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Game chat: Phillies begin tough 10-game trip tonight

After a 4-11 start, the Phillies have climbed back toward respectability, but in some ways, it feels like the real season begins tonight when they face Tim Hudson and the Atlanta Braves.

Preview: The Braves will be without closer Bob Wickman, who was placed on the disabled list earlier today with an upper back strain, one day after the veteran right-hander blew a save for the second straight time. Atlanta has activated pitcher Chad Paronto, who had been on the DL ... There hasn't been a better National League pitcher this month than Hudson (3-0, 1.22 ERA, .192 BAA, 0.97 WHIP, 37 IP). Coming off a down year in 2006, Hudson dominated the Phillies in his first start of the season and has been sharp since ... After yesterday's game, Atlanta traded struggling outfielder Ryan Langerhans to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for cash considerations. To fill the spot on their roster, the Braves purchased the contract of Willie Harris from Triple-A Richmond ... For the Phils, Jon Lieber (1-0, 3.21 ERA) gets the ball for his third start. Lieber has allowed just two runs, six hits and one walk in 11 2-3 innings since moving out of the bullpen ... Abraham Nunez gets a starting nod at third base in place of Wes Helms ... The Braves trail the Mets by a half game in the NL East. The Phils, after yesterday's win, are 4 1-2 back.

[Live Boxscore]

Former Phillie Abreu badly struggling in the Bronx

Some fans believe Shane Victorino is starting to overstay his welcome as an everyday right-fielder. So what are Yankees fans saying about Bobby Abreu, their high-priced No. 3 hitter who’s producing even less than his replacement in Philadelphia?

Here’s a sampling of responses to Abreu’s recent swoon from LoHud Yankees Blog: "i cringe every time he comes up to bat. especially when there is a man on first with one out." ... "You can tell why the fans in Philadelphia grew tired of him. He has zero baseball sense." ... "his at bats are terrible ... wasting at bats on bad bunt attempts ... i understand he’s trying to do little things to help, but they aren’t really helping."

Following yesterday’s loss, Abreu is just two for his last 33 with 12 strikeouts and has grounded into double plays in four of those at bats. On the season, he has just three extra base hits, including a homer and two doubles, putting his OPS actually.007 less than light-hitting Victorino. However, in true Abreu fashion, he is still among the league leaders in walks with 16 of them.

Smart money says Abreu will turn it around soon, and a handful of posters on LoHud expect that to happen shortly. "He will be one of the better hitters in baseball the rest of the season, barring injury," says one optimistic poster.

April has typically been Abreu’s worst month. Nevertheless, Yankees fans, and the team’s reactionary front office, must be wondering whether they’re getting the most from their outfield investment, and why shouldn't they? They’re getting walks, but so far this season, nothing more.

Myers used as relief ace in 6-1 win over Florida

Manager Charlie Manuel, long chided for old-school thinking, did something that would have made Bill James proud: He used his best reliever in the highest-leverage situation yesterday, even if it was inadvertent.

With two men on and one out in the eighth inning, Jamie Moyer’s tank appeared to have run dry and Manuel decided to turn it over to the bullpen. With a 3-0 lead and a runner in scoring position, Manuel handed the ball to displaced starter Brett Myers to shut down the Marlins’ rally. Displaying a dominant hammer, and reaching 96 mph with his fastball, Myers put out the fire with back-to-back strikeouts of Miguel Olivo and Mike Jacobs. The Phillies tacked on three runs in the bottom half to put the game out of reach by the final count of 6-1. The ninth-inning pitcher, which turned out the be Antonio Alfonseca, was irrelevant.

James, a sabermatrician currently in Boston’s employ, has long championed the cause of using something called a ‘relief ace’ for the highest-leverage innings when the opposition threatens to take the lead. That could be as early as the 7th inning or whenever the outcome of a ballgame is most in doubt. Often, the most valuable relievers, statistically, are used to shut down rallies during an inning, not in the ninth for the higher-profile save situation.

Manuel addressed his struggling bullpen by pulling his No. 1 starter out of the rotation, a move labeled as "desperation." So far, that move appears to be working. Myers has been effective, Jon Lieber has been solid in the rotation, and the rest of the bullpen has found stability.

Every writer has been trying to place a nice, clean label on Myers’ new role and have been hounding Manuel for answers ever since the move. Is he a setup man? Closer? Part-time stopper? Maybe the best term, for everyone’s sake, should be ‘fireman,' a term last used during the days of Hall-of-Fame relief ace Bruce Sutter.

Gillick's off-season report card takes more hits

That's 10 hits, seven earned runs by Adam Eaton last night, to be precise, on top of the seven hits, four earned runs from Freddy Garcia the night before.

Pat Gillick's major off-season acquisitions haven’t inspired much confidence. Eaton, who’s hitting low-to-mid 90s on the gun, is hanging pitches up in the zone and can't locate his breaking ball. Meanwhile, Garcia, acquired from the White Sox for surprisingly little, looks to be what many feared: damaged goods.

Last night, Eaton was hit very hard and watched as his ERA climb to 7.71, a mark that’s actually higher than when Ryan Madson and Gavin Floyd were pushed out of the starting rotation last season. Once he regains command, Eaton figures to improve. However, the question remains: Does he posses the right kind of stuff for Citizens Bank Park?

So far, absolutely not. The former first-round pick has suffered through the early stages of “you can’t come home again” syndrome, which crippled Andy Ashby and others. In three starts at CBP, opponents are hitting .375 against him with four homers, to the tune of a 10.80 ERA.

Garcia has been a different story. Every pitch appears to be a battle against his body’s best wishes. Perhaps it stems from the time he missed in spring training. Nevertheless, the calendar is about to flip over to May and getting through five innings appears to be a monumental task for the 30-year-old. With Brett Myers reassigned to the bullpen, Manager Charlie Manuel doesn’t have time to wait on these two.

Back to Gillick. Aside from Antonio Alfonseca, of whom he took a flier at the recommendation of a scout, his off-season additions haven’t helped. Pretty soon, it may be time to start asking whether his additions have actually hurt.

Game chat: Moyer tries to dial up more dominance over Florida
The Phillies line up with their best opportunity for a win in today’s rubber match. Jamie Moyer (2-1, 3.38 ERA) is 4-0 with a 3.16 ERA in his four career starts against Florida. He’ll match up with Wes Obermueller (1-0, 3.00), making his second start of the year. The right-hander gave up two runs and four hits in six innings to earn the win Sunday against Washington.

Game time is 1:35 p.m.

Feel-good win brings out the best in Phillies

Call last night’s 6-5 comeback the best win of the young season. Even for those who struggled, there was upside. Here’s a sampling.

-- Tom Gordon blew his third save of the season, which started with Mike Jacobs' slap double to lead off the 9th. Eric Reed, running for Jacobs, would eventually score on Cody Ross' double down the line. However, Flash deserves credit for keeping Ross from crossing home with back-to-back strikeouts. Flash was hitting 94 on the gun and was making good pitches. It’s difficult to imagine he will lose his closer job all because of last night’s performance, although after the game, manager Charlie Manuel said Brett Myers will get chances to close games soon.

-- After starter Freddy Garcia left after four-plus innings, the bullpen did a remarkable job keeping the game close. Over 4 1-3 innings, Antonio Alfonseca, Myers, Ryan Madson and Gordon allowed just one run on eight hits (too many hits allowed by Myers), but struck out eight.

-- The player of the game could have been any number of individuals. A solid choice would be catcher Carlos Ruiz, who went 3-for-5 with two RBIs including the game-winning hit. Chooch also made two great throws defensively.

-- The game felt one-sided most of the night, but the Marlins allowed the Phils to stick around, a dangerous situation considering the number of players who can put balls in the seats. A pair of solo shots by Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley turned the tide in the eighth. Aaron Rowand sent one deep earlier on a difficult pitch. Rowand's hitting streak sits at 15, while others such as Utley and Ruiz have begun their own modest streaks.

-- After the home runs in the eighth, the Phils played small ball in the ninth, with Michael Bourn setting the table with a lead-off walk, another hit from Rowand and a beautiful sacrifice bunt from Wes Helms to load the bases. Bourn demonstrated why his lightning speed can be so disruptive as the Marlins rushed to make plays and booted them.

-- The Phillies face Dontrelle Willis tonight and will counter with Adam Eaton. Needless to say, pulling out this win was huge. The Marlins' offense is very dangerous and could be in for a big night tonight.

-- With three games remaining, the Phillies have tied their win total for the past two Aprils. If they win the next three, they will finish the month above .500.

Game chat: Adam Eaton and Dontrelle Willis pitch tonight at 7:05 p.m. Willis (4-1, 5.28 ERA) has allowed 13 earned runs the last two starts. Eaton (2-1, 6.46 ERA) has given up four runs in six innings in each of his last two starts.

Game chat: Phils open three-game series with Fish

Freddy Garcia makes his third start of the season, and Aaron Rowand tries to extend his hitting streak to 15, when the Phillies host Anibal Sanchez and the Marlins tonight at Citizens Bank Park.

Preview: Garcia (1-1, 4.66 ERA) allowed two runs and four hits over five frames in Sunday's win against Cincinnati ... Rowand's home run in the eighth inning yesterday, his fourth of the season, extended his hitting streak to 14 games ... Chase Utley was hit by a pitch for the eighth time yesterday, which leads the league ... The Phillies bullpen has posted a 1.63 ERA in the last eight games ... For Florida, Sanchez (2-0, 4.15 ERA) picked up the win Saturday against Washington, allowing three runs on five hits in five innings ... First baseman Mike Jacobs is nursing a bruised thumb and is questionable for today's game ... Florida (10-11) has won four of five since a six-game losing streak.

