Beerleaguer - Phillies Blog, Baseball News, Trade Rumors & Spirits

Game chat: Phillies face Big Unit; Utley sits

Fourty-four-year-old left-hander Randy Johnson (5-7, 5.18) faces right-hander Adam Eaton (3-7, 5.20) in the second of three from Citizens Bank Park. Eric Bruntlett starts in place of Chase Utley at second.

Preview: One of the surprises of the Phillies' season is that Eaton has taken every turn from opening day to the All-Star break. He ran off a nice, consistent stretch of starts, but lately he’s become a little unglued, including his last start, a 2 2-3 inning, 6-earned-run implosion to the Mets. It’s worth keeping a close watch on his situation as he looks to rebound against the offense-challenged D-Backs.

Although he isn’t what he used to be, the Phillies will have their work cut out for them against Randy Johnson, owner of a 10-3 record and 2.61 lifetime ERA against them. The Big Unit is seeking career win No. 290 tonight in his continued quest for 300.

Saturday open thread: Phillies outlast Diamondbacks

Game summary: The Phils were able to get just enough key hits, including Shane Victorino’s game-tying, two-run triple in the 8th, and Jayson Werth’s game-winning RBI single in the 12th, in last night’s 6-5 win over Arizona. Ryan Howard hit his Major League-leading 28th home run. The Phils used seven pitchers to seal the deal. The Phils and D-Back are at it again this afternoon at 3:55. Elsewhere, the Mets knocked off the Rockies 2-1 for their seventh-straight win, and the Marlins topped the Dodgers 3-1.

Minor notes: Interesting news out of Clearwater, where pitcher Joe Savery was used as the designated hitter. The 2007 first-round pick finished 1-for-3 with a bunt and a double. Savery is 3-8 with a 4.28 ERA this season. Tonight, Brett Myers will start for Double-A Reading, where last night, Carlos Carrasco pitched two scoreless innings in an abbreviated start. He’ll pitch in Sunday’s All-Star Futures game at Yankees Stadium.

Game chat: Phils duel with D-Backs tonight

Left-hander Doug Davis (3-4, 3.74) matches up with Kyle Kendrick (8-3, 4.58) tonight in the first of three at Citizens Bank Park. First pitch is 7:05.

Preview: Arizona, clinging to a one-game lead in the NL West with a 46-46 record, had been freefalling, but have won three of their last four games after going 4-11 in their previous 15. They blew two leads yesterday before finishing off the Nationals 7-5 in 11 innings. Their offense is in rough shape. They will be without outfielder Justin Upton this weekend; he’s sidelined with a left oblique strain. They’re also without catcher Chris Snyder and outfielder Eric Byrnes; both went on the DL July 1.

Series probables: Randy Johnson and Adam Eaton are slated to go tomorrow at 3:55, Brandon Webb and Cole Hamels are scheduled for Sunday at 1:35.

Beer nuts: Burrell finishes third in All-Star voting

Brewers outfielder Corey Hart and Mets third baseman David Wright finished ahead of Phillies left fielder Pat Burrell in the final fan voting. Wright was invited to the team to replace Alfonso Soriano.

Hart is hitting 292/.332/.510 with 14 home runs and 56 RBIs, while Wright is hitting .285/386/.511 with 17 homers and 70 RBIs. Burrell is hitting .279/.412/.581 with 22 homers and 54 RBIs, and is also leading all NL outfielders with a .933 OPS.

Beerleaguer: Fans will vote as they please, and I suppose the Milwaukee faithful were feeling especially giddy about their team following the acquisition of CC Sabathia. On the flipside, the Phillies’ recent struggles probably kept Burrell supporters away. Everyone knew Wright would get plenty of support in New York. If the voting wasn’t a popularity contest, designed to drum up page traffic and collect e-mail information for MLB promotional purposes, Burrell wins by a nose.

The rule about having at least one player from each team never bothered me. I understand the reasoning, I like the variety and actually get a kick out of seeing that one, solitary member from teams like Kansas City (Joakim Soria) standing by his lonesome when lineups are announced. The problem is that many times, they select a closer from these teams. My all-time favorite is the Pirates' Mike Williams back in 2002. Everyone knew Williams was smoke and mirrors, except for Ed Wade, who traded for him a month later. And of course, Ricky Botallico represented the same idea with the Phils back in 1996.

So with Wright aboard as the No. 2 vote-getter, I’m especially bothered by the inclusion of other players, like some of the other outfielders, but also Billy Wagner, who’s there because the Mets needed a rep. He’s having a good, but not great, season. Metsblog graded him as a “B” so far, which basically means he’s done his job. What’s the difference between what Wagner has done for his team and, say, Kyle Kendrick? I’d give Kendrick a “B,” too.

Whenever possible, the All-Star team should be a place to reward players who are having grade-A, special seasons, which is what Burrell is having. The NL roster is padded with far to many players who would earn 'Bs' on their report cards.

Today’s stat: 3.95. That’s Jamie Moyer’s ERA. Not too shabby. No. 2 material, maybe? Based on no particular stat, Moyer is a top 20 NL starter. At his best, that’s what Brett Myers was.

Good links: Because of the 1 o’clock game, Philadelphia’s finest used the early deadlines to pen some excellent team features the morning after the Phillies defeated the Cardinals 4-1.

I invite everyone to bookmark a couple informative pieces for future reference. Matt Gelb, Staff Writer at the Inquirer, offered a nice feature on top prospect Carlos Carrasco, with the premise being “He doesn’t even know how good he’s going to be.” Reading pitching coach Tom Filer and catcher Lou Marson are interviewed. Speaking of Marson, Todd Zolecki explains why Carlos Ruiz’s job is secure, and where Marson and Jason Jaramillo are in their development.

