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

Postgame: Nationals snap Phillies' five-game streak

Scott Olsen held the Phillies to one run over 5 2-3 innings as the Nationals salvaged the final game of the series with a 4-1 win.

Brett Myers (1-2, 4.83) took the loss with three earned runs over six innings, one of the runs coming on a bases-loaded walk in the third; all three of Myers' walks came in the third. On a positive note, he kept the ball in the park for the first time all season. The Nats got their other run off Jack Taschner. The Phillies scored their only run on a Shane Victorino homer in the first. Jimmy Rollins, who's batting over. 200 now, contributed a pair of well-struck liners, including one off cretin closer Julian Tavarez. The Nationals crawl back under their rocks with a 5-15 mark, while the Phils finish April at 11-9 (.550)

Game chat: Streaking Phillies eye second sweep

Scott Olsen (0-3, 7.29) and Brett Myers (1-1, 4.91) have the ball when the Nationals and Phillies conclude their series tonight at Citizens Bank Park.

Summary: Tonight's game header honors Brett Myers and the hitting heroes of the pitching staff. Phillies pitchers are hitting .200 this season, which is the second highest in the league, including a good start from Myers (.286), whose hot bat has carried over from the 2008 postseason. On the bump, however, Myers only earns a 'C'. He's lasted six innings or more in each of his starts, but has surrendered too many walks and way too many home runs. Charlie Manuel will be counting on Myers to go deep into the game because a couple of arms, including Chad Durbin, will be unavailable in the 'pen. Lineups have been posted: It's the standard set, with Chris Coste doing the catching. A win tonight would make it six in a row.

Season sees the return of clutch-hitting Utley

A year ago, Chase Utley wasn’t Chase Utley. He’s back, leading a vicious, deep and unforgiving Phillies attack.

We now know that a hidden hip injury hindered the All-Star second baseman for half the season, thus, any lingering doubt that Utley faded in big spots should be put to bed. Utley, who homered twice yesterday, is leading an opportunistic offense that isn’t leaving many ducks on the pond. “Clutchly,” or is it “Clutley,” or possibly “Utch,” is slugging .806 with runners on base and .737 with runners in scoring position. Others have joined the party. Seven-hole sleeper Pedro Feliz is a .500 hitter with RISP following yesterday’s three-run homer. People talk about Utley’s recovery but quickly forget Feliz’s healthy back. This is the best he’s looked as a Phillie. It continues right on down the line w/RISP: Shane Victorino (.357); Raul Ibanez (.318); Jayson Werth (.316).

Park factors: I haven't been able to find these for 2009. If you find them, I'd love to know how Citizens Bank Park ranks. Thx.

Minor notes: At Triple-A, the combination of Gary Majewski, Mike Koplove and Tyler Walker have pitched 31.2 innings and have given up 2 earned runs for an impressive ERA of 0.57. Their 18 hits, 11 walks and 26 strikeouts add up to a 0.91 WHIP. Walker has been the most impressive thus far, commanding three pitches and making opponents look fairly ridiculous. Both Koplove and Majewski have also performed well, although Koplove has had some control issues, issuing 7 walks in 11.2 innings. All three should be considered viable candidates for the Phils in case of emergency. (Report courtesy of Gregg Shore)

At Double-A, Reading Phillies beat writer Mike Drago recalls “The Four Aces,” Dave Coggin, Randy Knoll, Rob Burger and Jason Kershner, and warns against false hope that can be built before pitchers reach Double-A. Drago calls 21-year-old Michael Stutes and 22-year-old Vance Worley “intriguing,” noting that no pitcher has jumped directly from the Sally League to Reading since Brett Myers and Mark Outlaw in 2001. Read his piece here.

Streaking Phillies overcome snake-bitten Hamels

Cole Hamels suffered his second freak injury in as many starts by rolling his left ankle. Team doctors declared the X-Rays negative, and Hamels says he doesn't expect to miss his next start. The Phils won 7-1.

PHILADELPHIA -- Early homers by Chase Utley, who went deep twice, and Pedro Feliz provided an early cushion for Hamels to go to work on Washington. Looking like the Hamels of old, his quest for his first win was cut short midway through the fifth when the lanky lefty rolled his left ankle fielding a bunt. Hamels, who pitched 43 1-3 innings last April alone, finishes an injury-riddled April having pitched a mere 17 1-3, tacking on 4 1-3 shutout innings in an otherwise comfortable night for the Phils, winners of five straight. As for Hamels, he's just happy the Phillies won, and doesn't consider the injury to be serious.

"It's not severe; I'm not planning on missing a start," he said, pointing out that he has six days until his next scheduled turn. With an off day Thursday, he expects to be sore tomorrow and will take a wait-and-see approach to Friday's scheduled bullpen session.

While Utley and Raul Ibanez, who continued his torrid April by adding his seventh home run of the season, kept the Nationals at a comfortable distance offensively, reliever Chad Durbin, asked to replace Hamels on a moment's notice, spared a depleted 'pen with 3 2-3 innings of relief, allowing a second-deck shot by Adam Dunn and little more. Everyday Clay Condrey worked the ninth for his 12th appearance of the season.

With the win, the Phillies clinched their second-consecutive winning April and kept pace with the Marlins, who still hold a half-game lead in the East.

Game chat: Pair of lefties engage in second game

John Lannan (0-2, 4.43) and Cole Hamels (0-2, 9.69) try to enter the win column when the Nationals and Phillies continue their series.

Summary: The Phils haven't seen many lefties this season, and Lannan's a pretty good one, but they've had a lot of success against him; six of their regulars, including Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Pedro Feliz, Chase Utley, Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth, are hitting .364 or higher against him in four career starts. For the hometown nine, Hamels, who tries to get it started after a liner off his shoulder derailed his last start, is on a roll against Washington dating back to 2007. The Phillies ace is 3-1 with a 0.43 ERA (.176 BAA) against Washington over his last six starts, the last one occuring in a 7 1-3 inning shutout over Lannan and the Nats Sept. 2. Hamels tries to stifle a Nationals offense that unloaded for five homers last night, including an Elijah Dukes bomb that cleared the batter's eye. It's another warm night at the Bank, so the ball could be flying again.

Lineups are posted: Standard set with Chris Coste doing the catching. [Jump to the newest comments]

Transaction wire tells the tale of Phillies' stability

It’s not uncommon for two dozen moves to cross baseball's daily transaction wire. Healthy and relatively secure, the Phillies haven’t taken part.

There was a time when promotions and demotions accounted for half of Beerleaguer’s daily content, but the golden days for fringe talent ended in 2007. The World Series winners kept the same starting rotation into July and the bullpen basically stayed the same from start to finish. Just ask Clay Condrey about this. Demotions, like the ones issued to Brett Myers and Adam Eaton, became big news, instead of the steady stream of small-time Anderson Garcia and Brian Sanches contract purchases we’d grown accustomed to. This April, the Phils have moved just two bodies of note: Carlos Ruiz to the DL and Lou Marson to replace him. Left-hander Mike Zagurski, who’s recovering from Tommy John, was also maneuvered into a minor league assignment.

