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Phils set for sweep against Livan’s chunky meatball

Last time the Phillies faced Livan Hernandez, it took eight innings before the Phils finally scorched his low-80s fastball.

Last night, Brett Myers and the Phillies had the advantage over a weaker Nationals lineup. Today, the tide is about even.

Hernandez (3-5, 5.35 ERA) has slowed considerably since last season, but always pitches the Phillies tough. His longest outing this season was 7 1-3 innings against the Phils on April 19. Lifetime, he’s 9-7 with a 3.38 ERA in 22 starts against them.

Cory Lidle (4-4, 4.92 ERA) will likely spot the Nats three runs in six innings, about his average this season. For those watching at home, Lidle's top half will make for a good time to throw some jalapeno poppers in the oven, do some light gardening, or catch up on correspondence. Come back around the seventh inning, sit down with your nice plate of poppers, and the Nationals' score should be holding around 3 or 4.

Pat Burrell, David Bell and Mike Lieberthal will sit out this game. David Dellucci, Abraham Nunez and Sal Fasano will hit 6-7-8. For both Dellucci and Nunez, this is their first start since May 17.

This will be Fasano’s 22nd start in 51 games, catching Lidle for (I think) only the second time. Fasano went 2-for-4 with an RBI double on Monday.

Quality, not quantity, story of Myers' season

Brett Myers will try for his ninth-consecutive quality start tonight against the Nationals.

Myers (3-2, 2.86 ERA) has not allowed more than  3 ER in any outing this year, but you wouldn’t know it from his win-loss record. The 25-year-old right-hander has pitched in five no decisions.

I like the idea of giving Pat Burrell the night off with Tony Armas Jr. (5-2, 3.44 ERA) on the hill for the Nats. Burrell is just 3-for-21 lifetime off Armas Jr. One of those hits was a home run.

David Dellucci has not started a game since May 17 in Milwaukee. Shane Victorino makes things happen in the lineup and plays a solid outfield.

Win Shares released
The Hardball Times has released Win Shares for the 2006 season. Readers can access Win Shares any time on this site from the link located in the Phillies section of the left sidebar.

Win Shares is a statistic that calculates all the contributions a player makes toward his team’s wins and distills them into a single number.

The Phils are well-represented among National League hitters. Bobby Abreu and Chase Utley are tied for third-best overall, both hitters and pitchers, at producing wins. Albert Pujols leads baseball by a wide margin. Brett Myers is the Phils' best pitcher and ranks 11th in the NL.

Phillies riding bat of red-hot Howard

Take a look at this photo. This is not a force that should be associated with a .520 ballclub. (AP Photo)

Ryan Howard's three-run homer broke open an 11-2 laugher against the Nationals last night. Maybe it will break open the shell the Phillies have climbed inside this season. In front of 33,000 strong, the Phils smoked the Nationals. And they should smoke the Nationals.

They could, and should, do this more.

How much does Ryan Howard like hitting fifth? In his abbreviated duty batting behind Burrell and ahead of the center fielder, Howard has established himself as the best No. 5 hitter in the National League. In 98 at bats from that slot, he has racked up a league-best 31 RBIs and 11 home runs. In total, he ranks second in the NL in homers (18) second in RBIs (47) and third in slugging (.624).

Perhaps the biggest surprise of all is his growing success against left-handed pitching. Because of this, his strikeouts haven’t been all that bad. 47 ranks 10th in the NL.

Bonus offense
David Bell has taken more hacks from the No. 7 hole than any hitter in the National League this season (131 ABs). That’s 23 more than No. 2, Johnny Estrada.

Bell’s production from that slot has been a nice bonus. Eighteen RBIs is second only to Estrada (27) in the NL. He leads all NL seven-hitters with 4 homers and 15 runs scored.

Bell’s line stands at .270/.333/.409. That’s basically double what the next guy on the depth chart has done. What's his name ... something Diaz? Lopez? Meh. Doesn't matter.

Back together again
Before Jon Lieber injured himself fielding a ground ball, I wanted to post yesterday on how all the regulars are back in the lineup. Aaron Rowand is back, stinging the ball and chasing down drives over his head. Mike Lieberthal is back. Cole Hamels is coming back. With the exception of one or two, the 25-man roster is comprised of people that belong.

So now that summer is here, it’s time for the Phils to turn on the burners. They’re better than a .520 team. Now go prove it. They’ve flittered away too many chances to win games, including five to the Brewers alone. They don’t have the pitching, but the way Howard, and Chase Utley, and the rest of the offense is producing, they should be generating more results like last night. They buried the Nationals. And they should bury the Nationals.

L.A., Wheels, Harry, Scott, bust out the Hawaiian shirts. It’s gonna be a hot one.

Lieber lands on DL; Sanches called up

Jon Lieber lands on the 15-day disabled list with a left groin strain suffered in yesterday's 11-2 win over Washington.

Right-hander Brian Sanches, who posted a 2.49 ERA with 23 strikeouts and only 4 walks in 21 1-3 relief innings with Scranton, replaces his spot on the roster for the time being.

A report on Phillies.com lists Triple-A pitchers Matt White and Eude Brito, both left-handers, as possibilities to replace Lieber in the rotation. The article also mentions Double-A prospects Gio Gonzalez and Scott Mathieson as worthy of merit. Clay Condrey has been ruled out by pitching coach Rich Dubee because his pitches show better in relief.

Beerleaguer take
I often wonder how major league bullpens are formed. This is how; situations like this. Pitchers break down, teams activate their best temporary replacements. If they show well, who knows? They could stick around, perhaps for years. If they fail, they'll bounce around some more.

Sanches, and also Condrey who was brilliant in relief yesterday, are two older, non-prospects that have been lights-out in middle relief for the Red Barons. Here, they step into a muddled middle relief situation where just about everyone has failed them.

Sanches, 27, was part of a pretty good crop of unheralded minor leauge acquisitions from two years ago and has been steady ever since. Like Condrey, Sanches was traded by San Diego to the Phils just before the start of the 2004 season.

From an article that appeared during his first season in Reading, coaches attribute Sanches' turn-around to a better fastball:

"Anytime Brian came in early in the year he went right to his curveball," manager Greg Legg said in 2004. "I complained about it to Rod (Nichols, pitching coach). Rod made a good point: He said a lot of relievers are taught from an organization standpoint to come in the game and the first pitch is a breaking ball, strike one. Rod talked to him, and after that he's come in and thrown more fastballs. I think his fastball has got better because he's locating it better. He's having impeccable control with it, in and out, and they've worked down in the pen to get him more velocity."

I've got to be honest. I'm not all that upset about losing Lieber for a few weeks. At 36, he does not look fresh and is having the worst season of his career. I'm excited to see how the club will replace him and how that pitcher will respond to the opportunity. I suspect the time away will be good for the struggling veteran.

The Phillies are desperate for a spark in middle relief. Like Condrey, this is another good opportunity for a late-blooming prospect in Sanches. Around baseball, there are dozens of relievers that have found major-league success by following a similar path.

Pitching, pitching, pitching

The Phillies don’t have the pitching.

Don’t know why I thought they did. Pat Gillick himself indicated they didn’t.

The Phillies are down to two pitchers they can trust to put them in position to win a game: Brett Myers in the starting rotation, and Tom Gordon at the back of the bullpen. To varying degrees, they roll the dice with everyone else.

Gavin Floyd pitched yesterday. After some so-so success and tolerable mistakes early on, Floyd has tipped his scale back toward Triple-A with three-straight appearances with five or more runs. He gave up six in 4 1-3 innings yesterday. Not good enough on a contending team.

Ryan Franklin isn’t good enough, either. No pitcher has cost them more during the recent skid, which is now up to nine losses in 10 tries. Franklin signed with a reputation for allowing home runs by the bunches and has seen his ERA balloon from 3.38 on May 21 to 5.32 as of this morning. Franklin gave up two long balls in his sorry inning yesterday. His luck has totally run dry.

The Phillies clearly need help in all areas of pitching, and a report in this morning’s Inquirer says the Phils are scouting Dontrelle Willis. The Phils don’t have many prospects in their system, but probably have enough to make a deal happen for the studly left-hander, who doesn't become a free agent until 2009. The article mentions everyone from Carlos Ruiz, to Scott Mathieson to Shane Victorino.

On the home front, the only good news is Cole Hamels is reportedly A-OK. The left-hander said his shoulder felt fine just a day after he heard the “pop.”

On the other hand, I’m still recovering from reading that word when the story first broke. “Pop!” as in “Pop!” there goes the season, “Pop!” there goes the future.

Madson gets the start
If the Phillies could get tolerable results from Gavin Floyd (6.62 ERA) the rest of the way in the starting rotation, they would be a much better team keeping Ryan Madson in the back of the bullpen, where all hell has broken loose.

But since Floyd has regressed, now they're faced with a decision. Madson (4-3, 5.98 ERA) had his best appearance of the season in the 16-inning marathon against New York, pitching 7 1-3 innings and allowing only 1 run in relief.  It was like a start in length, but in his actual sarts, he’s been hit hard and has struggled with his control.

The feeling here is Floyd has become even more unacceptable, but a demotion to the minors could mean he will be lost forever.

This is a tough one.

Today’s start from Madson could turn into the biggest of Floyd’s career.

Bullpen quick fix
Charlie Manuel needs to keep his starting pitchers in the game longer. For example, on Friday he should have kept Lidle in for the seventh inning instead of go to Geoff Geary, who came in and gave up a run. Lidle wasn't finding his control, but a veteran soft-tosser like Lidle can figure it out, and shouldn't get tired. Leave him in. In addition, Manuel should allow more pitchers to take a hack late. They can't be much worse than the bench.

Food for thought
How many of the pitching decisions, in terms of how best to use guys and when to take them out, is influenced by pitching coach Rich Dubee? It appears Manuel goes to him often, and Dubee records just about everything on a clipboard. I've never seen a pitching coach do anything quite like this.

5,000 comments and counting

Congratulations to Beerleaguer reader, kdon, for posting comment No. 5,000 in the last thread.

Kdon will receive a heavily used mass market copy of "Summer of '49" by David Halberstam, which was purchased at a book sale for 25 cents and read over my trip to the Dominican Republic last January. Kindly forward your mailing address via e-mail, and I will send you the book on Monday. If you've already read it, or don't want it, I'll find some other home for it. Thanks to kdon, and everyone, for their part in making this Web site thrive.

Phillies seeking revenge tonight vs. Brewers

The Phillies, who entered last week's series with Milwaukee as the hottest team in baseball, lost each of their games to the Brewers by one run.

Revenge would be sweet, but won't come easy. Milwaukee sends left-hander Chris Capuano (5-3, 2.78 ERA) to the mound against a Phillies team that has battled hard against lefties (.240 BA, .731 OPS). Capuano enters the game ranked sixth in the NL in ERA. Opponents are hitting just .224 against him.