Friday: Toronto scouts set up shop in Reading

According to the Toronto Globe and Mail, officials from the Blue Jays are trying to weigh their options on a possible trade that would send right-hander A.J. Burnett to Philadelphia.

According to the report, the Jays "covet" outfielder Greg Golson, who has been out with a wrist injury, but took batting practice Tuesday and will participate in the All-Star Futures Game Sunday at Yankees Stadium. The Jays also like top prospect Carlos Carrasco and infielders Jason Donald and Brad Harman, according to the report.

Beerleaguer: There's meaty stuff here: “Phillies officials met Thursday morning, but there is still real concern about Burnett among their upper echelon after his near-meltdown Wednesday night against the Baltimore Orioles and because of his high ERA." the story says. "And then there's the unspoken but real concern: How would Burnett handle the scrutiny of the Philadelphia press and, most importantly, it's rabid fan-base? Still, the Phillies are a logical suitor. First, both organizations are familiar with each other's minor league systems since the proximity of spring training and minor league facilities makes it easy to schedule games in the spring. Second, the Phillies believe that their proximity to Burnett's off-season home in the suburbs of Baltimore makes it more likely that Burnett might not opt out of the final two years of his contract, in effect making him more than a rental player."

Burnett has two more years on his contract after this season, worth $12 million per year. On the year, he's 9-8 with a 5.23 ERA and was bombed several times this past month.

It's a salary dump situation for Toronto, there are red flags everywhere and the opt out clause makes it very difficult to guess how much the Phils would actually need to give up. It might not be that much. My hunch is the Phils are trying to pull off a deal without involving guys like Carrasco and catcher Lou Marson. And the timing of these injuries couldn't be worse. Carrasco is nursing a sore shoulder, but is expected to be okay. Golson is hurt, but expected to be okay. Plus, Reading lefty Antonio Bastardo, another potential chip, has a slight labrum tear.

Game chat: Phillies, Cardinals play series finale

The Phillies go in search of a series win this afternoon at 1:05. Braden Looper (9-6, 4.14) and Jamie Moyer (7-6, 4.12) have the ball. Lineups have been posted. Geoff Jenkins gets the start in right field. Chris Coste does the catching.

Breaking news: Happ optioned, Cervenak promoted

Mike Cervenak, a 31-year-old minor league journeyman who bats from the right side, has appeared at first base, third base and right field this season. In 90 games with Lehigh Valley, he hit .310 with 7 HR and 52 RBI.

To make room for him on the 25-man roster, J.A. Happ was optioned to Lehigh Valley (AAA). In 10 minor league seasons, Cervenak is a .296/.347/.471 hitter with 145 home runs. A graduate of the independent Frontier League, he’s been used mostly as a corner infielder and designated hitter over his long minor league career. The Phillies are his fourth organization. He has never appeared in a Major League game.

Beerleaguer: It's a temporary measure. Happ wouldn't be needed again until after the All-Star break, and during that time, they could also decide on Brett Myers. In the meantime, Happ can get his work in Allentown.

Cervenak will be a spare right-handed bat. He's been one of Lehigh Valley’s best hitters, but it's not saying much. He's been off Beerleaguer's radar since the announcement of non-roster invitees back in December. He played for triple-A Norfolk in 2007 and led the International League in hits (157), games (140) and at-bats (554). That season, he hit .283 with 15 home runs and 78 RBIs. He's spent time in the Yankees (2000-02), Giants (2003-06) and Orioles (2007) organizations.

With Cervenak, Coste and R.J. Swindle, the Phillies have certainly done their part in making the independent leagues a viable source for Major League talent. Color me completely unimpressed with the at-the-ready position talent sitting in Triple-A. Cervenak is total roster filler, but is hitting well lately. I suppose he earned their vote as the player most likely to put his bat on the baseball in a pinch-hit situation.

Beerleaguer for brunch: Howard does his thing

Ryan Howard tied teammate Chase Utley for the league lead in home runs (25) an inning after the Cardinals tied the game off J.A. Happ and Chad Durbin. The Phillies held on to win 4-2 and host the series finale this afternoon.

The Phillies' cleanup hitter is nothing if he’s not unique. His 80 RBIs sets a new club record for RBIs before the All-Star break. At the same time, he’s set to annihilate his own Major League record for most strikeouts in a season. Here’s what we know about Howard, in this his fourth season as a regular contributor. He can’t field and he’ll start slowly. During this time, other players will need to carry the offense, and Beerleaguer will entertain a flood of posts on why he should be traded. He’ll become more productive as the season wears on. Eventually, he’ll get the point where he can carry them, like last night, for example. For the sake of comparison, measure him only against himself. He's a different animal.

Moving on, Happ had an encouraging start; I’d go so far as to call it a very good outing. Charlie Manuel kept him in too long. His command wasn’t great (105/60 K/B), but we see that he can retire batters via the strikeout, and lefties have notched just one hit against him in two starts. He's poised. He’s not afraid to pitch inside to right-handed batters, but his approach to righties, in general, still needs work.

The ninth inning was more stressful than it should have been for Brad Lidge, but this was a game the Phillies really needed, so the pressure was on. And how about Clay Condrey striking out the side in a high-leverage eighth inning? His pitches were actually quite nasty.

Game chat: Phillies try to wake up bats tonight

Following last night’s shutout, the Phils look to kick the offense in the pants against Cardinals left-hander Mark Mulder (0-0, 13.50). The Phillies counter with J.A. Happ (0-0, 3.86). First pitch is 7:05.