I monitor the transaction wire daily and it’s a total mess. Despite a month of poor pitching, the Phillies don’t seem to be there yet. There are a couple of reasons the Phillies are less likely to tinker, talent being the biggest, health being the second biggest. There simply aren’t many holes. Second, they’ve bet right on a number of veteran reclamation projects. This makes them more likely to stay patient. Third, not enough prospects are knocking on the door, and the Phils value experience above all else.

Nevertheless, it’s worth noting the number of proven veterans hanging out in Triple-A. Relievers Mike Koplove, Gary Majewski and Tyler Walker have all pitched at a high level before.

Tuesday: Readers laud Phillies' unbeatable instincts

Yesterday’s postgame set a negative tone about the pitching. This morning, we start the day with a sunnier outlook.

“Good teams win when they play well, exceptional teams find a way to win when they don't. The Phils could easily be 5-13, but they aren't and that says worlds about a team that is batting .262 while its opponents are hitting .284.” - kuvasz

“This is essentially the same pitching staff that won the World Series last season. Give them a little bit of time to iron everything out. Hopefully, the Phillies' bats remain red hot while the pitchers find their way. A month from now, if the pitching hasn't improved significantly, I'll start to be concerned.” - DSD

“Jeez, now the wins aren't good enough because it's 'not a recipe for sustained excellence.' And after 18 games, we're assuming that the starting pitching- comprised of the same pitchers who won a World Series last year- is going to continue to be this inept throughout the entire season. You know what? I think we should give the rings back, too- they're too big and shiny.” - Iceman

“The Nationals have played 18 games, scored 85 runs, and hit 21 homeruns. 27 of those runs and 12 of those homeruns have come in their 3 games against the Phillies. That's really bad. Bullpen- our pen is already thin, and losing Lidge would really hurt. Guess we'd have to get lucky and hope Koplove or Majewski could step in and handle Condrey's role for a bit as he'd get bumped up the food chain.” – GM Carson

Beerleaguer: We rarely discuss intangibles, but reaching baseball’s apex must have something to do with this sixth sense for winning in the late frames. The defending champs have opponents exactly where they want them when trailing late. Tom Gordon once said relief pitching is 65 percent mental, but it’s true for all aspects of the final innings. In the Phillies' minds, no deficit is too great to overcome.

Phils make it a grand affair; Lidge nursing bum knee

Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez tied a club record with a pair of grand slams, with Ibanez's shot capping a six-run, go-ahead eighth, as the Phils out-slugged Washington in a 13-11 Citizens Bank Park special.

Meanwhile, injury and general pitching concerns put a damper the post-game celebration. Closer Brad Lidge is listed as day-to-day with inflammation in his right knee, according to Charlie Manuel's postgame press conference. An MRI revealed no structural damage, he said. Elsewhere, catcher Carlos Ruiz will be reevaluated in Philadelphia tomorrow after experiencing discomfort during batting practice.

As for the game, I hate to be a wet blanket, but the way they're slugging out comeback wins is not a formula for prolonged success. Joe Blanton reminded me of 2006 Jon Lieber, up in the zone, no movement. Washington jacked it up all night. Because of the nature of the games this season, it's anyone's guess how the relievers will be used. Relievers like it better when they know their roles. Throw in the unknown status of Lidge's knee and the bullpen, which is starting to show cracks from the ninth inning down, moves right to the top of the list of concerns.

With May right around the corner, it's not a bad time to ask whether the best pitchers are in place considering what they have at their disposal.

Update: Just watched Brad Lidge discuss his injury on Comcast and was not encouraged.

Game chat: Phils host Nats seeking fourth straight

Winless right-hander Joe Blanton (0-2, 7.31) tries to remove the "O" from the Nationals' attack in the first of three from Citizens Bank Park. Unbeaten Shairon Martis (2-0, 4.11) starts for Washington.

Summary: With Blanton on the mound and the right-hander Martis going for Washington, Charlie Manuel finally found an opportunity to give Greg Dobbs a start. The league's premier pinch hitter has been the forgotten man this season, stepping to the plate a mere 14 times. Dobber will bat seventh and give Pedro Feliz a break at third base. Manuel also mixes up the catchers today, giving Lou Marson the start. With Carlos Ruiz eyeing a Wednesday return, it could be the last start for Marson. After a brutal debut, Blanton rattled off quality starts in his next two. For Washington, Ryan Zimmerman enters the game riding a 15-game hitting streak.

Beer nuts: Phillies seeking consistency at home

Games at Citizens Bank Park have brought feast or famine for the Phillies, who return to Philadelphia for a six-game homestand.

Like we always say, .500 baseball is a reasonable April goal. Don’t look now, but the Phils are a win away from hitting the mark, and two of three would put the Phils in the black for good. Sweeping the Marlins atoned for the team’s early sins. The club’s offensive resiliency and defensive buoyancy were reinforced with a pair of comeback wins, while the pitching staff showed signs of stabilizing. Now they need to polish it up at home, where they’re 3-6 compared to 6-2 on the road. The bats have been particularly bipolar, held to one run or less four times. 

Home hitting: .248/.327/.430; road hitting: .277/.358/.463
Home pitching: 5.78 1.52 .290; road pitching: 5.58 1.48 .277

Notes: Beerleaguer favorite R.J. Swindle was optioned to Triple-A Nashville. I can't understand why; he looked so sharp in his game against the Phillies. Carlos Ruiz is expected to rejoin the Phils on Wednesday, after he makes two more rehab starts. Elsewhere, Oliver Perez and his 88 mph fastball may be headed for a minor league demotion. It sounds exactly like Brett Myers' situation last season. “I don’t think we’ve seen the Ollie of old yet,” Jerry Manuel told reporters after yesterday’s game, “I’m really, really concerned about him right now.” Tim Redding, who’s close to returning from his rehab assignment, could be an option to replace Bad Ollie.

Updated notes: Carlos Ruiz will rehab with the Reading Phillies Tuesday, according to the R-Phils. Joe Savery will start that game. ... J.C. Romero has filed suit against a nutritional supplement manufacturer alleging an unlisted ingredient in one of its products caused him to test positive for a banned substance, according to the AP.

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Three up, three down

Time for a quick Monday morning rundown of what's going right and what's going wrong for the 9-8 Philadelphia Phillies.

Lefty relief OK: amazing to think a team like San Diego has no lefties on their roster when the Phillies have three in their bullpen alone, plus, the Phillies are 33 games away from getting J.C. Romero back. One of the biggest concerns this spring was finding a way bridge the gap to Romero, and so far, Scott Eyre has done the job; in seven games, he hasn't allowed a hit or a walk. Jack Taschner and J.A. Happ haven't been used situationally because of all the garbage innings, but they've been up to task.