J-Roll setting marks for leadoff power: Jimmy Rollins leads all NL players with eight homers. According to Elias Sports Bureau, his eight homers out of the leadoff spot equal the most in April by a leadoff hitter since Brady Anderson hit 11 in April of 1996. Since then, Alfonso Soriano (2003) and Brian Roberts (2005) also had eight homers in April out of the one-hole.

Forecast: AccuWeather says there's a chance of a thunderstorm until 7 p.m., giving way to cloudy skies.

Baseball notes: John Smoltz gets new contract

The future Hall of Fame right-hander, who turns 40 next month, will return for his 20th season in 2008, inking a deal with the Atlanta Braves that guarantees him about $14 million.

Phillies fans will be seeing a lot more of Smoltz, possibly through the year 2010. Smoltz's new contract includes a $12 million option for 2009 that becomes guaranteed if Smoltz pitches 200 innings the previous season, and there is a club option or 2010, at a cost of $13 million if he pitches 200 innings in '09 or $12 million if he falls short of that total. In all, the deal could earn Smoltz as much as $39 million.

Braves find lead-off answer in Johnson
Continuing with the Braves, who are 13-8 on the season and trail New York by a half game, new lead-off man Kelly Johnson is hitting .306 with a .438 on-base percentage and ranks among the National League leaders with 19 runs and 17 walks. The Braves went through last season with Marcus Giles in the lead-off position, a failed experiment that certainly contributed to their worst season in 14 years. [Link]

Nationals 4, Phillies 2
The overriding mood following the Phillies' first loss in six games is to turn the page and bring on the Marlins. Cole Hamels (2-1) suffered a mini-meltdown following his 15-strikeout masterpiece. Yesterday was his shortest outing this season. The left-hander allowed four runs and eight hits in 5 1-3 innings. "Coming off a phenomenal performance, it gives you confidence," Hamels told the AP. "I was feeling good for five innings then I just got out of my comfort zone." 

Meanwhile, Shawn Hill (2-2) had the Phillies' number. Hill gave up two runs and four hits, striking out three in eight-plus innings. The right-hander hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in any of his five starts this season and continues to pitch the Phillies well.

After the game, Comcast analyst John Marzano reminded fans to regard the season on a series-by-series basis, instead of game-by-game like in football. It's a worthwhile reminder. Overall, the Phils had a positive series against the Nats and have managed to rebound a little from their rough start.

This morning, Bob Ford presented a column detailing Hamels' ongoing problems in day games. [Link]

Weird Beard injured
Former Phillie Rick White suffered a strained oblique while warming up in the bullpen Wednesday and has landed on the 15-day DL. White had been Houston's most reliable middle reliever so far, posting a 1.54 ERA in eight appearances, spanning 11 2-3 innings.

Southpaw swap: Phillies option Smith, recall Castro

Matt Smith, 27, posted an 11.25 ERA with 11 walks in nine games for the Phillies and struggled in a low-pressure situation last night. His replacement, Fabio Castro, 22, went 2-0 with a 3.24 ERA over 8 2-3 innings for Triple-A Ottawa, sriking out seven while walking five. (Comment in the thread below).

Bats keep clicking as Phillies' streak reaches five

The Phillies are winning the games they're supposed to win, but last night's unrelenting display proved they're no longer on equal footing with the cellar dwellers of the National League.

Here's what I liked most from last night. With the Phillies still in control, but the Nationals within striking distance, the Phils punched the Nationals squarely in the chops with a leadoff triple from Michael Bourn, followed by a two-run jack from Jimmy Rollins, putting the game out of reach 9-3. On a raw night for baseball, another team – possibly the Phils from a week ago – would have rushed to pack up and go home.

The last few nights have been good therapy as the Phillies continue to claw toward .500. Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins and Aaron Rowand are locked in. Pat Burrell is hitting balls he wouldn’t normally hit and driving in runs. As a team, they’re manufacturing runs better. And Jon Lieber showcased something we wouldn't have expected two months ago: dominance. The box score won’t reflect it, but aside from the 4th inning, which included a misplay by Rollins, Lieber worked ahead of hitters and painted the black all night.

How much is a byproduct of the opposition? The debate continues. Truthfully, Washington trotted an especially bad crop of pitchers to the mound, perticularly in relief. Rule 5 picks and Triple-A lifers abound. It’s a shame what’s happened to starter John Patterson; he’s a shadow of his former self.

Take nothing away from the Phils. They still need to win these games. They just happen to be doing so in convincing, inspired fashion.

Game chat: Hamels aims for series sweep
Preview: Cole Hamels (2-0, 2.57 ERA) is coming off the best start of his young career, a 15-strikeout shutout over the Reds, becoming the youngest pitcher to notch 15 strikeouts in a game since Mark Prior in 2003. Shawn Hill (1-2, 2.92 ERA) has been one of the few bright spots for Washington. He'll try to help the Nats avoid their first sweep against the Phillies since 2005. Aaron Rowand tries to extend his hitting streak to 14 games.

[Live Boxscore]

Commercial makes Beerleaguer sound friendly, sexy

The Reading Eagle marketing machine worked overtime in creating a slick new television spot for Beerleaguer and the company's new online baseball package. [Download]

The commercial, which makes blogging seem both action-packed and scintillating, will air on WFMZ-TV, which broadcasts in Berks, Lehigh and parts of Schuykill, Chester, Montgomery and Bucks counties. The spot includes overlays of all the praise the site has received over the years, a shot of me at a bar with a laptop and some dynamic screen captures of the blog.

It's an excellent spot, but I can't help but feel that the combative side of Beerleaguer gets lost. For example, instead of positive praise, a selection of irate, F-bomb-laced entries from the Bobby Abreu fiasco, something like "Your stupidity never ceases to amaze me! Have fun in your fantasy world!" followed by "You sound like friggin' Ann Coulter!" would have been in keeping with the true Beerleaguer spirit. And instead of that shot of me in a bar, a more realistic depiction would include a shot of me in boxer shorts sitting in a dark office, hunched over a laptop and a ham sandwich, shaking with anger.

Game chat: Surging Phillies go for five in a row

Jon Lieber goes for his first win, and Aaron Rowand looks to extend his hitting streak to 13 games, when the Phillies take on John Patterson and the Nationals tonight at 7:05 p.m. at Citizens Bank Park.

Preview: Lieber (0-0, 3.38 ERA) made his first start of the season Friday against the Reds and pitched well, allowing just one hit and one walk over 5 2-3 frames with five strikeouts. Patterson (0-3, 7.00 ERA) has really battled after missing most of last season due to injury. Against the Phils last Thursday, Patterson allowed three runs on seven hits and four walks in four-plus innings.

Best of the press notes: Over their last seven games, the Phillies’ pitching staff has posted a 2.70 ERA (20 ER, 66.2 IP) and have held opponents to a .218 batting average. Over that span, the starters have a 3.15 ERA (16 ER, 45.2 IP) and the relievers have a 1.71 ERA (4 ER, 21.0 IP) and a 6.0-inning scoreless streak.

Don't play the fool over Phillies' four-game streak

Winning is winning, but Cincinnati, Houston and Washington spoonfed the Phillies' offense with some pretty ordinary pitching.

Eric Milton, Matt Belisle, Chris Sampson, Jason Bergmann and the so-called relief that followed provided the perfect spark to get the Phillies’ motor running. Warm weather doesn’t hurt, 15 strikeouts from Cole Hamels doesn’t hurt, and if Charlie Manuel’s "Thanksgiving Dinner" before Saturday’s game made everyone feel whole again, fantastic. It still doesn’t change the part about how the Phillies have won four straight over the garbage bins of the National League.

Are the bats finally clicking? I’m skeptical. Is Pat Burrell, the singles hitter, a situation worth getting excited about? What about Wes Helms, who’s only been a marginal improvement over David Bell, without the glove? Between Burrell, Helms and Ryan Howard, the Phillies have three home runs. Is anyone still taking Howard’s slump lightly? I'm no longer on that boat.

There are positives, to be sure. Aaron Rowand, the seven hitter, is hitting the ball well. Carlos Ruiz and Shane Victorino are hitting in similar ways: good average; good speed; little power. Jimmy Rollins has carried the team, and it appears Chase Utley has turned the corner. All positives. As a team, their collective on-base percentage is quite high, but it has a lot to do with all the wildness they faced (Scott Olsen, Oliver Perez) over the first few weeks.

Much of the focus has been on the recent offensive outburst, but the unsung heroes are in the pitching staff. At worst, Adam Eaton and Freddy Garcia kept them in ballgames. Jamie Moyer was effective yesterday, and of course, Hamels was dynamite Saturday.

The single biggest surprise may be new setup man Antonio Alfonseca. Alfonseca has been throwing a heavy ball topping 93-94 with a lot of movement, and his success this season hasn't been a fluke. Alfonseca is enducing grounder after grounder. That’s how you rock it at Citizens Bank Park.

Perhaps of equal importance, his emergence means Geoff Geary and Ryan Madson can be repurposed into suitable roles. There are certain situations where the team can really depend on these two, and they're getting those opportunities now that Alfonseca, Tom Gordon and Brett Myers have been assigned to the big innings.

Game chat: Moyer on mound to open series with Nats

The Phillies try to extend their season-high three-game winning streak when they welcome the Washington Nationals to Citizens Bank Park tonight. Game time is 7:05.