Preview: The Phils need to start hitting, and they need to start winning at home, where they’ve lost nine out of 10 and are hitting just .196, according to the AP. The two guys who absolutely must get going, consistently, are Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley. J-Roll is 4-for-22 on this homestand, and as he goes, so goes the offense. The Phils are 20-7 (.741) in games he’s scored a run; that’s even higher than last season’s rate (.663). Four hits is all Utley has to show for this homestand, too. The all-star second baseman is hitting just .224/.287/.424 since June 13, the game they scored 20 runs against the Cards. In addition, Carlos Ruiz has one hit over his last 25 at bats. Chris Coste is 0-for-13 during the homestand. Just to name a few.

On the mound, it’s J.A. Happ, who allowed two runs and three hits 4 2-3 innings in Friday night’s win over New York. Mark Mulder has been used twice out of Tony LaRussa’s bullpen and is making his first start of the season.

Wednesday: Phillies can only endure offensive slump

And if they can’t break out of this month-long funk, then this team, built around hitting, wasn’t meant to be.

You’re stuck with it. There’s no quick fix, no magic pill. They’re staked to these hitters. They’re committed to them. By design, they’ve tied up most of their resources into scoring runs, to build a lineup that would speak for itself, one that would allow the focus and fuss to center on pitching. And here we are. It’s tough to even read these deadline columns on how they need to acquire a marquee starter and pretend like the offense hasn't killed them since mid-June.

There’s almost no room for change. There’s nothing on the farm that would represent a definitive upgrade. Maybe, just maybe, they could squeeze more production out of a minor league replacement for Carlos Ruiz, who’s pressing so hard, his head will soon explode. Ruiz is basically splitting time, so he’s at a position that shouldn’t be the epicenter of production. The front office has indicated that the guys on the farm aren't ready. Plus, catching is about catching, and these pitchers - who've pitched well - may not welcome a change.

I argued this point all day yesterday. It’s almost impossible to justify it today. Last night, their best scoring chance happed with the bases loaded with one out in the second inning, which ended in Ruiz grounding into a rally-murdering double play. It was the first of three double plays that contributed to their third shutout since June 26, this one at the hands of Joel Pineiro. Until a year ago, I thought Pineiro was a lefty for some reason, not a right-hander he really is. It goes to show just how much I’ve tracked his Hall of Fame career.

It's dreadful, but let's put it into numbers. From blogger Tom Goyne today: “On June 13th, the Phillies scored 20 runs in defeating the St. Louis Cardinals. Since then, over a span of three weeks encompassing games at home and on the road, against pitchers familiar and unfamiliar, the Phillies have batted just .227/.303/.381.”

I have to believe there's an end to the misery, but it’s easier said than done. They need to relax and refocus; players like Ruiz and Jimmy Rollins fall into this category. The top of their lineup needs to get on base. They need to start giving themselves up to move a runner. Make contact. Hitters need to adjust to balls out of the zone or pitches they can’t handle. They need patient at bats; they need intelligent at bats with men on base and a pitcher struggling.

One can’t help but wonder how the entire group has managed to fall into such a rut. What's the difference between this season and last? One theory starting to gain traction in our comments thread: They're missing the bat, and leadership, of Aaron Rowand. 

Game chat: Phillies play first of three with Cardinals

Right-hander Joel Pineiro (2-4, 4.52) meets left-hander Cole Hamels (9-5, 3.22) when the Cards and Phils clash at Citizens Bank Park.

Best of the Cardinals press notes: Pineiro makes only his third start against the Phils; the other two came while he was a member of the Seattle Mariners. He’s winless in his last nine starts. Offensive leaders include Albert Pujols, of course, and surprising outfielder Ryan Ludwick; both will be in the Bronx as members of the National League All-Star team. Ludwick leads the team in RBIs (58) and is 9th in baseball with a .577 slugging percentage. His 17 homers are a career high. Defensively, the Cards are tied with San Diego for tops in the NL with a .987 team fielding percentage.

Minors: Myers to start Saturday night in Reading

Making his second start for the Triple-A IronPigs, Brett Myers lasted 7 1-3 innings, allowing seven hits, two earned runs while striking out six. He’ll pitch for Double-A Reading later this week.

Myers threw 114 pitches, 72 for strikes, in a better effort than his previous outing. “They said I hit 94 [mph] a couple of times; I'll go with that,'' Myers told the Morning Call. ''It felt a heck of a lot better than the last time.'' The report noted that Myers used his fastball about 70 percent of the time. Myers and the Pigs overcame Homer Bailey and the Louisville Bats 4-3.

Myers will be facing Akron this weekend, a team that will include outfielder Matt LaPorta, the top prospect who was dealt to Cleveland as part of the CC Sabathia deal to Milwaukee. Akron is one of the best teams in minor league baseball this season (56-33,.629), so it should be a good test for Myers. The IronPigs will visit Pawtucket, so I supposed his progress will be easier to monitor. I also can't imagine Myers would be hip to the Triple-A road trip.

Taylor struggling: Outfielder Michael Taylor is 9-for-50 since his promotion to Class-A Clearwater. He had been leading the Sally League in several offensive categories earlier this season with Low-A Lakewood.

Phils ink Penn State catcher: The Phillies have signed catcher Joe Blackburn, a graduate of nearby Wilson High School, according to the Reading Eagle. With Penn State this season, the 6-4, 215 pound catcher finished with a .429 on-base percentage and a .497 slugging percentage while stealing 10 bags. He went undrafted and had been playing in the independent Frontier League.