Fewer strikeouts: After 17 games a year ago, Ryan Howard was hitting .197/.342/.426 with 23 strikeouts and getting worse. After 17 games in 2009, he's at .290/.364/.522, with less homers, but fewer strikeouts (18). Howard is a big reason why the Phillies have been wrung up only 98 times, the fewest in baseball. Jayson Werth is another reason, striking out just nine times in 60 plate appearances against right-handed pitching.

Utley fine: Chase Utley's initial timetable would have had him back on the field at the end of May. For April, he's hitting .317/.434/.571 with five homers, a pair of steals and fine glovework. I'd mention MVP, but too many others have had better starts, including Albert Pujols, Ryan Braun, Adrien Gonzalez and Carlos Beltran.

Rollins benched again: Sitting out for a second-consecutive Sunday, there's growing concern over J-Roll's swing. Charlie Manuel says it's a matter of timing.

Catchers: The weakest area on the team finds Carlos Ruiz rehabbing in Triple-A and Chris Coste hitting .182/.270/.303 with nine strikeouts in 36 plate appearances. Coste's dumb decision to throw to second instead of take the sure out on a bunt yesterday could have been costly. Lou Marson looks promising, but is likely headed to Triple-A for more seasoning.

Short starts: This weekend saw some improvements, but the starting staff needs to go deeper consistently and start preserving the bullpen. Fewer longballs would help.

Series wrap: Phillies complete sweep with 13-2 rout

It took a trip to Florida for the Phillies feel at home again.

It wasn't a nail-biting comeback, but the first win of the season in which they led from start to finish was every bit as satisfying. There was nothing dramatic about the manner in which the Phillies' offense dinked and dunked for their runs today. Florida's below-average defense was also exposed, including a very bad game by left-fielder Jeremy Hermida. It's always a treat to see the opposition beaten so badly that a position player is brought into the game to pitch; outfielder Cody Ross pitched a scoreless ninth.

If you can get past the 13 runs, the big story was Jamie Moyer improving to 12-1 lifetime against Florida and pulling to one win away from 250 for his career. Moyer pitched his kind of game and helped his own cause by reaching base three times, scoring once. Improved starting pitching underscored the winning this series. Brett Myers could have been better, but he battled Friday. Chan Ho Park kept them in the game last night, and as we know, that's all it takes with this offense.

After a miserable end to the Milwaukee series and a poor homestand overall, this little getaway to Florida appeared to be well-timed break from the distractions, and for the first time, it felt like 2008. Somewhere along the way, the Phillies became an excellent road team, too. Now they need to make these wins translate to Citizens Bank Park.

But I think we discovered something about the Marlins, too. Until they fix the severe problems in their bullpen and improve their fielding, they aren't ready to be kings of the hill in the NL East.

Sunday chat: Phillies take early lead in Florida

Jamie Moyer (2-1, 6.35), who is 11-1 with a 2.95 career ERA against the Marlins, toes the slab in Florida, where Ryan Howard and the Phillies put up a couple early runs on rookie Graham Taylor, making his Major League debut this afternoon. The Phils head to the bottom of the first up 2-0 in search of the three-game sweep. Enjoy the game, and go Phils. [Jump to the newest comments]

Saturday chat: You can't give these Phillies an inch

Oh, ye of little faith. After watching Josh Johnson dominate the Phils with his variety-pack fastball, I expressed little guilt over attending to other business after the fourth, and by "other business," I mean the installation of a new television set, which is an acceptable excuse for anything. All seven of the Phillies wins are of the comeback variety. Shane Victorino, no stranger to clutch hitting, became the hero in yesterday's victory. Resilient, opportunistic hitting is what Phillies baseball has become. Give them an inch and they'll take a yard. Consider how many memorable wins unfolded exactly like yesterday. It's to the point where you can smell when the big inning will break. Game chat: Chan Ho Park (0-0, 8.68) meets Chris Volstad (2-0, 2.76) tonight at 7:05. We'll keep it here. More business to attend today, of the beer and burger variety.

Game chat: Phillies pay visit to South Florida rivals

They play in front of 30,000 empty seats, but games in Florida are filled with juice. The Phillies get their first crack at the early division leaders tonight.

On one hand, you have national writers speculating that the Marlins may be for real 15 games into the season. On the other hand, they’re swept by the Pirates Wednesday, falling to 5-4 against every team not named the “Natinals” (hat tip to reader EFF). Once again, rhyme or reason is in short supply this April. One day, the Phillies’ offense appears well-oiled and ready, and in the next, they bang out a whole two runs off Braden Looper, Dave Bush and a bad Milwaukee pen to lose a three-game set at home.

Tonight, the Phillies get their first look at Josh Johnson (2-0, 2.91). Tim Kurkjian wondered if Johnson had ascended to the top of the pitching ranks in the latest ESPN Magazine, considering the slow starts by Cole Hamels, Tim Lincecum and others. It must have been written before his last outing, a six-run pasting at the hands of the Nationals.

For the Phillies, nothing says fun and excitement like watching Brett Myers (1-1, 5.03) pitch in front of the orange and teal backdrop of Dolphin Stadium, where he’s 1-4 with a 6.59 ERA in 12 games, including a busted-arm relief appearance.

I love baseball in Florida. Fan-freakin'-tastic.

Notes: Is there a worse run creator in the league with more than 50 plate appearances than Jimmy Rollins? Yes, J.J. Hardy, who was instrumental in the Brewers’ win over the Phillies on Wednesday. Way to go. Following up on Cole Hamels, Phillies.com scribe Todd Zolecki said he will be ready for his next start. Catcher Carlos Ruiz is set to begin a rehab assignment in Lehigh Valley.

Friday: Finger pointing can include frustrated manager

Charlie Manuel was the right guy to get them there. Is he the right man to keep them there?

The players talk about wiping the slate clean. The same applies to World Series-winning managers. It wouldn't feel like April if there weren't charges levied against Cholly, who called out his club again after yesterday's game, this time criticizing his hitters for being too defensive at the plate. This follows comments earlier in the week regarding complacency among certain players. Admittedly, the Phillies are in a unique situation, having won the title and forced to deal with a short offseason. Celebrity can take its toll, and it did. Cole Hamels, their most important starter, confessed that preparation was pushed aside, and there are undoubtedly more cases like his.

But at what point does the finger pointing include Manuel? Once again, the Phillies held a distraction-filled spring training and started the season unprepared. The only difference is that Manuel has been quick to admit this publicly, rather than the "We gonna hit" approach of past seasons.

Think back to just five seasons ago. The Phillies were seen as a talented club that lacked confidence and leadership. They played tight, constantly. But during Manuel's tenure, things changed. They became less tentative, and more aggressive. National writers, like Jayson Stark, praised the leadership that was naturally allowed to develop under an easy-going Manuel. But true leadership, from players and management alike, will be severely tested this season. Motivating players to perform better is easier when the goal hasn't been reached. Asking more contradicts six months of back patting. Who will be the first to step up, and shouldn't this task always default to the manager?

This is uncharted territory, and we're about to find out if Manuel is hardwired to handle it.

Hamels update: It's good news for the Phillies ace following yesterday's line drive off his shoulder. It's just a flesh wound, and he may not miss his next start, according to reports.