Preview: Jamie Moyer (2-1, 3.05 ERA) makes his first home start this evening. Lifetime against Washington and Montreal, Moyer is 7-4 with a 2.97 ERA in 16 career outings ... Jason Bergmann (0-1, 3.94 ERA) demonstrated a nice slider against the Phils in Wednesday's no decision ... There's been a tendency to underestimate the Nationals, who've played the Phillies in some tough, tight contests the past few seasons. The Nationals actually won their season series against the Phils in 2006, winning 10 of 19 contests.

Minor notes: Swann reassigned to Double-A Reading

Pedro Swann, 36, helped the R-Phils mount a second-half surge last season by hitting .365 with 25 RBIs. The veteran outfielder started the season with Triple-A Ottawa, but had trouble breaking into the starting lineup.

Swann, who’s seen limited Major League action with Atlanta, Toronto and Baltimore, will replace injured outfielder Branden Florence and join an outfield that includes Javon Moran and Greg Jacobs, among others. Swann played just three games for the Lynx and went 3-for-9. Mike Drago of the Reading Eagle has the full story of Swann’s return here. Without checking, I’d have to assume Swann becomes the oldest player in the Eastern League.

Taylor signs in Mexico: Former first round pick Reggie Taylor (1995) has caught on with Olmecas de Tabasco in the Mexican League. Taylor last played in the majors in 2005 with Tampa Bay. Taylor apparently couldn’t find room with the Long Island Ducks, which is becoming the new hotbed for ex-major leaguers (Richard Hidalgo, Danny Graves, Carl Everett, John Halama, Donovan Osborne). There are a couple ex-Mariners in that list, Mr. Gillick.

Simon lands on feet: Randall Simon has landed back with Tijuana of the Mexican League. After 18 games, last season’s bench addition is hitting .321 with a .936 OPS.

Rule 5 updates: Alfredo Simon, released by the Phillies during spring, has been converted back into a starting pitcher with the Oklahoma RedHawks (AAA, Rangers) and has 14 strikeouts in 20 innings and is holding hitters to a .145 batting average. As for Jim Ed Warden, the big reliever is throwing frisbees with Buffalo (AAA, Indians). In 7 2-3 innings, the side-arm pitcher has a 2.35 ERA and no walks.

Minor league transactions: The Phillies signed left-hander Abel Gomez and second baseman Kevin Howard recently, as listed in Baseball America’s transaction update. Howard has started a couple games at second for Clearwater. Gomez pitched last season in the Yankees organization.

Odds and ends: Phillies pummel Astros with 20 hits

According to David Pinto’s Day by Day Database, which goes back to 1957, the Phillies' 14 hits against Houston starter Chris Sampson ties Scott Sanders as the only other pitcher to allow that many hits in so few innings. [Link]

The biggest hit of the night came off the bat of Chase Utley, a 460-foot tape measure job into dead-away center field. Utley’s last-minute blast meant everyone got a hit – woo-hoo! Jimmy Rollins, who went 4-for-5 on the night with a home run, was a double away from the cycle. Shane Victorino went 3-for-5 with a double and three RBIs. Pat Burrell roped three hits, including an inside-out double, before he was lifted for Michael Bourn in the 6th. Aaron Rowand’s .368 BA is fourth in the NL after a 2-for-4 night at the plate. The center fielder is riding an 11-game hitting streak. The Phils have scored 20 runs in the last two games with 32 hits as the weather and bats are finally starting to heat up.

Howard pressing?
It looks that way, but it also looks like opposing pitchers are following a blueprint by getting him to chase low breaking balls. Rick "Weird Beard" White used a perfect pitch sequence to sit him down in the bottom of the 6th. Then in the 8th, Dave Borkowski set up Howard with two good pitches and got him to chase the inside breaking ball. Howard uncharacteristically smashed his bat and winged his helmet toward the dugout. The reigning NL MVP, hitting just .218 with 2 homers, is still searching for his mojo.

Game chat: Phils host Astros, honor Jackie tonight

Ryan Howard and the Phillies try to ramp up the offense once again as the hometown nine pays tribute to No. 42.

Preview: Tonight’s game is a makeup from last Sunday, April 15. Both teams will commemorate the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier by wearing No. 42 ... The Astros hand the ball to Chris Sampson (1-0, 1.20 ERA), entering tonight’s game having lost their last two. Adam Eaton (1-1, 6.62 ERA) takes the mound for the Phils, winners of two straight. Eaton allowed four runs in six innings in the Phils’ 5-4 loss to Washington on Wednesday. The Astros have won 10 of their last 12 at Philadelphia.

Yesterday: The Phillies scored a season-high nine runs in their 9-3 win over the Reds, their first series win of the season. Starter Freddy Garcia earned his first win as a Phillie. Offensively, Chase Utley continued his hot hitting, going 2-for-3 with 2 doubles, an RBI and 3 runs scored and Ryan Howard hit a 2-run homer in the 9th, his second of the season. Shane Victorino cut down a Reds run at the plate in the 6th inning with his first assist of the season. The Phillies are tied for the National League lead in outfield assists with seven.

Roster moves: Catcher Ryan Budde, who had been acquired by the Phillies in December’s Rule 5 Draft, was returned to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim today. Budde began the season on the disabled list and would have needed to be included on the Phillies 25-man roster or else offered back to his original team. Budde’s departure means all three players taken by the Phils in the Major League portion of the Rule 5 draft are gone.

Beer nuts: Matt Smith hit his spots yesterday

Matt Smith hasn't been pitching clean innings this season, but broadcaster Larry Andersen believes Charlie Manuel will stick by his lone left-handed reliever because he has the stuff to turn it around.

Smith relieved starter Freddy Garcia after Garcia surrendered a double to lead off the 6th inning yesterday. Smith was called on to face Josh Hamilton, Adam Dunn and stayed in to face Javier Valentin, getting Hamilton to strike out, then ran the count full to Dunn and lost him on a borderline call. Valentin then lined out and Smith was lifted for Geoff Geary.

Andersen said the key for Smith is to get his first pitch over for a strike, as he did against Hamilton, and stop trying to be too fine. Before yesterday, Smith had retired only two of the nine left-handers he’s faced all season.

With Brett Myers inching toward the closer role, along with a workman-like effort from Antonio Alfonseca so far, I’d like to see Smith become the next reliever to start stringing together some consistent innings.

Getting to know Mikey
READING, Pa. - Beer in hand and standing near the picnic pavilion along the third base side, I heard the name "Mikey" circulating from an approaching family and knew I was surrounded by Mike Costanzo’s relatives. Ramona and David Gallo, Costanzo’s aunt and uncle, couldn’t find seats for themselves and their three children, but this spot was suitable and very close to Mikey. I chatted with David for over an hour about his nephew and how much it meant when the Phils drafted him. Big Mike, Costanzo’s pop, is a huge Phillies fan, so when the Phillies made his son a top draft choice two seasons ago, it was like a dream.

David asked what I thought about his nephew and I said it looks like he’s getting a hard lesson in the quality of Double-A pitching. He struck out his first at bat yesterday against a touted left-hander, making it 26 strikeouts in 58 at bats for Costanzo this season. Scouts either love him or hate him, I said, but all agree on his sound defense and rifle arm. If he can get it together, there’s an opportunity for him in Philadelphia down the road.

Costanzo is always smiling, made even more noticeable by his gleaming white teeth, which David joked about. He says Reading is much better than any other spot he’s been because he can jet home whenever he wants. In Batavia, he stayed in a basement and ate a steady diet of Applebee’s. Nothing phases him. He’d play for dirt; he loves it so much.

In his second at bat, Costanzo bounced a grounder to the shortstop, but the throw pulled the first baseman off the bag by a foot. Everyone saw it but the umpire, who called him out. Costanzo, laughing and smiling just moments before as his family called out from the peanut gallery, was now getting tossed for arguing the call. David said he’s never seen him act like this. It’s frustration, I said. That’s what a start like this will do.

Bench stuff
Everyone is wondering when outfielder Michael Bourn will get sent back to Triple-A. An equally justifiable question is how much longer can they use a roster spot on Jayson Werth, who has two at bats since Wednesday. At least with Bourn, they’re filling a need by using him to run, catch and throw. Greg Dobbs, who started in left yesterday, can play multiple positions. I have a hard time believing Werth, who missed all of last season, is in any sort of rhythm at all. I see no value in it, especially over what Chris Coste could bring as a third catcher.

Deja Vu
Tonight's starter, Chris Sampson, is the pitcher the Phils faced the last time they hosted a Monday makeup game with the Astros. You remember it well, I'm sure. Sampson will face Adam Eaton, who essentially replaced Randy Wolf in the rotation. Wolf started that fateful night on Sept. 25. Let's sit Matt Smith out this one, shall we?

Game chat: Phillies try for series win in Cincy

Freddy Garcia (0-1, 5.79 ERA) and Matt Belisle (2-0, 3.63) take the mound for the final game of a three-game set.

What to watch: The Phillies expect to have Ryan Howard back in the lineup after missing the last three games with soreness below his left knee. Howard is hitting just .213 with a homer and seven RBIs so far this season ... Keep your eye on Pat Burrell, who may or may not be in today's day-game lineup against the right-hander. Burrell is off to a solid start overall but has not been hitting lately ... Aaron Rowand has exorcised the ghosts of spring training and leads the team with a .348 BA. Quietly, Shane Victorino has turned it around hitting-wise with seven hits his last three games, but only one for extra bases, so it's a little deceiving ... Wes Helms (.604 OPS) has only two extra base hits this season, both doubles, his last one coming on April 8. Time to step up, Wes. David Bell could do better. Much better.