Cory Lidle (4-4, 4.80 ERA) matches up with Capuano for the second time in a little over a week. Lidle has been averaging about 6 innings, 3 runs a game.

Shane Victorino will lead off for the second day in a row. Jimmy Rollins will bat sixth.

610-WIP getting better at talkin' baseball

Just one year ago, it was impossible to hear anything but Eagles talk over the local airwaves. But on 610-WIP radio -- the station whose logo is written in the same typeface as the Birds -- sports discourse has slowly shifted toward Phillies baseball.

I’m still getting a good laugh at how Bobby Abreu won a Gold Glove award.

I’m not saying this in a heavy-handed sort of way, but it’s one of those moments in baseball history that will forever bring a smile to my face. He wasn't even the best right fielder in his own division. In fact, he was probably the worst.

NYM: Cameron (.890 ZR)
WAS: Guillen (.888 ZR)
ATL: Francouer (.887 ZR)
FLA: Encarnacion (.884 ZR)
PHL: Abreu (.852 ZR)

The best piece of comedy I’ve heard in quite a while came Tuesday morning on 610-WIP, a song about Bobby Abreu’s defense by Philadelphia sports impersonator Joe Conklin. In it, Conklin spoofed Harry Kalas with a call we’ve heard before:

"Ball hit deep to right field ... Abreu goes back ... Oh no! He"s turning the wrong way!"

It’s probably the only light-hearted piece I’ve ever heard about the right-fielder on 610, including opinion that gets down-right nasty during the drive home. It's probably why this particular piece resonated so much, even though it centered on a player's shortcomings.

In general, I've noticed that Phillies talk is starting to creep back into the discourse more and more on 610, a station that has gained a reputation for vilifying the local nine.

Some of this, I feel, has to do with an Eagles team that has started to crack. Considering how the rest of the division improved, it’s unlikely the Eagles will take this city for the same ride it did in 2004. In addition, last year at this time, the Eagles were coming off a Super Bowl appearance, and T.O. was the hot topic most callers wanted to discuss.

Part of the shift also has to do with the Phillies themselves. Homegrown talents, like Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, have ushered in the new guard, while pushing aside the old guard – Pat Burrell, Mike Lieberthal, Abreu – players some fans associate with a disappointing era.

Baseball talk of all varieties is fine by me, but I’m picky. I don’t like how many trivial issues -- like fussing with the batting order, and singling out Abreu -- occupy so much airtime. It happens even when the lineup is producing.

Most of all, I didn’t like how Aaron Rowand’s catch became a springboard to bury Abreu even more. Statistically, Abreu will go down as one of the team’s best run producers in the long history of the organization, but that fact is largely overlooked by the personalities on the station.

"Generally when folks criticize Bobby, they never criticize his actual production, but rather what they believe his production might be if he played the way they think he should," said Beerleaguer poster, pawnking, in yesterday’s thread. "I contend that he has shown he produces well, and considering his track record and indeed, his current production this year, shouldn't be overly criticized for his approach to the game."

This season, the host that seems to mirror my own take on the Phillies most is Anthony Gargano, who sees a good team that should compete for a playoff birth.

Gargano has taken issue with Abreu in the past -- as have I -- but wonders why Pat Burrell does not draw the same level of criticism for similar reasons.

In the past year, 610 seems to have taken active strides to beef up the Phillies content. Obviously, the team itself is most to blame for failing to produce a winner, giving fans nothing to talk about at all.

John Marzano has been a great guest addition to the broadcast team. His expert take is not dissimilar in style to Ray Didinger for the Eagles. Two Saturdays ago, following Cole Hamels debut, Rhea Hughes hosted a morning show that was almost entirely dedicated to the Phils. It was an outstanding show. In addition, Glen Macnow, near the end of spring training, hosted a series of shows designed to get fans revved up about the season.

Phillies primed for action

With enough baseball played to identify strengths and weaknesses, the time is right for Pat Gillick to play a hand.

This afternoon isn’t just the final game of a three-game series with the division leader. It’s the last game before the Phillies come home to meet their maker.

Not to look ahead, but tomorrow the curtain goes up on a six-game homestand, following an emotional, gritty series with the Mets. Perhaps I’m wrong, but this isn’t just another mini-homestand. This is a natural, target area on the schedule where changes could occur. At this point, enough baseball has been played, and Pat Gillick knows the game well. It's time.

It’s safe to assume Gillick will use the next week, which sees three against Milwaukee and three against Washington, to figure out, first-hand, what he has and what he needs. Interestingly, Scranton also begins a mini homestand during this time, so all the players he has to work with are right in front of him. It’s also intriguing that the Nationals, who come in on Monday, could be shifting into a rebuilding mode. Several of their bullpen arms would look good in a Phillies uniform.

The two names mentioned most as having their heads resting on the chopping block have never been more unpopular: Charlie Manuel and Bobby Abreu. It's no secret Manuel's personality and Gillick's personality are like oil and water, and Abreu was shopped all winter. Considering how many questionable decisions the skipper has made, and considering how well Shane Victorino showed in his fill-in opportunity in center field, there's no reason to believe the two are 100 percent secure.

Game 3: Mets, Phillies
This isn’t just an opportune time to reevaluate the team; it’s also a good opportunity to start a winning steak. The Phils clearly have the upper hand pitching-wise this afternoon, sending Brett Myers (2-2, 2.75 ERA) to the mound against Jeremi Gonzalez (0-0, 10.13 ERA). Myers has been a monster on the road (2.36 ERA) and in day games (1.31 ERA).

With reports on how cranked up the team was following yesterday’s loss, expect the Phils to turn it up today, and ride it a little into the homestand when they host the Brew Crew. Tomorrow begins a revenge situation, at home, against an inferior team, and on Saturday, Aaron Rowand is expected to return to the lineup.

The Phils have lost seven of their last eight contests, but starting today, those fortunes will reverse. Of course, they would love to win them all, but in reality, many teams, including the Braves over the last few season, just "hover" into June. That’s what the Phillies will do. Their 23-22 record is by no means a disaster. A win this afternoon would have them four back of the Mets for the division lead.

Free publicity derailed
Beerleaguer is featured this morning in Philadelphia's daily Metro newspaper.

Awesome, but how's this for bad luck: The paper, which circulates primarily to Philadelphia's train commuters, was not delivered today because of a massive power failure that wiped out the entire Northeast rail line.

You can still read the interview on their Web site here, but still. Typical. So typical.

Update: Josh from Metro, who did the interview, said the papers were in fact delivered today, so 150,000 around the city were able to read about Beerleaguer after all. Thanks for the update, Josh.

Mets, Phillies look to finish game before Thursday

A recap of the time and energy invested into last night's game, to justify why tonight I will watch 'Lost' instead.

In the past 18 hours:
--- Watch baseball game from Tuesday, 7 p.m. to Wednesday, 12:45 a.m.
--- Think about game for another half hour, delete profane comments from Mets fans before going to bed.
--- Wake up and think about game in shower and while I'm feeding the cat. Delete more profane comments that were published while I slept.
--- Think about game during 30-minute ride to work. Running late because I've overslept, due to length of the game.
--- Read and respond to 50-plus comments about the game.
--- Participate in three or four water cooler conversations about the game.
--- Talk to Stu the security guard about the game.
--- Write follow-up blog entry about the game.
--- Read and respond to three e-mails about the game.
--- Read Baseball Prospectus story on Manuel's strategy during the game.
--- Read Metsblog for the out-of-town take on the game.
--- During commute home, listen to Howard Eskin and callers discuss the game.
--- Receive cell phone call about the game.
--- Nearly 24 hours since Steve Trachsel threw the first pitch, complete this post on why I refuse to watch tonight's game.

Double-A shakedown looming

Double-A Reading had all the makings of a dream team, but after a 15-28 start, the season has turned into a nightmare.

From Mike Drago’s Reading Eagle blog: "The Phillies organization wasn't saying anything about this 15-28 catastrophe, but it's clear they're not happy with what's going on with their Double-A club and they're about to make some changes."

Drago continues: "It's no coincidence that most of the Phillies minor league staff has gathered in Reading. Gorman Heimueller, the pitching coordinator is here. So is Don Long, the hitting coordinator. Outfielder coordinator Jerry Martin and catching coordinator Roly DeArmas are here. Dave Owen, the infield coordinator, is expected in Wednesday.

"By this time Wednesday, or perhaps following Thursday afternoon's game, the roster should receive a makeover. Some new players will be signed. Some current players will be released, or sent back to Clearwater." Click here for the rest of the story. Click here for R-Phils stats. 

Beer Nuts: A night of positives, negatives

More thoughts from last night's 9-8 16-inning marathon.

---- Five of the Phillies runs were driven home off the bat of David Bell. Bell is hitting .308 in May with an .853 OPS. Considering Alex Gonzalez’s retirement, and Abraham Nunez’s inability to hit much of anything, Bell has not only staved off challenges for his position, but is proving he has a little more left in his tank.

---- Speaking of Nunez, the seldom-seen utilityman was one of several bench players exposed offensively. After Nunez replaced Bell, and Chris Roberson pinch ran for Pat Burrell, Mets pitching had no trouble handling the Phillies lineup. Darren Oliver was able to neutralize the left-handed dominant Phillies, and it was only a matter of time before the thumpers for New York put it away.

---- The Phillies made it very easy for Oliver by wasting at bats, specifically some bad turns from Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino. Rollins was able to poke a single to left to avoid going 0-for-7.

---- As reader Tony pointed out earlier -- written in a dignified manner that upholds the standards of Beerleaguer -- the Phils are hitting .129 (4 for 31) with the bases loaded with a .290 slugging percentage, and they're hitting .190 (35 for 184) with a .288 SLG with 2 outs and runners in scoring position.

"The hitters have to start bearing down in those situations," Tony wrote in a mature fashion that wasn’t self-serving. "They look too anxious at times. Like last night when Howard swung at 3 balls and Victorino swung at the first or second pitch when the bases were loaded."

---- Why don’t we just call the Jose Reyes home run off Ryan Franklin what it really is: a lucky, lucky stab at a pitch near the dirt. After that, the odds were in the Mets favor to capitalize on playing at home and sitting on the better bullpen.

---- Defense continues to cost the Phillies games, including two bad plays by Bobby Abreu and Howard.

---- Here’s hoping last night’s outstanding, seven-inning appearance has rebuilt Ryan Madson’s confidence to pitch the later innings. The Phillies have no, true setup man the way the Mets do in Duaner Sanchez.

---- Speaking of Sanchez, he’s been very impressive for the Mets, but to me, Billy Wagner looks very hittable.

Mets, Phillies: Game 1

The Phillies' 23-20 record hangs like a road sign pointing toward Highway 87-winner.

The buildup for the last Mets series crashed ashore like a wave carrying two gigantic sea barges.

