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Game chat: Happ takes hill to slow surging Mets

Strong pitching and production from the heart of the order helped the Mets cruise to a doubleheader sweep yesterday at Citizens Bank Park. The Phils try to stop the bleeding this afternoon when rookie left-hander J.A. Happ debuts in a national FOX broadcast.

Last night: The Mets are winners of seven of their last eight, leaving their early June woes behind and reasserting their stranglehold on the NL East. John Maine was the difference in a disappointing, ineffective night by the Phillies’ offense. Maine lasted eight strong, allowing four hits, one run while striking out six. Meanwhile, Cole Hamels couldn’t find the plate, walking five and getting behind hitters all night. Manager Charlie Manuel pulled his young ace after just five innings, after watching his pitch count soar to 110. The Carloses, Delgado and Beltran, provided the big blows in the first and second games. Beltran went deep twice in the night cap.

Today’s preview: Left-hander J.A. Happ makes his major league debut. Happ, a third-round selection in the 2004 draft, went 1-2 with a 4.02 ERA in 13 starts for Ottawa. Depending on the outcome of today’s game, Happ could stick around and round out the Phillies’ depleted pitching staff. The job will fall to either Happ or J.D. Durbin, who was unimpressive in his Phillies' debut yesterday afternoon. Happ will showcase a number of pitches and is not especially overpowering with his fastball. He'll mix in a change-up, curve and slider. 

For the Mets, Jorge Sosa (6-3, 3.79 ERA) gets the start.

Romero joins club today: The Phillies purchased the contract of left-hander J.C. Romero between games yesterday. Clay Condrey was designated for assignment to make room on the active roster. Romero, signed to a minor-league deal last week, was 1-0 with a 3.15 ERA in 23 games for the Red Sox, but struggled with command. The 31-year-old is 27-22 with a 4.54 ERA over nine seasons pitching primarily in relief. In related news, Brian Sanches is expected to be demoted to make room for Happ.

Lineups are set: Michael Bourn, Aaron Rowand and Shane Victorino round out the outfield. Greg Dobbs starts at third. Carlos Ruiz receives.

Phillies counterpunch with Cole; Maine goes for Mets

The second game of a day-night double-header gets underway at 7:35 p.m. as Cole Hamels and the Phillies try for the split against John Maine and the Mets at Citizens Bank Park.

Preview: The Phillies made a game of it this afternoon, even though El Duque dictated most of the early action, while the Phils countered with ill-equipped right-hander J.D. Durbin, who surrendered six runs over 4 2-3 innings. The Phillies battled back with home runs by Chris Coste, Wes Helms and a pinch-hit RBI single from Pat Burrell, while the bullpen didn't allow a run after Durbin's departure. Now the odds could shift in their favor when Cole Hamels (9-3, 3.80) makes his 17th start of the season. Hamels has fanned a NL second-best 111 and was the fastest pitcher to make it to nine wins. He’s looking for his first solid game since June 12 against the White Sox. His last start was shortened by a rain delay.

I hesitate in saying the odds are in the Phils’ favor because right-hander John Maine (8-4, 2.87 ERA) has been tough on the Phils and has had such a solid, consistent season. He’s 3-0 with a 2.47 lifetime ERA against the Phils.

Game chat: Phillies, Mets collide in key NL East series

The Phillies have a chance to close ground, and even overtake the division lead from the Mets this weekend. However, the Phils face an uphill climb with three inexperienced pitchers scheduled to throw, including today's starter, J.D. Durbin.

Preview: Led by Jimmy Rollins, the Phils closed out their series with a 8-7, 10-inning victory over the Reds last night. The win improved them to 41-37 (.526) on the season and three-games back of the incoming Mets. The series featured plenty of clutch offense, but also some shaky moments from the Phillies’ bullpen, which will now head into today’s day-night double header on short rest and J.D. Durbin making his Phillies debut.

Durbin pitched in one game for the Arizona Diamondbacks earlier this season and lasted 2-3 of an inning and allowed seven runs. He was 2-4 with a 4.55 ERA in 10 starts with Ottawa, the Phillies’ Triple-A affiliate. This is Durbin’s first major league start since 2004.

Last night’s Mets game was rained out in St. Louis, so they’re rested and ready. Stumbling through most of June, the Mets turned the corner last weekend with a three-game sweep in Oakland. They followed with a couple wins in St. Louis and are winners of five of six.

The Mets will switch Orlando Hernandez (3-3, 2.77 ERA) into the first game and start John Maine tonight against Cole Hamels. Hernandez, having a good season, did not factor in the decision in the Mets' 1-0 win over Oakland. He is 0-1 with a 7.58 ERA in four career starts against the Phils.

Key matchups: Jose Reyes versus Phillies pitching. Reyes is a career .337 hitter with .928 OPS against the Phils, highest against any team besides Baltimore and Toronto. Jimmy Rollins versus the Mets. J-Roll has backed up his pre-season boasting with a fine season against his adversary. He’s 13-for-32 (.406) with a 1.238 OPS and three homers against them. Pat Burrell versus Billy Wagner. Burrell hit a game-tying home run off Wagner in the ninth inning back on June 6 in New York, helping complete a stunning three-game sweep. It snapped Wagner’s string of 31 consecutive successful save opportunities and was Burrell’s 17th homer at Shea. Cole Hamels versus Paul LoDuca. Hamels was upset at LoDuca's posturing last series and LoDuca fired back on WFAN radio, saying he “could give a rat's 'you know what' ” about Hamels or his statements. Lastly, Julio Franco, age 48, versus Jose Mesa, age unknown. For no other reason than the novelty of it.

Mets fan perspective: Tom Goyne of the Phillies blog "Balls, Sticks & Stuff" interviews "Metsblog" writer D.J. Short to get the lowdown on the state of the Mets. [Link]

Werth to DL as Phillies make several roster moves

Transactions: The Phillies purchased the contract of J.D. Durbin from Triple-A Ottawa and optioned RHP Yoel Hernandez to Triple-A; transferred RHP Scott Mathieson from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list; Placed OF Jayson Werth on the 15-day disabled list and recalled C/INF Chris Coste from Double-A Reading.

Notes: The Mathieson move was done to clear space on the 40-man roster. According to the Phillies, Werth’s wrist injury is unrelated to his previous wrist injury. Coste was hitting .287 with five homers and a .472 slugging percentage for Double-A Reading and was 2-for-6 in his earlier call-up. Hernandez departs with a 5.04 ERA in 14 1-3 innings. This is the move I would have guessed, but it’s not the one I would have made. He struggled his last two outings, but looked decent enough in previous appearances. Werth was hitting .233 with three homers and a .686 OPS in scattered playing time.

As for Werth, the Phillies say the wrist injury is unrelated to his past problems. This season has taught me not to believe team statements about player health, so forgive me for not buying it. Another off-season acquisition bites the dust. Werth has made virtually no difference at all, did not look fully recovered, so no one should be saddened by this from a fan perspective. On a personal level, his ongoing wrist issues have ruined a promising career. It's a shame.

Game chat: Series win in hands of ordinary Eaton

The Phillies will forego pushing right-hander Adam Eaton’s turn back to the Mets series and will start him tonight at 7:05 p.m. against the lesser Reds. In other words, Eaton needs to produce, like he's supposed to.

Preview: I’ve made a bad habit of looking ahead to next series and hope the Phils aren’t doing the same. A loss here would represent a huge disappointment, at home, to one of the worst teams in baseball. Not to make excuses for the pitching, but I continue to believe these sweltering nights at Citizens Bank Park make it anyone’s game if pitchers aren't 100 percent on top of their game. Scores like 11-4, 9-6 ... tonight will be a similar total with a battle of mediocre starting pitchers.

Sadly, there’s no other way to describe Adam Eaton (7-5, 5.63 ERA). Signed to a lucrative, long-term deal, the right-hander is pitching like you’d expect the last man in your rotation to pitch on a non-contending team. He’s allowed four or more runs nine times, including his last outing, a 5 1-3, six-run effort in St. Louis. This month, he’s 2-2 with a 5.40 ERA and 15/12 K/BB ratio. Bleh. The Reds counter with right-hander Matt Belilse (5-5, 4.73 ERA). He’s been good about walks (21 walks), but is apparently a two-pitch, fastball/breaking ball location pitcher – the kind the heart of the Phillies’ lineup should be able to handle. This is a must-win game for the Phightins, resting square on the shoulders of Eaton.

Forecast: Thunderstorms are expected to besiege the Delaware Valley all evening. Chance of rain is 70 percent, with rain heavy at times.

Give me a "B!": Once J.C. Romero is called up from minor league workouts, as expected, the Phillies will have had a J.A., J.C. and J.D. on the club this season.

Buerhle close to resigning: People familiar with the situation are saying left-hander Mark Buerhle is close to a four-year extension worth $50 million that could also include an option year. The Mets, Braves and Red Sox reportedly had interest in trading for the left-hander.

Minor league outfielder signed: The Phillies have inked outfielder Shaun Boyd and added him to Clearwater two days ago. This is significant only because Boyd is a former 2000 first-round pick (13th overall) of the St. Louis Cardinals. In seven minor league seasons with the Cards, the 25-year-old center fielder is a lifetime .275 hitter with a .727 OPS, decent speed and no power. He spent part of last season with Triple-A Memphis and hit .188 there.

One day I’ll need to research how many non-prospect, high-round picks the Phils have stashed away in their system. Carl (C.J.) Henry, who’s one of them, has upped his batting average to .180 since the last update.

Bad bullpen spoils it in 9-6 loss to visiting Reds

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Starter Jamie Moyer and reliever Geoff Geary allowed six runs in the seventh inning, and the rest of the bullpen allowed three more to cross home in a rain-soaked, heavily managed, annoying night at Citizens Banks Park.

You know what I hate? The bullpen. I've been cranky about for two seasons, since the days Billy Wagner and company made it a modest strength and "Hollaback Girl" was a summer hit. Team ERA is 4.86, second worst in the NL now, but the true measure for bullpen, which may still be in worse shape than the rotation despite all the injuries and incoming freshmen, might be the number of sleepless nights suffered since the season began. Counting blown leads, plus runs allowed that prevented the Phillies from catching up in games they trailed, resident Beerleaguer bullpen killjoy, Clout, unofficially counts 14 losses attributable to the bullpen. Believe it. Last night was also a textbook example of why ERA is generally useless in critiquing a bullpen. Most of the Reds' nine runs were charged to pitchers sitting on the bench, watching relievers spoil it.

Readers are sure to ponder which pitchers will go to make room for two starters for the weekend series with the Mets. The no-frills response to that would be "Does it matter?" At least half are worthy of demotion or release. It’s as bad as at any point of writing this site.

And I still wish we had this guy. [Link]

Game chat: Reds, Phils set for sweltering night of ball

Temperatures could still be in the 90s when left-hander Jamie Moyer takes the mound for the Phillies tonight at 7:05 p.m. at Citizens Bank Park. Right-hander Aaron Harang goes for Cincinnati.

Pitching preview: Last night featured a vulgar display of offense as CBP has officially entered summer launching pad mode. The Phillies clubbed 16 hits and three homers in an 11-4 rout of the Reds. Moyer (7-5, 4.13 ERA) has been a steady force in the Phillies’ rotation and is coming off a six inning, six-hit shutout over the Cardinals on Friday. He last faced the Reds in 1991. The Reds go with their ace, Aaron Harang (8-2, 3.59 ERA). The Phils have had success off the right-hander, who is 1-1 with a 7.36 ERA in four starts and one relief appearance against the Phils.