A new ace emerges for Phillies in 4-1 win

Great American Ball Park was the site of Cole Hamels' Major League debut. It's also the place where the left-hander arrived.

Hamels struck out a career-high 15 and threw his first complete game last night in the Phillies 4-1 victory over the Reds. According to the Inquirer, that’s the most strikeouts for a Phillies pitcher since Curt Schilling struck out 15 in 1998 and ties Hamels for the fourth-most in franchise history in a nine-inning game.

Though his career is still young and opposing hitters will eventually adjust, Hamels is making a case to be included on the short list of the National League’s best pitchers. It’s hard to imagine that word has not spread among players about this lefty buzzsaw in Philly. His 33 strikeouts leads the league and last night’s performance was probably the most dominant of any NL starter this season.

As a Phillies fan, particularly one that’s watched the team start the way they have, there’s this unshakable “too good to be true” feeling whenever he takes the mound. The confidence, the stuff – none of it seems to fit with a Phillies pitcher. We're just not accustomed to excellence. But we'll get used to it.

Break up the R-Phils
READING - The Phillies offense exploded for 13 runs, including five homers, in a 13-7 victory over the Akron Aeros at FirstEnergy Stadium. Infielder Jesus Merchan, typically not a home run threat, went deep twice and drove in six. Brian Burgamy, Juan Tejeda and Greg Jacobs also went deep - Jacobs blasted a three-run job off the pool pavilion deck in deep right. Everyone in the lineup got a hit, including Mike Costanzo, who went 3-5 with a hard double off the wall in left-center. The game also featured some great defense.

Strong overall performances from the starters - Landon Jacobson, Matt Maloney, Heath Totten, Kyle Kendrick and Tim McClasky - have the Phils out in front of the Southern Division with a 9-5 mark. Javon Moran is setting the table for the offense with a .916 OPS and 14 runs so far. Costanzo has Tim Moss disease; the third baseman has opened the season with 25 strikeouts, so hopefully he'll turn it around. I'll hit up beat writer Mike Drago for his early read on Costanzo soon. In his strikeout last night, it looked like he took the AB off.

The prospect-deprived R-Phils close their series with the prospect-laden Aeros this afternoon.

Game chat: Go outside and enjoy the weather

There's no chance I'm spending more than five minutes in front of my computer this afternoon. If I were to write, today's topic would be Pat Gillick and his indefensible excuse for a Major League bench.

Two straight seasons of substandard production, with few roadblocks or excuses as there may have been with other areas. It's a pretty straightforward process. Find players who are good enough to face Major League pitching, but poor enough not to hold regular jobs. There are plenty. In evaluating the job Gillick has done to improve the Phillies, look no further than the bench, where Abraham Nunez, Alex Gonzalez, Rod Barajas, Jayson Werth, Sal Fasano, Greg Dobbs and a cast of others sum it up beautifully. Has there been a worse GM in baseball the past two seasons? Positively not.

Game Chat: Phillies @ Reds tonight at 7:10 EST. If you must watch, mash your fists against the keyboard here, in the company of others.

Game chat: Phillies visit Reds for weekend set

The second half of Charlie Manuel's pitching experiment debuts tonight, as Jon Lieber, making his first start of the season, faces Kyle Lohse and the Cincinnati Reds tonight at 7:10 EST.

Summary: The Phillies will be without Ryan Howard again tonight. Howard is listed as day-to-day with a sprained ligament below his left knee ... Lieber is 0-0, 11.57 ERA on the season in two bullpen appearances, games that will not be included in the Lieber family scrapbook. Tonight's return to the starting rotation feels more like a season debut. The 37-year-old right-hander went 9-11 with a 4.93 ERA in 27 starts last season and was moved back into the rotation this week, replacing Brett Myers, who's now in the bullpen ... Loshe (1-0, 2.53) is coming off an eight-inning shutout against the Cubs ... The 8-8 Reds held the lead in their last two games going into the eighth inning and lost it both games.

Myers and Phillies set up for success in bullpen

Two days after the Phillies repurposed their No. 1 starter, reports are the move is more permanent than not. Call it the start of a beautiful new career.

The most common argument against this move is the Phillies have weakened their starting rotation, but also their future by stomping out the growth of a blossoming pitcher. With Freddy Garcia and Jon Lieber becoming free agents after the season, the future of the starting rotation, which Myers was supposed to anchor, is very much in doubt.

True enough. Then again, what does the future hold for the bullpen, already the wost it’s been in years? Tom Gordon is old, and according to a recent scouting report, hasn’t been throwing his money curveball. "There's something going on," a scout told ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark. "He's not going to be the strikeout pitcher he was if he doesn't have that curveball. He's turned into a fastball-cutter guy."

After Gordon, Antonio Alfonseca may turn out to be a nice find, but he’s certainly not the future. And here’s the real problem: Ryan Madson and Geoff Geary, young-to-middle-career relievers, have reached their ceilings and do not project as back-end relievers. In addition, they don’t have a reliable left-hander. Down on the farm, prospects like Joe Bisenius and Fabio Castro have live arms, but every team in baseball is sitting on players like these and it’s anyone’s guess. Is there a closer among any of them? Probably not.

How hard is it to find a closer? (And rest assured, Myers will be the closer before long.) Well, using this past off-season as a measuring stick, it’s very difficult. There’s a very high probability many of the top closers signed this winter will flop. And since the front office hasn’t always demonstrated a panache for judging talent, perhaps it’s best to put the matter in the hands of field officials and go with what you have.

Give Myers credit. A lot of credit. He wants to do this because it will help the Phillies. That’s no small point here. He isn’t going into this situation kicking and screaming like Jon Lieber, who only cares about his career. He wants to touch the ball more than 34 times a season and help them win. He doesn’t want to watch the problems with the bullpen snowball and infect the team, as it has this season, when he knows he can do something to fix it, many more times than as a starter. It's like he knew all along, in his heart, what he was meant to be. Maybe it had something to do with the wishy-washy excuses we kept hearing after six seasons as a starting pitcher. Don't you think a pitcher of his ability would have already asserted himself as the ace if he was fully committed?

That’s the right way to go into this situation – with everyone on the same page. For once, there's honesty. Everyone is fed up with watching four run leads vanish into smoke like it almost did yesterday.

With Myers’ gifts, his rubber arm and his prize fighter competitiveness, there's hope. Just days after Charlie Manuel said "he didn't have the answers," at least he's putting forth an educated guess.

Here's how his answer is shaping up: An offense that will get leads - soon. Myers to close - soon. Flash demoted to the 8th, a better fit. Alfonseca on standby and ready to replace Flash. Madson pitches extra frames and long relief. Geary molds into the middle. Ditch the left-hander just for the sake of having one and audition the next prospect or waiver claim, please. Lieber back in the rotation pitching for what he cares about most - a new contract.

Now let’s get some wins.

Phillies try to avoid two-game sweep in Washington

Good news: Ryan Howard will not need an MRI on his left knee, according to Phillies GM Pat Gillick, but the reigning NL MVP is out of this afternoon’s lineup and is listed as day-to-day.

Gillick told an AP baseball writer he didn't think Howard would have to go on the disabled list. The diagnosis appears to be a sprained ligament that connects the tibia to the fibia just below the knee. This could have been worse.

Howard will get at least a day off, which may not have been a bad idea anyway. Howard’s April swoon is one of the main reasons why the Phillies find themselves 3-10, the team’s worst start in over 20 years. The Phillies slugger, hitting just .213 with one homer, has looked off-kilter ever since spring training and his frustration became visible to the naked eye during last night’s loss.

In the meantime, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel has made some minor adjustments. Greg Dobbs will replace Howard at first base and hit fifth. Pat Burrell slides up one slot and will hit fourth. Jamie Moyer (1-1, 3.55 ERA) makes his third straight road start. John Patterson (0-2, 7.07) seeks his first win in more than a year. [Live boxscore]

More trouble: Howard will undergo MRI on left knee

Things continue to disintegrate for the 3-10 Phillies, but the latest situation has the potential to bring the whole house down. According to the Daily News, Ryan Howard, who pulled up lame beating out a play at first base, suffered an injury around his left knee.

Originally thought to be harmless thigh strain, Howard played all 13 innings out of necessity because the bench had been used up and actually made a fine diving stab at first. However, a post-game examination revealed the injury was sustained around his knee. According to the report, he underwent X-rays last night at RFK Stadium and is scheduled to undergo an MRI this morning.

Marcus Hayes, who wrote the story for the Daily News, suggests the Phils could move Chase Utley to first base and play utility infielder Abraham Nunez at second. Other combinations could include Wes Helms at first with Nunez at third, or recalling Chris Coste from Triple-A Ottawa to join the mix. A roster move is likely to replace Howard at least temporarily.

Obviously, this is more bad news for a collapsing ballclub. Judging from the incident, my expert blogger opinion says hyperextended knee, with some type of ligiment injury, praying on bended knee it isn't an ACL tear.

Offense comes up lame in 5-4 loss
Last night’s agonizing loss came courtesy of the top four table setters – Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard – who went a combined 2 for 21 with three walks.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, the Phillies have left 131 runners on base in 13 games this season, the highest total for any big-league team over its first 13 games since the Tigers stranded 132 runners in their first 13 games back in 1970 (Thanks to Tray for the tip).