This time, it’s more like two dinghies, one catching faint gusts from an unending leadoff hitter controversy, the other puttering along after a series win over the Yankees.

Neither team is playing great baseball, and as it happens in late May, the tide of excitement has waned. We don’t even have Alex Gonzalez to toss into the pond to create a ripple. And by the way, hooray for Chris Coste. The Phillies rescued him from drowning.

Sure, Beerleaguer could grease the rails and reopen the classy line of communication from last series, but this jar is fresh out of smack. Billy Wagner may have melted down the other day, but it was our closer, Tom Gordon, who blew it the last time these teams met. We won the series thanks to “The Catch,” but Mother Nature also lent a hand.

The Phillies will avoid their two best pitchers, Pedro Martinez and Tom Glavine. Tomorrow’s matchup is the one to watch, featuring our rookie vs. theirs: Cole Hamels against Alay Soler.

Tonight, it’s Gavin Floyd (4-2, 5.71 ERA) doing his best to leave Randy Wolf ... excuse me ... THE METS in the dust. Steve Trachsel (2-4, 4.33 ERA) is on the hill for the homeboys.

'Best available' is best strategy for June draft

Baseball America is calling the upcoming draft class one of the weakest in years, and especially thin with polished bats. Too bad, because that's what the Phillies need most.

According to the magazine, pitching figures to dominate the first round of the June draft, happening Tuesday, June 6. The Phillies are picking 18th thanks to the Mets signing of Type A Free Agent Billy Wagner. The Yankees received the Philadelphia’s 21st pick for the same reason when they signed Tom Gordon.

The Phillies have a poor reputation for developing pitching, but have quietly improved this area in the past year. The best arms are in Reading, including a solid stable of four legitimate big-league prospects in Scott Mathieson, Gio Gonzalez, Dan Haigwood and Zach Segovia. Segovia was recently called up to Reading and has perhaps been the best surprise in the farm system this season.

The best bulk of position players actually resides in Triple-A, but it is an older group of minor league free agents and slow-risers that has nothing left to learn in the farm system. Several players, including catcher Carlos Ruiz and Chris Roberson, have graduated to the big leagues, but neither is expected to be a regular contributor anytime soon.

If the draft was stacked with position prospects, the Phillies would do well taking a second baseman or shortstop. I’m dismayed to find that Baseball America has the Phillies taking exactly the type of player they should avoid in their mock draft:

"Philadelphia is hurting for position players in a draft with few sure things," Jim Callis writes. "The Phillies may have to roll the dice on someone like Louisiana high school outfielder Jared Mitchell, a Louisiana State-bound wide receiver with raw baseball skills. They'd also have to consider any of the previously mentioned pitchers if they dropped."

Projected Pick: Jared Mitchell.

The Phillies have a horrendous record of turning projects into players, and currently have a project outfielder working his way through the system in center fielder Greg Golson.

The 20-year-old Golson was the first pick in the 2004 draft and is playing this season for Low-A Lakewood. Golson is one of many slashing outfielder the Phillies have tested over the years, a list that includes Reggie Taylor and Marlon Byrd.

Like many high-ranking Phillies prospects, Golson is struggling badly, hitting .154. with 49 strikeouts in 162 at bats. Golson is still young enough to hold off on raising the red flag, but others are less fortunate.

Tim Moss, the Phillies third round pick in the 2002 draft, has fallen flat. Moss began his Double-A career in a 0-for-25 slump, including a stretch that included 13 strikeouts in 18 at bats. The 24-year-old second baseman, ranked in the top 10 for Phillies prospects by most publications, is still hitting just .194 with 53 strikeouts in 134 at bats.

Bright spots among Phillies position prospects are few. Center fielder Michael Bourn is offering a little more hope, playing his second season in Reading. The 23-year-old speedster is hitting .261, plays a great outfield and scores runs, but has no power to speak of and does not appear to be the sure bet his No. 3 organizational ranking would indicate. Twenty-year-old shortstop Brad Harman is hitting .260 with Clearwater, but has committed 17 errors. Mike Costanzo, the Philadelphia-born college third baseman taken in last-year’s draft, is hitting .241 with Clearwater. Welinson Baez, a third baseman/shortstop ranked 5th by BA, is hitting .220 in Lakewood with 1 homer.

So, what is the strategy? Best available, it seems. Picking 18th, they could theoretically snag the best second baseman or shortstop in the draft if it fell to them, but should avoid this if there's any doubt the kid can play.

There's no question these are areas the Phillies must start retooling, but if the only sure bet at 18 is a pitcher, this is the direction they should take.

First round: 18 (for Wagner)
First round supplemental: 37 (for Wagner)
Second round: 65
Third round: 97
Fourth round: 127
Fifth round: 157

Boston series thread

Use this thread to share your thoughts on the Red Sox series beginning tonight at Citizen's Bank Park. Live posting will resume Monday. Go Phillies!

Phillies news thread

For the second time in a year, Beerleaguer will miss the Boston series. Live posting will resume Monday.

Until then, you're in charge. Use this space to discuss the latest news, including word that Randy Wolf will make his first rehab start Tuesday in Clearwater.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, GM Pat Gillick said the Phils would not bring Wolf back if they thought he was not completely ready. "We would just leave him on the disabled list," the general manager told the Inquirer.

A healthy Wolf could give the rotation a healthy boost, and could also force one of their starters into the bullpen or back to the minors.

At least Cole pitches today

Cole Hamels will be asked to do what ace pitchers are expected to do: stop a losing streak dead in its tracks.

I’ll admit, when the floodgates opened last night in the sixth, I reasoned "At least Cole Hamels pitches tomorrow."

That’s the kind of statement Mets fans will say after Jose Lima gets ripped a new one tonight against the Cards, and Jeremi Gonzalez loses to Randy Johnson and the Yankees on Friday. "At least Pedro pitches tomorrow."

Optimistic? Yes. Out of the question? No.

Though he lasted just five innings and gave up five walks in his major league debut, Hamels still lived up to the hype. He held the Reds without a hit until the fifth, and looked more poised than any rookie I’ve ever seen.

King Cole will be handed the ball in an important situation this afternoon. The Phillies will be looking to avoid a sweep that would wash out the three wins they took in Cincinnati. Level-headed fans will say a 3-3 roadtrip is more a success than failure. I will not.

Milwaukee will also send a rookie pitcher to the hill for his second start. Left-hander Dana Eveland (0-0, 9.53) gave up seven hits and six runs in 5 2-3 innings against the Mets last Saturday before he was yanked.

The Phillies struggles against left-handers go without saying. How’s this for cockeyed: If I was asked to pick two Phillies to face a left-hander in a critical at bat right now, at this moment, I'd take Shane Victorino and Ryan Howand. Pat Burrell would be there if he was in a better groove.

Check out these averages vs. LHP: Chase Utley (.217), Bobby Abreu (.194!), Aaron Rowand (.194), David Bell (.182).

Leftovers
Last night’s ninth inning was a situation custom-built for Arthur Rhodes, and he blew it. Rhodes has been living on the edge this season and finally fell off the cliff. He’s allowing 1.90 hits or walks an inning.

After some nice early moments, the bullpen is starting to crack. It’s safe to say the strengths and weaknesses are starting to settle in, and the back-end of the bullpen was expected to be the Achilles Heel. Jon Lieber, Brett Myers and Cory Lidle are now pitching as expected. Gavin Floyd is what he is. The defense has disappointed, but not lately. The offense has been lackluster, but different heroes have emerged.

The Phillies are still searching for a steady bridge to link starter to closer. Ryan Madson, Ryan Franklin, Rheal Cormier and Rhodes are keys to this team.

Braves rising
The Mets have been on the ropes of late, going 4-6 in their last 10. Meanwhile, the Braves are 8-2, and now just 2.5 games back of the Phillies.

Floyd looking to prove his staying power

A strong showing tonight should answer any doubts whether Gavin Floyd can hang with the big boys.

Believe it or not, Floyd (4-2, 5.30 ERA) is seeking his fourth-straight win. He is 3-0 with a 2.04 ERA over his last three outings after pitching that rain-shortened shutout against the Mets last week.

Floyd's biggest issue is he has allowed too many walks, 21, to just 21 strikeouts. Against the young, agressive Brewers, it shouldn't hurt him quite as much.

I like the Phillies to win this game, and for Floyd to have another solid start. One could make a strong case that Floyd, from his surprise addition to the starting rotation to his decent showing thus far, represents the nicest surprise of the young season.

Behind him, his teammates haven't been getting on base. Comments thread rumblings from yesterday's post have been calling for a new leadoff hitter, someone that will get on base with better frequency than Jimmy Rollins. J-Roll has the lowest on-base percentage (.306) among the seven Phillies regulars. That's only four points higher than Sal Fasano. Yuck.

The reality is, the Phillies offense hasn't produced. They're 11th in the league in runs (180), and 10th in on-base percentage (.336), after leading the league in on-base percentage a year ago.

The bats will face somewhat of a change this game, as Milwaukee sends a long-lost right-hander to the mound in Dave Bush (4-3, 4.17 ERA). This will be the first time I've seen Bush pitch. The 28-year-old former Jay has an excellent strikeout-to-walk ratio of 44-9.

Update: Jimmy Rollins remains in the leadoff spot tonight, but there are several changes. Pat Burrell gets the night off, as hinted in Marcus Hayes' story this morning in the Daily News. David Dellucci will start instead. David Bell also gets a breather. Abraham Nunez starts at third. That means Ryan Howard will bat cleanup. Shane Victorino slides into the No. 5 spot.

Live box score here.

Capuano best 18-game winner you’ve never heard of

Phillies look to make it 14 wins in 15 games when they face their third-straight left-hander tonight, Milwaukee's unheralded Chris Capuano.

If I knew anything about Chris Capuano, I’d write it here. I don’t, so I’ll write this: 4-3, 2.83 ERA. Possibly among the five-best left-handers in the NL, currently second among left-handers in ERA to Tom Glavine. This is his third season. 2005 was a breakout year.

The Phillies have faced a slew of lefties on the road, including two in Pittsburgh, two in Florida and two in Cincinatti. They are scheduled to face another lefty, Dana Eveland, later this series. The Phils are hitting just .226/.322/.380 against southpaws.

Cory Lidle (3-4, 5.14 ERA) takes the mound for the Phillies. This might be a good time to revisit those dishes that have been piling up since the Pittsburgh series. Judging from readers, there isn’t much hope headed into tonight, even though the Phils have won 13-of-14 games and trail the Mets by one game.

Reminder: The game starts at 8:05, so enjoy Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune.

All the right moves

Pat Gillick took a team that was good on paper, shook it up, and made something better.

If you listened to Aaron Rowand’s press conference, you heard Arthur Rhodes’ name mentioned as a new player having a positive influence behind the scenes.

If you subscribe to the theory that this team has overcome its identity crisis, you have Pat Gillick to thank for adding players like Rhodes and Rowand, all supposedly altering the stagnant dynamic of the Phillies.

