against the Phillies down the stretch.

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Came across this picture from the Dallas Morning News' 2006 baseball preview. The cover boys: once-and-future Phillies pitchers Adam Eaton, Kevin Millwood and Vicente Padilla.

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There's an excellent feature by Philly native Tyler Kepner in today's New York Times about Joba Chamberlain, the flame-throwing 21-year-old reliever for the Yankees who has struck out 11 batters in seven scoreless innings. The Yanks drafted Chamberlain with the 41st overall pick in the 2006 draft, a selection that was obtained as compensation from the Phillies when they signed Tom Gordon.

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Had a chance to chat yesterday with Mike Gill on ESPN 1450 AM. Listen to the segment here: Lauberpart1.mp3, lauberpart2.mp3.

Aug. 20 -- BACK IN THE SWING

Chase Utley can finally swing a bat.

Cue the Hallelujah chorus.

Utley got clearance today from hand specialist Dr. Randall Culp to increase his workout routine this week. That includes swinging a bat, and knowing Utley, there's a better than even chance he drove to Citizens Bank Park in the rain today to take a few cuts in the cage. For more than a week, Utley has been walking around with a bat in his hand, ready to swing it at something. Now, he finally can.

So, when will Utley return to his No. 3 spot in the Phillies' lineup? Well, that will be determined by the level of pain he can tolerate. His broken right hand isn't healed yet, but if he can handle the discomfort, I think you'll see him playing by next Monday against the Mets, maybe even sooner than that.

More on this tomorrow in the 50-center.

Aug. 20 -- THREE QUESTIONS

PITTSBURGH -- A few thoughts come to mind this morning, as I wait for US Air 3306 to board. And, since the Phillies are off today, I figured I'd bounce a few questions off you.

1. Still can't believe I just watched the Phils lose back-to-back games in which they were leading 4-0 -- and to the lowly Pirates, no less. Playoff teams don't do that. Before the last homestand, against Florida and Atlanta, GM Pat Gillick made headlines by saying a 3-3 record would be acceptable. The Phillies went 4-2. To a man, they expected to go at least 4-2 last week against NL patsies Washington and Pittsburgh, and as they left the clubhouse here yesterday, they were unhappy with going just 3-3. So, now, the Phils are returning home, where they've won 20 of the last 29, for 10 straight games beginning tomorrow night against three playoff contenders -- the Dodgers, Padres and Mets. What would be an acceptable record during this homestand? You'd think they'd need to go at least 6-4, probably even 7-3, wouldn't you?

2. If you didn't watch Ryan Howard every day and simply looked at his numbers (33 homers, league-leading 99 RBIs), you'd think he was having another MVP-caliber season. We, of course, know better. Yes, for a 54-game span over two months from May 25 through July 26, Howard batted .312 with 23 homers, 62 RBIs and a 1.122 OPS. But in his 29 games before that, he batted .204 with six homers, 23 RBIs and an .809 OPS, largely because he was hampered by a strained left quad. And, in his last 22 games since Chase Utley broke his hand July 26, he's batting .185 with four homers, 14 RBIs and a .688 OPS. The one constant has been Howard's frequent strikeouts. He has whiffed 149 times and is on pace to break Adam Dunn's single-season record of 195 Ks, set in 2004. So, what do you make of all this? Are you happy with Howard's production, or do you want to see more?

3. Most people in the organization didn't think Kyle Kendrick was ready when he got called up in June from double-A Reading. But Kendrick, who starts tomorrow night against the Dodgers, has posted eight quality starts (at least six innings, three earned runs or less) in 12 outings. He's lasted at least six innings nine times and has a 3.94 ERA. But do you think he's done enough to merit a guaranteed spot in the rotation next season?

Hopefully that's enough to get you through a Monday without a Phillies game. Once I get home, I'll be checking on Utley's appointment with hand specialist Dr. Randall Culp. It's possible Utley will get clearance to begin swinging a bat, which, obviously, would be huge news. Utley said Saturday that he's hoping to be back before the Aug. 27 series-opener against the Mets. Now that they're five games behind New York in the NL East race, the Phils certainly could use his help.

Aug. 19 -- GAME ON

PITTSBURGH -- The rain has stopped (for now), and the Phillies and Pirates are minutes from getting started. The hope is that the teams will be able to play five innings and make the game official before the rain returns. Caesar Rodney High grad Ian Snell just took the mound for Pittsburgh. He's looking for his first win since July 4.