Postgame: Phillies nearly no-hit by Brewers’ Bush

It’s going to be a long flight to Florida.

Dave Bush and his league-average career 101 ERA+ took a no-hitter into the eighth before Matt Stairs homered in an abysmal 6-1 loss, which also saw starter Cole Hamels knocked out of the game after taking a line drive off his pitching shoulder. Early word on the Phillies ace is a shoulder contusion. Pitching reinforcements may be needed no matter what due to the carnage. The Phillies depart for Florida bruised in mind, body and spirit. After a pair of one-run games against mediocrities like Bush and Braden Looper, the Phillies, frankly, don't have a lot going for them, besides the title they're having a tough time hiding behind. Lucky to be 6-8, today’s loss should serve as a wake-up call for a team that needs to start taking 2009 seriously.

Game chat: Phillies' ace hoping for return to form

Admitting that he entered the season behind schedule due to distractions, Cole Hamels continues to play catch-up this afternoon in the Phillies’ rubber match with Milwaukee. First pitch is 1:05.

Summary: Hamels is due. Actually, the Phillies haven’t had a dominant start all season by anyone. Hamels has been roughed up to the tune of an 11.17 ERA in two starts so far, victimized by too many mistakes out over the plate. Reluctant to throw a lower-velocity fastball, hitters have also been sitting on his off-speed stuff. On the other side, local product Dave Bush (0-0, 5.40) starts for Milwaukee. The briefcase symbolizes today’s Business Person’s Special.

Hitters off to chilly start in minors:  Pitching is hot, but the top-rated bats are not. No. 1 rated prospect Dominic Brown is hitting .256/.360/.326 with 10 strikeouts in 50 plate appearances in Clearwater. Shortstop Jason Donald (No. 4) is hitting .246/.283/.351 with 14 strikeouts in 59 plate appearances in Lehigh Valley. Outfielder Michael Taylor (No. 6) is off to a poor start, hitting .229/.317/.257 with 15 strikeouts and only one extra-base hit in 40 plate appearances. Catcher Travis D’Arnaud (No. 7) is hitting .245/.283/.367 at Lakewood, while teammate Zach Collier (No. 8) is hitting .175/.283/.325.

[Jump to the newest comments]

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Phillies news and notes

Just a few items to take you up to today's Business Persons Special.

We start with David Murphy's notebook item on Brad Lidge. The Phillies closer thinks he's figured out why his fastball has been hanging up in the zone. Read about it here. Once there, you'll find a nice write-up on red-hot Jason Knapp and other pitching prospects. Nice, informative notebook by Murph today. Also of note, Carlos Ruiz will begin a rehab assignment shortly, according to several reports. Lastly, Monday's Phillies-Padres rainout has been rescheduled for July 23 at 7:05. The April 15 washout against the Nationals will be moved to May 16 at 1:05 in Washington. Cole Hamels and Dave Bush are scheduled this afternoon, which is shaping up to be a beauty. Game chat fires off around noon for those stuck inside.

Game chat: Late rally falls short, Phillies lose 3-1

Braden Looper out-pitched Joe Blanton by shutting out the Phillies for six innings as Milwaukee pulled even in the series.

The Phillies scored their only run in the ninth on a Jayson Werth home run and brought the tying run to the plate twice before Chris Coste struck out with runners on first and third to end it. Actually, Pedro Feliz came within a hair of ending it on a 5-4-3 double play, but Bill Hall underhanded his throw to second. The Phillies hit into some buzzard's luck, and Blanton pitched an effective six, but Looper and the Brewers were just a step ahead tonight. With confidence, this was the most forgettable game of the season. The two sides settle the series tomorrow afternoon at 1:05 in a Business Persons Special.

Game chat: Blanton on the bump vs. Brew Crew

Joe Blanton (0-1, 9.00) seeks his first win of the season tonight when the .500 Phillies face Braden Looper (1-0, 3.27) and the Brewers.

Notes: The Phillies' offense is heating up and enters the game 1st in the league in slugging percentage (.481). Raul Ibanez is riding an eight-game hitting streak, while Chase Utley has hit safely in five straight. Ryan Howard has had success against Looper (pictured right from the set of 'The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari'). Lifetime Howard is 4-for-5 with four homers and a pair of walks against the right-hander. Lineups are posted. Lou Marson gets another start behind the plate and will bat eighth.

Wednesday: Patient Pedro can be productive part

Phillies third baseman Pedro Feliz could contribute more than defense if he worked the count better.

Pedro Feliz Fever has hit my fantasy league. Someone claimed the Phillies third baseman from the free agent pile this morning after his 3-for-4, 3 RBI night. Actually for $2, compared to $10 for someone like Casey Blake, it’s not a bad gamble for an everyday player. Feliz has outshined every No. 7 hitter in baseball so far with the exception of Matt Kemp by hitting .359/.438/.513 in 46 plate appearances.

He’s also the owner of one of my favorite stats of the young season. He already has seven walks. He had a total of 33 all of last season and just 29 the year before in San Francisco. If there’s any hope for a 34-year-old like Feliz to break free from the sub-mediocrity in back of his baseball card (career OBP is an unwavering .292), better pitch selection could be it. He’s a much better hitter when he gets ahead in the count, and it’s maddening to watch him look first-pitch fastball all the time. I’m never totally certain how lineup construction works to alter what a hitter sees, but Raul Ibanez, batting sixth, represents a much tougher challenge than most pitchers face that far down the lineup. Feliz has an opportunity to sneak up on teams like he did last night, but the ball is in his court.

Self promotion: A couple of items to pass along. In honor of Harry Kalas, the Greater Reading Film Festival will screen “Richie Ashburn: A Baseball Life,” narrated by Kalas, at the R/C Reading Movies 11 & IMAX on April 26 at 7 p.m.  Tickets are $7. I’ve been invited to be a featured panelist for the post-screening discussion. Hope to see you there. Also, look for my column on Jimmy Rollins in today’s Philadelphia Metro.

Phillies add veteran David Newhan as LV player/coach

The 35-year-old utilityman played in 64 games with Houston last season, hitting .260/.297/.404. This is his second stop in the Phillies organization.

Newhan has spent parts of eight seasons with five clubs: San Diego, Philadelphia, Baltimore, the Mets and Houston, hitting a career .253/.312/.380 with 23 homers, playing numerous positions. Lately, the versatile veteran has floated between Triple-A and the majors, earning the call as the last man off the bench with Houston. He spent most of the season in Triple-A Round Rock, where he hit .308/.355/.535 with nine homers in 216 plate appearances. In fewer Major League plate appearances (111), Newhan, who bats from the left side, actually had better offensive numbers than Miguel Cairo and Eric Bruntlett. Signed to a minor league deal on Jan. 29, he was released by the Astros in spring training.

Beerleaguer: Many inches of newspaper agate have been set aside for Newhan's various promotions and demotions over the years. At 35, he accepts a position with Philadelphia's development staff as a Triple-A player/coach, one of the highest honors bestowed upon a beerleaguer. The very definition of a "tweener," it's only fitting that his newest assignment isn't quite one or the other.