Brett Myers pitched an effective inning, his first in relief. Antonio Alfonseca and Ryan Madson did commendable jobs holding Nats scoreless through four innings, two apiece. Matt Smith battled again with his command and is now a prime candidate for a ticket to Ottawa. Reclamation project Francisco Rosario also battled with command and eventually took the loss in the 13th.

Veteran writer weighs in on Phillies’ state of despair
Brett Myers demotion to the bullpen is a desperate act no matter how you spin it. That’s how columnist Rich Hofmann approached the subject in his account of yesterday's chaotic news day. I really liked this piece; Hofmann did an outstanding job brining all the issues to the forefront and his positions were on target. [Link]

Phillies able to keep Condrey, Durbin
Right-hander Clay Condrey, who was designated for assignment to make room for Freddy Garcia, has cleared waivers yesterday and has been outrighted to triple-A Ottawa and has agreed to rejoin the Phillies. In addition, right-hander J.D. Durbin, who was picked up on waivers and was immediately designated for assignment, also cleared waivers and has been optioned to Ottawa.

It just goes to show that if they’re not good enough for the Phillies bullpen ...

Kidding aside, Durbin is young, talented and a low-risk, high reward bullpen part to stash away as inventory. The hard-throwing hurler was rated as the Twins 10th best prospect this season, but has had numerous injury setbacks.

Breaking news: Brett Myers headed to the bullpen

FoxSports insider Ken Rosenthal is reporting that Phillies manager Charlie Manuel will move Brett Myers into the bullpen, likely a set-up role, while inserting Jon Lieber into the starting rotation. [Link]

Manuel told Rosenthal he was comfortable using Myers in either the seventh or eighth innings and may also use him to close on days when Tom Gordon is unavailable. Meanwhile, 37-year-old righty Jon Lieber returns to his familiar role of starter after two failed experiments in the bullpen. In three starts, Myers is 0-2 with a 9.39 ERA. He has allowed 16 earned runs, with 19 strikeouts and 9 walks in 15 1-3 innings. Lieber is 0-0 with an 11.57 ERA, allowing two walks with no strikeouts in 2 1-3 innings in his two relief appearances this season.

Beerleaguer: Sensing urgency, an idea that has been quietly kicked around for some time comes to fruition sooner than expected. Manuel watched Myers' last two starts go up in smoke while the bullpen falls further into a state of disarray and decided it was time to make a command decision.

Myers has a reputation for letting mistakes get the best of him, and in a shortened role, perhaps the strategy is to have the gifted hurler stay focused and mix it up for one inning. Talent-wise, it's hard to argue that the hard-throwing, rubber-armed right-hander won't help the bullpen, and in an Inquirer interview during Spring Training, Myers seemed receptive to the idea of closing games. Meanwhile, the Phillies are hoping for the same type of performance Lieber delivered late last season when he returns to the starting five, instead of his first-half flop that made him unattractive to every team seeking starting pitching the last eight months.

This is a major shakeup, a fresh topic for debate and a situation that will surely become the new focus of discussion on this space. Is Myers worth more anchoring this particularly bad bullpen than he is in the rotation, where Lieber is the alternative?  Creativity comes at a high cost - six, seven or eight good innings most turns, but at 3-9 and considering the early desperation, I reluctantly agree with the motivation behind this defining move, at least temporarily.

In other words, give it a try.

Game chat: Phillies at Washington, 7:05 EST. Eaton vs. Bergmann. Phillies win tonight. In the words of Howard Eskin: It's a stone-cold lock.

Chollygate wrap: Manuel responsible for his actions

Howard Eskin’s past cruelty toward Phillies manager Charlie Manuel can’t absolve yesterday’s boorish and childish behavior.

Anyone familiar with yesterday's fight card knows the particulars: Eskin is a staunch critic of Manuel with strong ties to the man he replaced, Larry Bowa; Manuel has played the role of folksy, misunderstood outsider with a reputation for being a players’ manager.

Dealing with Eskin, playing the role of Howard Eskin, and the rest of the notoriously critical and often overbearing press corps comes with the job description, yet surprisingly few officials ever take the bait. Eskin's question on whether it was time to light a fire under his players, prefaced by Lou Pinella’s clubhouse challenge to the Cubs earlier this week, was justified and fair. Raise your hand if you're wondering the same thing, just as the Mets broadcasters, Mets players and others connected to baseball have been scratching their heads over for three seasons.

If Manuel is cracking under the pressure now, what will he do when it isn't April 17?

Chollygate: Stark says Cholly not given enough talent

"Are the Phillies the biggest bust of 2007?" asks ESPN scribe Jayson Stark. They still haven't won two games in a row, and the only other team that can say that is the Royals.

"They're 3-9 -- and only two NL teams since the Bobby Thomson Giants have started 3-9 or worse and made the postseason ('74 Pirates, 2000 Giants)," writes Stark in his ESPN.com blog. "Not one guy in their bullpen has shown any semblance of dependability. And Ryan Howard and Chase Utley are 5-for-32 (.156) with runners in scoring position. Charlie Manuel may take the fall one of these months if this keeps up. But he wasn't given a talented enough team to live up to the inflated expectations that surrounded this group. Baseball Prospectus' Joe Sheehan said it best: The dropoff from the top 11 players on this team to the rest of the roster is steeper than most people seemed to notice."

Chollygate opinion: Time to say goodbye, Charlie?

Last night's unfortunate tirade was inappropriate no matter who was stirring the drink, but it shouldn't be the only vehicle for change. The worst start in 20 years, the same tired excuses and an overmatched, overtaxed manager may be reason enough.

Manuel’s 3-9 Phillies are unprepared yet again, and as yesterday’s incident proves, Manuel isn’t long for managing in a salty market like Philadelphia. If last night’s scrap wasn’t an impetus for change, Manuel’s comments from over the weekend are, when he said he didn't have the answers. If he did, he'd do something.

Perfect. Yesterday’s incident only brought Manuel’s frustration to a public boil. Manuel doesn’t know what to do, and on a team with this much talent, it’s an intolerable waste. They shouldn't be 3-9. They shouldn't be getting blown out 8-1 at home in 40 degree weather. They shouldn't squander opportunities again and again. Manuel has basically pushed all his chips on Chase Utley and Ryan Howard to turn it around, and they will. But when? And until then, what is the strategy? As Howard Eskin asked, how long will it be – 15 games, a month, 60 days? With Atlanta and New York building early leads, they could bury themselves in April.

When the entire team falls flat time and time again - with runners on base, for example - it isn’t luck or happenstance. Something is off, a situation that has now been confirmed by opposing players. Larry Bowa was a poor fit to handle the players’ delicate egos, but Manuel represents the opposite extreme. The players admittedly care about Manuel. They like playing for him and know he's upset. But they’re 2-8 against their division foes and have shown no urgency. There is never any consequence, and knowing they need to step up isn't the same as acting on it.

Isn't it time for the front office to realize the Phillies have outgrown Charlie Manuel and stop a bad situation from getting worse?

Chollygate: Phillies writer offers different perspective

Writer Ken Mandel said radio host Howard Eskin "baited" Charlie Manuel by suggesting he shed his "perceived nice-guy image and Norman Vincent Peale approach to winning."

Mandel painted a very different picture than Eskin offered on radio, going so far as to call Manuel's initial response as "good-natured." According to the report, things got heated only when Eskin persisted. [Story here]

Chollygate: Eskin tells his side of Manuel incident

A guest on 610-WIP's morning show, radio host Howard Eskin said Charlie Manuel's threats of violence were desperate attempts to prove he can be tough on players.

Eskin, who said he prefaced his question with Lou Pinella's clubhouse challenge in Chicago, defended his behavior and said he acted within reason when he asked the Phillies' skipper whether it was time to ride his players a little harder. When things got heated, Eskin observed that both Jimy Williams and Davy Lopes, new coaches, stayed clear of getting involved, with Eskin implying the two ex-managers are trying to separate themselves from Manuel as much as possible. Eskin did not enter Manuel's office alone; he was accompanied by a member of the Phillies public relations staff. Later when the confrontation spilled into the clubhouse, Manuel made a show of saying "I'm going to kick your a--" in front of players and media, to which Eskin responded "Why don't you grow up?" Afterward, Eskin visited the Mets' clubhouse where several players commented on how uninspired the Phillies have been playing.

Chollygate: Manuel, Eskin scrap after 8-1 loss

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel engaged in a heated argument with 610-WIP radio host Howard Eskin, including implied physical threats, following last night's 8-1 loss to the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park.

Paraphrased from NBC-10's morning news segment: Frustrations initially boiled over during the post-game press conference when Eskin, famed antagonist in the world of Philadelphia sports, asked the Phillies skipper whether it was advisable for Manuel to show a little more fire in the wake of the team's 3-9 start. Manuel then invited Eskin back to his office to demonstrate his brand of discipline. Eskin, among Manuel's harshest critics, accepted his offer, following the Phillies manager back to his office after Manuel cut the press conference short and walked off stage. Behind closed doors, cameras picked up loud shouting, most of it coming from Manuel, the loudest of all being "We're going to win!" The argument later spilled over into the locker room, where Manuel had to be restrained and escorted out of the room by team officials, with Manuel heard shouting something along the lines of "What's it to you, anyway?"

Beerleaguer will have more on this developing story throughout the day. Once NBC-10's video becomes available, we'll provide a link.