Breaking news: Happ will make ML debut Saturday

Ottawa left-hander J.A. Happ will have his contract purchased to pitch Saturday's game against Jorge Sosa and the Mets, as reported in today's press notes. [Link]

The 24-year-old former third-round pick is 1-2 with a 4.02 ERA in 13 starts for the Lynx. He missed two starts between May and June with soreness in his pitching elbow and has been used sparingly this season, pitching into the seventh inning only once all year. His last start in Columbus, he went five innings and allowed three earned runs.

A Northwestern University product, Baseball America rated Happ as the Phillies' eighth best prospect after a dominant 2006 season, in which he moved three levels through the Phillies' system. He also pitched in six spring training games with the Phils including four starts, going 0-2 with a 6.98 ERA.

In related news, Adam Eaton is still scheduled to pitch tomorrow night’s game against the Reds. There had been speculation his start would be pushed back to Friday against the stronger Mets, with J.D. Durbin getting the start tomorrow. The Phillies will need to make 40-man roster moves for both Durbin and Happ, and also clear space on the active roster.

Beerleaguer for breakfast: New lineup butchers Reds

A night of crooked numbers featured 16 hits, three homers, 11 runs and a double steal by a first-time Phillies lineup. Here’s hoping the lineup card was written in ink, not pencil.

Remember the days when lineup debate was a day by day occurrence on Beerleaguer? Daily arguments over whether Bobby Abreu should lead off, who would protect Ryan Howard best and whether to drop Jimmy Rollins in the order?

This season, lineup debate has gone out of fashion, for several reasons. Certain players, like Aaron Rowand, Shane Victorino, Carlos Ruiz and Greg Dobbs have generated adequate or better production from their assignments. Rollins has hit too many homers to make a fuss over his walks. Chase Utley, who hasn’t slumped once all season, has become a prototype for what a three-hitter should be. He makes hitting look easy. He makes everything look easy.

There’s another reason no one talks about the lineup anymore. Charlie Manuel has used more combinations than in previous seasons. Manuel, who must know his time is up if he fails to make the playoffs, is setting his lineup like a man free of his shackles. For fans, it’s less mundane that way. We haven’t been allowed enough time to get impatient with a certain combination, the way we used to with David Bell, Mike Lieberthal and all the other dry rot. Over the past few weeks, Manuel has settled on a nice routine of hitting Rowand fifth behind Howard and giving more players chances to replace Pat Burrell, sometimes batting them as high as second.

Last night, several readers called the new "Bourn 2, Vic 6" lineup the best Manuel has fielded all season. It’s difficult to argue with that after a dynamic 11-4 thrashing, which featured a steady combination of speed, power and clutch hitting. Manuel said before the game he liked the idea of inserting the switch-hitting Victorino lower to make it harder for opposing managers to maneuver their bullpen, and I know what he means. The Reds didn’t have a good answer for it. The only time I felt there was a true mismatch was when Greg Dobbs faced the left-hander – and he got a hit anyway.

Top to bottom, this is a lineup of hitters all meeting or exceeding expectations. When was the last time you could say that?

Today's news: The Phillies are expected to promote left-hander J.A. Happ to start Saturday's game against the Mets, according to Marcus Hayes of the Daily News. The team is also considering starting J.D. Durbin Thursday against the Reds and pushing Adam Eaton's start to Friday. Lastly, Brett Myers and Tom Gordon are now expected to return after the All-Star break. According to Hayes, Myers' bullpen session did not go as well as hoped yesterday. Hayes really covered all the bases this morning. [Link]

Game chat: Phils return home to host humble Reds

Cincinnati enters with the worst record in baseball (29-47) and are losers of eight of their last 11. The Phils are hanging in with the best record in the NL East this month (13-9). They trail the looming Mets by 3 ½.

Preview: Admit it. You're looking ahead to the Mets series. Don't. The Reds are poor enough to be swept, however, the pitching matchups even out this series and may actually favor Cincinnati. Tonight they draw elite rookie Homer Bailey (2-0, 4.00 ERA), fresh off a seven-inning, one-run win on the road in Oakland in which he didn’t allow a hit until the fifth inning. In three starts, the 21-year-old right-hander has walked a ton (11), but has a reputation for overpowering stuff. Before Oakland, he faced the Angels and Indians, two of the top teams in baseball. Before that he was 6-1 with a 2.31 ERA in 10 starts with Triple-A Louisville. He's on a roll folks. Here’s what one scout said before the season to Baseball America:

"Bailey is interesting, but he's a different guy for me. His raw stuff is better than any other of the elite pitching prospects I've seen. I've seen (Yankees righthander Philip) Hughes a bunch of times, I've seen (Phillies lefthander Cole) Hamels, I’ve seen (Mets righthanders Mike) Pelfrey and (Philip) Humber, and Bailey’s stuff—as far as fastball/curveball combination—is the best."

The Phillies counter with their own rookie right-hander, Kyle Kendrick (1-0, 4.50 ERA), making his third start of the season. Kendrick earned his first major league win with a six-inning, three-run performance against the Indians.

This series could sneak up on the Phils and I'm worried about it. They went 3-3 on their latest road trip, but didn't look especially crisp doing it. This could be the swing game. The Phils’ offense needs a patient approach against Bailey and keep attacking a team in the midst of a long roadtrip. Bailey is said to lack a third pitch, and the Phillies can mash a fastball with the best of them. Time to give this kid a South Philadelphia-style welcome to the majors. Whatever that means.

Game time is 7:05 p.m. ET. Temperatures will be in the high 80s with little wind. Expect big offense. Chat about it here.

Lineups are posted: Michael Bourn hopes to build on Sunday's performance and will start in left field and hit second. Shane Victorino starts in right and slides down to sixth. Greg Dobbs at third, and Carlos Ruiz will receive. New-look lineup for the first of three with the Redlegs. [Live Boxscore]

Beer nuts: Maloney makes a case for Saturday start

Yesterday in Reading, 23-year-old left-hander Matt Maloney pitched a season-high 7 2-3 innings in a 4-3 win over Altoona. Reading Eagle writer Don Stewart wonders if it was enough to get the Phillies' attention. [Link]

Stewart reports that in five June starts, Maloney has three wins, 30 strikeouts and a 2.51 ERA. Maloney credits better fastball command. "I’ve been able to spot my pitches down in the zone," he told Stewart. "In and out, both sides of the plate. That’s been a big key. And more consistency with my curveball, too."

On the season, the 6-4, 220-pound former third-round pick is 6-6 with a 3.86 ERA and 78/38 K/BB ratio. Too many homers though – 10 homers. Pitching last season for Low-A Lakewood, Maloney was named 2006 Sally League Pitcher of the Year and is rated by Baseball America as a better prospect than former teammate and tonight’s starter Kyle Kendrick.

Meanwhile in Columbus (AAA), Ottawa right-hander Bubba Nelson allowed three runs over six innings, including four walks, probably pitching himself out of contention for Saturday’s start. Today on his blog, Inquirer writer Todd Zolecki indicated the Phillies will indeed hand the ball to a minor leaguer Saturday.

Beerleaguer: The Mets didn't hit left-handers well last season, but I'm surprised to see they're hitting .302 off them in 2007. They don't hit Ryan Madson well, but maybe the thought is to have him on standby to relieve whichever pitcher they decide to call into action. They may also need Madson Friday for J.D. Durbin's start.

Breaking news: J.D. Durbin named Friday starter

Ottawa right-hander J.D. Durbin will have his contract purchased to pitch one of the Friday double-header games against the Mets, 610-WIP radio has reported. The Phillies have not decided whether he will pitch the first or second game.

Durbin, a 25-year-old power right-hander, was a former top prospect of the Twins who ran out of options, bounced around the waiver wire and fell into Philadelphia hands earlier this season. He's gone 2-4 with a 4.55 ERA in 10 starts with the Lynx but has settled in lately. On Saturday, he allowed two runs over seven innings. Durbin, a former second-round pick who used to hit high-90s early in his career, needed surgery for a partially torn labrum in 2004 and suffered tendinitus in 2005, then missed time with a pinched bicep nerve in 2006. Last season, managers rated his curveball as the best breaking pitch in the International League. Baseball America had him as the Twins 10th best prospect this season, which would probably make him a top 5-10 player in the Phillies' system.

Beerleaguer: I'm not an expert on contracts, but it's my understanding that since Durbin already cleared waivers, the Phillies have "secured waivers for the remainder of the waiver period," which means he won't need to pass through waivers again when/if they send him back down. I could be wrong, but that's my understanding. That's why Clay Condrey didn't need to pass through waivers a few weeks ago.

I'm okay with the call-up. In re-reading his bio, I'm reminded he's a legit prospect with upside. He has control problems because of all the missed time, and chances are, they'll creep into the picture against the veteran Mets. But for one start, it's worth a go since they have no one who truly qualifies any better. He's been steady for Ottawa. A day of Cole Hamels and a total stranger could be a tough assignment for the Mets.

Minor afternoon notes: Ruiz promoted to Ottawa

According to readingphillies.com writer Tony Zonca, slugger Randy Ruiz (.320, 10-42) was promoted to Triple-A Ottawa following the R-Phils’ morning win over Altoona. [Link]

Ruiz, 29, returned to the organization after the Pirates let him go earlier this season. This is his first promotion to Triple-A despite a career .301/.381/.525/.906 mark with 128 homers. He is generally regarded as a righty slugger without a position and a sketchy past. He failed baseball’s drug policy twice.

As for the the game, which started at 9:35 a.m., left-hander Matt Maloney tossed a season-high 7 2-3 innings and allowed two runs and four hits, matching a season high with seven strikeouts.

Costanzo finding success in three-hole: Reading beat writer Mike Drago reports that over his first 22 games as the No. 3 hitter, third baseman Mike Costanzo batted .321 with five homers, nine doubles, 19 runs scored and 15 RBIs. The 24-year-old is now tied for the Eastern League lead with 14 homers and his OPS has climbed to .813. His 97 strikeouts still leads the league, and manager P.J. Forbes still thinks he has a long road ahead of him to the majors, but this latest surge is a welcome sign indeed. [Link]

Creativity will be key for Phils' skeletal pitching staff

With Jon Lieber likely gone for the remainder of the season, the Phillies will be forced to use their imaginations to make ends meet.

Before we get down to business, thanks to everyone for keeping the discussion lively, thoughtful and civil during my summer retreat to Holland. Yesterday marked the first time I saw a single shred of Phillies news since leaving for Newark Airport on Monday, June 18. With a chance to finish their six-game road trip a subtle 3-3, I spent yesterday afternoon watching the game and catching up on your comments during the rain delay. It was a great win - in a quiet way. It was there for the taking, and they took it.