Postgame: Phils feast on poor pitching, win 11-4

The Brewers allowed 22 base runners, including nine on free passes, as the Phillies cruised to a rain-delayed victory at Citizens Bank Park.

The big damage came in a five-run fifth, which featured the return of Beerleaguer favorite R.J. Swindle, who entered the game with the bases loaded and allowed all his inherited runners to score. Pedro Feliz led the charge offensively with a pair of RBI singles, a walk and a solo homer, his first of the season. Feliz, who's off to a very good start, also turned a fine 5-4-5 double play in the ballgame. Jayson Werth got things rolling with a two-run double in the first inning and the Phils never looked back. Jamie Moyer (2-1) allowed four runs over six-plus innings. He pitched better than his line; Ryan Braun, who's a stud, took him deep twice. Ryan Howard represented the only negative with an 0-for-4 game with three strikeouts and seven left stranded, but he'd gladly trade it for the win, which lifted the Phillies back to .500.

Game chat: Milwaukee in town for a three-game set

A pair of lefties, Manny Parra (0-2, 6.97) and Jamie Moyer (1-1, 6.55), take stage when the Brewers and Phillies begin their series tonight at 7:05. The game is available to Comcast cable subscribers only.

Summary: After facing a Padres pitching staff without a single left-hander on the roster, the Phillies get their first crack at a southpaw since the eighth inning of Thursday's game. The Phils have just 57 plate appearances against lefties this season, compared to 324 against righties. In his return to the rotation, Parra has had some control problems and has taken a loss in each of his first two starts. Meanwhile, Moyer has allowed four runs in each of his first two starts. He last faced Milwaukee in Game 3 of the Division Series.

Lineups are posted: Rollins, Victorino, Utley, Howard, Werth, Ibanez, Feliz, Coste, Moyer. Once considered doubtful for Opening Day, Feliz and Utley have started each game so far this season. One final item from the press notes: Chan Ho Park is listed to start this weekend in Florida, eliminating any doubt that Charlie Manuel would make a switch.

Knapp fans 14: Lakewood right-hander Jason Knapp, 18, leads the minor leagues with 30 strikeouts after fanning 14 today in a seven-inning shutout, tying the Lakewood record. Knapp, who earned a no decision for his efforts, was taken in the second round of last season's draft. ... In other minor league news, Lehigh Valley placed No. 4 starter Rodrigo Lopez on the DL with an elbow strain. The veteran is trying to make it back from Tommy John surgery among other setbacks. Right-hander Tyler Walker, who pitched as a setup man with the Giants last season, replaced him on the roster. ... Down in Double-A, outfielder Gus Milner was placed on the DL with a left oblique strain. ... Finally, former Phillie Fabio Castro struck out 10 in five scoreless innings before Double-A New Hampshire's game was suspended due to rain Monday.

[Jump to the newest comments]

Distractiongate '09: Cole pays the price of fame

Cole Hamels confesses to Inquirer watchdog Jim Salisbury that he came into the season unprepared, citing off-season distractions caused by his sudden superstar status. [Link]

Hamels, who missed time this spring with elbow soreness and has been rocked in his first two starts, admitted that he overbooked himself with various television and magazine appearances, the most detrimental of them occurring in January, the month he begins his regularly scheduled throwing regiment. Hamels told Salisbury that his commitments came before he signed a three-year, $20.5 million contract. He and his wife, Heidi, have also been trying to adopt a child from Malawi.

Beerleaguer: Now we know it was readiness, not injury, which was obvious if you read between the lines. He’s young, he experienced a sudden rise to fame, he fessed up, he's ashamed, and it’s over. It’s the unfortunate byproduct of winning. At a manageable 5-6, the hope is that the Phillies can now move past this. If you read Scott Lauber’s story today, Charlie Manuel has identified pockets of complacency on the roster. The Phillies, who got to this point because of hard work and selfless play, deserve the benefit of the doubt.

In other words, I’d rather be reading these reports April 21 following a championship than Sept. 21, and I’m confident this particular issue will fade quickly.

Beer nuts: Ibanez adding big and little things

Besides walk-off homers, beat writer Scott Lauber notes that new left fielder Raul Ibanez has made his presence felt in other ways.

Writes Lauber: “What has impressed me about Ibanez are the little things. He has played relatively well in left field. He runs the bases well (not fast, but intelligently). He doesn't seem to make many mistakes. I don't know why this is particularly surprising. Ibanez has been a good player for a while. But he also has played the past five seasons in Seattle, where the glare of the East Coast-oriented spotlight rarely shines.”

"So far, for us, he's proved that he plays a steady left field, and he's definitely a good baserunner," Manuel told Lauber. "He's been taking the extra base. He tags up on balls and moves up on a base, especially when the ball is hit deep in the outfield. He gets a jump off third. You can play contact baseball with him. He's done a good job for us. From what I've seen so far, he plays the game hard, and he wants to play it right."

Condrey & Happ: Quick quiz: Who leads the team in wins? Answer: Clay Condrey with two. The 33-year-old Texan snared a vulture win in yesterday’s game, representing his sixth shutout appearance in seven tries . Aside from a two-run homer to Adam Dunn, Condrey has been one of the bright spots in the Phillies’ bullpen. His tag-team partner in yesterday’s win, J.A. Happ, has posted similar success, surrendering a two-run homer April 8 and nothing more.

Coste: Tip your cap to Chris Coste for his remarkable rise to the majors. Unfortunately, there’s less evidence to justify his status as a Major League-caliber player. After yesterday’s 0-for-3, he’s hitting .190/.261/.286. Recall that he faded fast last season, hitting .239/.311/.339 after the break and just .107/.286/.143 in September. Until Carlos Ruiz returns, perhaps an even split of Lou Marson and Coste would be in the best interest of the ballclub, and once Ruiz returns, a fresh-bodied Marson could make for a difficult roster decision.

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Sizzling start for farm arms

Philadelphia's rotation has been a mess, but further down the chain, a handful of starters are lighting it up, including a mystery lefty.

Here's a name that you haven't seen. Scratch that. Here's a name that I haven't seen: Yohan Flande. He's a 23-year-old 6-2 lefty from El Seibo in the Dominican and spent last season stashed in the Gulf Coast League, where he went 4-1 in 10 games (9 starts) with a 2.19 ERA. This season, he's been jumped all the way to Class-A Clearwater, where he pitched seven shutout innings yesterday, making it 12 shutout innings so far this season. Where's he been hiding? Seven innings in mid-April is an awfully long leash, typically reserved for the big dogs. Keep your eye on Flande.

Some of the more recognizable starters are off to solid starts as well, including Flande's teammate Kyle Drabek, who threw seven shutout innings of his own his last start, including nine strikeouts. In full recovery from Tommy John, the former first rounder is primed for a breakout. Elsewhere, Vance Worley and Mike Stutes, direct arrivals from the Sally League, appear to be at the right level in Double-A and have performed well. And in Lehigh Valley, top prospect Carlos Carrasco tossed a pair of excellent six-inning outings, while Kyle Kendrick allowed two runs over seven frames his last turn.