If there's a delay, you can read about Jamie Moyer's struggles last night in the buck-fifty edition. In the notebook, there's news about restless Chase Utley, who is hoping to resume playing for the Phillies by Aug. 27 when the Mets visit The Bank. And, in the Sunday notes, I wrote about how Brett Myers should return to the rotation next season. What do you think?

Aug. 19 -- SUNDAY, RAINY SUNDAY

PITTSBURGH -- So, here I sit in the PNC Park press box, looking at this stunning view. Well, almost. At the moment, there are no players on the field, only a tarp. And instead of sun overhead, there's only rain. According to the latest forecast, it's going to rain for most of the day. As you might imagine, that has caused a delay in the Phillies-Pirates game until at least 2:15 p.m.

While we wait, I'll open the Blog to a discussion on baseball's nicest ballparks. PNC Park has to be on any list for many reasons, especially the breathtaking view of the Pittsburgh skyline (who knew?) across the Allegheny River. The Roberto Clemente Bridge links the ballpark with downtown. I've been to every park in the National League, with the exception of Dodger Stadium in LA and Petco Park in San Diego, and about half of the ballparks in the American League. It's with that disclosure that I modestly submit my list of the top-7 ballparks.

1. Fenway Park: Maybe I'm biased because I went to college in Boston and used to live in Kenmore Square, within walking distance of Fenway. But the Green Monster is positively striking the first time you see it. Make sure to try the chowda from the Legal Seafood concession stands or a sausage on Lansdowne Street.

2. Wrigley Field: Hard to find a better atmosphere inside or outside a ballpark. Wrigleyville is tons of fun. And the celebrity singing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" during the seventh-inning stretch is one of the coolest things in sports.

3. PNC Park: If only Pittsburgh's team was as great as its ballpark.

4. Oriole Park at Camden Yards: If only Baltimore's team was as great as its ballpark. The first of the retro ballparks is still one of the nicest.

5. AT&T Park: Great location on San Francisco Bay. Great food, too. Try the New England clam chowder in a sourdough bowl.

6. Yankee Stadium: OK, I'm biased. I saw my first baseball game here. And probably my second, third, fourth, 10th, 20th... The history and tradition in this place is downright overwhelming. Love the facade over the outfield. Make sure to take a trip to Monument Park.

7 (tie). Coors Field, Citizens Bank Park: If you don't mind high-scoring games, Coors is a nice-looking park in the very cool LoDo section of Denver. I probably take The Bank for granted since I'm there so often, but it's definitely one of the nicer new ballparks.

OK, your turn. Give us your list.

Aug. 18 -- ALL EVEN

PITTSBURGH -- By the time they went to sleep last night, the Phillies were tied with the Padres atop the NL wild-card standings.

Hard to believe, isn't it?

After the Phillies started 4-11, the season looked lost. And things grew even more bleak when the parade of injuries began. But, somehow, the Phils are 61-45 since April 20, the best record in baseball.

I spent most of last night's 11-8 win writing about the offense, which finally broke out in a big way after batting .204 in the previous seven games. But, after the game, while Smash Mouth was playing down on the field, I changed course, focusing the game story on J.D. Durbin, who had some great things to say about his early-season odyssey through waivers. So, for those of you who live in Kent and Sussex counties, you read about the offense. In New Castle County, you read about Durbin.

I'm sure I've mentioned this in previous posts, but Durbin is a unique character. He ruffled some feathers during one spring training with the Twins for strutting around and calling himself "The Real Deal." But that's Durbin. He's confident in himself, even cocky, and he believes he belongs in the majors. The Phillies have let him be himself. Heck, they've even embraced him for who he is, putting nameplate above his locker that read "The Real Deal" and "The Durbinator," and I think it's put him at ease. He's relaxed, he's having fun, and he's pitching fairly well (4-1, 4.11 ERA as a starter), certainly better than Adam Eaton.

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The notebook has some injury updates on Shane Victorino, Freddy Garcia and Rod Barajas. Victorino seems to realize he's going to have to play through some discomfort in his calf for the rest of the season. Big day for Garcia, who makes his first rehab start in the Gulf Coast League. I'll have an update for you later.

Aug. 17 -- LANNAN SPEAKS

PITTSBURGH -- Good morning, all.

Pretty good game last night in D.C., no? Cole Hamels didn't have his best stuff, and by the seventh inning on a sticky night in the nation's capital, he admitted to Charlie Manuel, catcher Carlos Ruiz and later to us that he was gassed. Still, he managed to throw 6-2/3 scoreless innings and become the fourth 14-game winner in the National League. Nights like that are why Hamels already is one of baseball's best pitchers.