When Gillick first made his rounds in November, I paid close attention to the newspapers and read every quote, hoping to get a feel for his thought process. Though his responses were measured, reading between the lines, one could surmise that competitive drive was very important to him, perhaps vital.

Gillick made Rowand, Rhodes and Tom Gordon his main additions, and also waived goodbye to players like Kenny Lofton, Vicente Padilla, Todd Pratt and Jason Michaels, all reported later to have had a negative influence in the locker room. One story attributed team officials as saying J-Mike was holding Pat Burrell back to some degree.

More than any Phillies team in recent memory, players are earning respect for things you can’t read in a box score. Rowand’s perfectly stated press conference is a good example. Sal Fasano, and his role on this team, is another good example.

Fasano was signed as a cheap replacement to Todd Pratt. The Phillies knew they had a good player waiting in Carlos Ruiz, but didn’t know if he was ready. Fasano was the answer, and as it turns out, is starting more games than most backups.

It seems now that Fasano was signed more for his positive influence than for his talent. His primary assignment became a significant task. His job was to make sure a basketcase like Gavin Floyd kept his head on straight and didn’t embarrass himself enough to shatter his confidence for good. If Floyd failed, there’s little doubt he would have been lost forever.

Today, Fasano has not only handled him, but Floyd appears to be improving with every start.

Each of Gillick’s primary additions, like Fasano, have made a positive difference, and it makes one wonder how committed he was to resigning Billy Wagner.

Conventional wisdom says Wagner played the Phillies and Mets to drive up his price, but what if Gillick was simply playing along to mollify fans still holding on to the belief the Phillies are too cheap and do not care about winning? Before the Mets series, Wagner admitted he was not well-liked by teammates. He wanted a long-term deal, something Gillick had to realize was beyond the Phillies’ means, and could also counter the Phillies good karma. Their final offer was said to come in at two-years, well under his final four-year, $40 million deal with New York.

Bobby
Bobby Abreu needs a change of scenery, and that's not taking anything away the outstanding career he's had with the Phillies.

Gillick shopped him all winter and he gets kicked around too much by his home fans and media. Since the all-star break of '05, he's been out of sorts. Rowand is such a captain out there, it wouldn't surprise me if Abreu is a little overwhelmed by it all.

I don't believe Gillick would hesitate in going the rest of the way with Shane Victorino/David Dellucci/Chris Roberson, just to clear Abreu's salary from the table and give himself more flexibility to make moves.

Abreu is slumping now, and I wouldn't count on it to stay that way, but it's pretty clear the team’s recent resurgence, and even their September playoff push, happened largely without him.

Abreu’s recent hitting slump and appearant declining health must be an untimely development for Gillick, who might have been hoping to move Abreu around the trade deadline. But I have a hard time believing any scout would endorse a trade for Bobby right now considering his high price tag. He hasn't made solid contact in two weeks.

Beer nuts: Myers still excelling away from home

Pat Gillick said this would be Brett Myers’ breakout year, and so far the 25-year-old former first-round pick has emerged as the staff ace. But can it continue, and will he ever dig home cooking?

Myers was a main player in the Phillies late-May/early-June run in 2005, including a string of similar no-decisions. But after the all-star break, Myers turned on the cruise control and rarely made it past seven innings. The Phillies watched as his ERA fell from 3.20 before the break to 3.72, still a career-best, but not the stuff of the first two months.

This season, Myers has not allowed more than three runs in any appearance, and in his last four starts, has lasted seven innings or longer.

After yesterday’s beauty in Cincinnati, he’s 2-1 with a 2.73 ERA, seventh best in the National League.

Though it’s still early in his career, Myers has pitched long enough leave a trail of trends. Throwing out 2004, which was all over the map, Myers has generally started hot and cooled down. In addition, in all but one season, he’s pitched significantly better on the road. Last season, his home/away splits were 4.20/3.09. So far in ’06, they are 3.12/2.36.

For Myers to become an elite pitcher from start to finish, he needs to bring the same focused approach we saw yesterday along home. Home is where he is most likely to lose his cool, slow down and give up the big innings. All the other numbers indicate a pitcher starting to blossom into an ace, but overcoming his home "disadvantage" remains his biggest obstacle.

Pitching stuff:

--- Phillies pitching has an 0.77 ERA in the last four games.

--- According to Hardball Times data, Myers leads the league in left-on base percentage (LOB%). LOB% is the percentage of baserunners allowed that didn't score a run. So in other words, 87 percent of Myers’ base-runners did not score, which is very good. Good pitchers who allow fewer baserunners will have higher LOB% rates.

--- Cory Lidle struck out a career-high 11 in his only game at Milwaukee last season. His total strikeouts at Citizen’s Bank Park were 51.

--- Lidle and Jon Lieber are among the league leaders in giving up line drives. Lidle ranks 8th (22.9%) and Lieber ranks 11th (22.5%).

--- Want more proof that wins and losses are bogus? Look no further than the Phillies, where Myers has the fewest wins of starters not named Cole, and Ryan Madson and Gavin Floyd are tied for the team lead with 4. Madson earned a win for his two-homer blown save in Friday’s game, which was enough to make me sick.

Phillies, Myers, try for Cincinnati sweep

Brett Myers and the smoking-hot Phillies take on left-hander Brandon Claussen and the Reds this afternoon.

Myers (2-1, 2.96 ERA) will look to continue a growing trend of rock-solid starting pitching. Phillies starters have not given up a run this series. Jon Lieber took a perfect game into the seventh last night, and Cole Hamels pitched five shutout innings in his Friday debut.

Myers has been the Phillies best pitcher this season and has gone seven or more innings in four of his last five starts. He'll look to follow the Phillies best start of the season. Lieber was simply outstanding last night.

Brandon Claussen (2-4, 5.79 ERA) takes the mound for the Reds, looking to bounce back after Tuesday's dismal start against Washington.

The Phillies have had their own struggles against southpaws, and managed just one earned run in 8 1-3 innings against Dave Williams yesterday. The Phillies are hitting just .231 against left-handers.

Time to give Manuel credit … again

Charlie Manuel will never be known as baseball’s supreme tactician, but at 21-15, his team is playing confident, winning baseball.

Beerleaguer likes to think of itself as one of the first Phillies voice, anywhere, to give Charlie Manuel credit last season, and it took nearly three-quarters of the season until I was ready to do it.

Today, I’d like to be one of the first voices, yet again, to give the man his due. Few believe Manuel is anything more than a lame duck, as the loudest voices are still drumming for his head. With new GM Pat Gillick in charge, considered the polar opposite of the jolly, charming Manuel, most are waiting for Manuel to work himself out of a job and for Gillick to hand-select his replacement.

The only problem: the Phillies are getting better, not worse. Frankly, they look like a playoff team.

I wondered last season, after Manuel’s boys had pulled themselves into the playoff hunt with the third-best record in the National League, why no member of the media, in print, on television or on radio, had ever sat down and talked to this man about Xs and Os.

I had the opportunity to do just that during the Winter Tour in January, and Manuel left a striking impression as a man that loves the game more than anyone in the organization. If I was a player, I’d love to play for Charlie Manuel.

Philadelphia’s small-town bias continues to be a total joke for a city that prides itself on progressive thinking. Isn't it about time to finally realize that a guy with a career record of 328-280 (.540) is not the disgraceful goon everyone thinks he is?

No. He wasn't part of the 1980 championship team. Yes. He's from North Fork, W.Va. Yes. He listens to George Thorogood and the Destroyers.

Yes. It's time to get over it.

I’m not sure what others look at, but the overriding factor should be results. The Phils are 21-15. They have won 12 of their last 13 games. They were picked by most to finish no higher than third in the division. They're getting outstanding production from a core of young players. Optimism is higher than it’s been in years.

Sure, Manuel has caused a large share of head-scratching moments, but the 15 losses and slow start this season are almost entirely due to two things: starting pitching and defense.

Once again, a slow start was thwarted by an unbelievable run of relaxed, confident ball. Manuel’s new lineup, featuring Chase Utley in the No. 2 hole, is precisely what the offense needed. Moving Ryan Franklin to the bullpen has also turned into a nice decision.

Perhaps more than anything, look at the number of young players that have come into their own during the Manuel era: Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Brett Myers, even a role player like Shane Victorino.

Still setting wagers on when Manuel gets the boot? You may want to start betting on whether Manuel can win manager of the year.

Surging Phillies set sights on struggling southpaw

The Phillies will try for their 12th win in 13 games when they take on Dave Williams and the Cincinnati Reds.

May 12 will be remembered as the day the Phillies unleashed Cole Hamels, but the undercard featured an excellent all-around night by the offense.

Hero du jour Shane Victorino had a career night, going 4-for-4 including a game-breaking home run. Since replacing Aaron Rowand, Victorino has gone 6-for-6 and is now 14-for-34 (.424) with a 1.183 OPS on the season. After the game, Victorino reflected on his team's recent turnaround.

"It all goes back to confidence," he told MLB.com. "Early on, we never doubted ourselves, and look at where we're at right now. We've won 11 out of 12, and we're still going to stay confident and go out and work."

That confidence has translated into a huge surge in the late innings, as it happened again last night. In their last 10 games, they are hitting .347 with 6 home runs from the 7th inning on.

One Phillie looking to get back on track, however, is Bobby Abreu. Abreu is still getting on base via the walk, but has not made much solid contact the past two weeks, resulting in a sinking .257 average. Abreu has not stroked an extra-base hit since May 2 at Florida.

Tonight’s starter Jon Lieber (2-4, 6.60 ERA) is looking for his third-straight win. Lieber has an impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio of 28-to-3, but like many of the Phillies starters, has been giving up lots of hits and unplayable line drives.

He’ll face left-hander Dave Williams (2-2, 7.85 ERA), who was acquired by the Reds this offseason in a deal that sent Sean Casey to Pittsburgh. According to the AP preview, Williams has struggled with his control this season, allowing at least one home run in every start for a total of eight, and has also collected 14 walks compared to just 10 strikeouts.

Team records: Phillies (20-15), 2nd in NL East, 2 back of New York; Reds (23-13), tied for division lead with St. Louis in NL Central.

Reader discussion points
Beerleaguer’s hit count has gone off the charts this week because of all the headlines the Phillies are making. Here’s a quick synopsis of what readers have been talking about in our growing comments section:

--- The New York media has been talking about the Phillies as a possible trade partner with the Yankees. The Yanks could be in pursuit a replacement outfielder with Hideki Matsui and Gary Sheffield on the pine. Bobby Abreu’s name has been mentioned, as has David Dellucci, who played with the Yankees briefly in 2003.