Mayberry: Following up on March Mayberry Madness, John Mayberry Jr. is hitting .206/.308/.441 with two homers and 11 strikeouts in Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Postgame: Ibanez's walk-off dong propels Phillies

Welcome to Philadelphia, Raul Ibanez.

Summary: With Heath Bell scratched, Ibanez teed off on Padres substitute closer Edwin Moreno for a walk-off, two-run home run to cap a 5-4 win and their fifth come-from-behind victory of the season; all five of the Phillies' wins are of the comeback variety. For Ibanez, who's hitting .386, it was his fifth homer of the season. Down 4-0, the Phillies battled back using three home runs, including a two-run shot by Chase Utley, who's off to a blazing start, and a pinch homer by ice-cold Jimmy Rollins, who started the game on the bench. The Phillies received four innings of unsung shutout relief from J.A. Happ and Clay Condrey after five mediocre innings by Chan Ho Park. Ibanez erased a handful of missed opportunities by the Phillies' offense early in the game, which was held to two runs, one earned, by rookie hurler Josh Geer. With the win, the Phillies are 5-6, exactly where they were after 11 games last season.

Not to be forgotten: Charlie Manuel shakes up the lineup and the Phillies win, thanks in part to a pinch homer by Rollins. Matt Stairs held his own in right. Ryan Howard made three outstanding defensive plays today and punched a ball into shallow center to get on base for Ibanez in the ninth. Edwin Moreno is former Phillies farm property. Ibanez is tied for the league lead in home runs.

Sunday chat: Phillies call on Park to reverse fortunes

Short starts, high ERAs, home runs and blown saves have the Phillies' pitching staff reeling. There's a chance for recovery, but Chan Ho Park and an overworked pen must deliver today.

Think back to 2008 and recall only one or two occasions when the rotation and bullpen were as out of sync as they are today. But what made last season so unique was their ability to recover quickly. When they needed a quality start, they got it, and when they needed the bullpen to put in overtime, or for someone to step up, as Ryan Madson did in September, they got that, too.

The Phillies will be searching for some of that resiliency today. For the first week, the bullpen held the team together behind terrible starting pitching, but today, inconsistency has infected all parts of the pitching staff. The Phillies have the highest ERA in baseball at 7.16, and while the starting ERA has improved from the first week, the bullpen has suffered a handful of deflating losses and have an ERA of 6.29.

It may not be as doom and gloom as it sounds. Bad luck has played a part in the early struggles. They've issued the second-fewest free passes in baseball with 33, and in terms of strikeouts, they're middle of the pack. Add them together, and believe it or not, the Phils have the second-best K/BB ratio in baseball at 2.58. The underlying problem is a league-high 23 home runs, the result of just too many mistakes out over the plate.

Recovery might be around the corner, but they need to pitch smarter and do what they can to keep the ball down. Park's (0-0, 10.38) first start was as ugly as any this season, lasting just 3 1-3 innings in a cold day in Denver last Sunday. The term "must win" gets tossed around a lot, but circumstances make today's game very important indeed. They need innings from Park. The Phillies don't know how much they can get out of Madson and Brad Lidge; both have been taxed lately and could use a mental health day for certain. A win would also open the door for a series split tomorrow and snap a three-game skid.

On the other side, rookie Josh Geer goes for San Diego. We'll have lineups and more details closer to game time. We'll keep the chat right here. Have a great Sunday.

Postgame: Lidge blows the save, and the game

The Padres snapped Brad Lidge's streak of 47-consecutive saves in another rough night by the Phillies' bullpen, taking an 8-5 loss. The Phillies have lost three straight.

Beerleaguer: The season is only 10 games old, but you could already argue that the bullpen will be worse than last year, which just about everyone assumed it would be. Nights like Friday generally didn't occur in '08, and what happened tonight didn't happen at all. Lidge's last blown save came Sept. 23, 2007. The Phillies were 79-0 when leading after eight innings last season. Lidge does not look close to the lights-out pitcher who struck out Eric Hinske with the final pitch of the World Series. He's missing his fastball; no command or pop. Tonight, the Padres stayed patient and made him throw strikes. I watch Lidge and I worry that he's starting to leak oil. But Lidge isn't the only problem. After last night's blown save, Ryan Madson didn't have it, either. So now the Phillies need to deal with the possibility of having their two most import relievers overcome some shaken confidence. And when Lidge and Madson aren't automatic, the holes in the bullpen become even more apparent.

Tonight makes four eight-run games in a row by the opposition. You think it's safe to say this pitching staff has some early issues?

Game chat: Phils aim for second round rebound

After letting one slip away last night, Brett Myers (1-1, 5.54) and the Phillies square off with Shawn Hill (1-0, 3.60) and the Padres 7:05 from Citizens Bank Park. Rookie Lou Marson earns another start behind the plate. It's beautiful night for baseball. Enjoy the game, and let's go Phillies.

Philadelphia pays its final respects to Harry Kalas

Thousands are expected to pay tribute to the Hall of Fame broadcaster this morning at Citizens Bank Park, where his rose-decorated casket is placed behind home plate as fans say their final goodbyes. A streaming video is available at Philly.com.

Postgame: Careless pitching costly in 8-7 loss

The pitching woes continued in a game that should have been won easily.

Cole Hamels couldn’t completely contain the Padres after the Phillies staked him to an early 7-1 lead, surrendering a pair of two-run homers to let the Pads back in it 7-5. Then, Ryan Madson blew it in a three-run eighth, taking the loss in another poorly pitched affair by the reigning champs. Phillies’ pitching has now given up three eight-run games in a row and have been victimized by 23 home runs on the season, including three tonight by Hamels on mistakes out over the plate. The Phillies got all seven of their runs off starter Chris Young, including a three-run homer by Chase Utley. Raul Ibanez reached base all five times.

Beerleaguer: Nights like these generally didn’t happen last season. With a 7-1 lead and Hamels on the hill, this game should have been in the bag. Puzzling. The pitching has been god awful, and with tonight's duds by Hamels, Madson, and to a certain extent, Lidge, even the best arms aren't inspiring much trust.

Game chat: Phillies back home; hats off to Harry

Cole Hamels (0-1, 17.18) faces his hometown San Diego Padres when the Phillies open a seven-game homestand tonight at Citizens Bank Park. Harry Kalas will be honored prior to tonight's game.

Summary: Hamels ranks right at the top of the list in terms of early season concerns. After missing significant time nursing a sore elbow in spring training, Hamels was shelled for seven runs on 11 hits over just 3 2-3 innings of work in his first outing against Colorado. The ace left-hander told reporters that he felt no discomfort in the elbow, suggesting the problem had to do with readiness. Hamels is 2-1 with a 2.40 ERA in five career starts versus the Padres. Tonight, he’s opposed by tough right-hander Chris Young (2-0, 1.38), one of the main contributors to a Padres team that’s 7-3 out of the gates. Young was limited to just 18 starts last year due to injury. He has been tough on the Phillies, going 2-1 with a 1.96 ERA in three lifetime starts against them.