For me, though, one of the more intriguing parts of the day happened before the game. I had a chance to chat with John Lannan, the Nationals' rookie left-hander who became infamous back in Philly for breaking Chase Utley's right hand with a high-and-tight fastball July 26 at the Bank. At the time, Lannan was apologetic. He said he even tried to get Utley's attention during the game to make sure he knew it wasn't intentional.

Three weeks later, Lannan said he has moved on.

Phillies fans, you should, too.

If Lannan was guilty of anything, it was being a little jittery during his major-league debut and maybe compensating by trying to be too precise. By hitting Utley and Ryan Howard with back-to-back pitches, he got ejected from the game. Clearly, that wasn't his intent. But, these days, not enough pitchers throw inside, and Lannan, only 22, realizes he has to work the inner half if he's going to be successful against top left-handed hitters like Utley and Howard.

That's just smart pitching.

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Didn't Make The Paper, Part 1: Tom Gordon admitted he mistakenly thought the count was 2-0, not 1-1, when he served up a leadoff homer to Ronnie Belliard on a high fastball in the eighth inning last night. On the plus side, Gordon's velocity touched 94 mph.

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Didn't Make The Paper, Part 2: J.D. Durbin is just as curious as you are to see how he pitches tonight. Coincidentally, Durbin's last start came against the Pirates on July 28. Yesterday, he said he thought he pitched "great" that night despite allowing five runs in five innings. He gave up four runs in the third on a rally that started with a two-out walk to pitcher Shane Youman.

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Ed Wade got stuck in a tree. Seriously. I'm not kidding. Don't believe me? Our sister paper in South Jersey, where the incident happened, wrote about it.

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PNC Park is, for my money, one of the five nicest ballparks in the majors. I'll post my full list later in the weekend. But when the team hasn't had a winning season in 15 years, a pretty ballpark can be awful empty. So, after the game, the Pirates are hosting a Smash Mouth concert. Bet you they play this song.

Aug. 16 -- VICTORINO UPDATE

WASHINGTON -- Quickly, before tonight's first pitch, here's an update on Shane Victorino, who left a minor-league rehab game for double-A Reading on Tuesday night after feeling "something grab" in his strained right calf.

He went for an MRI exam today in Philly, and the results showed no further damage to his calf. Victorino will rejoin the team tomorrow in Pittsburgh to continue his treatment with athletic trainer Scott Sheridan. He may be ready to resume a minor-league rehab assignment Monday, which would put him in line to play for the Phillies next weekend against the Padres.

Aug. 16 -- RIGHT ON

WASHINGTON -- Jayson Werth homered last night against Nats right-hander Tim Redding, but the Phillies didn't muster much more in the way of offense in a 4-2 loss. They've scored five runs in the last two games and are batting .194 in the last six.

After the game, I talked for a while with Werth, who is replacing Shane Victorino in right field. It goes without saying that not having Chase Utley and Victorino in the lineup has left the Phillies short. But, as Werth admitted, their absence is more striking when the Phillies face right-handed pitching. When switch-hitters Jimmy Rollins and Victorino and left-handed Utley and Ryan Howard are in the lineup, the Phillies' first four hitters are all lefties. Without them, right-handers Tadahito Iguchi and Pat Burrell bat between Rollins and Howard, making it easier on right-handed pitchers. And Werth, another right-handed hitter, bats lower in the lineup.

"Obviously, from a managerial standpoint, and Charlie likes to manage righties and lefties, to have two guys missing like Chase and Shane is tough," Werth said. "But we haven’t been playing that bad. We just haven’t swung the bats well as a team the last two games."

Oh, the Nats will start right-hander Joel Hanrahan tonight. I'll bet he's relieved that he won't have to contend with Victorino and Utley.

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The notebook offers more on Adam Eaton's injury. A few of you have e-mailed me wondering if Eaton really has shoulder inflammation or if this is a convenient way to get him out of the rotation.

My take: Yes, Eaton has been dealing with shoulder stiffness for several weeks. A few weeks ago in Milwaukee, he said he felt fine physically. But a few starts before that, at home against the Nationals, he was evasive when I asked if he was feeling OK. I think his actual words were, "Well, it is almost the dog days of August." Clearly, though, something was bothering him. But, if he was pitching better, it would be Eaton, not J.D. Durbin, on the mound tomorrow night in Pittsburgh. A few weeks off may help heal Eaton's shoulder, but it may do more for his confidence and mental outlook. We'll have more on Durbin -- and a few other surprises -- in tomorrow's 50-center.