--- Much of the focus after yesterday’s game fell on beleaguered reliever Julio Santana, who managed to turn a blowout game into a save situation for the second time this season. If Santana continued to struggle, the Phillies may be in excellent shape to replace his mop-up role internally. Geoff Geary would be the obvious choice, but not a lock. The Triple-A Red Barons have six relief pitchers with ERAs under 2.84, including Ryan Cameron (14.1 IP, 0.63 ERA, 3 SV), Dan Giese (11 IP, 0.82 ERA), Clay Condrey (19.0 IP, 1.42 ERA), Jim Crowell (11 IP, 1.64 ERA), Brian Sanches (16 IP, 1.69 ERA, 4 SV), Yoel Hernandez (10.1 IP, 1.74 ERA, 6 SV), and Travis Minix (12.2 IP, 2.84 ERA).

Phillies ready to unleash King Cole

Tonight, a savior arrives in Cincinnati.

Until now, Beerleaguer had doubts this liberator known as Cole Hamels even existed. Many of us, including myself, will be seeing him pitch for the first time.

This week, the Phillies made a bold move in deciding Hamels had nothing left to learn in the minors, opting to take him along for their playoff push.

Along with lingering buzz surrounding Barry Bonds, a nine-game winning streak, Billy Wagner and the New York Mets, and Rowand's thrilling catch last night, King Cole is the icing on the cake of the most electrifying time in years.

The Phillies have had pitchers come through the farm system with excellent numbers, including Brett Myers and Randy Wolf, but Hamels is in a class by himself. In his three Triple-A starts, he went 2-0 with an 0.39 ERA, including 36 strikeouts in 23 innings. For his career, he has a ridiculous 1.43 ERA in 35 starts.

Hamels will face another former Phillies prospect in Elizardo Ramirez, who is 1-2 with a 3.18 ERA in three starts.

Welcome to the show, Chris Roberson

The Phillies have placed Aaron Rowand on the 15-day DL with a fractured nose and recalled OF Chris Roberson from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

The 26-year-old switch-hitting speed merchant was hitting .287 (39-136) with 10 doubles and 12 stolen bases for the Barons. He started slow, but has been hot lately, currently on an 8-game hitting streak in which he’s gone 13-for-34.

Roberson, a 9th round pick in the 2001 draft, spent 2005 with Reading (AA) and won Eastern League Rookie of the Year after a league-leading 172 hits, which set a Reading record. He also won the Paul Owens award as the best player in the Phillies’ minor league system.

Roberson was in the running for the final spot off the Phillies bench this spring, but the spot that was eventually filled by David Dellucci. He hit .273 with 2 home runs with the Phils this spring.

Series wrap: Phillies game for great things

Aaron Rowand’s catch could become a defining moment in a season that has taken a drastic turn for the better. (AP Photo)

The Inquirer called it "one of the greatest catches in Phillies history," and from a fan’s perspective, it's a moment we'll talk about for years. I like what one fan said this morning on the Phillies blog Balls Sticks & Stuff:

"If Rowand ever has to buy himself a drink in the Philadelphia area again, I'll be shocked."

As reported this morning, the ironic part is the wall was scheduled for padding directly following this homestand. Rowand told the Phillies it was only a matter of time before he’d run face-first into bare metal. Sure enough, that’s exactly what happened.

The game was called in the fifth, ensuring blood was not spilled in vain. It actually made the catch more important because of the lost innings. One can confidently surmise that if Rowand didn’t haul it in, the Phils would have lost the game. Mother nature must love hard-nosed baseball.

Rowand’s heroics came at a price. He was admitted to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital late last night with a broken nose and will undergo surgery today. A decision was not immediately made whether to put him on the DL, but the Phillies Web site says that decision could come as early as today.

For more on the catch, Tom Goodman revisits Rowand’s feat in detail at Swing and a Miss.

No guts, no glory
When I first started blogging about the Phillies nearly two years ago, I was surprised how many online baseball writers tried to disassociate themselves with words like ‘heart’ and ‘guts.’

Though I believe in the principles associated with sabermetrics, using stats as a guiding influence to make smart baseball choices, I’ve never been 100 percent comfortable abstaining from citing the intangibles.

It was this time last season that Jayson Stark of ESPN.com wrote a piece on how officials from around baseball were baffled why the Phillies, for all their talent, always come up short. Nobody could understand it. The numbers were there, the pieces were there, but they could never get it done. "What is wrong with the Phillies?" the article asked.

Since then, I’ve been waiting for the right time to revisit that piece when the answer came to fruition, The answer came the moment Rowand’s nose turned to mush on the outfield wall.

In my Hardball Times preview before the season, I said the Phillies would make the playoffs in large because they finally have some gamers who would set the kind of clubhouse policy it takes to win, citing Rowand, Chase Utley and Tom Gordon as my examples.

Believe it or not, this was the hardest point for me to write, knowing most of the Hardball Times audience didn't abide by such principles. Two months later, heart represents the difference between this season and last.

Other notes
---- If there's any indication Rowand's catch lit a fire under his teammates, look no further than Gavin Floyd, who was superb after Rowand's catch. I have not seen Floyd bust left-handers inside the way he did from the second-inning on. Some of those pitches were topping out at 96 mph and had filthy action.

---- The Phillies are 19-15, three-games back of the division-leading Mets. They have won all three series they've played against Atlanta and New York. Considering where they stand today on May 12, would you consider this a good start to the season?

---- Good things seem to happen when Shane Victorino gets into the game. His blazing speed has been a big asset off the bench, getting a double and triple last night with a run scored. With Rowand on the shelf, at least for a little while, Victorino will get a chance to show his true form as the team's 4th outfielder. I like that he brings another switch-hitting speed presence to the lineup, and he covers a lot of ground in the outfield. David Dellucci could also figure to get some work.

---- To make room for Cole Hamels, the Phillies took the safest route by using Geoff Geary's option. Geary had pitched well for the Phillies and hadn't allowed a run in seven-consecutive innings. A report this morning said Geary took the news hard.

Mets, Phillies: Round III rubber match

Gavin Floyd and the Phillies will try to put the finishing touches on an excellent homestand when they face Steve Trachsel and the New York Mets tonight at Citizen's Bank Park.

The Phils are looking to bounce back after a flat 13-4 loss at the hands of the Mets last night. The loss snapped their nine-game winning streak, the team’s longest since 1991.

Believe it or not, Gavin Floyd (2-2, 6.16 ERA) enters the game seeking his third-straight win. Floyd received a show of faith from the team yesterday when they elected to keep him in the rotation and move Ryan Madson to the bullpen in order to make room for golden-armed prospect Cole Hamels. The curtain goes up on the ballyhooed phenom tomorrow night in Cincinnati.

Meanwhile, the other phenom, Floyd, has had his share of growing pains the past two seasons, mainly trouble with his command. The knock against him continues to be his frazzled confidence, though critics have also pointed to a delivery that makes it easy for hitters to spot his release point. Floyd leads the Phillies in allowing the most home runs (7) and walks (17).

He’ll be opposed by right-hander Steve Trachsel (2-2, 4.96 ERA), who has been a thorn in the Phillies’ side thoughout his career. Trachsel is 10-9 with a 3.93 ERA in 27 starts against the Phils, including a 6-3 record and 3.52 ERA on the road.

Other news
During his chat on ESPN.com, Rob Neyer said that Mike Arbuckle’s name has been floating around as a candidate for the Royals GM job.

The Phillies have had their share of bad front office people over the years, but I struggle to call Arbuckle one of them. Arbuckle has been primarily responsible for player development and scouting, an area that often meets harsh criticism. However, the Phillies currently have nine players on their 25-man roster (36 percent) that were originally drafted or signed by the club, including Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Pat Burrell, Jimmy Rollins and Brett Myers. He managed this while constantly working with a short deck of draft picks and losing players in bad deals. Under Arbuckle, the minor leagues underwent something of a revival starting around the time of Scott Rolen, but recently, the system has been worn thin again.

Arbuckle was interviewed for the vacant Cincinnati Reds job this offseason.

Booker bye-bye is baseball at its goofiest

Somewhere, there is a good trivia question in what has transpired with Phillies Rule 5 pick Chris Booker, who was placed on waivers by the Phillies and was claimed by Kansas City.

The 29-year-old right-hander spent most of 2005 with Louisville, the Reds' Triple-A affiliate, where he was 8-4 with 91 strikeouts and a 2.49 ERA in 65 innings. Good numbers, right? Booker even earned a September call-up with the Reds.

The Reds intended to keep him, but in October, he declined to be sent outright to Louisville and elected to test free agency. This is where it gets strange. He signed a minor league contract with Washington in November, but was taken by the Tigers in the Rule 5 draft the following month, only to be flipped to the Phillies for cash considerations. Apparently, the Rule 5 rules still applied to Philadelphia, meaning he needed to be kept on the 25-man roster or be offered back to the original team, Washington.

This is where it gets even weirder. Booker began the year hurt and has been on a rehab assignment since the beginning of the season. Though I have seen no report of it, the Phillies must have offered him back to Washington at some point this week, and the Nats must have declined. Since the Phillies had no room for him anyway, especially since they need to trim the roster to make room for Cole Hamels, Booker was waived and the Royals grabbed him. My only hope is Booker got on a plane to the right city.

Including the Reds, Booker has been property – temporary or otherwise – with five teams since the end of 2005. Between his time with Cincy and his pending time with KC, he didn't pitch a big-league game with three of them. With two of them, Washington and Detriot, Booker probably didn't get so much as a phone call.

And somehow, in the course of all this shuffling, Booker has come away with his first, true big-league gig. The horrendous Royals, who have the day off today, are expected to make a roster move Friday to clear space for Booker.

Mets, Phillies: Round II

Go for 10? Sure, but momentum is only as good as the next day’s opposing pitcher, and here he is, early Cy Young front-runner, Tom Glavine.

At risk of crucifixion, tonight the Phils should stay true to form with a tough left-hander on the hill and try forgetting they have won nine straight.

Instead of reaching, Charlie Manuel should play the numbers. It’s not a bad night to sit Ryan Howard or Bobby Abreu. Abreu is not hitting the ball well despite earning Chevrolet Player of the Game Honors last night. Glavine has been outstanding this season (4-2, 1.94 ERA, 41 Ks), and the Phils have not hit left-handers well. So instead of reaching with regulars, give one or two a rest. Who knows? The last time they fielded two bench players was the first game of this nine-game streak.

Cory Lidle (3-3, 4.17 ERA) hasn’t allowed more than two runs his last two outings and has been the unsung hero of the rotation thus far. His 38 strikeouts have been the biggest surprise, good for seventh in the National League.

But Glavine, like Pedro, is the big story tonight. The 40-year-old two-time Cy Young winner has pitched in 6+ innings in 22-consecutive starts, which matches a career-high. He recorded his 14th career double-digit strikeout game on May 4 against Pittsburgh. His ERA (1.94) is third-best in the majors.

That should answer any questions whether Glavine can still pitch. Of the three games they will play this series, this one will be the toughest for the hometown nine.