A series win in St. Louis marks one of many headlines missed while drinking Amstel, Heineken and Grolsch at one of Amsterdam’s picturesque cafes. We visited five in all. Once in a while, while watching the bicycles roll by, I wondered whether the Phils would make a small transaction while I was away, maybe trade Wes Helms for something. Instead, they signed left-handed castoff J.C. Romero to a minor league deal – probably a fleeting idea that ran through my head while sipping a pils. Rest assured I was the only person in Holland pondering the Phils’ bullpen and thinking about players like R.J. Swindle. I’m told the left-hander has been unhittible in Low-A Lakewood. When I returned, my inbox also contained news that Marlon Byrd – a Beerleaguer favorite – is hitting the cover off the ball for Texas (.378/.421/.520/.941). When the Phillies were shopping for outfield help this winter, I would have considered Byrd. (I recall an hour-long telephone conversation with fellow blogger Tom Goodman about this subject).

I worried they’d suffer another injury, and as it turned out, they did, a major blow to the pitching staff with Jon Lieber rupturing a tendon in his foot. He’s probably out for the season. Unless they make a significant trade, their playoff chances are slim. The odds are heavily against it due to their lack of tradable commodities. The Mets and Braves can offer more. Both squads are certain to add a pitcher. But weirder things have happened.

The chances are high the Phillies will go after a marginal veteran. Names like Steve Trachsel and Jose Contreras come to mind. Others like Kyle Lohse of Cincinnati seems like the kind of tablescrap that would fall into Phillies’ hands some random afternoon.

In the short-term, they need a starter for one of the games of Friday's day-night doubleheader against the Mets and will need to come up with something for Saturday afternoon afternoon as well. I can see Ryan Madson stepping into one of those slots. Pitching coach Rich Dubee has already said he is an option, and Madson welcomed the idea during yesterday’s interviews. Honestly, he’s a better option than what they have in the minors, and he’s been tough on the Mets. Over 41 2-3 innings, he’s limited them to a .201 average while posting a 1.01 WHIP and 2.03 ERA. I say go with Mad Dog for one of them.

Then it’s a crapshot for the other start. I’ve seen J.D. Durbin (Triple-A Ottawa), J.A. Happ (Ottawa) and a wild idea of brining 20-year-old Carlos Carrasco to the show. Carrasco just got called up to Double-A Reading. Recently, the Phils have had success promoting talent prematurely (Hamels, Kendrick, Zagurski), but none of them was as young as Carrasco.

Happ, the 24-year-old left-hander, was hit around last night and was shut down with arm problems earlier this month. Durbin, 25, a power right-hander, was a former top prospects of the Twins who bounced around waivers and fell into Philadelphia hands earlier this season. He's gone 2-4 with a 4.55 ERA in 10 starts and has settled in lately. On Saturday, he allowed two runs over seven innings. Former Braves prospect Bubba Nelson (2-2, 4.80 ERA) is a spot start candidate, though I haven’t seen his name printed anywhere.

None of this is ideal. My preference is to move Madson back into the rotation and see what happens before offering up prospects in a trade. With Kyle Kendrick now firmly in the fold, the Phillies might be in over their heads should they go with Happ or another unproven. Madson has experience on his side.

Buy/Sell: At 39-36, the Phillies are in familiar bargain shopper mode. It's unlikely that even the front office is convinced they’re a playoff team, they don’t have the resources to make a trade, but they’re good enough not to throw in the towel. Sound familiar?

Meanwhile, the White Sox figure to be major player in the outcome of the NL East. Depending on the publication, left-hander Mark Buehrle will land with either the Mets, Braves or Red Sox. Jon Garland is also on the table. Give GM Ken Williams credit. He had enough foresight to look around the juggernauts in the AL East and start swinging the sledgehammer even before the season got underway. That’s how Freddy Garcia became the Phillies’ problem.

Romero official release: It wouldn’t feel right without fleshing out the Romero deal a little better. It’s a minor league contract (RSB called it a "Value Village" deal, which I liked) and he has begun workouts in Clearwater. Once he’s ready, he figures to be added to the roster.

Romero, 31, was 1-0 with one save and a 3.15 ERA in 23 games for the Red Sox this season before being designated for assignment by the club on June 8 when righthander Mike Timlin was reinstated from the disabled list. Romero was released on June 18. Nineteen of his 23 appearances for Boston this season were scoreless and he posted a 1.88 ERA (3 ER, 14.1 IP) in his final 15 games, but he had major control problems. His last appearance came June 4 at Oakland (1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 1 SO).

In 2002, Romero went 9-2 with a 1.89 ERA in a career-high 81 games for Minnesota. From 2002 through 2006, he appeared in 361 games, which was the fourth-highest total among all major league pitchers over that five-year span. He has a career record of 27-22 with three saves and a 4.54 ERA in 415 games (22 starts) for the Twins (1999-2005), Angels (2006) and Red Sox (2007) and has held left-handed hitters to a .232 average. As a reliever, Romero is 24-11 with a 3.89 ERA in 393 career appearances.

Burrell being phased out: Pat Burrell became a hot topic (again) while I was away. No matter which side you fall, we can all agree Burrell has lost his job again. Not for Michael Bourn necessarily, who had a great day at the plate yesterday, but for whatever works, including Greg Dobbs, Jayson Werth, or whatever Charlie Manuel feels that particular day.

It's a significant moment in Burrell's career, and it's the right time for it, although I wish they had someone better from the minor leagues to push him out, a power hitter, not another speed guy. This is actually the second time in less than a season he symbolically lost his job, last year being in the heat of the Wild Card race.

It's kind of over, isn't it? He's hitting .127 with 2 homers this month. The Phils are starting to see light at the end of the tunnel, contract-wise, and they're no longer trying desperately to fix him. If the problem is he's pressing, rest assured he'll stay that way as long as he's in bloodstripes. But I also believe pitchers know how to handle him, and he's broken down physically.

He's not part of the future, and increasingly not part of the present. He had a shot to retain his starting spot this season – more than enough time – and failed. He had one early stretch where he became a singles hitter. If it wasn't for that, he would be flatlined.

The difference between riding the pine in 2006 compared to now is he's losing time to marginal players; someone like Dobbs barely qualifies as an outfielder. Last season it was to Jeff Conine, David Dellucci - solid fourth outfielders.

Now it's time to see what they can get from other players, and it appears they can get a better, balanced attack from the alternatives without hurting the lineup. That last part is important, because it's about the whole, not the individual. Aaron Rowand is doing tremendous things hitting fifth behind Ryan Howard. Dobbs is getting RBIs.

Maybe a week or two ago, I thought Burrell was good for one last run (I rated him seventh in my power rankings, tied with Vic, based 100 percent on what he still could do with the lumber.) But even if he was good for that three-game binge where he hits three or four homers, it's not worth the month-long dry patch where you get nothing from LF.

Game chat: Phillies conclude series with Cardinals

The first pitch is 2:15 p.m. when the Phillies and Cardinals wrap up their series in St. Louis. Beerleaguer will return to civilization later today. In the meantime, discuss the series and news of the day in the thread below. Go Phillies, enjoy the rest of your weekend and I'll talk to you soon!

Game chat: Phillies continue series with Cardinals

Game time is 1:10 p.m. in St. Louis. Beerleaguer will return from summer break tomorrow and resume live posting. Enjoy your Saturday, and go Phillies.

Game chat: Phillies open three-game set in St. Louis

No starting pitchers had been announced for this series at the time of this entry, but according to schedule, it would be Jamie Moyer’s turn for the Phillies. If it’s Moyer (6-5, 4.40 ERA), he will try to build on an excellent seven-inning, two run performance against the Tigers on Saturday. The first pitch will be thrown at 8:10 p.m.

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Cleveland series wrap

Beerleaguer will be publishing automated entries all this week and will resume actual posting Sunday, June 24. Don’t let that stop you from discussing this morning's Phillies news, notes, transactions and the Indians series. With no game today, this would be an opportune moment for a lengthy "State of the Phillies" entry. Roll with it.

Game chat: Lieber, Sabathia meet in series finale

Jon Lieber (3-5, 4.21 ERA), tagged with 10 hits and six earned runs his last start, tries to rebound tonight when the Phillies finish their series in Cleveland. Game time is 7:05 p.m. Big, tough left-hander C.C. Sabathia (9-2, 3.18 ERA) makes the start for the Tribe.

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Indians series continued

Beerleaguer will be publishing automated entries all this week and will resume flesh-and-bone posting Sunday, June 24. Don’t let that stop you from sharing your thoughts on the latest Phillies news, notes, transactions, last night's Indians game and Kyle Kendrick's second major league start. Enjoy your day.

Game chat: Kendrick makes second start for Phillies

Rookie right-hander Kyle Kendrick (0-0, 4.50 ERA) got the job done in his major league debut, lasting six innings and giving up three runs to the White Sox. Now, the 22-year-old will face one of the league's premier teams when the Phillies continue their series with the Indians. Game time is 7:05 p.m. Left-hander Jason Stanford (1-0, 1.50 ERA) will also be making his second professional start.

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Indians game discussed

Beerleaguer will be publishing automated entries all this week and will resume flesh-and-bone posting Sunday, June 24. Don’t let that stop you from discussing this morning's Phillies news, notes, transactions, yesterday’s Phillies-Indians game and Cole Hamels' latest effort. Enjoy your morning.

Game chat: Phils open three-game set in Cleveland

Cole Hamels will try to become the National League’s first 10-game winner when the Phillies open a three-game series against the Cleveland Indians tonight at Jacobs Field. Game time is 7:05 p.m. Hamels (9.2, 3.47 ERA) leads the league in wins, strikeouts (104) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.52). Left-hander Cliff Lee (3-4, 6.04 ERA) has struggled since starting the season on the disabled list. He has never faced the Phillies.

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Tigers take weekend series

The Tigers capitalized on a five-run seventh to knock off the Phillies 7-4 and capture the series win. As expected, it was a weekend of big offense, and more than one hole was exposed in the Phillies' pitching staff.

Highlights and lowlights: Five runs were divided between Adam Eaton, Geoff Geary and Yoel Hernandez during the inning as the Tigers were able to erase a two-run deficit. The Phillies also stranded 12 base runners on the afternoon, including six with men in scoring position and two outs. Ryan Howard took a tough 0-for-5 collar including a back-breaking strikeout in the seventh inning. Shane Victorino extended his hitting streak to 10 games, Chase Utley went 3-for-5 and Aaron Rowand continued his clutch hitting with an RBI double. He left the game in the seventh inning with cramps in his left leg. The highlight may have come when Carlos Ruiz was ejected for arguing balls and strikes behind the plate. Radio pair Scott Franzke and Larry Andersen both felt umpire Bill Welke had been squeezing Phillies pitching all afternoon. Phillies skipper Charlie Manuel and Steve Smith were also tossed.

Beerleaguer summer break: Beerleaguer will be running on autopilot all this week, starting this afternoon and running through Sunday, June 24. This post is the test pilot in a series of automated morning and afternoon open threads for readers to discuss the news of the day and chat during games. I'll talk to you in a week, enjoy the Indians and Cardinals series and go Phillies!

Phillies, Tigers meet to decide series; Rosario to DL

Jamie Moyer allowed two runs in seven innings, and Aaron Rowand and Shane Victorino both homered, in a terrific 6-3 win in front of a packed house Saturday night. The Phils and Tigers meet again at 1:35 p.m.

A crowd of 45,000-plus were treated to an entertaining victory against one of the league’s premier teams. Now, the Phillies will go for the series win this afternoon when Adam Eaton (7-4, 5.42 ERA) takes on Justin Verlander (7-2, 2.79 ERA), who’s coming off a blazing no-hitter against the Brewers. If Ryan Howard can connect off Verlander, the ball will sail to South America. Temperatures are expected to climb into the 90s.