Slayden extends hitting streak to 13 games: Reading outfielder Jeremy Slayden continues to be one of the hottest hitters in the Phillies’ chain, adding to his hitting streak with a 1-for-3 game yesterday. On the season, the soon-to-be 26-year-old, who bats from the left side, is hitting .300/.383/.498 and is producing equally against right-handed and left-handed pitching. As a prospect, his advanced age, defensive limitations and speed are working against him.

Tuesday: Comeback not enough to overcome Mets

It was a dramatic finish, but another wholesale defeat, leading to the Phillies’ seventh series loss in their last eight attempts. Their slow slide from the top of the division continues.

Game summary: The Mets tallied 10 hits and eight runs — six earned — in 2 2-3 innings off Adam Eaton, who was back to throwing balls with no movement. It took every last ounce of offense to make up the deficit he created. With Brett Myers gone, we can resume fretting over Eaton, who has surrendered a ton of hits and walks in three of his last four starts.

Offensively, I’ve never been less impressed with an eight-run comeback. Sorry to spoil what little cheer you have this morning, campers. They let Pedro Martinez off the hook a couple times, particularly in the fourth. The offense keeps peppering in just enough poor at bats to spoil their momentum against halfway decent pitching, which is all Pedro was last night. Take note: the meaty part of this comeback happened during garbage time against Tony Armas, who is not a good pitcher. It also seemed like the team got a lift from R.J. Swindle, who finished the 7th and 8th by striking out David Wright and Carlos Delgado, respectively. And I don’t know what to make of the major malfunction with Aaron Heilman and Billy Wagner against the Phils. As one reader suggested, they should keep them in New York the next time they visit Philadelphia.

But at least we got to see Swindle. If first impressions are correct, then it’s safe to assume you never want Swindle to face a right-handed hitter in a critical spot. In his first Major League at bat, David Wright launched his Eephus pitch deep into the seats. He then allowed a pair of singles, a walk, and an RBI single by Pedro. With the butterflies fading, he stayed on for two more innings and retired the sides in order. When the dust settled, he retired every left-hander he faced, earned a post-game endorsement from the skipper. Swindle will have more opportunities to prove himself in a situational role.

Seanez slowed: Rudy Seanez was scratched from the game with back spasms. The 39-year-old reliever has appeared in just two games since June 18.

Game chat: Phillies seek split against Pedro, Mets

Adam Eaton (3-6, 4.79) is 5-0 in nine career starts against New York. The right-hander matches up with Pedro Martinez (2-2, 7.39) as the Phillies and Mets wrap up their four-game set tonight at 7:05.

Take away two series sweeps in Atlanta, and the Phillies are left with a solid month of Kansas City-brand baseball. They won't get the series win tonight and are in danger of dropping their seventh series in eight tries. The good news is that the rest of the division has scuffled and they haven’t lost much ground. The Phils still hold a 2.5 game edge over Florida and are 3.5 up on the Mets. As one reader pointed out, over their last 10 games, the Phils, Fish and Mets are a ho-hum 5-5. The Mets will try to take three-out-of-four from the Phils tonight with Pedro, who has struggled lately. In his last three starts, he's 0-2 with a 10.20 ERA.

Phils lose; C.C. the Brewer; Cole snubbed; vote Pat

There's plenty to discuss on a busy Monday morning. Here’s a synopsis.

Game summary: The Phillies lost to the Mets 4-2 in 12 innings in a game that included a 2 hour and 50 minute rain delay. The Phils needed a miracle two-out, two-run Jayson Werth home run off Billy Wagner in the bottom of the ninth to get it that far, but in the end, it all boiled down to two things. First, Oliver Perez was very good. Second, the Phils had too many poor at bats and couldn’t deliver with men on base; they left 29 men stranded. Give Perez credit for once. From what I saw, he was exceptional.

Sabathia: The Brewers are reportedly finalizing a deal to acquire Indians ace C.C. Sabathia for a package of prospects including Matt LaPorta, a power hitting Double-A left fielder. Sabathia is 6-8 with a 3.83 ERA for the Tribe. LaPorta is hitting .288 with 20 homers and 66 RBIs for Huntsville. The deal is also said to include one or two Milwaukee pitching prospects, believed to be Rob Bryson and Zach Jackson. The Phils were reportedly among the clubs in hottest pursuit of Sabathia and will now turn their attention to Seattle’s Eric Bedard and Toronto’s A.J. Burnett.

Hamels out: Phillies ace Cole Hamels will not join teammates Chase Utley and Brad Lidge when they visit the Bronx for the mid-summer classic. Among the suspect inclusions to Clint Hurdle’s club are Brian Wilson and, yeah, Billy Wagner and his six blown saves. It's a sigh of relief for the Phils, however. Hamels is scheduled to pitch right after the All-Star game.

Burrell needs help: Phillies outfielder Pat Burrell is a final vote candidate for the National League All-Star Team. He’s getting my vote for sure, but the field is stacked with popular stars, including David Wright, Carlos Lee, Aaron Rowand and Corey Hart. [Vote here] 

Phillies place Gordon on DL; Swindle recalled

Right-handed reliever Tom Gordon has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow inflammation, according to the team Web site.

Beerleaguer: Gordon has appeared in four games since missing 11 days with a sore right shoulder. He pitched yesterday, allowing a run in 2-3 of an inning. This isn't a surprise, although his elbow hasn't been the issue so much as the "balky" shoulder. He's pitching through a partially torn labrum and missed significant time with that ailment last season. Frankly, expect spotty contribution the rest of the way from the 40-year-old. Manager Charlie Manuel has been slowly weaning Ryan Madson back into the later innings lately. R.J. Swindle will give them a second lefty option behind J.C. Romero, who will be asked to share the eighth-inning load even more. Swindle has yet to appear in a game, but we'll definitely get to see his low-50s junk now.