Minor transaction update: Catcher Orlando Guevara was called up from extended spring training to replace Lou Marson on the IronPigs roster. Pitcher John Ennis will miss the rest of the season with Tommy John surgery. Jason Anderson replaces him on the roster. Pitcher Scott Nester, who walked 9 batters in an inning his first appearances of the season, was placed on the DL with turf toe. Steve Green replaces him on the roster. Outfielder Jeremy Slayden was activated from the disabled list. (Courtesy of Gregg Shore)

Friday: Hot Marlins sprint to early lead in NL East

A year older and a year better, the Marlins may not fade this time.

The Florida Marlins have officially gone from “pesky” to “intimidating.” Balanced by a speed-and-power offense and best young rotation in baseball, it appears the Marlins have come full circle, cycling through the rebuilding stage and reaching the point they last experienced in 2003 when they won it all. They’re tough, they unafraid, and some might say their rotation is already the division’s best on paper. The similarities between the Josh Johnson-led ’09 rotation and Josh Beckett-led ’03 version are uncanny. Meanwhile, the Braves look better, and those who watched last night’s game should note the improvements in Washington. The Mets and Phillies, meanwhile, tread water, with the Phils’ pitchers well under the bar they set last season.  

Postgame: Nationals pound Phillies for first victory

Too many balls right down the chute, and too many 0-fers, allowed Washington to ease to an 8-2 victory at Nationals Park on the strength of four home runs.

Summary: Call Joe Blanton's quality start the best start of the season by a Phillies pitcher, but what does that tell you? It says things aren't going so well with the pitching staff. Adam Dunn received the kind of gift pitch from Blanton in the first inning he may never see again this season and unloaded for a three-run missile to right. Blanton held Washington there for the next five frames, allowing the Phillies' offense to pull to within one. But lousy relief from Chad Durbin (1ER, 1HR, 2BB) and an even worse effort by Jack Taschner (4ER, 2HR, 2BB, 4H) allowed Washington to run away with it.

Offensively, the Phils suffered from just too many 0-fers to get anything started, including Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth and Pedro Feliz. Rollins is hitting .111 on the young season, Victorino is at .219. There were a couple killer at bats mixed in, too, including a one-pitch groundout by Feliz to end an inning with the Phillies threatening, and Victorino getting ahead to lead off the eighth, but popping out on ball four. Positives included a 2-for-4 and an RBI by Raul Ibanez, and a nice 2-for-3 game by Lou Marson.

The Phillies, who've allowed 20 home runs already this season, fall to 4-4. They open a four-game series tomorrow night at Citizens Bank Park against the surprising Padres.

Game chat: Blanton, Phillies back in business

After yesterday’s washout, Joe Blanton and the boys look to build on three-straight wins tonight against Shairon Martis and the winless Nationals. First pitch is 7:05.

Summary: Torched for nine hits and seven runs his first start, Blanton was spared the loss in a 12-11 comeback over Atlanta, meaning Blanton has yet to take a loss in a Phillies uniform. Tonight’s opponent, the 22-year-old right-hander Martis, didn’t fare much better in his first start. Only a handful of Phillies have ever faced him, including rookie Lou Marson, who will get his first start of the season tonight. [Jump to the newest comments]

Injury opens window into future behind home

With Carlos Ruiz nursing a strained oblique, rookie Lou Marson earns his second big-league start tonight, according to multiple reports.

I’ve gotta admit: I’m surprised Chris Coste came north. Not only that, I’m surprised how quickly his battle with Ronny Paulino ended. I wish I knew more details. Was Coste the resounding winner, or was Paulino a resounding loser? Catcher was one the Phillies were certain to upgrade this offseason, and they tried, but failed, in auditioning Paulino from Pittsburgh. The reports suggested they didn’t like him, whatever that meant. So at the moment, their top catcher is 36-year-old Coste, who’s hitting .143, yet, the Phils are 3-0 in his starts. Tonight it’s Marson’s turn, and from the sound of it, the first of several turns before Ruiz comes back. Charlie Manuel has been hinting at a two-week minimum for his starting catcher.

Catcher represents one of the lone positions with opportunity for a young player to step up and stake a claim. Marson, 22, had a superb year in Reading last season, improving his stock by hitting .314/.433/.416 with five homers. While his plate discipline is encouraging, power is one of the main hangups with scouts; he only has 25 homers over 1,640 plate appearances. The Phillies would like to see Marson, who is rated as the third best prospect in the system according to Baseball America, pull more pitches on the inner half of the plate, according to a March report on Phillies.com. Defense is another area where reviews seem mixed, including his throws from behind home plate. The Phillies said he fell into bad habits in that area and is working to correct it, according to the same report.

Marson reportedly drew interest from the Red Sox this spring, but the Phillies’ asking price was high enough to include promising right-hander Clay Buchholz.

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Phillies bear disruptions

It was time to mix things up with the Beerleaguer for Breakfast art and go with an Eggo instead of a coffee mug.

Eggos are one of my all-time favorite breakfast foods. I like lightly toasted buttermilk best. Perhaps it will bring a little luck for a season already mired by distractions, deep, personal loss and most recently, Mother Nature. Frost coated the ground where I’m located just north of Philadelphia, another reminder that it doesn’t feel quite like baseball season yet. By way of news, no makeup date was announced for yesterday’s rainout. Joe Blanton, who was to pitch last night, will pitch tonight’s game at 7:05, with Cole Hamels set for Friday’s series opener against Padres at Citizens Bank Park.

Bullpen assignment a career opportunity for Happ

For posts like these to mean anything, we need more games, and by "games," I mean "samples," which are what games are called in this cold, hard place.

This afternoon, I offer sad news for those pulling for J.A. Happ to have a long, fruitful career in the starting rotation. Including the 2008 postseason, Happ has been a Major League reliever for about two months. That means he’s drifting into the danger zone of being typecast as a reliever, instead of living the good life as a 26-year-old starter floating in and out of the minor leagues, drinking mojitos by the pool with the likes of J.D. Durbin.

Of course I’m being facetious, but the fact is, when you’re 26 years old and lose out to Chan Ho Park in a rotation battle, you’ve reached a fork in the road. The good news is that when you’re a southpaw, the road can fork in your favor as left-handed relief is always in demand, and teams pay well for the privilege.

With zero minor league preparation, Happ has done okay in relief. He surrendered a two-run bomb in a wacky win over Atlanta, then pitched 2 1-3 shutout innings in a 10-3 loss to Colorado. Neither “sample” was high leverage, but as long there are routs, and as long as Brad Lidge, Ryan Madson and Scott Eyre command the late innings, someone needs to clean up the mess. And for Happ, it’s a starting point, and an escape from the starting rotation trap.