Meanwhile, the Phillies announced a roster move after the game, placing right-hander Francisco Rosario on the 15-day disabled list with an inflamed shoulder. Right-hander Brian Sanches has been called up from Triple-A Ottawa to take his spot.

Sanches, who pitched 21 1-3 innings with the Phils last season with a 5.91 ERA and 22 strikeouts, had been closing games for the Lynx, amassing 10 saves. In 30 innings, he posted an impressive 39/4 K/BB ratio, however opponents are batting a lusty .323 off him and his ERA sits at 5.40. He was rocked for three runs in 1/3 inning less than a week ago

This figures to be the most graceful move, roster-wise, the Phillies could have made. He was already on the 40-man roster. The 28-year-old former second round pick of the Royals has plenty of late-game minor league experience, solid career totals as a reliever and throws reasonably hard, but he didn’t look ready for the show last season and is very hittable. With the Phillies making a trip to Cleveland next with Cole Hamels due up first, I would have tried something else, like an extra bat. But I’m willing to be proven wrong.

Tigers pound Phillies 12-8; left-handers duel tonight

As predicted, last night's game featured plenty of offense, including five Phillies home runs, but it wasn't enough as the Tigers rolled 12-8. A poor frame from Jon Lieber, mistakes in the field and shaky relief also led to their undoing.

Give credit to the Tigers; they can mash with the best of them. I watched half the game including the fifth inning where Lieber gave it up. Manager Charlie Manuel had Ryan Madson warming, but sat him when the score became 7-2, going with Francisco Rosario, followed by Jose Mesa, representing the two weakest pitchers on the team.

Most managers would have done the same, handing it over to the B-list pitchers at that point. However, 7-2 in the fifth, at home with hitter conditions is a spot where Madson should be used. Those are the situations he often cruises. The time has come to realize that's where Mad Dog helps them most, not in the eighth inning.

It's a shame because the Phils ended up producing enough offense to win the ballgame. The offense is playoff-ready and belted Tigers' pitching with five deep bombs, including two from Jimmy Rollins. Shane Victorino, Ryan Howard and Greg Dobbs also homered. The only games they're losing lately are the games where the starting pitcher implodes. That's been roughly one in four or five starts. Adam Eaton, Freddy Garcia, Jamie Moyer now Lieber have all thrown duds over the last two weeks.

As for the bullpen, the front office is probably tentative to jettison Rosario since they scouted him for weeks during spring training. What a prize he's turned out to be. No control whatsoever. Phillies love pitchers who throw hard but have no idea where the ball is going, and deny opportunities for strike throwers like Justin Germano, now helping the pitching-rich Padres. If it were up to me, I'd replace Rosario with whatever AAA mercenary is throwing strikes, either John Ennis or Kane Davis when healthy. Bubba Nelson, who's been used as a starter and reliever, pitched a one-run game last night, going eight innings without giving up a walk. He's definitely an option. Besides Rosario, I don't like what I've seen from Mesa, either. He's completely washed up and they'll probably let him overstay his welcome.

Phillies considering four-man rotation: According to the Inquirer, Manuel said the Phils have not decided whether to keep rookie Kyle Kendrick in the rotation or go with a four-man rotation until the all-star break. Kendrick is scheduled to start Tuesday. Todd Zolecki figures they could get away with skipping Kendrick once, but will run into issues during a 10-game stretch between June 26 and July 4, which includes a double-header with the Mets.

C.J. Henry stinks: Lakewood’s Carl (C.J.) Henry, one of the prospects who came over in the Bobby Abreu deal, is 0-for-13 in his last three games with 12 strikeouts, and in his last five, he’s 0-for-21 with 15 strikeouts. He’s hitting .176 on the season with 78 strikeouts in 187 at bats. Hard to believe he was a first round pick of the Yankees two seasons ago.

Tonight's game: Detroit LHP Andrew Miller (2-0, 3.18 ERA) vs. LHP Jamie Moyer (5-5, 4.55 ERA). Moyer is looking to rebound from his worst start of the season. He hasn't faced the Tigers since 2005.

[Live Boxscore]

Game chat: Tigers in town for three-game series

The high-powered Phillies and Tigers offenses lead their leagues in runs scored and enter the series red-hot. With temperatures expected to climb, a weekend series at Citizens Banks Park could turn into target practice. 

Preview: Jeremy Bonderman (6-0, 3.63 ERA) began the season with five no decisions and has since rattled off a six-game winning streak, despite giving up five earned runs his last outing. Bonderman has faced the Phils once before, earning the win in a 10-3 2004 victory. The Phils counter with Jon Lieber (3-4, 3.72 ERA), coming off a three-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts, one shy of tying his career best. The Phillies (35-31) have won nine of their last 12 and have pulled to two games back in the NL East. The Tigers (37-28), had moved into a tie with Cleveland in the AL Central, but dropped their last two games to fall two back. Tonight marks the Philadelphia return of Placido Polanco, who was traded in 2005 for Ugueth Urbina. The Tigers second baseman enters the night third in the league in hitting with a .343 average and is a .337 hitter at CBP.

Best of the Tigers' press notes: The Tigers offense is off to a hot start in June, hitting .337 through the club’s first 12 games of the month. Sean Casey enters tonight’s game with a .447 batting average (17/38) during his career versus Jon Lieber. Casey is tops among all active major league players with a minimum of 30 plate appearances against Lieber with a .447 batting average. Gary Sheffield was named co-Player of the Week with Alex Rodriguez for the week of June 4. Over the club’s last 25 games dating back to May 18, the Tigers are hitting .365 (108/296) with runners in scoring position.

This is a "can’t miss" series featuring two hot offenses in a bandbox. Enjoy the show, and have a great weekend.

[Live Boxscore]

Afternoon notes: Phils sign another indy league lefty

Luis Villarreal, a 27-year-old southpaw pitching with the St. Paul Saints of the Northern League, was 3-0 with a 2.52 ERA in four games, fanning 28 in 24 innings. He was previously with Boston and Milwaukee.

Villarreal, a former 20th pick of the Boston Red Sox in the 2002 draft, began the season in the Brewers organization, splitting time between Triple-A Nashville and Double-A Huntsville, going a combined 1-1 with a 5.28 ERA in 14 relief appearances. Between 2004 and 2006, he saw action with five different independent league teams, all as a starter. He would figure to be some sort of organizational packing peanut for the Phils. (Thanks to Billy Mac for the news tip).

Beerleaguer summer break: Beerleaguer will be running on autopilot all next week, starting Monday, June 18 through Sunday, June 24. The last time Beerleaguer went dark for a period of more than 72 hours was January 2006 when I traveled to the Dominican Republic. Starting Monday, I’ll run a series of morning and afternoon open threads for readers to discuss the news of the day and chat during games. You're the boss. I'm confident you won't bring any more than the usual amount of shame upon Beerleaguer. Just kidding.

Overholt promoted to Double-A Reading: Correcting an earlier Reading Eagle report, it will be right-hander Patrick Overholt, not Josh Outman, who will get the call-up from Clearwater and start Saturday's game in Trenton. The 23-year-old right-hander was 4-6 with a 3.84 ERA with the Threshers.

Notes: Garcia, out indefinitely, will not have surgery

Receiving a second opinion from an orthopedic surgeon, the Phillies will take a conservative approach with Freddy Garcia's shoulder injury and rest him for an unspecified amount of time, according to a team news release.

Phillies Assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr. issued a statement yesterday saying Garcia will be shut down for several weeks, but will begin a tossing program at some point. Doctors agree there is some damage to the shoulder, but "it’s more a product of being a starting pitcher who has logged as many innings as Freddy has over the last several seasons." "At this point, there is no time frame for when Garcia will be pitching competitively at the major league level for the Phillies," Amaro said.

Outman to be promoted to Double-A Reading: Left-hander Josh Outman will be called up from Clearwater and start Saturday’s game at Trenton, according to sources cited by the Reading Eagle. Outman, 22, is 6-3 with a 2.70 ERA in 13 games. The Reading rotation was left short with Kyle Kendrick being called up to Philadelphia.

Beerleaguer power rankings
Time for an update on the players making the biggest impact for the home team.

1: Cole Hamels (Leads the league in wins (9) and strikeouts (104). Averaging 10 strikeouts a game. First true Phillies ace since Schilling makes them a favorite to win every game he starts. Edges Utley because of his ability to halt losing streaks and the separation of quality between him and the rest of the rotation.)

2: Chase Utley (53 RBIs is second in the league. 27 doubles ranks first. Better OBP than Ryan Howard. A consistent force – has only gone hitless in consecutive games once all season. Hits lefties and righties, runs the bases intelligently, hits for power and collects timely hits. And he's been fielding great.)

3: Aaron Rowand (Phillies center fielder on pace to match or exceed his 2004 production. He’s cut down on his Ks considerably (37) and added walks (22). Is likely to post a career high in runs. Like Utley, has not fallen into prolonged slumps despite moving around the lineup. Tied with Utley for team lead in Win Shares with 11.)

4: Ryan Howard (Take away April and he’s been a solid, but not MVP-quality, producer. Still a major difference maker in the Phillies’ lineup. Most reliable source of power and on-base. Has taken a step back against left-handers, but pitchers haven’t exactly made it easy on him.)

5: Jimmy Rollins (Struggled in May but having a better June. Difference between the best five shortstops and the rest of NL – Reyes, Hardy, Ramirez, Renteria, Rollins – represents huge drop in talent. Phillies are lucky to have his steady glove and production.)

The rest: 6. Jamie Moyer; 7. Jon Lieber; 8. Shane Victorino & Pat Burrell (Tie); 9. Adam Eaton; 10. Antonio Alfonseca & Greg Dobbs (Tie).

Buoyant Phillies giving fans bounty of summer ball

Paced by better starting pitching and a productive offense, the Phillies are dodging a June swoon, climbing the standings and giving fans reason to watch.

Here comes that driftwood again, that crust of unsinkable debris. "It’s a long season." The words disappear and reappear like a white seagull folded inside blue waves. Able to carve the morass of rock and surf, the Phils have caught the Mets and Braves in calm water.

Like undulating driftwood, metaphors come and go on Beerleaguer, reserved for meaningful moments. Watching Cole Hamels pitch for the first time. Opening day. Game 162. The sporadic controversies. The implication today is now that they're back in the hunt, we can allow ourselves to get swept up again. And why shouldn't we? The Phils went 9-18 last June. They’ve already matched that win total with a 9-4 record, making good on their promise that robust pitching and a buttery lineup would keep their season lush through a traditionally arid month. They’re two games out in the NL East, and since April 21, have the best record in the league.

How are they doing it? Much of it is the ebb and flow of a baseball season. It's an oscillation; teams surge ahead, then fall back. The Mets and Braves are iced in cold streaks, allowing the Phils to sweep them both in their own buildings. The White Sox are another team with myriad problems – the Phils dusted them easily for a three-game sweep.

That will not be the case with Detroit, in for three this weekend. The Tigers are the best team they will have faced all season, and they're surging. They’ll also line up two of their best weapons, Jeremy Bonderman and no-hit winner Justin Verlander.