It's worth pointing out that Brett Myers, as expected, remains in Triple-A. The troubled right-hander finally has something worth smiling about, however: a possible "in" back into the big leagues. If more dominos start to fall in the Phils bullpen, they won't keep him in Triple-A.

Brad Lidge signs three-year extension with Phillies

The $37.5M deal also includes a signing bonus, an awards package, escalators and a club option for 2012, with a buyout.

From a Phillies release: Lidge, 31, is 2-0 with 19 saves and a 0.77 ERA in 35 appearances for the Phillies this season. He has 47 strikeouts in 35.0 innings (12.44 SO/9.0 IP) and has set a club record by converting his first 19 save opportunities of the season. Lidge did not allow an earned run through his first 17 appearances of the season (17.0 IP), which was the second-longest by a Phillie to start his career with the team.

Among National League relievers, Lidge enters play today leading the league in ERA (0.77) and save percentage, has the third-lowest opponents' batting average (.167), ranks fourth in strikeouts per 9.0 innings, tied for fourth in saves, eighth in games finished (31) and tied for eighth in strikeouts. Over the past five seasons (2004-08), Lidge leads all Major League relief pitchers in strikeouts (499).

Beerleaguer: In getting it done now, the Phils avoid the mad scramble they would have faced this fall. That's chest-bump worthy. There's nothing worse than a bidding war for second-rate relievers when the guy you really want jumps ship. History will not have a chance to repeat itself. Among contending clubs, the Phils would have been the most desperate for closer help if Lidge flew the coop. They have no other fallback. He basically forced their hand; he’s been so damn good. They realized that a serious contender needs an elite closer. This was a priority. I'm not surprised they had been working on this.

It’s a great length for the Phils, and it's a lucrative, incentive-laden reward for Lidge, who’s been fantastic. Conventional wisdom, in regards to the Phils, takes another hit today. Pitchers aren’t supposed to want to be here. Not today. The Phillies aren’t willing to keep up with the rising market value of relief pitching. Not today. This is a nice job by the Phils locking down a core player while the window appears open. It's evidence that they're trying to win now.

But as fans, we’re no dummies. Team salary has been locked into that $95-$105M range. With Howard’s arbitration win, rising salaries across the roster, and Cole Hamels arbitration looming, they’re sure to jettison salary soon. Brett Myers, who earns $12 million next season and is pitching in Triple-A, would be first up. Pat Burrell, a free agent after the season, faces an uncertain future.

It would be foolish not to consider the risks and look back two years from now and cringe at how stupid we sounded. He’s been hurt. He was demoted to the seventh and eighth inning in Houston. Relief pitching is mostly a crapshoot. Let it be known that his extension comes at a time when he’s pitching for a contract, and pitching the best ball of his life.

Sunday chat: Phillies seek revenge this afternoon

Kyle Kendrick (8-3, 4.58) toes the rubber when the Phils try to put yesterday's bullpen meltdown behind them against Oliver Perez (6-5, 4.98) and the Mets. First pitch is 1:35.

After holding the Mets scoreless through 4 1-3 frames in Friday's tight win, the Phils 'pen imploded for six earned runs in 2 1-3 innings in last night’s 9-4 loss. Main offenders: J.C. Romero and Tom Gordon, who combined to allow three runs in the eighth after the Phils had taken a one-run lead. Phillie-killer Brian Schneider delivered the critical go-ahead blow, a two-run pinch double off Gordon. Rudy Seanez would then allow three runs in the ninth.

With the win, the Mets climb back to 4.5 games behind Philadelphia in the National League East. The Phillies still lead Florida by 3.5 games.

Beerleaguer: It's difficult to pick on this usually excellent pen, but if one were to find fault, it would be their overall performance with inherited runners, the lack of a second left-hander, then the individual performance of certain players. Romero hasn’t been as sharp as last season and is starting to fall behind hitters with regularity. Gordon, who pitched only a handful of times in June, could be hitting that midseason wall. As for Seanez, he pitched even less than Gordon last month, only five times. His 18/16 K/BB represents a major drop from last season’s 73/27, and between Seanez and Gordon, Manuel appears to be shielding two veteran right-handers from overuse. Keep an eye on that. It’s been so-far, so-good with the starting rotation, but if they start getting some short starts from, say, Adam Eaton and J.A. Happ, they’ll start getting stretched thin. As the deadline approaches, additional bullpen help is a definite option.

Game chat: Phillies try to solve Mets' Maine

Right-hander John Maine (8-6, 3.86) is 4-0 with a 2.05 ERA in seven starts against the Phillies, and is 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA in two starts Citizens Bank Park. The Phils hope for better luck and try to make it five in a row when Jamie Moyer (7-6, 4.13) takes the mound tonight. First pitch is 7:05. The Phils hold a 3.5 game edge over Florida in the National League East and are 5.5 up on the Mets.

Phillies rally to win 3-2; Happ holds his own

Shane Victorino knocked in Pedro Feliz with a walk-off RBI single in the ninth, as the Phillies and their steadfast bullpen overcame a 2-0 deficit to outlast Johan Santana and the rival Mets at Citizens Bank Park.

With his pitch count still at 95, Mets skipper Jerry Manuel elected to remove Santana, who had been dominant except for a pair of Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell RBI singles in the sixth. With Duaner Sanchez on in relief, Pedro Feliz roped a two-out double, followed by a Victornio single to complete the dramatic victory, their fourth-straight win since completing interleague play.