Speaking of small samples ... the following roster moves have worked based on seven games: Jack Taschner; Matt Stairs. We’ll ignore Park’s first start, as it throws a wrench into this entire post.

Drabek: Here's Kyle Drabek's line today: 7 IP, 4H, 0R, 9K, 0 BB.

Wednesday: Phils eyeballing additional bench help

Suggesting they aren't completely satisfied, the Phillies were spotted by the LA Times scouting Dodgers outfielder Delwyn Young, who was designated for assignment yesterday. Young has already been acquired by the Pirates.

Note to self: check Rotoworld first thing in the morning. I had an entire post written on the possibility of adding Delwyn Young and decided to check Rotoworld at the last minute before publishing. Good thing I did; he's already off the board, which is a shame, because he would have been a steal. Young, 26, was out of options and hit .246/.321/.341 in 146 injury-plagued plate appearances with the Dodgers last season, suffering from a strained oblique and playing through elbow problems. A former second baseman who was converted to outfield, he ran into roadblocks once he reached the Major League level, finding it hard to crack the lineup due to a logjam in the Los Angeles outfield. According to Baseball Prospectus, he even worked as the bullpen catcher to keep himself busy. His last completely healthy season was 2007 in Triple-A Las Vegas, where he hit .337/.384/.571 with 17 homers in 537 plate appearances, splitting that season with Los Angeles, where he hit .382/.417/.647. A switch hitter, BP sees long-term possibilities as a .330 OBP/.450 SLG fourth outfielder. We could have used some of that.

Meanwhile, in other hot stove news, MLB Network's Jon Heyman speculated that the Phillies might be one of the teams interested in free agent pitcher Pedro Martinez, but stressed that it was only speculation on his part. Pedro is part of a notable cast of available free agents, a list that includes Damion Easley, Javier Valentin, Wily Mo Pena, Mike Lamb, Jim Edmonds, Ray Durham, Frank Thomas and others.

Notes: The good people at the Reading Eagle compiled an online tribute tribute Harry Kalas, which can be found here. ... Checking the scoreboard, Florida downed the Braves 5-1 to take an early lead in the NL East. Marlins hurler and Beerleaguer fantasy bargain Chris Volstad pitched seven strong innings for the Fish.

Phillies release details on Harry Kalas memorial

According to the team Web site, the Kalas family and the Phillies have announced that a memorial tribute for Harry Kalas will be held at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday.

(From a Phillies news release) An opportunity to pay respects to the Hall of Fame broadcaster will be given on a first come, first served basis to as many fans as possible Saturday from 8 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. At that time, all fans in attendance will be directed to seats for an on-field tribute that will begin at 1 p.m. Funeral services and burial will be private and held early next week, the report said.

Uniform Patches: Beginning tomorrow, players will wear HK uniform patches for the rest of the season, according to the report. The black, circular HK patch will be located on the front of the jersey in the area of the heart.

Friday Night: The Phillies return home Friday night to play San Diego at 7:05 ET. The Phillies will also pay tribute to Harry prior to the game. Fans are urged to arrive early. More details will be forthcoming.

Tuesday: Life without Harry starts in the black

Where do we go from here? While the city mourned, a hollow game was played. Harry’s side prevailed 9-8.

Those searching for levity in the wake of tragedy can take comfort in the fact that hittin’ season appears to have started for Cholly’s boys. The Phillies have rattled off three high-scoring wins in a row to climb above .500. Yesterday brought another game where RBIs were peppered evenly throughout the lineup, and now four Phillies sit atop the league's top 40 in the category, with Ryan Howard at 7, Raul Ibanez and Jayson Werth at 6 and Chase Utley at 5. It’s funny because when I issued season projections two weeks ago, the discussion gravitated toward RBIs, and it's already starting to feel like that category will become a central theme this season, especially now with the added emphasis on someone like Jayson Werth, and the addition of an RBI specialist in Ibanez.

It’s like that Chinese Calendar I don’t understand. The Chinese Calender calls 2009 the year of the ox, but on Beerleaguer, it's the year of the RBI. Long-time readers remember previous seasons, like 2005, when Jason Michaels and others made it the year of on-base percentage. I don’t miss that season. The following season had to be the year of the home run because of Howard’s franchise-record 58. The 2007 season was all about runs; MVP Jimmy Rollins made an incredible 778 plate appearances and crossed home 139 times, leading the league in both categories. And of course last season – since pitching was so important, and Brad Lidge was arguably team MVP – a perfect 48-for-48 made the World Championship season all about saves.

Minor league transaction: Nothing says levity like the transaction wire. With rosters set for over a week, the following players were issued pink slips, according to Baseball America: RHP William Savage, 2B P.J. Antoniato, OF Alberto Cambero, OF Casey Craig, OF Brandon Haislet, OF Jay Miller, OF Javon Moran, OF Wilkin Ruan. Meanwhile, 2B Rob Watson retired, and OF Karl Bolt heads for armed service.

The soundtrack of summer, silenced forever

Harry Kalas understood the strength of subtlety.

Ownership of the microphone was a game of give and take between the broadcast booth and natural cadence of baseball. He understood that less was more in his role of liaison between listeners and an already perfect sport. Best known for his home run call and rich baritone, he turned accent points into artistry. Downtime with His Whiteness became a precious window into the personalities of good friends. Historic calls, like Michael Jack's 500th, marked time during lean years. But tone, tempo and economy of words only scratch the surface of a Hall of Fame career. His deepest connection was forged when memorable calls were scarce and there was nothing to sell but hope. "High Hopes" wasn't just a chorus reserved for magical moments; it was the undercurrent of every broadcast. Since the news of his passing, the outpouring of emotion underscores the notion that a game called by Harry transcended baseball. Reminders of family, childhood and home identify his power to take listeners to their safe haven. His words were clear and his message pure. Harry Kalas was the voice of order restored.

Mourning Phillies overcome difficult day, win 9-8

Learning that Hall of Fame broadcaster Harry Kalas passed away before the game, the Phillies family pressed on in the broadcast booth and on the field, where the hometown nine used three homers and capitalized on three Washington errors to give the voice of Phillies baseball a final salute in Washington. Beerleaguer will offer final thoughts on Harry the K later this evening as the outpouring of emotion continues.

Game chat: Phillies in DC for Nationals home opener

Jamie Moyer, who is 6-0 with a 2.08 ERA in his last 10 starts against the Nats/Expos, takes the hill when the Phils open a three-game set in Washington. He'll oppose right-hander Daniel Cabrera.

If the Phillies display some of that early patience today, they should come out on top. Cabrera is notoriously wild and has led the league in walks twice with Baltimore, and there's no telling how amped up he'll be pitching in a home opener. Nevertheless, the Phils haven't really seen a pitcher like Cabrera yet; the Phils sometimes struggle against those deemed "effective wild." Meanwhile, Moyer is hoping for better results than his last outing, a five-inning, four-run loss to Atlanta. It was reported that rookie catcher Lou Marson was spending some extra time going over with signals with Moyer, which could suggest that Marson will get the call behind the plate.