Phillies notes
---- The Phillies pitching staff has posted a 3.06 ERA in their last 11 games.

---- The Phillies bullpen has allowed 10 earned runs in their last 57 innings for a 1.58 ERA.

---- In their last eight games, the Phils are hitting .325 in the 7th inning or later.

---- Pat Burrell, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Bobby Abreu have combined for 95 RBIs, most among NL foursomes.

Hamels to take Madson's spot in starting rotation

From Phillies.com: Phillies left-handed pitching prospect Cole Hamels will have his contract purchased on Friday and will make his major league debut that night in Cincinnati, Vice President and General Manager Pat Gillick announced today.

To make room for Hamels in the Phillies' starting rotation, RHP Ryan Madson will return to the bullpen, where he went 15-8 with a 2.94 ERA in 130 appearances from 2003-05. The Phillies will make a roster move prior to Friday's game to make room for Hamels on the 25-man roster.

Beerleaguer take
In six starts, Ryan Madson failed to sell himself as a starting pitcher, and the reason why is he doesn't have the right stuff to keep hitters guessing. Madson couldn't establish his curveball, and without it, it wasn't going to work relying on just a fastball and changeup.

Madson's command also failed him. He allowed too many walks and hitters were having no trouble putting the ball in play when he threw strikes. Madson will return to the place he'd had the most success after going 3-1 with a 6.82 ERA and 2.12 WHIP in the rotation.

What does this mean? In terms of bullpen, the Phils should be stronger. Madson can be used in long relief or late innings. Fastball, plus-changeup is fine for bullpen, as he's proven before.

Something must give to make room. Geoff Geary has options remaining, but has pitched well. Julio Santana would need to be assigned or waived to make room. The Phils could also consider a trade.

Of course, the headliner here is Cole Hamels. The Phillies wasted no time bringing the sizzling left-hander to his final destination, deciding it was better to use his blazing stuff to help the organization where it needs help most.

A word on Gillick: The excitement I'm feeling, and the team must be feeling, is by design. Since his arrival, Gillick has injected an edgy undercurrent and ushered past loyalties out the door. No veteran is too established (he tried all winter to trade Bobby Abreu), no player is too well-liked (Tomas Perez and Todd Pratt got pink slips), and no plan is set in stone (Madson). He's not afraid to cut losses (Ricardo Rodriguez waived, leaving nothing to show for Vicente Padilla), and he is not afraid to take risks (Hamels). In short, the Phillies finally have a GM with guts.

This offseason, most fans believed the Phillies were weaker than the 88-win team that came within one game of forcing a playoff game with Houston.

Today, I have to believe they are stronger.

Inquirer reporting Hamels could debut Friday

The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting the Phillies could unleash Cole Hamles Friday in Cincinnati.

Todd Zolecki of the Inquirer said that team officials met yesterday to decide their next step with Hamels, the top-ranked prospect in the Phillies system. Since his call-up to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the 22-year-old left-hander has been nearly untouchable, allowing just 10 hits, one run with 36 strikeouts in only 23 innings of work.

Zolecki reports there are "strong indications" he will make his next start in the major leagues.

"We're close," assistant general manager Mike Arbuckle told the Inquirer. "It's not going to be much longer, but there are a few moving pieces we have to figure out and people we would have to talk to."

Beerleaguer take
I didn’t expect the Phils to wait long with Hamels, but no one would have expected it to be this soon. Obviously, if this report holds water, the Phillies have changed plans and would rather not waste these sizzling starts in Triple-A.

Ryan Madson is scheduled to pitch Friday’s game, but the article made reference to "moving pieces," which could either be Ryan Madson or Gavin Floyd. Floyd is scheduled to pitch tomorrow against the Mets, and Madson is set to go Friday in Cincinnati.

With rumors indicating the Mets are looking to acquire another arm, possibly Barry Zito or Livan Hernandez, it’s exciting to think the Phils might be able to pull off a big move of their own by plucking a guy right from their own back yard.

This early promotion would also mean the Phillies would lose a year before Hamels is due for arbitration, no small point for a team notorious for thinking along those lines.

If the previous GM was calling the shots and making this move, there would be cause for concern. With Pat Gillick at the wheel, no worries ... just goosebumps.

Phillies face their toughest challenge of 2006

At the end of this series, the Phillies will have a better idea who they are and where they are headed. For the Mets, it’s a test to see how they match up with their closest NL East competitor.

Both teams were able to shake off the fading Braves in earlier meetings to separate themselves from the pack, but only the Mets have risen to the ranks of the National League elite. Their 21-10 record (.677) is tops in the NL and all indications are they're ready for the long haul.

On the other side, the 17-14 Phillies started cold, but have won eight straight and are now four-games back in the NL East. Aside from an opening-series sweep at the hands of the St. Louis Cardinals, the Phillies have not faced choice competition.

Tonight, the Phillies best starting pitcher, Brett Myers (2-1, 3.11 ERA), matches up with the unblemished Pedro Martinez (5-0, 2.72 ERA). On paper, tonight may represent the Phillies best chance to take a game this series. Martinez has never pitched in Citizen's Bank Park, but is 7-4 with a 2.84 career ERA against the Phillies.

All the Billy Wagner talk has shifted focus away from a stalwart Mets bullpen, which could become the deciding factor is a series that could take on a playoff atmosphere. For the Phils, their own bullpen has been red-hot, and the offense, led by NL Player of the Week Chase Utley, is starting to live up to their rep as an army that can go toe-to-toe with anyone. They'll need it here; the Mets offense is equal to the task.

Phillies edge Mets 5-4 in 9th inning!
What a game!

Most thrilling game this season, and it isn't close. My heart is still pounding.

Lets start with big hits: Ryan Howard's RBI single, David Bell's RBI double, Jimmy Rollins' two-run single, Aaron Rowand's triple, and the biggest of all, David Dellucci's 2-out triple to keep the 9th inning alive.

But the game belonged to Brett Myers, who was ace material tonight. Myers had a shutout going into the 8th until Xavier Nady's two-run blast. However, I liked that Myers worked through it and got out of the inning. Outstanding game by Myers to match Pedro Martinez, who was just as good.

Fantastic job by the bench. What a weapon in having Shane Victorino come in and pinch run, and Dellucci's triple makes the deal for him that much more worth it.

In addition, Howard's RBI hit off Duaner Sanchez deserves special mention. Until tonight, Sanchez hadn't allowed a run.

Weitzel's man-crush, Carlos Ruiz, not only laced his first MLB hit, but caught the longest outing by a starting pitcher this season. Myers deserves credit for that, but there's something to be said about a rookie's role in that, too.

Flash Gordon ... what can I say? Two more and he matches Wagner's total for blown saves.

The Phils got through Pedro with the win. Nine straight. Three back. Giddy-up.

Get the out-of-town take at Metsblog

Matthew Cerrone of Metsblog built a digital I-95 from his site to mine by linking to yesterday’s post on Billy Wagner. Here's where the northbound lane starts.

Cerrone linked to a gas-fired post I’m not particularly proud of after Billy Wagner’s comments to the Inquirer. Usually, cooler heads prevail at Beerleaguer. However, zero championships in my cognizant lifetime will cause one to lash out from time to time.

I meant what I said, however, about winners and players who fight their battles on the field, not in the media as Wagner repeatedly does. Billy is all about Billy. Enjoy, Mets fans. He's yours for a while.

Linking to a post by Peter Gammons on the potential for a renewed rivalry between the Mets and Phils, Cerrone had this to say:

…in the 22 years i have been watching the mets, the phillies have never really felt like a big rival, despite playing in the same division the entire time…when you look back over the last two decades, the two teams have completed with one another more for last place, such as in the early and mid-to-late 90s, then they have for the division title, for as one was winning, the other was always losing…yet, because of the short distance between the two cities, i suppose, it has felt like a rivalry, even though i’m not sure it technically is……

…it would be nice to begin a little something here, in what could make for a pretty interesting battle along I-95.

Beerleaguer take
It may not feel like a rivalry to Mets fans, but games played in Philadelphia definitely bring out a defensive, protective edge from the home crowd. Expect roughly 20-25 percent of fans to be supporting the Mets tonight, a bigger percentage considering their hot start.

The Mets tend to be the only team where Phillies fans will reserve jeering their own players and save it for the opposition. Half show of support, half show, unfortunately.

United we stand... at least for the next three.

Beer nuts: Phils should consider locking up Lidle

The Phillies should think about having themselves a sit-down with their steady right-hander on his future with the organization.

In Lidle, they’ve received a quality pitcher who will give up hits, but never big innings because he largely keeps the ball in the yard. The 34-year-old right-hander is in the middle of the second season of a 2-year extension worth a guaranteed $6.3 million.

It’s something to consider. Age is an issue, but he’s not a hard thrower or someone you would expect to break down. So far this season, he’s 3-3 with a 4.17 ERA and leads the team with 38 strikeouts. The future of the starting rotation is also at stake. Obviously, Cole Hamels would factor into the mix, and possibly Gavin Floyd and Ryan Madson. Brett Myers would seem to be a lock until he becomes a free agent. Jon Lieber has a year remaining on his contract, but could still generate interest in a trade.

Too early to think All-Stars?
Chase Utley was named National League Player of the Week yesterday. Utley had fourteen hits in 29 at-bats last week, three home runs, eight RBIs and nine runs, in addition to more crafty work in the field.

Fans can start voting for the all-star game, and so far Utley should be the clear favorite to start at second for the National League. After Utley, the field gets a little cloudy for the Phillies position players.

Here’s a crude breakdown of the top National League OPS hitters by position. Keep in mind, the ballot is a pick-three for outfield, but broken down by position here:

2B
1. Utley: .961
2. Vidro: .878
3. Biggio: .825
Comment: Utley and Biggio should carry the voting.

1B
1. Pujols: 1.261
2. Berkman: 1.065
3. Dunn: 1.019
8. Howard: .903
Comment: Cardinals typically earn plenty of votes. Pujols could bring record totals.

SS
1. Renteria: .886
2. H. Ramirez: .867
3. Wilson: .866
7. Rollins: .773
Comment: Hanley Ramirez also leads all shortstops in runs. Jose Reyes, not listed, will pull votes (.759 OPS, 11 SB, .272 BA)

3B
1. Ensberg: 1.045
2. Cabrera: 1.025
3. Encarnacion: .955
10: Bell: .721
Comment: David Wright (.928 OPS), will probably entice more votes than overlooked Ensberg.

LF
1. Lee: 1.071
2. Dunn: 1.019
3. Burrell: .996
Comment: In a crowded outfield, Burrell needs your votes, and was right on the cusp last season, too.

CF
1. Beltran: 1.112
2. Jones: .929
3. Sullivan: .877
4. Rowand: .867
Comment: Rowand actually leads this group in BA (.311), but is a longshot for outfield.