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A few minutes before last night's deadline, the Phillies agreed to terms with 37th-round pick Kyle Slate, a right-hander from Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, N.J. The Phillies signed 31 of 51 picks. The most notable pick who didn't sign was third-round Brandon Workman, a right-hander who will instead attend the University of Texas.

Sorry to cut this short, but I've got to run down to the clubhouse. Check back here later, though. Hopefully, we'll have an update on Victorino's visit with Dr. Michael Ciccotti.

Aug. 15 -- EATON TO THE DL

WASHINGTON -- It's official: For at least the next two weeks, Adam Eaton will be replaced in the Phillies' starting rotation by J.D. Durbin, but the decision has to do with more than just Eaton's National League-worst 6.36 ERA.

Evidently, Eaton has been bothered for the past two weeks by stiffness in his right shoulder. And today, three days after he received a cortisone injection, the Phils put him on the 15-day disabled list. He's eligible to be activated Aug. 27, the same day the division-leading Mets open a four-game series at the Bank. Typically, Eaton pitches well against the Mets (5-0, 1.89 ERA in five career starts), but I'd be surprised to see the Phils' $24.5 million investment pitch again before the team is convinced he's right, physically and mentally.

Especially mentally.

Eaton, manager Charlie Manuel and pitching coach Rich Dubee indicated Eaton likely would pitch through the discomfort if his ERA was, say, 4.36 instead of 6.36. But now, Eaton has a good reason to stop pitching for two weeks and clear his head while he also rests his shoulder.

Time to start hacking away for the print edition, but I'll leave you with a quick update on Shane Victorino. He'll see Dr. Michael Ciccotti in Philadelphia tomorrow to determine if he did any further damage to his strained right calf.

And, almost forgot, the answer to our trivia question from today's initial post. The last Phillies player to homer in his first at-bat for the team was, indeed, Jeremy Giambi on May 25, 2002, at Montreal. We have a winner, and it's "Ron Santo's Legs." You're not a Cubs' fan, are you, Ron?

Aug. 15 -- SAMPSON SIGNS

WASHINGTON -- Quick note before the clubhouse opens: the Phils have signed right-hander Julian Sampson and outfielder Cedric Johnson, their 12th and 19th round draft picks in the June draft.

Sampson, 18, is the big news. He went 7-1 with a 1.88 ERA in nine starts for Skyline (Wash.) High and signed with the Phillies instead of taking a scholarship to the University of Washington. The Phils have agreed to terms with 30 of their 51 picks. The deadline for signing draft picks is 11:59 p.m. tonight. I'll have more in the 50-center tomorrow.

Back in a little while, hopefully with updates on Adam Eaton's status for Friday and Shane Victorino's health.

Aug. 15 -- THE GRAND BRANYAN

WASHINGTON -- Last Wednesday night, Russell Branyan played in a game for the Cleveland Indians' triple-A team in Buffalo against the Phillies' affiliate from Ottawa.

He struck out three times.

"That was the most rewarding three strikeouts has been to me all year," Branyan said.

The following day, the Phillies acquired Branyan in a cash transaction to beef up their bench. And, last night, in his first at-bat with his new team, the all-or-nothing slugger launched a pinch-hit, two-run homer over the right-field fence at cavernous RFK Stadium to give the Phils a 3-2 victory over the Nationals. It was some rare good fortune for Branyan, who livened up the game story today by telling us about some scofflaws who stole his Ford F-250 in spring training to transport illegal aliens to and from Mexico. Seriously. It really happened.

When the Phillies made the trade, I scratched my head. In a pinch, Branyan has never been a cinch. In fact, he was a .112 hitter with only one home run and 57 strikeouts in 107 career pinch-hit at-bats before last night. So, why did the Phillies think he could help them again? After last night's game, I asked the brutally honest Pat Gillick.

"Basically, Charlie [Manuel] had him before [in Cleveland], and we don't have any position players on option at double-A or triple-A," Gillick said. "Consequently, we had 13 pitchers and 12 position players and needed another player. We talked about getting somebody who might be able to run into a ball and win a game for us. He's a hit or miss guy."

Last night, Branyan was most certainly a hit.

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Adam Eaton will learn today if he's making his next start, Friday night in Pittsburgh. He said he isn't worried. Personally, I think he should be. Reading between the lines yesterday, it sounded to me like Manuel is leaning toward starting J.D. Durbin against the Pirates.

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Trivia: Name the last Phillies player to homer in his first at-bat for the team. Answer later today when I post an update on Eaton and Shane Victorino.

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For those who weren't familiar with the late Phil Rizzuto, this is a must-see.

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Did anyone see this flare-up between former Phillies Matt Beech and Jose Offerman? Click here for the photos.