However, the Phils are playing their best ball of the season now, even without two main bullpen parts. The number of improvements over what they did in April – we’re talking key improvements from major contributors like Ryan Howard and Adam Eaton – have overshadowed the weaknesses of bit players like Rod Barajas and the rest of the bench, dubious middle relievers and manager Charlie Manuel. Chase Utley, Jamie Moyer, Jimmy Rollins, Greg Dobbs, Pat Burrell, Aaron Rowand, Shane Victorino, Cole Hamels ... they’re keeping the ship steady and sailing.

Game chat: Phils aim for sweep behind rookie hurler

Don't look now but the Phillies are three games back in the NL East. They'll hand the ball to Kyle Kendrick to complete the sweep of the White Sox, and hope Chase Utley and the offense keeps pouring it on.

No disrespect to Cole Hamels, who’s making excellence routine. The top story this morning is a Phillies’ offense firing on all cylinders. Utley has been tremendous. He went 3-for-3 with a tape measure job and has nine RBIs over his last 10. His swing is a beautiful thing. When Utley’s on, he can carry them, but others have also stepped up. Ryan Howard is back in form. Pat Burrell is knocking in some runs again, starting a first-inning rally last night with a bases-loaded walk.

The difference might be Greg Dobbs, starting regularly at third against righties. Dobbs knocked in a pair in the first inning, making it 27 RBIs in 116 just ABs on the season. Plugging Dobbs into the lineup gives them a nice right/left mix and another weapon near the bottom of the order. If you subscribe to the "set ‘em and forget ‘em" philosophy at catcher, the Phils’ left-handed lineup is one of the most complete sets in the National League.

Condrey outrighted: To make room for Kendrick on the 25 and 40-man rosters, the Phillies outrighted reliever Clay Condrey to Triple-A Ottawa. Condrey, who posted a 9.00 ERA in 12 games, accepted the assignment despite having a right to refuse. The 31-year-old right-hander was victimized by a number of horrific outings, including a six-run meltdown in a sloppy game against Toronto. He saved his best for last however, pitching 3 1-3 shutout innings Friday in Kansas City.

Mets slumping: The division-leading Mets have lost eight of their last nine games after a 4-1 loss to the Dodgers. Matthew Cerrone, author of Metsblog, indicated it was another night of big swings, poor throws and stranded runners. John Maine allowed back-to-back-to-back jacks, including one to pitcher Hong-Chih Kuo. He’s also concerned that reliever Joe Smith is no longer thowing his slider for strikes. Dave Pinto of Baseball Musings blames their slump on a reduced BB/AB ratio, especially the heart of the order, Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado. Since June 2, they have combined for just two walks, Pinto writes.

Today’s matchup: John Danks (3-6, 4.38 ERA) goes for the White Sox. He has struggled in his last three starts, going 0-2 with a 6.43 ERA. Kendrick, of course, is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA.

Lineups are set: Phillies go with right-handed hitters today, including Wes Helms and Jayson Werth, and will not start Dobbs, as was first reported. [Live Boxscore]

Game chat: Hamels hopes to drop hammer on Sox

Chicago’s offense ranks last in runs, on-base, slugging and average. Tonight they contend with NL strikeout leader Cole Hamels (8-2, 3.57 ERA) in the second of three interleague games. Jose Contreras (4-6, 4.23 ERA) counters for the White Sox.

Hamels by the numbers: Hamels leads the NL in strikeouts (96) and is tied for the lead in wins (8). He has won six of his last eight starts and has pitched at least 6.0 innings in all but one start this season. The Phillies are 9-4 in his 13 starts and 9-2 in his last 11.

Chicago offensive futility: Adam Eaton and the Phillies shutout the hapless White Sox offense for a fifth time this season. Chicago’s south-siders have lost six of their last seven and 13 of 16. This is the first time the team has been seven games under since 2003. With Scott Podsednik, Darin Erstad and Pablo Ozuna on the disabled list, they’ve used six different leadoff hitters this season and eight players in the No. 2 slot in the lineup. The bullpen has gone 2-7 with a 8.83 ERA (69 ER/ 70.1 IP) and five blown saves in its last 30 games. White Sox starting pitchers have compiled a 2.87 ERA (26 ER/81.2 IP) over the last 12 games but are just 3-6 in that stretch as they have received just 2.87 runs of support.

All-Star update: Chase Utley is leading all second basemen in All-Star voting with 630,007 votes. Jimmy Rollins ranks fourth in the shortstop voting with 329,706 votes.

Local: Kutztown becoming state's real baseballtown

The Kutztown Area High School Cougars mounted a seventh-inning rally to knock off Pine Grove and advance to the state final yesterday, continuing a superb season for Kutztown baseball.

KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Kutztown is no longer just the home of the Pennsylvania-German Folk Festival, birch beer and late pop artist Keith Haring. With a high school team going for the state title and two collegiate-level teams reaching new heights, Kutztown is starting to challenge Reading's self-proclaimed title of "Baseballtown."

Kutztown Area High School (20-7) will play Bald Eagle for the PIAA Class AA state championship Saturday after a dramatic win over Pine Grove in the semi-final round. It was the second-consecutive game where they rallied from behind to advance in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Kutztown University, a solid baseball program for years, finished the regular season 49-5 and for a short time ranked No. 1 in the country in Division II baseball. They later suffered an early exit in the College World Series.

In addition, the Kuztown Rockies of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League, an NCAA-sactioned summer league, which claims Craig Biggio, Jamie Moyer and Matt Morris as alumni, finished last season 36-6, the best record in the 40 year history of the league. The Rockies are off to a 4-4 start this season.

– Report by Beerleaguer senior correspondent Martin Smith

Garcia MRI too little, too late; shoulder surgery likely

An MRI on Freddy Garcia's right shoulder showed pathology in the labrum and fraying of the rotator cuff. In all probability, his Phillies' career is over before it ever got started. Not that it should have gotten started.

Had a proper examination been conducted before the Phillies finalized their biggest trade of winter, they might have had enough evidence not to enter into an arrangement that cost them their top left-handed prospect, another young pitcher and $10 million in cash for one win over 11 painstaking starts. Garcia showed signs of fading last season, when radar guns marked him in the low 80s. This wasn't out of the blue.

Garcia will reportedly seek a second opinion, but season-ending surgery is a good bet. Yesterday, Charlie Manuel reiterated that Brett Myers will remain in the bullpen when he comes off the disabled list. That means two of their top three starters, Garcia and Myers, are no longer in the starting mix, and both are currently hurt.

Instead of Myers, the Phillies will call on Double-A right-hander Kyle Kendrick, whose minor league career had been puttering along until a breakout year in 2006. The Phillies would rather not resort to this, I’m almost certain, but their lack of depth and foresight has left them short-handed yet again. The odds are slim he’s ready to handle it. If he’s pounded, he could fall into a developmental tailspin.

Think of all the ways desperate acts like Kendrick and Jose Mesa could have been prevented. Had they signed a closer, Myers would have never been moved. Had they broken spring training with Justin Germano, who’s done a workman’s job with San Diego, they’d have a more experienced fallback. Had they demonstrated "due diligence" with Garcia, they would have had better wiggle room to address areas of need.

Eye on the Double-A: With his promotion to the show, Kendrick isn’t the only opening in Reading, beat writer Mike Drago has indicated. In addition to Kendrick, two active players aren't in uniform, outfielder Javon Moran and starter Tim McClasky. Adding players who aren’t performing, Drago estimates they’re as many as five or six guys short.

One candidate to take Kendrick’s spot is left-hander Josh Outman, who’s proven he can handle Class-A hitters. The 22-year-old former 10th round pick struck out nine his last start and has a 0.98 ERA in his last six starts. Other call-up candidates include outfielders Jeremy Slayden and Greg Golson and top pitching prospect Carlos Carrasco. And speaking of Carrasco ...

Carrasco tosses three-hit shutout: Last night in the Florida State League, Phillies top prospect Carlos Carrasco went the distance against the Fort Myers Miracle, giving up three hits with 7 strikeouts in nine innings to earn his sixth win of the season. After a slow start, the 20-year-old right-hander is red-hot and has lowered his ERA to 2.82. He’s also earned a trip to the FSL All-Star game.

Condrey out? Phillies.com scribe Ken Mandel believes Clay Condrey is likely to be demoted to make room for Kendrick.

Ruiz ailing: Catcher Carlos Ruiz is nursing a swollen wrist suffered on a Carlos Beltran backswing, but the injury is not considered significant enough for a trip to the DL.

Costanzo heating up: After a grim, Tim Moss-type start, Reading third baseman Mike Costanzo may be starting to figure it out. The team's top third base prospect is now hitting .247 with 11 homers, 13 doubles, a .319 OBP and .449 slugging percentage.

Last night: Nothing puts a smile on my face like an Antonio Alfonseca save. I find him easy to cheer for because my expectations were so low. He’s keeping the ball on the ground and has five saves. El Pulpo has been a reliable surprise and hasn’t allowed a run in his last nine games.

With Myers out, the Phillies are starting to settle on some defined bullpen roles. Mike Zagurski made quick work of the White Sox in the eighth, and I noticed Yoel Hernandez warming just in case. From my vantage point, Hernandez has leapfrogged Condrey and Francisco Rosario in the depth charts.

As for the rest of the game, you don’t often see effortless 3-0 Phillies victories. It was their first win when scoring three runs or less (1-18 on the season). Could it be the White Sox offense stinks? Nah. It was a very nice win nevertheless. Shutout ball from Adam Eaton is in everyone's best interest. And Ryan Howard is back, and was probably back days ago. His line since his May 25 return: (16 G, 54 AB, 9 R, 16 H, .296 AVG, 6 HR, 17 RBI, 11 BB, 17 K)

White Sox in for three; Kendrick starts Wednesday

Adam Eaton and Javier Vazquez duel when interleague play returns to Citizens Bank Park. Meanwhile, the Reading Eagle has learned that Double-A right-hander Kyle Kendrick will be called up to pitch Wednesday.

Kendrick, 22, is 4-7 with a team-leading 3.21 ERA and leads the Eastern League with 81 2-3 innings. Rated as the Phillies' 15th best prospect by Baseball America, Kendrick replaces Freddy Garcia, who may be out for an extended period with a shoulder injury. Considered one of the most durable pitchers in their system, Kendrick, a native of Mount Vernon, Wash., relies on a low-90s fastball with good movement and command and a plus slider he uses as his out pitch. His third weapon is a change-up, which scouts now view as a reliable tool.

Game preview: The Phillies entertain a struggling but dangerous group that took it to the house just two seasons ago. Their offense has been inexplicably hapless, entering tonight with a horrid .233/.305/.365 team line. It’s baffling considering the amount of thunder they employ. Guys like Jermaine Dye, Paul Konerko and Joe Crede, who's now on the DL, just aren’t doing it. Things are also starting to get testy with manager Ozzie Guillen, who said he wishes he had a better lineup. They’ve lost seven of their last 10 and the only reason they haven’t totally faded in the dogfight known as the AL East has been their starting pitching. Closer Bobby Jenks has also been OK, but the rest of their bullpen has actually been worse than the Phillies.

One of the only players producing much offensively, former Phillie Jim Thome, is out of the lineup because there's no DH. They've also turned third base over to top prospect Josh Fields, replacing Crede, who’s on the shelf with inflammation in his back. Outfielder Darin Erstad is also out with a sprained ankle.