The Phillies are off to their worst start in 20 years, and last night's lifeless, uninspired loss certainly fueled the fires of frustration. The Phillies squeezed out only one run with 16 base-runners, with the lone run coming by way of a bases-loaded walk. The heart of the lineup continued to struggle, including a pair of key strikeouts by Ryan Howard and Chase Utley with no outs and two men on base, with Pat Burrell ending the threat with a pop out. The bullpen, an ongoing concern, never kept it close once starter Freddy Garcia was lifted.

Rain postpones Freddy Garcia's debut again

The Phillies-Mets game tonight at Citizens Bank Park has been postponed because of inclement weather and has been rescheduled as a part of a day-night doubleheader on Friday, June 29.

In addition, no official decision has been made on rescheduling Sunday's washout against Houston. See Phillies.com for more details. Garcia and the Phils would have faced right-hander John Maine tonight. Tom Glavine, skipping Oliver Perez's turn, is scheduled to pitch tomorrow against Adam Eaton if tonight's starters aren't pushed back.

Red-hot Rollins tops list of fab five Phillies

Jimmy Rollins talked the talk, but at least he’s walking the walk. The hot-hitting shortstop tops our short list of early season gamers and begs the question: Is it time to reinvent the lineup?

1) Jimmy Rollins, SS, (.298/.411/.766, 6 HR): The Phils find themselves 3-8 in part because of poor situational hitting. Otherwise, the offense is right there, including a league-best .376 on-base percentage. If the Phils could travel back in time and scramble the lineup, batting J-Roll behind Howard or some other combination, they might have an extra win or two. For now, J-Roll is all-world no matter where the Phillies bat him. His six homers lead the National League, but he hasn’t walked in his last four games and his on-base has actually been going down. Is it time to reinvent his role on the team as a three-four-five hitter?

2) Pat Burrell, LF, (.333/.455/.472): Pat the Bat has better all-around numbers than Ryan Howard and Chase Utley so far, and that .455 on-base is only points behind Howard even after four walks on Saturday. His base knocks and walks have been somewhat wasted hitting fifth because of the slow starts by Utley and Howard.

3) Antonio Alfonseca, RP (1.42 ERA, 6 1-3 IP, 1.26 WHIP, .190 BAA): I guess someone had to step up and show something in the bullpen. Right now, Alfonseca’s heavy sinker has been just what the doctor ordered these chilly spring days. Pulpo is still a big mystery; he could turn into Jose Mesa on a dime.

4 & 5) Aaron Rowand, CF (.342/.458/.368) & Carlos Ruiz, C (.310/.333/.483): Rowand and Ruiz are producing equal amounts but in opposite ways. Ruiz is slugging, Rowand is getting on base. The trend I like best is Rowand (.458 OBP), who appears to be taking a few more pitches. I’ve never been sure where Rowand should bat in the lineup, but if he’s determined to make pitchers work and reinvent himself, how about a tryout in the leadoff spot, or at the very least, swap him with Shane Victorino? As for Ruiz, I like him right where he is. Still an unknown, he can catch pitchers napping.

Garcia's debut washed out in Philadelphia

The forces of nature have once again prevented Freddy Garcia from making his first start as a Phillie. Today's game between Garica and the Phils and Wandy Rodriguez and the Astros has officially been scratched and the makeup date is pending. Jackie Robinson Day festivities scheduled for today will be announced later today.

Phillies designate Clay Condrey for assignment
With Garcia's return, along with the addition of Francisco Rosario, 31-year-old right-hander Clay Condrey has fallen victim to the numbers game. The Phillies have 10 days to move his contract via trade or outright release. If Condrey clears waivers, he can be optioned to the Minors. Because he's been outrighted before, he can decline an assignment and become a free agent.

In limited, low-pressure situations, Condrey has pitched well for the Phillies in parts of two seasons. He's allowed one run this spring in four innings and struck out five batters in two innings in a game against the Braves. This couldn't have been an easy decision for the bullpen-poor Phils, who may have been thinking they were already stocked with enough fastball/change-up/slider type right-handers in their pen. Condrey could still land on his feet and help a big league club in a mop-up role.

Hunky-dory Phillies say 'It's just a matter of time'

Over 44,000 fans braved the cold to watch Brett Myers and the miserable baseball team discover even more ways to waste our time last night. As long as the Phillies keep filling seats, nothing's going to change.

I'm writing out of a sense of duty to the site today. Fortunately, this isn't my livelihood. I can step away whenever I want. The Phillies are pushing me in that direction. Losing is not only boring, it's depressing.

Brett Myers' latest excuse is he's "pitching scared." Like a scared dog is what he said. Nope. Just the dog part, champ. Oh how the Astros laughed after Carlos Lee smashed your middle-in attempt at revenge into the seats. You're not pitching scared, Brett. You're pitching like a moron.

Pat Gillick's blueprint for building a championship is to give major league contracts to ex-players like Jayson Werth, who, by all accounts, is a garden variety Triple-A corner outfielder. He looks like he should be able to play: tall; athletic; even handsome. Werth even has a baseball pedigree. That's good enough for Gillick, a man with more jurisdiction over stone-cold stiffs than a coroner.

Finally, we've run the gammit from management to performance this season, but we haven't touched on intellect, which went missing again last night. Answering whether stupid decisions, like sending Shane Victorino with no outs from third base, will ever change, wise old poster, Nat, had this to say:

This is one thing I don't expect to change. Some of the other problems may get corrected, but the stupidity will remain. You can break out of a slump. You can recover from injury. Your luck can change. But if you are stupid, you pretty much stay that way.

Game chat: Phillies host Astros at 3:55 EST on Fox. Mash your fists against the keyboard here, in the company of others.

Game chat: Phillies host Houston in first of three

Ace right-hander Roy Oswalt goes for his 100th career win against Brett Myers and the Phillies tonight at 7:05 EST at Citizens Bank Park. Notes: Pat Burrell gets the night off and is replaced by Jayson Werth. Rod Barajas will handle Myers behind the plate. [Live Boxscore]

Breaking news: Phils claim RHP Durbin off waivers

Right-hander J.D. Durbin, 25, has only appeared in one game this season for Arizona. Out of options, Philadelphia is his fourth team since March 29. It may not be his final destination.

A second-round pick of the Twins in 2000, Durbin had previously appeared in the major leagues in 2004, pitching four games for the Twins. Durbin has a career minor league record of 47-22 with a 3.16 ERA in 123 games (117 starts). The move brings the Phillies to 39 players on their 40-man roster.

Baseball America rated Durbin as the Twins tenth-best prospect going into this season, but the hard-throwing righty was out of options and was claimed by Arizona on April 4. The Diamondbacks then tried to pass him through waivers and Boston claimed him on Monday. Boston tried the same thing and now he's Phillies property.

Durbin originally reached Minnesota at age 22 but his career was derailed by shoulder surgery to repair a partially torn labrum. Since then, he's suffered tendinitis and nerve problems in his biceps. When healthy, Durbin can hit high 90s with a complimentary tight curveball. Command is a major hurdle for him at this stage.

Durbin's addition could mean the kiss of death for any number of relievers, including Clay Condrey, who gave up a run in last night's ballgame and is out of options himself. Or, the Phillies could try the same thing the others tried. He does not seem ready to pitch in the majors. In that game with Arizona, Durbin pitched two-thirds of an inning, giving up seven earned runs on seven hits.

Judging from the title of his myspace page, Durbin knows exactly what he wants from life.

Phillies need Myers to dial up some dominance

Even with Roy Oswalt going for his 100th career victory, the visiting Astros present a nice opportunity for the Phils to turn their season around, beginning tonight when they counter with their appointed No. 1.

It’s getting difficult to write. Hell. It’s getting hard to watch. And it’s only April 13. The 2-7 Phillies are off to their worst start in 20 years. "The Phillies are just playing lousy" was how Rich Hofmann said it in the Daily News. The bullpen would appear to be an ongoing crisis until the team makes a move. No lead is safe ... if they can get a lead. Ryan Howard and Chase Utley are walking hand-in-hand toward the Medoza line. Howard hasn’t been able to "flip the switch," not that opponents are handling him the same way. Pitchers appear to be jamming him. Utley isn’t hitting or getting on base. Pat Burrell and Jimmy Rollins are the only players hitting with much consistency. Defensively, Wes Helms is as bad as advertised. Besides a handful of dominant starts, nothing has gone well.

But I digress. Time to play the card. "It's a long season."

The latest loss was pretty conventional and rated low on the agony scale. Tom Glavine and Jamie Moyer both exited in the 6th with Glavine holding a 4-3 lead, emblematic of where these old war horses are in their careers. The Mets won 5-3, about what you’d expect against the Mets in their own building.

The offensive funk is familiar territory. Phillies have faced a lot of lefty starters so far this season, and once again, the lefty-batting meat has lost their thump. Howard and Utley improved last season against left-handers, but generally the team will struggle against southpaws.

The Phillies have an opportunity to readjust as they see three righty starters this series. After Oswalt, Jason Jennings and Woody Williams create a diminuendo of dominance. With Myers, followed by Cole Hamels and Freddy Garcia, on paper the 2-7 Phillies have a slight edge against he 3-5 ‘stros. Even Houston’s bullpen is in shambles. Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee are the only hitters with much wallop.

For the series to unfold as planned, Myers (0-1, 6.75 ERA) needs to pitch like he’s supposed to pitch. Myers allowed six runs and eight hits - six for extra bases - in 4 1-3 innings in the Phillies 8-5 loss to Florida on Saturday. Myers is 2-1 with a 4.28 ERA in five career starts against Houston and won his only start against the Astros in 2006.