Happ allowed two hits and four walks in 4 2-3, holding the Mets scoreless before running into trouble in the fifth. Before that, he retired 12 of 13 batters faced. “He has improved a lot since last year,” Manuel said afterward. “He had a better fastball. I think a little more seasoning and his command will get a lot better.”

But the night belonged to the Phillies’ bullpen. With the bases loaded in the fifth, Chad Durbin replaced Happ and struck out Carlos Beltran to retire the side. Durbin stayed on to pitch 2 1-3 perfect innings, striking out six of seven batters faced. Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge worked a scoreless eighth and ninth.

Beerleaguer: What a difference a bullpen makes. Turn back the clock to '06 or '07 and they don't win this game. It was a night for Happ to build on, and obviously a great way to kick off the homestand by getting the 'W' in a game started by Santana, who has a 2.48 ERA in his last six starts, during which the Mets are 0–6 and averaging about two runs a game.

Additional Links: David Murphy of the Daily News has a comprehensive piece on the latest trade winds and what the Phillies are doing to dig Carlos Ruiz from his slump. The Phils are reportedly taking a hard look at AJ Burnett, Eric Bedard and C.C. Sabathia. In reading a couple stories, reports on the availability of Shane Victorio are mixed. I read somewhere the team will not consider trading catching prospect Lou Marson, with the suggestion being they view Marson as the catcher of the future.

Game chat: Phils host Mets in first of four at CBP

Left-hander J.A. Happ (0-0, 0.00) gets the call when the Phillies clash with Johan Santana (7-7, 3.01) and the rival Mets. First pitch is 7:05. The Phillies (47-39) lead New York (42-43) by 4.5 games in the National League East standings. Santana has not won a game since June 1, but has been the recipient almost no run support. Happ makes his first start since his recall from Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he was 5-6 with a 3.54 ERA and 104 strikeouts, which led the International League.

Transaction: To make room for Happ on the 25-man, the Phillies optioned R.J. Swindle back to Lehigh Valley.

Friday: Phillies complete sweep of feeble Braves

Cole Hamels was terrific, and the bats showed signs of life, but on a scale of 1 to 10, the once-mighty Atlanta Braves earn a 2 for this series.

Phillies fans, let’s not get carried away with this. Forget the American League. Forget the National League. The Braves, who fell to 40-46, were Sally League this week. They were embarrassing. Their pitching was sub-par. Jair Jurrjens, who had allowed only five home runs all season, allowed three last night. As for the offense, Jeff Francouer should be in Triple-A Richmond. What happened to Francouer? It's hard to watch. The rust was all over Mark Kotsay. Mark Texeira had one hit. There were non-factors everywhere, and miscues galore. 

Still, we credit Hamels, who came within two strikes from pitching a complete-game shutout. He had pinpoint command of all his pitches; I liked the way he pitched his fastball way inside to right-handed hitters. Afterward, there was some debate as to whether Charlie Manuel kept him in too long, but I love these long starts in general. Hamels just bought his bullpen a day of rest headed into a four-game series with the Mets.

Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Pedro Feliz each cranked one; for Utley, it was his league-leading 24th. Howard added to his league-best RBI total; he now has 72 on the season.

Happ notes: Sorry for the late post. I was a guest of Brian Startare’s show last night at 1:30 in the morning and slept until 11:15, a post-college record. Here’s what I told Brian about Happ, based on my archive files:

-- 6-5, good athlete
-- Projects as a No. 3-4
-- Not an especially hard thrower. Fastball sits around 90.
-- Changeup had been his best pitch. Unsure if that’s still true.
-- Has a borderline Major League slider. Unsure if that’s still true.
-- Pitched 2007 with a tender shoulder and didn’t tell anyone. The Phils rehabbed it this winter.
-- The difference this season has been his vastly improved command.

Game chat: Phils seek sweep; Happ joins rotation

Cole Hamels (8-5, 3.38) has the ball when the Phils try to make it three-out-of-three against rookie Jair Jurrjens (8-3, 2.94 ERA) and the Atlanta Braves. Meanwhile, the Phils have finally announced that 25-year-old lefty J.A. Happ will start tomorrow night’s game against Johan Santana and the Mets, per the Inquirer.

With Triple-A Lehigh Valley, Happ went 5-6 with a 3.54 ERA and 104 strikeouts, which leads the International League. The former 2004 third-round pick from Northwestern has pitched well lately, allowing one run in 7 2-3 innings in Saturday’s game with Syracuse. Before that, he blanked Durham over six innings, striking out nine. Opponents are hitting .243 off him. Happ was called up last season for a start against the Mets. The decision ends days of speculation over the starting vacancy, which involved everyone from Chad Durbin to Carlos Carrasco to Brian Mazone. After Brett Myers was demoted, Happ, who is already on the 40-man roster and was in line to start Friday, was the obvious choice. No word on how they plan to make room for Happ on the active roster.

Meanwhile, the Phils try to finish off their nine-game road trip on a winning note, and it will not be easy. Jurrjens, the rookie right-hander who came over from Detroit in the Edgar Renteria trade, has been on a roll lately, going 4-0 with a 2.77 ERA in his last eight starts, including a three-hit, eight-inning shutout against Toronto. Manager Bobby Cox called it one of the best starts he’d ever seen. Maybe Jurrjens, not Santana, is the one to worry about.

Beerleaguer: Happ was the right choice. Myers demotion, Happ promotion is the best of both worlds. I'd like to see Happ get five starts minimum. With Myers out of the picture, it's time to take guys like Happ out for a spin.

J-Roll, Phillies 'in the flow' at Turner Field

In a carbon copy of Tuesday night and their previous series in Atlanta, the Phillies received good pitching and late insurance runs in a 7-3 win over the Braves. It marks their first series win since June 7.