Adam Eaton (6-4 5.99 ERA) hopes for a knockout against lineup that's totally on the ropes. Familiar foe Javier Vasquez (3-4, 4.13 ERA) starts for Chicago. Rod Barajas gets another start behind the plate for the Phils. Greg Dobbs fills in at third base. This is a winnable, but dangerous game. [Live Boxscore]

Buck stops with pitching in series loss to Royals

Jamie Moyer couldn't last four innings, and Freddy Garcia's arm went dead in the series opener. As a result, the second-worse offense in the American League shellacked Phillies' pitching for 25 runs, 12 charged to the starters, in two buzz-killing losses in KC.

The Inquirer ran the headline "Puzzling Phils fall to Royals, 17-5," but what’s puzzling about it? Isn’t the answer embedded right in the headline? The Phillies alternated extremes, sandwiching Jon Lieber's fresh bacon with two moldy slabs of pumpernickel. Garcia, the subject of a scathing entry by Bill Conlin this morning, finally admitted to pitching hurt as everyone expected, save for those signing $10 million checks. Yesterday, ancient left-hander Jamie Moyer was positively crushable, and the wise old crow knew it.

"I didn't throw the ball well," Moyer told the Inquirer. "I stunk ... I didn't throw the ball very well at all. I made some mistakes in the middle of the plate. I got behind hitters. I walked too many people. I didn't help the cause at all. It starts with pitching."

After Moyer feathered breaking balls right over the heart of the plate, the bullpen, which was a strength in the Mets' series, hemorrhaged eight earned runs, including two on wild pitches from Jose Mesa. Ryan Madson allowed three runs in the sixth inning, putting the game out of reach. The Royals, near the bottom in most offensive categories, embarrassed the Phillies further with two in the seventh and six in the eighth.

I can’t get into much detail here. By this time, I was playing Scrabble with the in-laws. As for Mesa, the Phillies are paying him a prorated sum of $250,000, making it easy to cut bait. Needing to make a roster move for Wednesday's start, they should already consider it.

Other news: Today, the Phillies are expected to announce Garcia’s replacement for Wednesday’s start. We discussed Kyle Kendrick and Bubba Nelson yesterday. The Inquirer sees J.D. Durbin as another possibility, but I don't. Durbin was passed back and forth by several teams early this season and was claimed off waivers by the Phillies and stashed in Triple-A Ottawa. Based on the numbers and earlier reports, he doesn’t appear ready to handle major league hitters. International League hitters are batting .304 off him and he isn't finding the strike zone.

In my estimation, Double-A right-hander Kyle Kendrick is the best option.

OPS notes: Catcher Rod Barajas is starting to push his way back into regular action, starting two games this series and going 2-for-7 with a double, homer and walk. His OPS stands at .790 while Carlos Ruiz is at .706 ... After watching his OPS crank up to .764 in late May, Abraham Nunez went hitless this series as his numbers continue to plummet. Nuni is just 3-26 in June (.115 average). Wes Helms' .610 OPS is the worst on the team and .355 points below where he finished last season (.965).

Lieber blanks Royals; Garcia to DL; Kendrick eyed

Jon Lieber has a knack for pitching his past employers well. Last night in KC, he held the team that originally drafted him to three hits in a 4-0 complete-game shutout. Meanwhile, the Phillies will look internally to fill injured starter Freddy Garcia's slot in the rotation.

The Royals are the Royals, but it shows that Lieber, 37, still has plenty of gas left in the tank, and based on past history, his best months are still ahead. He’s been a strong finisher his last two seasons with the club, and barring a dramatic reversal, he’ll finish with better production this season than both Freddy Garcia and Adam Eaton, two pitchers who were supposed to push him out the door.

Based on no particular measure, Lieber's a top 25 National League starter. He gives up hard hits, often double-digit hits in one game. However, he’s rarely good for less than five innings and perfectly reliable at the back end of the rotation. Every third start or so, he’s dominant, as he was last night. Lieber fanned a season-high 11, his most since 2000.

He’s scheduled to become a free agent after the season, which would leave two holes in the starting rotation. Garcia won't be coming back. In addition, at 45, Jamie Moyer may decide to hang them up. Ironically, the pitcher they tried to dump since last season’s trade deadline might actually be pitching himself back into their plans.

Garcia goes on the DL: No surprise here. After a dismal performance Friday, Freddy Garcia was placed on the disabled list and will meet with team doctors tomorrow. His spot will be filled by Jose Mesa, who signed with the club Friday.

The Phillies still need to fill Garcia’s spot in the rotation, which falls Wednesday and will be announced Monday. One name the team may consider is 22-year-old right-hander Kyle Kendrick, who’s having a fine season for Double-A Reading. Kendrick, rated as the club’s 15th best prospect by Baseball America before the season, is 4-7 with a 3.21 ERA with a league-leading 81 1-3 innings. In his last start, he notched a complete-game victory. He's allowed only three home runs all season.

Kendrick, considered one of the most durable pitchers in their system, relies on a low-90s fastball with good movement and a plus slider he uses as his out pitch. His third pitch is a change-up, which scouts now view as a reliable tool.

Besides Kendrick, a darkhorse candidate could be 25-year-old right-hander Bubba Nelson, who's pitching in Triple-A Ottawa. Nelson was converted back into a starter after starting the year as a reliever in Reading and is posting some nice numbers. A second-round pick of the Braves in the 2000 draft, Nelson earned the win in yesterday’s game on an unearned run on four hits and four walks with five strikeouts in five innings.

Bisenius goes on the shelf: The Lynx have placed right-hander Joe Bisenius on the disabled list with a shoulder injury. Bisenius, 24, is 1-2 with a 6.48 ERA in 19 games for the Lynx and is considered one of the Phillies top relief prospects. Bisenius broke spring training with the club as part of their 25-man roster, but the move was only temporary.

Game chat: A pair of left-handers meet in the series finale in Kansas City. Jamie Moyer (5-4, 4.08 ERA) and Jorge De La Rosa (4-6, 4.60 ERA) are scheduled to pitch. Game time is 2:10 p.m. ET. Chat about it here.

Phillies reacquire franchise saves leader José Mesa

Veteran reliever Jose Mesa, who was released by the Detroit Tigers on Sunday, has signed with the Phillies, FOXSports.com has learned. The 41-year-old ranks 13th on baseball's all-time saves list and holds the Phillies franchise mark with 111 of them.

Mesa, 41, was 1-1 with a 12.34 ERA in 16 appearances for the Tigers after signing a one-million, $2.5 million deal during the off-season. He also missed time with a groin injury. The right-hander pitched with the Phillies from 2001-03. His 45 saves in 2002 is the highest single-season total in club history.

Beerleaguer: Stranger things have happened than if Mesa comes back and actually works out. Nevertheless, this is a last-ditch effort to save his career and your typical act of desperation on the part of the Phillies.

In the three seasons since his grand Philadelphia exit, Mesa hasn't been terrible, even last season in Colorado, where he went a couple long stretches without giving up a run. However, he's not missing many bats anymore and the reports from Detroit said everything was arriving flat.

The Phillies will ask him to get outs any way he can in some kind of seventh-inning role, or in close games when they trail. He'll be better at it than Clay Condrey, so in that regard, it's an upgrade. The X-factor is how he adjusts to Citizens Bank Park, where he's only pitched 1 2-3 lifetime innings and the home crowd will be ready to snap at a moment's notice. There's no easier target than Joe Table. He doesn't represent a cheery chapter in Phillies history. Then again, few of them do.

Garcia update
After tonight's game, pitcher Freddy Garcia, who lasted just 1 2-3 innings and was hitting low-to-mid 80s on the gun, acknowledged having pain in his shoulder. He will be examined Monday when the team returns to Philadelphia, but a trip to the DL would seem imminent. Why? Because he looks flippin' awful, that's why.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said afterward that he suspected Garcia had been hurt all along and finally confronted the veteran about it in the dugout tunnel after the pitcher was yanked. Garcia is 1-5 with a 5.90 ERA in 11 starts and has struggled with his velocity dating back to last season.

Garcia is owed $10 million this season and was acquired in a trade with the Chicago White Sox for minor league pitchers Gio Gonzalez and Gavin Floyd. The White Sox have already received the better end of the deal.

Game chat: Phillies and Royals match up again tonight at 7:10 p.m. ET. Gil Meche and Jon Lieber are scheduled to throw.

Phillies move on to KC after stirring sweep of Mets

Timely hitting and consistent pitching highlighted three entertaining games in New York. Now, the Phillies travel to Kansas City to face the lowly Royals and hope the bubble doesn’t burst.

The Phillies finally fulfilled a promise that was made this winter, that starting pitching would carry them, and great hitting would separate them. Each team’s starters departed the same inning with similar lines (Jamie Moyer and Tom Glavine actually finished with almost identical marks). Then it became a matter of which Mets’ reliever the Phillies would blow apart, and which Phils’ reliever would hold the fort. Last night Billy Wagner and Scott Schoeneweis gave it up for New York, much of the damage coming off the bat of Pat Burrell. Rookie Mike Zagurski earned his first career victory, and Antonio Alfonseca notched his third-consecutive save. That part wasn’t foretold.

As far as the standings are concerned, it was the most meaningful series to date. The Phillies climbed three spots on the Mets and Braves, losers of four and three-straight. The Phillies stand 31-29 and are hoping to leave .500 in the dust. It’s not the first time they’ve had the chance. They’ll have an excellent opportunity to do it again, this time in Kansas City, where they face at team that is inferior to them in every way.

If you believe that previous statement makes this some kind of automatic for the Phils, you’re a complete stranger to Phillies baseball. The fact is the Phils are sending two struggling pitchers to the mound tonight and tomorrow, pitchers who can barely make it through six innings. Despite recent heroics, the bullpen is still short-handed and weak. It’s a strange environment, and now that they’ve reasserted themselves by sweeping the Mets, the pressure returns. Meanwhile, the Royals have nothing to lose.

Opponents are hitting .303 against Freddy Garcia (1-4, 5.11 ERA), and although he’s faced the Royals plenty, he’s been awful against them. He’s 8-9 with a 5.66 ERA in 21 starts against Kansas City, including a 4-5 record with a 6.65 ERA in 11 road games.

Scott Elarton (1-2, 7.36 ERA) gets the ball for the Royals. Game time is 8:05 p.m.

Rumor: Paul Hagen reports the Phillies are scouting the Rangers, with thoughts that it could be to scope relievers Eric Gagne, Joaquin Benoit and Akinori Otsuka.

Draft babble: I'm no draftnik, but I generally like the direction the Phillies went yesterday, taking standout Rice left-hander Joe Savery with the first pick and selecting position talent over the next few rounds. With Savery, who played four years with a premier college program, there's more concern about his delivery than health, and I believe the Phillies are equipped to correct that. From what I've read, the 21-year-old added velocity after the surgery, which was considered minor.

Say what you want about the Phillies development staff, but they seem to have a handle on left-handed pitching. They know what works and what doesn't. Cole Hamels is a stud. Mike Zagurski went from Class-A to the majors after a change in delivery. J.A. Happ rose quickly last season. If Savery can make a smooth transition to the pros, it won't be long before he reaches the majors.