For Houston, Oswalt (1-0, 1.08 ERA) goes for his 100th career win. On Saturday, he tossed a five-hitter in a 5-1 win over St. Louis.

Game preview and live box

Game chat: Veteran lefties showcased in series finale

Jamie Moyer, (44 years, 145 days) and Tom Glavine (41, 18) have the oldest combined age of any opposing left-handed starting pitchers in major league history, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

Summary: The Phillies are trying for their first series win tonight. Mets starter Oliver Perez helped them pull even yesterday by issuing a career-high seven walks in helping guide them to a 5-2 victory. Adam Eaton earned his first win in a Phillies uniform by tossing seven strong. Moyer (1-0, 2.70 ERA) pitched in the Phillies first win Friday, scattering two runs and seven hits over 6 2-3 innings with three strikeouts. Glavine (1-1, 2.38 ERA) is making his third start of the season and took the loss Saturday against Atlanta.

The high 70s fastballs sail tonight at 7:10 EST.

Best of the press notes: Through eight games, the Phillies lead the majors in walks with 51. The Phils’ .363 on-base percentage is 3rd-highest in the majors.

Follow the minors live: MiLB.com has a couple new innovations this season, including Gameday box scores and audio. This afternoon, Ottawa visits Buffalo. Follow Chris Coste and company here.

Around the league: King Felix outduels Dice-K

Felix Hernandez made a bid to become the second-youngest pitcher in major league history to toss a no-hitter in the Mariners' 3-0 win over Daisuke Matsuzaka and the Boston Red Sox Wednesday.

It's a nice morning to break from the Phillies monotony and turn our attention toward the rest of the league. This is the first season in about 10 years I haven't signed up for fantasy baseball in order to dedicate more time to this site. The downside is I don't have an enjoyable outlet for following the rest of baseball. So maybe we could open up more MLB discussion here from time to time.

If I had participated in a fantasy league, I would have been off to a great start, as many of the players I would have taken high are doing very well. Rest assured, Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez, still just 21, would have been a top choice, maybe a second round choice. Ditto Cole Hamels. After two starts, King Felix and King Cole have 33 strikeouts between them. I also liked Texas second baseman Ian Kinsler, who already has four home runs. On my list of second baseman, I'd go Chase Utley - 1, Kinsler - 2.

What are your thoughts on the season? Did you expect Alex Rodriguez's monster start? Did anyone catch Robinson Tejeda's line last night? Any regrets on not making a push for Akinori Iwamura?

Minors: Phils claim Michael Garciaparra off waivers

The 24-year-old kid brother of Nomar was selected by Pat Gillick and the Mariners in the first round of the 2001 First-Year Player Draft and is a .267 hitter over five Minor League seasons.

Garciaparra was designated for assignment on April 1 by the Ms and has been added to the Phillies' 40-man roster, which stands at 38. He has played second base and shortstop in his career and gets on base at a reasonable clip for a utility-type player, but doesn’t have power. In 136 at bats with Triple-A Tacoma last season, Garciaparra hit .316/.422/.375. According to Phillies.com, he's expected to be assigned to Double-A Reading, where he could replace Joe Thurston, who was called up to Triple-A Ottawa over the weekend.

Game chat: Phils resume play in hopes of second 'W'

Adam Eaton takes the mound when the Phillies face left-hander Oliver Perez and the Mets tonight at 7:10 EST.

Summary: Eaton, representing the Phillies biggest free agent acquisition since Jim Thome, allowed seven hits and eight runs while walking four over 4 2-3 innings in a 8-4 loss to Atlanta, part of the Phillies' 1-6 start. Perez (1-0, 1.29 ERA) gave up one run and five hits while striking out six in seven innings of an 11-1 win Friday in Atlanta. The former Pirate is 1-1 with a 4.60 ERA in five starts against the Phils. On Monday, the Phillies bullpen squandered another lead when relievers Matt Smith, Geoff Geary and Jon Lieber allowed a 5-3 Phillies lead in the 7th vanish into an 11-5 romp. The Mets are 5-2 on the season.

Apples for apples report: The Phillies traded second baseman Brent Abernathy to the Washington Nationals for future considerations. The Phillies have replaced Abernathy at Ottawa with infielder Joe Thurston, who started the season at Double-A Reading. Thurston spent most of spring training as a non-roster invitee with Washington until he was designated for assignment and signed with the Phillies.

Pitchers stepped up to bat for Coste: According to the Daily News, Jamie Moyer, Randy Wolf, Cory Lidle and Cole Hamels had gone into manager Charlie Manuel's office last season to say how much they liked throwing to catcher Chris Coste. It wasn't enough. Last year's feel-good story finds himself back in Triple-A and is the subject of today's article entitled "Life Stynx." Here's what Coste had to say.

"The signings of Rod Barajas and Jayson Werth pretty much sealed my fate," Coste told Paul Hagen. "There will be theories that it was because I hurt my hamstring and didn't get to play much in spring training. But, honestly, once those two guys were signed, I became totally obsolete."

"There was no need. I wasn't going to play third. I wasn't going to play first. So my only option was to catch. Well, they got Jayson Werth. Pat Gillick said on many occasions, with me sitting right next to him at different functions and the Fanfest in January that Werth can be the third catcher, no problem. So when I heard him say that with me sitting right next to him, that was writing on the wall."

Speaking of obsolete, one week into the season and catcher Carlos Ruiz has already won the starting job away from Barajas. It's one thing if Manuel and the pitching staff had concerns at the position with Ruiz and Coste and made a push for Barajas. But clearly, based on today’s account, they did not, leaving one to assume that GM Pat Gillick either got scared or flatly ignored their input. It even sounds like Gillick made a concerted push for Werth, a catcher in another lifetime with a past connection to 68-year-old GM, to serve as the team's emergency catcher, pushing Coste out the door even further.

Yesterday, we talked about the many reasons why the Phillies never win. Perhaps the subtext should include an organization that doesn't always treat their players with respect.

Same old problems haunt Phillies after 1-6 start

According to manager Charlie Manuel, the team is trying too hard, pressing a little bit and are way better than this, which puts them right on schedule to finish below .500 this month in their customary tight, underachieving, April way.

The Phillies are 1-6 for the second consecutive season and are headed for another losing April under Manuel’s watch. The bullpen, or lack thereof, is arguably the worst it’s been under Cholly, handcuffing him even further.

As something of a Manuel defender early in his tenure, Cholly’s Phillies have since carved an undeniable pattern of cold starts and disappointing choke finishes, playing tight and squandering opportunities when it matters most. Only after fire sales and when the rest of the league stops paying attention do we see the inspired, high-motor, sandlot superstar brand of baseball that makes them ...

... THE TEAM TO BEAT!™

Give Manuel some credit for helping usher players like Ryan Howard and Chase Utley into the majors, but they're established stars now and were top talents before reaching Philadelphia. I ask, if the Phillies can’t play loose, focused baseball, Manuel’s alleged specialty, and squander early chances against teams they’re supposed to beat, like Florida, isn’t it naive to expect anything more than the same middling, May marvel results again this season? Isn't the best word to describe Manuel's status something close to "pointless?"

Futility numbers
From the Inquirer - The Phillies left nine more runners on base yesterday and now lead baseball with 68. They went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and stand at .188. They loaded the bases with no outs in the third and fourth innings and scored one run.

Lieber
I received an e-mail from a long-time reader questioning Lieber's incentive to perform from the pen. "Aside from personal competitiveness, he has no incentive at all," he writes. "Pitching well out of the bullpen works against everything he apparently wants, which is either to be back in the starting rotation, or to be traded to another team as a starter. Pitching out of the pen hurts his FA value for next season as well. So, putting a guy out there with nothing to pitch for except personal pride is not the best scenario. He is NOT going to be our closer or setup man or anything else from the bullpen."

Great moments in motivation
Manuel’s trademark "We've got to get guys to step up" will never be mistaken for a Vince Lombardi quote, but from a motivational standpoint, it’s hard to imagine a better kick in the pants than getting laughed off the field after nine innings of storybook humiliation, and having a full day to think about being ...

... THE TEAM TO BEAT!™

Game chat: Phillies meet Mets in early April test

Cole Hamels gets the ball for the start of a three-game series with the Mets, who're making their home opener. John Maine gets the start for New York.

Hamels (0-0, 0.00 ERA) is coming off a masterful debut in which he didn't allow a run. Maine (0-0, 0.00 ERA), likewise, didn't allow a run over seven innings in his debut against the Cardinals. The Phillies are seeking just their second victory and the early pressure is already starting to build. This should be a nice, early challenge in the young career of Hamels, against a division rival with the frenzy of a home opener. The Mets do not hit lefties well, but the Phillies did not hit Maine last year. Expect an even pitching matchup, while Atlanta, the early division leaders, look on after taking care of both teams.

Live Boxscore

Transaction notes: Pitchers Lieber, Rosario recalled

Zack Segovia, who took the loss in yesterday’s debut, and reliever Joe Bisenius were optioned to Triple-A Ottawa to make room for Jon Lieber and new acquisition Francisco Rosario. Both moves were expected.

The Phillies coaching staff will call upon Rosario blindly having not seen him except through the eyes of scouts. In addition, they have yet to see Lieber perform in his new capacity, so in essence, what should have been happening from Feb. 15 through the end of March is happening a week into the season.

As for the demotions, Segovia didn’t help in yesterday’s losing cause, but performed as one would expect in a debut, allowing five runs over five innings with defense to blame for at least one run. Bisenius didn’t allow a run in his two chances, but only looked so-so. Both players look like they can be Major League contributors and stand to benefit from the experience.