Call it a marginally better performance than the night before, give or take a few miscues, give or take Atlanta’s so-so pitching staff. The Phils got a hit in every inning, and everyone from the starting lineup put one in play except Shane Victorino, who followed a good night offensively with an 0-for-5 dud.

Jimmy Rollins was “in the flow,” as Chris Wheeler said Mike Schmidt used to say. J-Roll tripled, walked, twice singled, stole a base and made two great defensive plays. Last year’s MVP becomes the latest player to respond in a positive way to Beerleaguer criticism. He must be reading, right? Nah, more than likely, he realized it was time to pick up his head in this winnable, division series.

J-Roll was named Chevrolet Player of the Game, but it could have easily gone to Chad Durbin, the bridge that held this game together. On in relief of Adam Eaton, who ran into trouble in the sixth, Durbin worked out of a bases-loaded jam with nobody out, forcing a Jeff Francoeur double play and striking out Mark Kotsay to retire the side (Kotsay is 0-for-ugly since his return from the DL). Durbin stayed on for the seventh and retired the side in order. Speaking of “in the flow,” that’s how Durbin has handled his all-purpose role in the ‘pen. Whatever they ask, he does. It can't be easy, knowing he could pitch anywhere at any time (but hopefully never in the rotation).

Last night was a good example of why Phillies aren’t paying Ryan Howard $10M to be Doug Mientkiewicz. The big man stayed back on Jorge Campillo’s hanging curve and took it deep for a three-run blast, making it 71 RBIs on the season. But in the ninth, he did his best to erase all memory of that, booting two plays and forcing a 28-pitch non-save for Brad Lidge. Lidge managed to escape unscathed by striking out Mark Teixeira to end it. The record won't show it, but it was one of his best outings of the season.

Myers’ LV line: Five innings, 100 pitches, 60 for strikes, three runs, five hits, two walks, six strikeouts, charged with the loss.

Game chat: Phillies aim for another win in Atlanta

The Phillies try to give Adam Eaton (2-6, 4.86) better run support than he’s been getting tonight when they face Jorge Campillo (3-2, 2.54) and the Braves. First pitch is 7:10.

Eaton has been better than his two wins suggest because his teammates haven't done him any favors. The Phillies have scored just three runs over Eaton’s last three starts and are averaging just 3.4 runs/game in his 16 starts overall. He’s settled in lately, thanks to better command. He’s allowed only 13 walks over his last eight outings, and it shows. Six of his last seven starts have qualified as quality starts. At Turner Field, Eaton is 2-1 with a 4.06 ERA in five starts, although he has struggled with Atlanta overall (3-3, 5.94).

As of this writing, the Phillies have not announced their plans for the starting rotation beyond tonight.

Midday: Phillies make themselves at home in Atlanta

Lost in the Brett Myers shuffle was the fact that the Phils had a good night at the ballpark, beating the Braves 8-3 in their return to league play.

Last night’s one-sided final is a little misleading; the Phils were good, not great, against a team that’s fair, not good. Kyle Kendrick earned his eighth win with six solid innings before getting pulled from a jam in the seventh. The offense scored four runs in the third off rattled rookie Charlie Morton, who did not resemble a Major League pitcher on this night. Shane Victorino homered and knocked in four, including a two-run, bases-loaded single in the ninth. Pat Burrell went deep for his 20th home run of the season. The Phils improved to 6-1 against the Braves (40-44), who are a notch below even the most mediocre American League clubs, like Texas, for example.

More Myers: A day after yesterday’s shocking news, we begin to digest the thought process behind Brett Myers’ demotion. The suggestion is that it will last three or four starts, designed to get his head on straight and tweak his delivery. I suppose that's assuming he will not get bombed there, which is exactly what happened to J.D. Durbin, and before that, Gavin Floyd. It’s about getting help for a pitcher who wasn't going to fix it on the fly. It's getting late and they couldn't afford to let it go on. They were taking repeated hits in the standings every time he touched the ball. There was no consistency between starts. That's why he's in Allentown.

His poor performance this season is not a surprise. Maybe to some, but not me. Before the season, I warned readers not to get their hearts set on Myers in the rotation. Little did I know that would mean a “Major League rotation.” He found his calling as a reliever. It suited him. The front office concurred, saying it was where they pictured Myers all along, even early in his development. Then after the season, after he really started to click as a closer, they changed their tune and decided he’d help them most in the rotation. They were wrong. Myers deserves blame, but so do the Phils in believing it would work.

Swindle only temporary? Never get too high, because that’s how it sounds. Manager Charlie Manuel told MLB.com late Tuesday that Swindle was brought up because the Phillies are without Clay Condrey, who won't likely rejoin the team until Thursday. Swindle could be returned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley once they make their decision on Myers’ replacement. Every report suggest that Chad Durbin will not assume the starting role. Triple-A left-hander J.A. Happ remains the most logical candidate. A decision is expected today. Nevertheless, it's better than nothing for Swindle, who earned a shot others like him will never get.

Phils purchase contract of junkball lefty R.J. Swindle

Beerleaguer is pleased to announce that a site favorite is headed to the Show. Lehigh Valley left-handed reliever R.J. Swindle will replace Brett Myers on the 25-man roster, according to his agent.