The Phillies went with position talent the next few picks. I didn't seen many knocks against these players as being too raw. The Phillies have good percentages when they avoid Greg Golson projects. There didn't seem to be many defensive questions here, either. Scott Rolen, Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard were all taken from this part of the draft. You figure if only one of them works, you've got yourself a cornerstone player.

There's absolutely no reason to be down on what the Phillies did on draft day. Give it a year or two.

Game chat: Hamels, Phillies try to finish off Mets

Coming off a complete-game gem against the Giants, left-hander Cole Hamels (8-2, 3.55 ERA) and the Phillies look to cap a three-game sweep of the Mets in New York. The Mets counter with John Maine (6-3, 2.81 ERA).

Preview: With his last victory, Hamels rose to the league lead in wins with eight of them. Pat Burrell drops to sixth in the lineup, with Aaron Rowand protecting Ryan Howard in the five-hole.

Draft update (Round 1): The Phillies selected Rice left-hander Joe Savery with their first pick in today's draft, the 19th pick overall. Savery was projected to fall between 15-25 and would have been a higher choice had he not undergone shoulder surgery. At 6-3, 215, he's drawn comparisons to Mark Mulder. The Phillies have compared him to Randy Wolf.

Savery, 21, is 10-1 with a 2.78 ERA and a .239 opponents' batting average in 17 starts for Rice this season. At the plate, he is hitting .360 with 18 doubles, four home runs and 54 RBI in 250 at-bats.

Draft update (Round 2): With their next choice, the 37th overall selection, the Phillies selected catcher Travis D'Arnaud out of Lakewood High School. D'Arnaud, 18, was touted by Baseball America as the second-best defensive high school player in the country. He hit .413, leading his team in both home runs (7) and RBI (52) in 33 games this past spring.

Draft update (Round 3): With their third pick, 83rd overall, the Phillies selected third baseman Travis Mattair from Southridge High School. From a scouting report supplied from a reader source: "Mattair is a big, athletic infielder who most likely will see his future at third. He can hit and will hit for power with a swing that should be well suited for wood bats. He's got a strong arm and soft hands and plus, plus makeup."

Highlights of Arbuckle Q&A; Open draft day thread

Beerleaguer correspondent Billy Mac attended a season ticket holder session with Phillies Assistant GM Mike Arbuckle yesterday at Citizens Bank Park, focusing on today’s draft. Follow and discuss it here.

Evaluating the 2007 draft class, Arbuckle said the talent level was deep at the high school level for positional players and at the college level for pitching. The Phillies philosophy will be to the take the best available player, based on highest ceiling, not position. Scouting director Marti Wolever makes the final decision on draft picks. Arbuckle also feels the Phillies have a strong presence in the International market, particularly the Dominican.

When talking about his own experience with the amateur draft, Arbuckle said that he has worked for three GMs in his Phils tenure (Thomas, Wade, and Gillick) and said there are no significant differences on how they approach the draft. – Billy Mac

Follow the draft live on MLB.com and ESPN2
The Phillies pick 19th and have five of the first 113 picks when the draft gets underway at 2 p.m. My thought is they need to get themselves a quality position player with power and not a lot of rough edges.

According to Bill Conlin, the players grouped by Baseball America around the No. 19 slot include third baseman Matt Dominguez, University of Tennessee outfielder Julio Borbon and slugger Matt LaPorta. Pennsylvania prep school catcher Devin Mesoraco is another player mentioned in mock drafts. [Follow the draft here]

Game chat: Phillies try for two straight against Mets

Adam Eaton and Orlando Hernandez meet in a battle of right-handers tonight when the Phillies and Mets resume their series at Shea Stadium.

My apologies for delayed posting on a hectic day in the office. Tomorrow will be more of the same, so I’m turning the board over to you in an open draft day thread, to be posted in the morning. Phillies pick 19th and have 5 of the first 113. Keep Beerleaguer updated. I'll be on location in downtown Reading to broadcast tomorrow's Reading Classic pro bike race. Listen live on 830-AM WEEU for my reports from Duryea Drive and around the race course.

The Phils weren’t far from my mind today in spite of deadlines and meetings. Angelo and WIP's Morning Team dedicated a segment to the plight of Chris Coste during my commute. Brian Startare interviewed the displaced catcher last night in Double-A Reading and had good words for the R-Phils PR staff, Rob Hackash especially.

There can be no better reason why Coste is languishing in the minor leagues other than the Phillies are complete jerks. He continues to hit, he hit during his call-up, he hit last season, he hits everywhere, and they need his bat. What the hell do they need Clay Condrey for? Coste is arguably more qualified than three others to be part of a five-man bench. They should be carrying six anyway. They're coming up short off the bench every night. Sometimes it’s like the Phillies enjoy being the villains. They don’t make it hard for us to be critical.

On a related note, catcher Carlos Ruiz is struggling and had a terrible at bat last night with the bases loaded, mushing the ball into the ground for a rally-killing double play. It could have been the difference in the game. His OPS is something like .702 now, and he’s had one extra base hit since his walk-off home run. My money is on Rod Barajas to get the start tonight. (Update: Barajas is in).

On a completely separate note, Chase Utley is incredible.

Lastly, Malcolm posted some eye-opening home/away splits on Ryan Madson in the thread below. I can visually tell a difference in the way he pitches away from the Bank: less nibbling, more challenging. There are certain situations where I have confidence in Madson. Remember when he carried that extra-inning shutout for awhile in relief last year in Shea? He excels in situations like those. Very strange.

Game preview: Adam Eaton (5-4, 6.28) vs. Orlando Hernandez (3-1, 2.20) Eaton pitched in New York earlier in the season when it was about 40 degrees. He’s trying to bounce back from his shortest start of the season, getting chased after two innings thanks to a Fred Lewis grand slam. He hasn’t been consistent and I can’t get a handle on him. It’s in everyone’s best interest – the Phillies and yours – to see this guy get it together. They’re stuck with him.

In seven starts, El Duque has been excellent, holding opponents to a .175 average to go with a 0.89 WHIP. Left-handers have still been hitting him however, that’s why Charlie Manuel is stacking Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Greg Dobbs together in the middle of the lineup. Dobbs gets the start in left field.

Game chat: Phils begin series with East-leading Mets

Veteran left-handers take the mound tonight at Shea Stadium as Tom Glavine and the Mets meet Jamie Moyer and the Phillies in a battle of NL East rivals. The action starts at 7:10 p.m.

Preview: This series deserves a nice, long analysis. You'll find one in today's Philadelphia Inquirer and one on Phillyburbs.com. But not here. Over on MetsBlog, I participated in a pre-series Q&A, focusing on the team and the direction they've taken since the last time they met. That direction, of course, is "a little north of nowhere."

The Phillies have a chance to chip away at the Mets' eight-game division lead. Over their last 10 games, they're 6-4, while the rest of the division's teams, including the Phillies, are 5-5. Everyone is hovering.

Glavine (5-3, 3.44 ERA) has faced the Phillies twice this season and won both times. Moyer (5-4, 4.23 ERA) lasted 7 2-3 innings his last start, allowing four runs. Lifetime against the Mets he's 4-3 with a 2.59 ERA in eight contests.

On the injury front, Carlos Beltran returns to the lineup for the first time since Thursday, when he hurt his right knee in a collision with San Francisco's Rich Aurilia. Fellow outfielders Shawn Green and Moises Alou are both out, with Alou due to return this series. For the Phillies, it's taking just a little while longer than expected for Brett Myers to start throwing again.

Game notes, courtesy of MetsBlog: Carlos Delgado is 26-for-60 (.433) with 7 HR and 15 RBI vs. Moyer lifetime. Jimmy Rollins is 24-for-64 (.375) with 6 HR and 13 RBI vs. Glavine, including 2 HR against him on April 12th.

Lineups are set: Pat Burrell bats fifth. Abraham Nunez mans third. Carlos Ruiz receiveth. [Live Boxscore]

Beer nuts: Gillick heading group to buy Mariners?

Sources cited by the Boston Globe said the Seattle Mariners could be for sale and Phillies GM Pat Gillick might be the head of a group attempting to purchase them.

Responding in a Seattle Post-Intelligencer follow-up, club CEO Howard Lincoln called the rumor "nonsense." The Mariners' controlling interest has been in the hands of Hiroshi Yamauchi since 1992. Meanwhile in the Inquirer, Gillick, who recently bought a home in Seattle, laughed off the rumor. His contract with the Phillies runs through 2008.

Draft to be televised this Thursday
The Phillies will have the 19th selection and five of the first 113 picks when the June draft gets underway Thursday at 2 p.m. on ESPN2, marking the first time the event will be televised. Vanderbilt left-hander David Price is expected to be taken first by the Devil Rays. Baseball America’s Jim Callis projects the Phillies to take Pennsylvania prep catcher Devin Mesoraco, while ESPN’s Keith Law sees "erratic" high school outfielder Michael Burgess falling into their hands. Burgess is a product of Hillsborough High School that produced Gary Sheffield, Doc Gooden, and Elijah Dukes. "Burgess has as much raw power as anyone in the draft, but his game is erratic and features a lot of swings and misses," Law wrote. Burgess has Phillies written all over him.

You know you’re out of the running when ...
... you contact Jose Mesa’s agent. According to a source that has spoken with the Phillies, the team has contacted Mesa’s agent about signing the 41-year-old reliever, who was ditched by the Tigers this weekend.

The Phillies are getting close to that stage when teams decide whether they’re in it to win it, or in it for the future. This would be a move to keep them, at the very best, stable. They haven’t maintained a consistent run and their starting pitching is beginning to unravel. The team must also be aware of the shocking amount of minor league decay that’s taken place in their farm system, just over the last two months.

I’m not entirely sure it’s advisable to play the Wild Card game with a sub-.500 team, better National League competition and a farm system in disarray.

Questions for Mike Arbuckle
Beerleaguer contributor Billy Mac will be attending the season ticket holder event tomorrow at Citizens Bank Park, which features a Q&A session with Assistant GM Mike Arbuckle to discuss the upcoming draft. Post your questions for the Q&A session below and Billy Mac will try getting them answered tomorrow.

Game chat: Seeking series win, Phillies face Zito

A light drizzle continues to fall around the Delaware Valley, but the game-time forecast calls for a mixture of sun and clouds this afternoon when the Phillies finish their series with San Francisco.

Preview: Besides Aaron Rowand and Rod Barajas, the Phils have only a handful of at bats against Zito (5-5, 4.21 ERA). The veteran left-hander and recipient of a seven-year, $126 million contract is coming off two great outings against Houston and New York, allowing just one run over 14 innings. He’ll face a Phillies team that has struggled against left-handed pitching, hitting just .235. ... This is an important game for Jon Lieber (2-3, 3.86 ERA) to get back on track. Lieber was rocked for a career-high 13 hits Tuesday against Arizona and had a lackluster start his previous outing in Florida.

A win today and the Phillies finish their homestand a manageable 3-4 before heading to New York for a big series with the Mets.

Lineups are set: Jayson Werth starts in left field, replacing Pat Burrell, who’s struggling in all facets of the game. Wes Helms gets his first start at third base in quite a while. Rod Barajas does the catching. For the Giants, Barry Bonds returns to the lineup seeking his first home run since May 27. [Live Boxscore]

Beer nuts: Victorino is no novelty act in right field

One of Beerleaguer's hottest debates of the off-season focused on whether yesterday's hero and collectible figurine, Shane Victorio, was capable of becoming a full-time right-fielder. While his power production has been less than most corners, the rest of his game has been rock solid.