Chris Coste quietly optioned
The Chris Coste issue was adopted and discussed through most of winter here, but his demotion to Triple-A Ottawa went largely unnoticed. Coste’s patient plate presence would have come in handy yesterday during two bases loaded chances that were bestowed upon Carlos Ruiz. While Ruiz’s self-confidence and natural ability make for a bright future, one of his biggest knocks became apparent yesterday, and that is, he tries to be too much of a hero.

Clout’s point on batting philosophy
Beerleaguer regular Clout made an excellent statement about hitting in yesterday’s thread and it deserves more prominent placement:

The Phillies as an organization do not believe that OB is a useful skill. Batters are encouraged to hack. What you saw today, from Victorino and Ruiz, among others, is the Phillies way, from Class A- to the majors. If a player like Kevin Youkilis were to show up at a Phillies tryout camp, he'd be laughed off the field. Greg Golson is the quintessential Phillie prospect. A marvelous athlete, who looks good, is strong and fast, can run and jump and catch and throw. When his bat accidentally meets the ball he can send it a long way. His 320/66 K/BB ratio is the way the Phillies teach the game.

Spot on, isn’t it, and yesterday’s game shows the philosophy goes all the way to the top in game situations. The Marlins handed the Phillies 11 free passes yet most approaches constituted out-of-control hacks. That is why Florida’s Double-A quality pitching had no trouble beating them. The Phillies gambled with the long ball inside an extreme pitcher’s park, instead of staying with a consistent attack built around OB, to capitalize on Scott Olsen’s wildness that was evident in the first frame. Ask yourself what the Atlanta Braves would have manufactured with 11 walks to play with. The answer may be one reasons the Braves are 5-1 while the Phillies stand 1-5.

Beerleaguer placed at the mercy of Mets fans
Perhaps against my better judgement, the information superhighway is open once again between Philadelphia (Beerleaguer) and New York City (MetsBlog). Check out my Mets/Phillies series preview for the benefit of Mets fans on our rival blog.

Poll: Who goes when Freddy Garcia comes back?
Antonio Alfonseca, Clay Condrey or Matt Smith could all be considered. Smith could be optioned, Alfonseca released and Condrey designated, although there's no guarantee they'd be able to keep Condrey. One other point worth consideration: Should the Phillies start searching for a veteran outfielder if Michael Bourn continues to ride the pine? Larry Bigbie, who was assigned to Dodgers minor league camp, is a lefty-batting possibility.

Beer nuts: Zack Segovia tries to save series

The soon-to-be 24-year-old right-hander jumps from Double-A to the Majors when the Phillies try to avoid starting 1-5 for a second consecutive season this afternoon in Florida. Game time is 1:05 EST.

Segovia went 16-6 with a 2.82 ERA in 24 appearances for Class-A Clearwater and Double-A Reading last season and is coming off a solid spring. The Marlins counter with Scott Olsen, who's coming off a strong season debut, giving up two runs in 5 1-3 innings and picking up a double, single and RBI at the plate in Tuesday's 9-3 win in Washington.

Marlins 8, Phillies 5
--- I caught only parts of last night's game and obviously Brett Myers didn't have it. However, after J-Roll's inside the park home run made it 3-1 Phillies, it was a good opportunity for Myers to reset himself. Instead, like we've seen with Myers in the past, he appears to get tangled up with the mess and momentum and gives the lead right back. Not to make excuses because he's been in the league long enough, but this is where the pitcher, catcher and pitching coach need to recognize the situation and slow it down. Everything got just a little too fast last night. A disappointing outing from a No. 1 starter, on a night when Dontrelle Willis was hittable, now puts the Phillies in a very tough position to win the series with Segovia and against Olsen.

--- Remember Phil Sheridan's column on why it would be a terrible idea to trade Aaron Rowand for Scott Linebrink just because he's good for team chemistry? LOL funny. Like a lot of issues, I've taken a conservative approach with Rowand this spring because I'm still waiting to see what all the White Sox fuss was about, but I've got to admit, I'm just not impressed with any facet of his game, not even a little. He doesn't swing so much as club at it, he's another high strikeout / low contact element in the lineup, and in my opinion, presents nothing special in center field. I don't have the numbers, but I'm fairly certain they're not a winning club with Rowand in the mix dating back to last season, clubhouse mojo and all.

Game chat: Aces duel as Phils go for second straight

Expect excellent pitching tonight as Brett Myers and the Phillies face Dontrelle Willis and the Marlins at 7:05 EST.

Summary: Myers is coming off an impressive Opening Day no decision against the Braves, but the foul taste still lingers after a game-tying mistake to Edgar Renteria in the eighth inning. The right-hander was 1-1 in four starts against the Fish last season and is 5-5 with a 4.44 ERA in 17 lifetime starts against them. Willis held the Nationals to one earned run and seven hits over six innings his last start and has been very tough on the Phillies. The 25-year-old left-hander is 6-5 with a 3.62 ERA against them in his career, but struggled a little last season.

Positives finally surface in first victory of season

Another strong effort from the starting rotation, this one from Jamie Moyer, reminds us there's much to be hopeful for this season.

Moyer went 6 2-3 innings and allowed two runs, but the night belonged to Pat Burrell, who homered and drove in four runs to cap an 8-2 victory last night in Florida. After the game, Beerleaguer regular, MG ,offered a fine summary in the post-game chat:

1. Glad to see the Phils score 8 runs tonight without much offensive from Utley and Howard. Clear key was that Burrell punished the Marlins twice for walking Howard.

2. One area where this team is clearly improved is having Moyer as the 4th starter compared to Madson. Having a veteran pitcher like this at the back of the rotation who stays healthy and gives you a chance to win almost every time out is vital to making a playoff run.

3. Can't emphasize this enough but the scoreless inning plus from Alfonseca is nearly meaningless. Until Alfonseca pitches well in a series of close games, I still have little to no confidence in him.

4. While the Phils don't have a lot of offense off the bench, I do love the late innings defensive replacement options. The range of the Bourn/Roward/Victorino outfield is particularly impressive. If the Phils can take a lead into the late innings, this defense can go a long way to helping out the spotty relief pitching.

Beerleaguer addendum
5. The versatility of the bench has provided for some seamless late-inning substitutions and double switches. I’m not sold on their ability to bring someone off the bench to provide that big, late-inning clutch hit, but as MG stated, the defensive substitutions are top-notch and have already paid off in left field and third base.

6. Carlos Ruiz’s CERA must be among the lowest in baseball after catching Cole Hamels Wednesday, the bullpen shutout in the second half of Thursday’s game and Moyer last night. The difference between this season and 2006 is striking. Ruiz actually looks like he belongs in the big leagues. The Phillies may finally have the makings of a worthwhile weapon from the 8-hole, one who hits for some power, average and can run. The only aspect more impressive than his .417 average is the way he’s framing pitches.

7. I started wondering late in spring whether we’d see a Wes Helms/Greg Dobbs hybrid at third and last night did not dissuade the concept. Dobbs, who started in place of Helms for the first time at third, got the Phils on the board with an RBI double. From what I’ve seen, Dobbs looks to be the type who will provide a couple good cuts when you throw him a bone once in a while, but might be worth keeping in the team’s back pocket.

8. Between Dobbs, keeping Michael Bourn and jettisoning Karim Garcia, trusting Ruiz and trying something new with the lineup – for better or worse – I like Manuel’s approach so far despite the 1-3 mark. I'm very curious how he'll respond in the next close game when the bullpen is in play.

Game chat: Phillies turn to Moyer for first win

The Phillies hope to avoid an 0-4 start for the second straight season tonight when they begin a three-game set with Florida. Pitchers Jamie Moyer and Sergio Mitre tango.

Summary: Moyer, who went 5-2 with a 4.03 ERA in eight starts for the Phillies last season, needs eight more strikeouts to reach 2,000. Tonight begins his 21st Major League season. The Souderton, Pa. native dominated the Marlins and won all three of his starts against them in 2006. Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with shoulder problems, counters for the Fish. The right-hander went 1-5 with a 5.71 ERA in '06. The Phillies offense looks to improve with RISP after going 5-28 against the Braves. New acquisition Francisco Rosario joins the roster tonight.  

Phillies agree to deal with reliever Rick Bauer

The free agent right-hander was designated for assignment by the Rangers on March 26 and has agreed to a minor league contract, pending a physical. The signing was reported in tonight's official game notes.

Bauer, 30, went 3-1 with 2 saves and a 3.55 ERA in 58 games (1 start) for Texas last season. The 6-6, 235 pounder was originally selected by Baltimore in the 5th round of the 1997 draft. In his major league career, he is 11-14 with 12 saves and a 4.34 ERA in 183 games (10 starts) for Baltimore (2001-05) and Texas (2006).

Beerleaguer: Gillick continues to scour the waiver wire for bullpen scraps, but this one could actually help. Baltimore had been trying to make Bauer into a starter for years, but now his future is in the pen. He’s been in Ottawa before, which is where he could start, but I see no reason he couldn’t fill a Rick White-type role eventually and maybe exceed that. Hardball Times pitching win shares rated him as the 27th best American League reliever last season, and in situations classified as "close and late," he held opponents to a .634 OPS.

I agree here – no reason to pass on a guy who pitched 78 good innings last season and can eat innings. But until space is cleared on the roster, Bauer is only good inventory. Matt Smith would be my first choice to be optioned to Ottawa to regain his command.

Lastly, no need to mention the Orioles GM who originally drafted Bauer back in 1997. It's standard practice.