The soon-to-be 25 year old has split time between double and triple-A this season, compiling a 1.35 ERA with a tremendous 48/6 K/BB ratio in 40 combined innings. Opponents are batting just .197 off him and he has yet to surrender a home run. Swindle, who was originally selected by Boston in the 2004 draft, will likely serve as a lefty one-out guy (LOOGY) out of the Phillies’ bullpen. Left-handed batters are hitting just .129 off him this season. Swindle is known for his tumbling curveball that can cross home in the low 50s, with a fastball that barely clocks 80 and a slider that falls somewhere in between. He throws from the very left edge of the rubber and releases the ball at a low, 3/4 slot in back of left-handed hitters. His control is exceptional. In five minor league seasons, he's 22-11 with a 2.38 ERA and stellar 323/60 K/BB ratio.

Beerleaguer: I haven’t been this proud since Carlos Ruiz broke into the Bigs. Swindle’s agent reached out to Beerleaguer last season before he signed and I've made a point to track him ever since. Actually, his agent, Tracy Paul Hunt, emailed me the news earlier tonight and thanked the site for all of its support.

Like Chris Coste, here’s another longshot who's beaten the odds after a crazy journey that took him from the Boston system, to the Northern League, to Yankees spring training, to the Atlantic League, to Phillies A-Ball. The rocky road first started when the Sox released him due to a herniated disc. After that, no one could figure out what to do with him, despite success at every level of the minors. Now, the Phils finally give him a chance. I can’t wait to see this. Can he pull it off? He’s murdered left-handed hitters his entire career, but the Major Leagues has a funny way of weeding out oddities like these.

Credit the front office for an out-of-the-box day, with Brett Myers and now with this. If it works, they’ve found their left-handed accompaniment to J.C. Romero. Nevertheless, a big question still remains: Who takes Myers' turn in the rotation? Is help coming from the outside, and if so, who goes?

Links: Here's a great interview with Swindle done by the guys at The Good Phight less than a month ago.

Breaking news: Brett Myers demoted to IronPigs

The biggest acquisition of the Phillies' off-season has been tossed into the Lehigh Valley pigsty, as struggling right-hander Brett Myers has agreed to be optioned to Triple-A, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. [Link]

Myers will start Wednesday’s game against Scranton-Wilkes Barre, according to the report, while his replacement will be named tomorrow. In 17 starts, he's 3-9 with a 5.84 ERA, the second highest mark in the National League among pitchers with at least 83 innings. The most damning number: The Phillies were 1-11 in his last 12 starts.

Beerleaguer: In typical Phillies style, they march to the beat of their own drummer with a stunning move, one that nobody considered. Hell, it's a move that nobody even thought possible. But he deserves it. There's satisfaction in this, seeing a player with his abrasive swagger get knocked down a peg or two. It's almost unprecedented with a player of Myers' status: a veteran of seven seasons, a home-grown player, a first-round pick, someone they committed to last off-season, and the guy on the mound when the Phillies won the East. It's stunning, and it's bound to send shockwaves through a slumping Phillies' clubhouse. In essence, they're saying "There's no room for you here, or in our bullpen. You're going to be a starter, and you're going to do it the hard way." Above all, it's about helping a pitcher who wasn't going to fix it on the fly, but the ramifications are still huge. Take what value he had and throw it out the window. He's J.D. Durbin now, and he'll need to prove himself to earn passage back down the Blue Route.

Meanwhile, we wait in anticipation on Myers' replacement. Perhaps the secrecy points toward another curveball.

Game chat: We'll keep it right here for tonight's game between the Phils and Braves. Kyle Kendrick and Charlie Morton square off in Atlanta.

No official word yet on Myers' starting situation

However, the Phillies press notes, updated at noon today, still lists Brett Myers as Thursday’s starter against Atlanta.

Maybe all this hubub was a clever way to light a fire under his rear end. It looks like they’re sticking with Myers, which probably isn’t the worst option to be bandied about since Friday. That honor goes to the Chad Durbin/Ryan Madson combo, which was brushed aside by GM Pat Gillick in this morning’s report by Scott Lauber. In the same piece, Gillick referred to Triple-A southpaw J.A. Happ as “Decent. Acceptable,” citing an in-house scouting report from Rod Nichols. Among pitchers with a minimum 83 innings, Myers' 5.84 ERA ranks second last in the National League, while his 24 home runs allowed is tops in baseball.

Chipper could land on DL: The National League’s best hitter, Chipper Jones, missed his eighth straight start on Sunday. Now, manager Bobby Cox is hinting he could land on the disabled list, according to the team Web site. Chipper is nursing a right quadriceps pull and can’t run. Because he made himself available to pinch-hit last week, a trip to the DL would be retroactive to June 26.

So long without playing: Phillies outfielder So Taguchi hasn’t started a game since June 1 and has gotten only four at-bats since then.

Notes: Phillies agree to terms with first-round pick

Shortstop Anthony Hewitt will receive a signing bonus in the neighborhood of $1.4 million, according to the Philadelphia Daily News. The signing means all five of their first five picks are in the nest.

Hewitt, 19, was taken 24th overall and is expected to be moved to third base. According to the report, he will be in Philadelphia this weekend for interviews and will take batting practice with the big club.

Tracy honored: Lehigh Valley’s Andy Tracy was named batter of the week in the International League after going 13-for-25 (.520) scoring 10, homering twice, walking seven times and knocking in six. According to the Morning Call, the seven-game streak is part of a 42-game stretch in which the 34-year-old, who was hitting .226 on May 13, hit .396 with seven homers and 29 RBIs. The first baseman, who bats from the left side, is second in the league with a .411 on-base percentage.

Donald dinged up: Jason Donald missed his fourth straight game with a hamstring pull, but is expected back in Reading’s lineup tonight, according to the team Web site. Without Donald, and also Greg Golson, who's nursing a wrist injury, the team pulled off their biggest comeback in 10 years yesterday, coming from seven down and scoring 12 unanswered to beat New Britain 13-8.