RF
1. Hawpe: 1.065
2. Kearns: .962
3. Abreu: .942
Comment: Big-time impressed with Hawpe when he faced the Phils. Abreu will be helped by his performance at last-season's derby.

C
1. Miller: .942
2. McCann: .916
3. Ausmus: .868
7. Lieberthal: .735
Comment: Tough position to compute this early, but that’s how I see it.

Welcome rat: Bring on Billy Boy

What happened? Flyers fold, Phils sweep and suddenly Rich Hoffman is dispatching a Cole Hamels report from up yonder.

The Phils have roped together eight straight wins for the first time since 1991. If April wasn’t such an arbitrary deadline, the Phils are only a few wins shy of that hot start everyone wanted. Spot them two more to make it 19-12, and before the season you would have taken it, even with the easy schedule.

Nevertheless, their record stands at a dexterous 17-14 heading into a three-game set with the division-leading Mets. The offense is hot, the bullpen hotter, and Billy Boy decides now is the perfect time to throw gas on this fire. Just curious. What does charred rat smell like? Credit literary genius Pat Burrell for that spot-on descriptor.

Meanwhile, Cory Lidle has been elected locker-room liaison and continues to lay it down. "That's dumb," Lidle told the Inquirer after Wagner said his team turned against him last season. "Honestly... This is a team. If one of us doesn't get it done, it's not one person. It's everybody. For Billy to say that, I think he started talking and the words kept coming and I think he wanted to stop but couldn’t."

If Wagner believes the Phillies are still too soft, he should take it up with Aaron Rowand or Tom Gordon, actual winners, not pretenders living in a dream world. Tell us, Billy, how did it feel when you struck out Biggio?

God, I'm fired up! I hate the Mets, loathe Wagner, and I'm fighting the urge to tear down my cubicle walls.

Speaking of dream worlds, here's a window into mine. Each game this series will feature blown saves at the top of the ninth, followed by saves at the bottom by the half-priced replacement. Methuselah Franco will account for all Mets scoring. In my dream world, he's sitting on the Phillies' bench.

Philadelphia bids Barry a prime-time farewell

The Phillies will try to make it eight straight wins for the first time since 1991 when they close out their series tonight with Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants.

Barry Bonds is still in search of a home run to close the gap on Babe Ruth's mark of 714, but has managed only one hit in three games.

The Phils are on a roll, having climbed to 16-14 on the wings of seven-straight wins.

Jon Lieber (1-4, 6.87 ERA) gets the ball for the good guys. He'll be opposed by Matt Morris (2-2, 5.18 ERA).

This is the last time the Phillies face the Giants at home this season, and it is expected to be Bonds' final visit to the city of brotherly love, where he has hit 58 career home runs. The Phils face the Giants in San Francisco later on in July.

7-game streak says something about everyone

The Phillies' bats have come alive during their seven-game winning streak. Here's why.

--- Chase Utley: This homestand has taken on the same qualities as the 12-1 homestand of a year ago, and Utley formed the centerpiece of that streak, too. Remember it was against San Francisco that he blasted that game-winning grand slam, which the Phils seem to use as a springboard the rest of the way? Here, he’s had the biggest hits the last two nights. In addition, you’d take his glove over just about every second-baseman in baseball. Why: Utley has replaced Abreu as the Phillies' best all-around player.

--- Aaron Rowand's explosive rant last night wouldn’t have happened the first week of the season. No evidence for this, but Rowand has made his compatriots more aggressive. They’re arguing more, they’re in the face of officials, and one would assume they will get more calls their way because of it. Why: Rowand has broken in his new uniform like an old pair of jeans.

--- Pat Burrell has his share of home runs and RBIs, but he isn't playing smart overall baseball. After a hot start, Utley has now tied him for the team lead in RBIs (23). Why: The chewing tobacco is scrambling his brain.

--- Jimmy Rollins: The Phils are 14-5 in games J-Roll has scored a run, and he has crossed home plate in each of the games during this winning streak. Why: J-Roll is the catalyst.

--- Mike Lieberthal will be out the next two weeks with a bone bruise, so Sal Fasano and Carlos Ruiz will be split time in his place. Ruiz had a dynamite throw to second last night that nailed Randy Winn trying to steal, but went 0-3 in his debut at the plate. Fasano will start tonight’s game with Jon Lieber on the hill. What: The race for the backup job heats up.

--- David Bell had those cavernous splits against right-handed and left-handed pitching in '05, but check out this season: .182 BA, .598 OPS against left-handers, .257 BA, .702 OPS against right-handers, including 2 of his 3 home runs. Why: "Platoon" isn't the right word; "part-time" is.

--- Bobby Abreu: His BA (.277) and SLG (.511) are down, but his OBP has held steady around .450. He’s walked 11 times during the winning streak. Why: Not unusual for Abreu to get lost in the shuffle during exciting winning streaks.

--- Ryan Howard: Howard was protected last season against LHP and bad matchups, and the reason for that was beginning to show up until the Braves series. The Phils faced a rare string of left-handed pitching in Pittsburgh and Florida, and Howard was kind of floundering, at the plate and in the field. In the John Thomson game, he came back strong and got three RBIs and a home run. On Friday night, he went deep twice. Why: Howard still has work to do, but has displayed a good ability to adjust.

--- Shane Victorino has been the top hitter off the bench and came into the game last night and stroked a double. On the season, he’s quietly gone 8-for-25 (.320 BA) with a good OBP (.393). Why: International League MVP is nothing to sneeze at.

--- Last but not least, hell if this seven-game winning streak didn't start after Charlie Manuel's hokey tirade in Florida. Why: Pure coincidence.

Chooch gets his chance: Ruiz called up

After Mike Lieberthal lands on the 15-day DL, the Phillies will turn to an insurance policy who led the International League in hitting (.385), OPS (1.085) and was throwing out close to 50 percent of base-stealers.

Beerleaguer feels like a proud father this morning after hearing word that Carlos Ruiz has finally made the big leagues. He’s a player I’ve monitored the last couple seasons, watched him play winter ball in the Dominican Republic (pictured), and stayed up late to watch him represent Panama in the WBC.

At 27, Ruiz is peaking in a way nobody could have expected. His offense has gone off the charts, and his arm is among the best in the minors. He’s never been considered a top prospect by any of the major publications, possibly because of his advanced age.

A converted second baseman that got into baseball late, he was signed as an amateur free agent in December of 1998. In 2004, he supplanted U Miami-product and Pat Burrell/Jason Michaels teammate Russ Jacobson as Reading's starting catcher, and that's when the team started to take notice. In 2005, he had some injury problems, including a broken leg he suffered in a home-plate collision. Since then, he's played almost non-stop.

At the Winter Tour in Reading (the place where Ruiz earned the nickname 'Chooch' by teammates), Charlie Manuel and Pat Gillick both said he had a wide-open opportunity to become a major-league catcher with the Phillies, leaving it up to him to prove himself on the field.

Unless the Phillies would rather dip into the free agent pool when Lieberthal becomes a free agent, Ruiz is the primary in-house answer for next season. If he can produce at this level, it would be an outstanding boost to an organization that can’t afford to spend on free agent position players.

My support of Ruiz isn’t just a man-crush. He represents something the Phils have not generated: an unheralded project player who was developed, step-by-step, by the Phillies minor league system.

If he can perform, Ruiz has a chance to become a key player for the Phillies, perhaps as soon as this season.  Funny how it wasn’t even planned that way.

Bonus material: His favorite hobby is fishing. Favorite baseball idol - you guessed it - Pudge.

Behind the boos, ambiguity

Philadelphia is an odd fit for a historic sporting event, but it’s the perfect backdrop for layered drama.

I’ve procrastinated all morning on writing my Barry Bonds masterpiece. Whenever that happens, I take it as a sign that I have nothing to confidently add. Just about every local paper featured his arrival this morning, front page, above the fold.

When Bonds hears boos this weekend, a fair number will come from the same voices that boo Mike Lieberthal. An extremely small segment will be in support of Babe Ruth, whose mark of 714 home runs was set in 1935. Many will boo simply because they believe Bonds is a creep.

On radio, the magic word is "cheater," with talk of how some records are sacred and some are not. Because Bonds is closing in on the most sacred mark of all, they believe he bears the most responsibility for raping the game of its purity.

History plays out tonight, for better or worse. "I would be very curious to see that show," said one reader on another Phillies blog. "Not so much to see Bonds play, but to feel the mix of excitement and hostility that would erupt from the fans. That would be something else."

Woven in with tonight’s exhilaration, between innings or during a pitching change, there will be silent moments when Phillies fans will remember their naked enthusiasm for the heroes of 1993, only to whisk it away as if not to be caught looking.

Indeed, the boos will fall hard tonight, but their motivation will be less black and white than numbers in a record book.

Phils at .500 after convincing win over Braves

Cory Lidle allowed two earned runs and five hits in six innings, lifting the Phillies to their fifth-straight victory with a 6-3 win over Atlanta.

After one month of baseball, the Phillies are finally out of the red.

Cory Lidle (3-3, 4.17 ERA) worked an efficient game following a two-run first inning, raising his strikeout total to a team-high 39.

The team settled in after a rough start, including some fielding mistakes and baserunning gaffs, otherwise this was a one-sided win.

Flawless closer Tom Gordon and workhorse Ryan Franklin got the night off, but it didn’t matter. Forgotten man Aaron Fultz pitched a scoreless seventh, Geoff Geary and Rheal Cormier combined to shut down in the eighth, and Arthur Rhodes earned a 1-2-3 save in the ninth, his first save since 2004.

Offensively, Ryan Howard homered and had two sacrifice flies. Jimmy Rollins belted a leadoff home run, breaking Juan Samuel’s franchise mark for leadoff homers with 15.

Beerleaguer take
It's unclear whether winning breeds swagger, or swagger breeds winning, but the Phils are getting a little of both right now.

A two-game sweep of Atlanta is nothing to sneeze at. Yesterday, they battled back to win. Tonight, they were clearly the better team, taking advantage of Atlanta's mistakes and overcoming their own.

The Phillies have to be happy how the front three starters have settled in, which was the only way they were going to get on a roll like this. Tonight's starter is a solid and undervalued part of that.

Encouraging news for worrywarts is manager Charlie Manuel mixed up his bullpen assignments and got some different guys work in the later innings, a show of confidence for Geary in particular.

Offensively, Howard looked renewed tonight. He hasn't been protected as much this season and it was starting to show. The Phillies faced a rare stretch of left-handed starting pitching.

Mike Lieberthal’s exit after being hit by a pitch was hopefully just precautionary, but it illustrates how lucky the Phils have been with injuries. I wouldn’t want to speak too soon on this. Lieberthal, along with Burrell’s now-noticeable decline in speed, are issues worth monitoring. Lieberthal is expected to get tomorrow off with Gavin Floyd scheduled to pitch.

Not your typical meat and potatoes matchup

Maybe some other year, but tonight’s battle of No. 3 starters features a headline-maker and some noteworthy early lines.