Sometimes it's beneficial to step outside the box and look at what other teams are doing, and how the Phillies stack up. It’s worth it with an oddity like Victorino, who’s unlike any other right fielder in the National League.

NL right fielders tend to be the same basic variety, a little less impressive than their counterparts in left field, players like Brad Hawpe, Shawn Green, but also some real productive ones like Ken Griffey Jr. and Jeff Francouer. Victorino isn’t a prototype at the position but it doesn’t mean he isn’t pulling his weight. You look at how he stacks up against other NL regulars and it's not too shabby. Defensively, he's tremendous, but offensively, his OBP has stayed on the high side and he's generating runs. Credit a lot of that to his speed and beating out groundballs, which he seems to do every other game, but he's also drawn 22 walks, which is third on the team and ranks high among his NL counterparts. The difference is he’s turning his walks and base hits into scoring chances. His 16 stolen bases leads the team and is far more than any NL right fielder.

The production adds up. He's third in runs created for NL RFs behind Francouer and Junior. Vic plays a lot while some other teams go with a platoon, which is part of why he ranks so high. However, his RC/G is better than average for regular right fielders.

I'm honestly a little surprised; I probably fell among the skeptical side of the Victorino debate, believing he’d overstay his welcome there. After two months of regular play, I would have pegged him for a .250 average, 40 strikeouts and a .310 OBP. It's been a nice little development watching him stay productive like this, and his arm has been magnificent.

Ballpark and pitching thoughts
The last time the Phillies had a walk off home run, I wrote a little Carlos Ruiz tribute that made it onto SI.com. It won’t happen this time. The circumstances were a little less dramatic yesterday, plus it was one of those patented Citizens Bank Park cheapies. They’re happening with greater frequency now.

I can’t get inside the head of Phillies pitchers, but I wonder how much that short porch weighs on their minds and alters the way they pitch. The rain had something to do with it yesterday, but how many times do you see Ryan Madson and Geoff Geary nibble? They’re shockingly better pitchers on the road this season. Madson’s career would have new life if he was liberated from CBP and given a bigger playground. I don't think he'd be so fine with his pitches. If I’m a GM like Jim Bowden in Washington, who reportedly took interest in Madson this winter, I’d continue to place calls about him. He would be a cheap building block for a young starting rotation.

Ex-Phillies stinking up Texas
Beerleaguer senior correspondent Martin Smith calls attention to the Texas Rangers, where ex-Phillies right-hander Robinson Tejeda leads all starting pitchers with a 6.28 ERA. Then it’s Brandon McCarthy (6.38), Kameron Loe (6.37), ex-Phil Vicente Padilla (6.45) and ex-Phil Kevin Millwood (6.69). Tejeda pitched yesterday and allowed seven runs over 5 2-3 innings.

New Rowand trade rumor surfaces
From Chicago Sun-Times: The Sox were close to making a deal with the Phillies at the winter meetings and again in spring training that would've brought back South Side cult figure Aaron Rowand and sent bullpen help to the middle-relief-starved Phillies.

The snag in the spring was that Philadelphia reportedly wanted left-handed reliever Matt Thornton, rather than Boone Logan and a package of minor-leaguers. The Sox have a new card to play with, however, and could offer a disappointing Mike MacDougal along with a minor-leaguer for Rowand.

Ottawa HR ratio: It can’t be the cold weather
Home runs hit: 11
Home runs allowed: 49

Game chat: Bonds sits as Garcia goes for Phillies

Right-hander Freddy Garcia hopes to build on yesterday's complete game from Cole Hamels when the Phillies take on rookie Tim Lincecum and the Giants this afternoon at 1:35 p.m. at Citizens Bank Park. [Live Boxscore]

Phillies 5, Giants 2: If you didn’t watch last night, you missed what’s quietly going to be referred to as Cole Hamels’ best yet. It's certainly his most economic: a 97-pitch complete game masterpiece, showcasing another dimension of the budding star’s arsenal. After surrendering a home run in the first inning, the left-hander breezed through his next five frames, relying on his change-up and breaking ball almost the entire evening. The Giants would score on a sac fly in the seventh, but with his pitch count low, Hamels stayed on to finish the deal. The most impressive moment came against Barry Bonds with one on and one out in the ninth inning. Hamels fed Bonds a steady diet of off-speed stuff, which Bonds kept fouling away. Hamels refused to give in and fed the future home run king a fifth and final change-up, this one in the dirt, which Bonds chased for the strikeout.

We’ve seen a lot of great things from Hamels: a 15-strikeout game; he’s flirted with a no-hitter twice. This was his best. His stuff goes without saying, but this time he did it with guile and followed a plan. It was a truly special night.

Today's preview: Fans wishing Hamels could pitch again today will have to settle for Freddy Garcia (1-4, 4.59 ERA). Garcia’s been hard to watch. That would include his eight-inning, three run, nine-strikeout performance on Memorial Day. One reader who was at the game said it was more like Garcia endured than pitched well, never topping 90 mph, relying on slop more than anything. Physically, there’s no rhythm, too much upper body and no pop. But hey, at least he’s avoided total meltdowns. Four runs is the most he's allowed. Based on nothing in particular, I think Garcia builds on Monday’s game and goes seven strong.

The Giants counter with 22-year-old right-hander Tim Lincecum (2-0, 3.64 ERA), who made his major league debut against the Phillies on May 6, when he yielded five runs, five hits and five walks in 4 1-3 innings. Since then, he’s been solid, giving up just seven earned runs over 29 innings while striking out 28, holding hitters to a .168 average. With Bonds sitting out, Mark Sweeney starts in left field.

Gordon, Myers updates: Because of Hamels' complete game, the 13-0 thrashing Friday night and the losses to Arizona, the back-end of the bullpen has been taken out of play lately. Meanwhile, Brett Myers is to begin throwing any day, according to a weekend report. Tom Gordon is considered weeks away.

Minor stuff: Ottawa reliever Kane Davis (19.1 IP, 2.33 ERA) moves into the Lynx starting rotation today and makes his first professional start since 2000. Mike Drago of the Reading Eagle features Chris Coste in his Sunday column and also gives an update on the progress of third baseman Mike Costanzo. [Link]

Game chat: Phillies try to rebound from 13-0 licking

It's been 36 innings since the Phillies held the lead in a ballgame. They'll try to mount an attack against left-hander Noah Lowry in the second of four games with the Giants tonight at 7:05 p.m. ET.

Preview: The Phillies are sinking like stones against left-handed pitching. Team OPS against the lefties is .702 and some of the worst offenders are the right-handed hitters (Pat Burrell, Aaron Rowand, Carlos Ruiz, Wes Helms). Lately it seems they’re scoring most of their runs late or when the game is lost. They actually lead all of baseball in runs scored from the seventh-inning on with 96.

Yesterday, they suffered their worst loss of the season score-wise, and it was Adam Eaton’s shortest outing in a Phillies uniform. The big blow came off the bat of Fred Lewis, a grand slam just over the short porch in left-center, helping chase Eaton to the showers after two innings. It isn’t the kind of game the Phillies had in mind when they signed him to a lucrative deal this off-season. His ERA now sits at 6.28 and he couldn’t find the strike zone again. Under different circumstances, he’d be in danger of losing his job. No chance of that happening here.

On top of it, the Phils banged out two hits, one from Ruiz, one from Shane Victorino. Matt Morris pitched very well, but not that well. He caught an offense laboring through its worst patch of the season.

Noah Lowry (5-4, 3.08 ERA) has been very consistent and a big reason why is he’s allowed only two home runs. Hardball Times is showing 50 percent of his batted balls are ground balls. Fellow left-hander Cole Hamels (7-2, 3.74 ERA) has about 50 more strikeouts than Lowry; 86 trails only Jake Peavy’s 92. Unlike Lowry, Hamels has given up the long ball; he's tied with Eaton and Jamie Moyer with 10 of them, fourth most in the NL.

Lineups are set: Barry Bonds is in the lineup as he continues his chase of Hank Aaron. Phillies go with Jayson Werth in right field, batting second. In limited opportunities, Werth is one of the few Phillies that has hit left-handed pitching well (25 AB, 1.088 OPS, 2 HR). Rod Barajas starts behind the plate. Abraham Nunez, hitting .364 against left-handers, starts at third (shades of David Bell’s 2005 when he had that high batting average against left-handers). [Live Boxscore]

Phillies sign college closer
Northern Illinois pitcher Matt German is now a member of the Phillies, reports Beerleaguer spring correspondent Billy Mac. As a fifth-year senior, German was allowed to sign with the Phillies before next week’s draft. He is NIU’s career saves leader with 26. This year, the lefty was 5-2 with 13 saves and an ERA of 1.76. He will report to the Phillies' spring training complex in Clearwater, Fla. [Article]

Game chat: Traveling Bonds circus stops by town

Barry Bonds is just nine home runs away from tying Hank Aaron's all-time mark and will look to narrow the gap tonight against Adam Eaton and the Phillies. The show gets underway 7:05 p.m. ET.

Preview: The Phillies will get their second look at Matt Morris tonight in the first of four games. Morris is 5-2 with a 2.90 ERA and had a good May, although he was shelled for six runs over seven frames his last start. He earned a win over the Phils May 4 with seven innings of two-run ball. The Giants will be without Armando Benitez, who was finally jettisoned after months of trade speculation. Benitez was dealt to one of his former teams, Florida, for right-hander Randy Messenger ... The Phillies are coming off a dreadful three-game sweep at the hands of Arizona, failing to mount much of an attack the entire series. Adam Eaton (5-3, 5.73 ERA) tries to get his team going again. After starting the season flat, Eaton settled into a groove in May, holding hitters to a .241 average and posting a manageable 3.98 ERA ... Tonight's feature, Barry Bonds, is stuck at 746 career home runs and has just two homers in his last 18 games. Lifetime against Eaton, he's hit seven of them in 25 at bats. ... Both teams enter the game one game below .500.

Reading notes: Phillies reacquire first baseman Ruiz

In a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Phillies received infielder Randy Ruiz for no compensation. They also singed right-hander Chris Rojas, who had been pitching in the independent leagues. Both players were previously with the organization.

Ruiz hits like crazy, but has been suspended numerous times for violating baseball’s substance abuse policy. In 2005 with Reading, the 29-year-old New Yorker was on pace to win the Eastern League triple crown until his suspension. He was hitting .349 with 27 homers and 89 RBIs in only 344 at bats. The Phillies didn’t keep him, and neither did the Yankees, Royals or Pirates, the teams that had him in the time since. With Double-A Altoona, Ruiz was hitting .290 with 7 homers and 30 RBIs (.850 OPS).

Chris Rojas was also in Reading during the summer of 2005. In nine minor league seasons, the 30-year-old right-hander is 48-47 with a 4.38 ERA.

Beerleaguer: These latest moves expose the team's state of minor league disarray. They’ll take anything just to adequately fill out a roster, no matter how old, damaged or hopeless. From Clearwater through Ottawa, the rosters are absolutely jammed with independent retreads and has-beens. They're signing them almost daily now. It’s an embarrassment.