In the red corner, Cory Lidle (2-3, 4.40 ERA) enters tonight ranked 6th in the league in strikeouts (33), nine behind the leader, Pedro Martinez. Otherwise, he’s taking his job seriously as steady No. 3 starter. With the exception of his first start, Lidle has lasted between 6 and 7 innings and has allowed either 3 or 4 runs.

Lidle earned points with purists yesterday with his comments about Barry Bonds, but his biggest statement has been his steadfast refusal to Old Navy the bottom of his uniform pants, wearing them tight and ankle-high the way God intended.

In the blue corner, right-hander John Thomson enters the game with a 4.61 lifetime ERA, just 0.09 higher than Lidle’s career mark. However, Thomson this season has somehow accumulated a fantastic 1.32 ERA, largely because he has surrendered only one home run. Against the Phils, he pitched five shutout innings on April 10. Lifetime vs. the Phils, Thomson has been Ian Snell-tough, going 7-4 in 14 starts (2.53 ERA).

The 13-14 Phillies are looking to extend their winning streak to five games and climb out of the red for the first time this season.

Lidle speaks out about Barry Bonds, steroids

Cory Lidle told the Philadelphia Daily News he doesn't think Barry Bonds' home run chase legitimate. [Link]

"It's sad," Lidle told the Daily News. "I'm not a player-hater. I like to see players get paid as much as they can. But without friggin' cheating."

Beerleaguer take
Lidle, who is not part of the MLBPA, cited my biggest concern with steroid abuse and its impact on the game, and for that I give him credit.

"The worst part of it all, the young guys -- the guys in the minor leagues, and worse than that, high school, and college -- they already know they don't have a chance," Lidle said. "If someone can't hit 15 home runs in college, how do they expect to take somebody's job in the big leagues who's hitting 50 home runs? They start feeling this pressure of doing that stuff, and it really is a problem. It's selfish for those guys who did it... to know what the chain reaction was to keep doing it."

Lidle pitches tonight against Atlanta, meaning he will not face Bonds during the Giants series this weekend.

Also missing from the story is that his teammate, Ryan Franklin, tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. Bonds has never actually tested positive.

Other teammates, including Randy Wolf, have been outspoken opponents of congressional involvement of the steroid issue.

Bonds is only two home runs away from tying Babe Ruth's career mark of 714. Before Wednesday's game, he was hit in the forehead by a ball during batting practice before their game with the Brewers.

Smoltz still giving Braves the winning edge

If the Phillies had just one player with the moxie of tonight's starter, they would have made the playoffs at least once in the last 12 years.

We’ve all been around people who inspire us to do better. From watching him play and listing to what others have to say, Smoltz is that guy.

From 1988 to 1999, he was an outstanding starter. He missed all of 2000 with elbow surgery. In 2001, he was converted into an outstanding closer. Last season, the Braves moved him back into the rotation when everyone said it couldn’t be done. He was superb.

He's always been a tremendous athlete, good hitter, smart defender. The soon-to-be 39-year-old is still one of the game’s best pitchers. On April 15, he threw a complete-game, four-hit shutout against San Diego.

It’s beginning to look like his entire major-league career will be spent with one team, 17 years and counting. For the past 14, the Braves have won their division. Praise has been heaped on everyone from Bobby Cox to Leo Mazzone to John Schuerholz, but the games are won and lost on the field.

With all due respect to Chipper Jones, Smoltz is the ranking officer.

Phillies hoping to find focus at home

Borrowing advice from elementary school teachers everywhere: the Phillies need to put on their thinking caps (thinking cap pictured below).

Beerleaguer got an e-mail this morning that pointed out that if you take away the first week of the season, the Phillies have gone 11-8, a pace that translates into a 94-win season.

They’ve been damn lucky.

Sad but true: On this road trip, the Phils matched up pretty evenly with Pittsburgh and Florida. True, the Phils had another gritty comeback last night. True, they did so off Ricky Nolasco, who spent all of last season with Double-A West Tennessee. Nolasco gave up two walks a hit and a home run in 2-3 innings of work. The bases-loaded triple by Aaron Rowand came off Matt Herges. Herges is a bum.

Good teams beat weak competition. The Phillies haven’t done that. A big reason why is the Phils are playing foolish baseball. They aren’t thinking. Their lack of focus has blurred every portion of their game, from the number of times opposing pitchers have been allowed to hurt them with the bat, to base-running mistakes, like Pat Burrell getting thrown out three times in six games at second base. Offensively, their poor marks with RISP speak volumes about their inability to zero in and execute. Most of the lineup has burned themselves at least once with an impatient at bat when the opposing pitcher had been struggling. In fact, several pitchers they struggled with this season were sent back to the minor leagues.

The Marlins are a very, very poor club and managed to climb back into the game yesterday thanks to some amateur-hour plays from Sal Fasano and Ryan Howard. During the broadcast, Chris Wheeler said every game for the Marlins will be an adventure because of their inexperience. I laughed, and then cursed, because the Phils looked just as horrendous.

Pitching hasn’t been sharp, either. Jon Lieber has pitched better than his line would indicate, but he’s made several costly errors, including last night. Against a lineup that had been fooled on every breaking ball away, Lieber tested free-swinging Reggie Abercrombie with a slider that arrived dead-center. Abercrombie turned it into an RBI triple. With such a one-sided matchup, vet-vs.-rookie, that should never happen.

The Phillies won’t be able to rely on ridiculous breaks (like a 3-2 bunt double play) when they face Atlanta tonight, a team that plays intelligent baseball. More than any team I’ve seen the last 10+ years, the Braves find ways to capitalize on mental breakdowns.

I look at tonight's matchup, Smoltz vs. Myers, and feel like it's the first non-exhibition game they've had in weeks. John Smoltz (1-2, 4.09 ERA) isn’t just a great pitcher, he’s a fearless captain and confident fielder.

Will the Phillies finally turn it around at home?

Put on those thinking caps, boys.

Workman Lieber still seeking first victory

Veteran Jon Lieber will be in search of his first win tonight in Florida as the Phillies look to make it three-straight wins.

Lieber (0-4, 7.04 ERA) is coming of a nice, nuts-and-bolts start against Colorado, in which he lasted 7 innings and surrendered 3 runs. The veteran right-hander is actually pitching better than his high ERA would indicate.

He’ll be opposed by rookie Scott Olsen (1-1, 2.12 ERA), a left-hander that spun the Phils in circles last time they met, going 6 2-3 innings and allowing just 1 earned run. The Phillies are hitting just .238 with 7 home runs against lefties this season.

The Phils will be looking for the same magic that enchanted Pat Burrell’s bat yesterday, who took Dontrelle Willis deep to dead center with a 438 ft. blast, keying their 8-5 win.

Hamels drops two-hit, shutout bomb on Braves

Cole Hamels went the distance this afternoon, allowing two hits with 12 strikeouts in the Red Barons' 5-0 victory over Richmond. Hamels is 2-0 in his two Triple-A starts, allowing a total of 5 hits with 26 strikeouts.

Phillies top prospects in action this afternoon

Left-handers Gio Gonzalez of Double-A Reading and Cole Hamels of Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre are pitching this afternoon in a showcase of the highest-rated pitchers in the Phillies organization.

After 4 innings, the R-Phils and Thunder are tied at 4-4 in a game that started at 11 a.m. The Red Barons face the Richmond Braves at 2 p.m. Reading live boxscore [here]. Scranton live boxscore will be available [here].

Update: Hamels is throwing a 1-hit shutout through 7 IP, 8 Ks.

Marzano calls for Mad Dog’s reinsertion into pen

Phillies Post Game Live analyst John Marzano said yesterday the Phillies would be a better team if they moved struggling starter Ryan Madson back into the bullpen.

Johnny Marz pointed to a major limitation I’ve also seen from the Phillies 26-year-old right-hander. He doesn’t have enough pitches to face a lineup more than once or twice through the order. Because of this, he isn’t inducing enough strikeouts, only 13 to go with 12 walks, a terrible ratio. Opponents are hitting .373 against him.

Madson will likely be given more opportunities in the rotation, but for how long? Pitching coach Rich Dubee can’t be happy with the progression of his breaking ball. Without it, he’s a fastball-changeup pitcher with no true out pitch. Because of this, Madson has had the greatest tendency to let innings slip away.

Used in limited action out of the bullpen, Marzano argues that Madson can get away with being short-handed.

Phillies, Lieberthal, show life
Many of you pointed to Mike Lieberthal’s rare show of emotion yesterday and I also took note. Lieby, by gosh, is having himself an inspired contract season. Beerleaguer reader RickSchuBlues noted yesterday that Lieberthal is still a pro at blocking balls in the dirt.

Burrell the worst "clutch" hitter of 2006?
According to the Hardball Times, it's true. After 99 plate appearances, Burrell ranks dead last in the NL for the stat known as "clutch."

"Clutch" is a Runs Created formula that includes the impact of a batter's batting average with runners in scoring position and the number of home runs with runners on. The specific formula is Hits with RISP minus overall BA times at bats with RISP, plus HR with runners on minus (all HR/AB) times at bats with runners on.

Burrell has a – 5.1 clutch rating. The bottom five includes Burrell, Adam Dunn, Brad Hawpe, Juan Encarnacion and Xavier Nady.

According to the same data, Bobby Abreu is the second-most clutch hitter with a 4.8. That's second only to Lance Berkman, way ahead with 6.5. Chase Utley ranks seventh with a 2.9.

Here's the link to check out "clutch" and the rest of Hardball Times' advanced stats.

D-Train, South Florida, unhealthy combo for Phils

Historically, tonight's host and host city (actually, more like industrial sprawl 30 miles outside Miami) have been unkind to the Phillies.

Where is Vicente Padilla when you need him?

Dontrelle Willis, the man who should have won the NL Cy Young, was unstoppable against all but one Phillie last season: Padilla, whose circus-act triple blew open the game in their only defeat of the D-Train.

Those were different times, however, good times, before the team was gutted of some of their best stars. The Marlins (6-16) were swept by Colorado at home over the weekend and have lost six of their last seven games.

The Phillies (10-14) just finished April with the same record as last season, and are coming off a poor showing against Pittsburgh. In that series,  the bats fell silent the first two games against pitchers who entered the game with ERAs over 7.

That can't happen tonight against Willis (1-1, 3.13 ERA), a tough left-hander who always gives the Phillies fits. This season, the Phils are hitting just .234/.330/.376 against lefties. This will be his Willis' 13th career start against the Phils, the most against any team. Willis is 5-3 with a 2.96 ERA against them.

Dolphins Stadium, and the mostly Philly-faithful crowds they attract for these games, has also been rough on the Phils. Historically, the team is 40-57 there.

Ryan Madson (2-1, 8.50 ERA) takes to the hill in need of the same medicine Gavin Floyd received yesterday.