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

Saturday chat: Phillies try to start a new streak

The Nationals stamped out the Phillies eight-game winning streak and spoiled Roy Oswalt's debut in a lopsided 8-1 affair Friday night. Joe Blanton (4-6, 5.85) and the Phillies look to even the score tonight at 7:05.

Beerleaguer: There's no way to sugarcoat Oswalt's first start. It stunk. Cliff Lee's debut this was not. The Nationals jumped all over Oswalt's mistakes early and often as the newly acquired right-hander hung pitch after pitch out over the plate. Chalk it up to nerves, but let's be honest here. He's going to get shellacked at a far greater frequency than someone like Lee or Halladay. Be that as it may, chances are that his next start will be terrific, and his next. So I wouldn't sweat it. Overall he allowed five runs (four earned), on seven hits, two walks with four strikeouts. Honestly, the entire team stunk last night. They couldn't solve sinkerballer Craig Stammen, who was quite good, and they butchered a couple of plays, including Carlos Ruiz's throw to nowhere that led to an unearned run. Charlie Manuel later revealed that Greg Dobbs was supposed to hold his ground and stay at third instead of charging. Not that it made much difference in the one-sided outcome.

Deadline nears: Meanwhile, we're keeping our eyes on the 4 p.m. non-waiver trade deadline. After netting Oswalt, the prevailing wisdom is that the Phillies aLre done. Infield and bullpen help may be obtainable through the waiver trade period, but in my opinion, they would be well-served to obtain help for the back of the bullpen. It's possible they just don't have the money to do it.

Happ's debut: J.A. Happ tossed six shutout innings and held Milwaukee to an 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position in his Houston debut.

Game chat: Blanton meets left-hander Ross Detwiler (0-1, 0.00) tonight. Keep your eye on Ryan Howard, who has started spinning the tires and is hitless in his last three games. 

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Moyer, Happ deserved to go out on their terms

Jamie Moyer’s season and Phillies career are likely over. The veteran lefty and winner of 267 career games (which ranks ninth among lefties) becomes a 48-year-old free agent at the end of the season. (Getty)

A run of five seasons and 56 wins with the Phillies, only a portion of his 24-year total, came to an abrupt halt last Monday in St. Louis when Moyer walked to the dugout after a routine inning, a walk he’s made 4,020 times before. We found out later that he continued on through the tunnel due to a problem with his pitching elbow. Moyer met with a Los Angeles surgeon yesterday and was encouraged to hear that it can heal on its own and won’t require surgery, which matches the opinion of Phillies team physician Michael Ciccotti. But in all likelihood, he’s broken his last record while wearing red pinstripes. "I have really enjoyed my time pitching here," Moyer told the media yesterday. "But it is really is up to the organization. I would love to have another opportunity.”

Nobody will ever forget 2008, but hopefully what he did in 2010 at age 47 won’t fade from memory, including a two-hitter May 7 against Atlanta, becoming the oldest player in history to throw a shutout. Moyer posted a line of 9-9 with a 4.84 ERA in 19 starts, and although a return hasn't been officially ruled out for this season, it's highly unlikely.

As for Happ, he deserved a better farewell than a season spent rehabbing an elbow and auditioning for rival scouts. His Phillies career will be remembered for a 12-4 mark and 2.93 ERA in 2009, along with all the doubts the team seemed to have in him. At this point, it matters not if '09 was performed with smoke and mirrors. His contribution sticks. Now it’s up to Ed Wade to find out whether it was all an illusion.

Friday: Phils feeling that old-fashioned magic again

The Phillies are writing a new script with every game en route to eight-straight wins and a comfortable position in the playoff race. (AP Photo)

It’s impossible to rattle off a long winning streak like this without at least one unorthodox, out-of-the-box method like the one the Phillies used last night. In a game where Cody Ransom, Carlos Ruiz and Wilson Valdez – the Phillies’ 6-7-8 hitters – pestered the D-Backs all night, Valdez’s walk-off single in the 11th secured victory and typified the “nightly hero” technique we’ve grown accustomed to over the last several years. Yet as fans, we’ll never kicked habit of counting them for dead. Granted, this happened against an exceptionally amateur 37-65 Diamondbacks team and an exhausted Rockies squad. Still, there’s no reason to feel guilty about improving to 32-17 at home by smacking around a pair of flimsy road teams like the D-Backs and Rox.

I don’t know that I’d call it “swagger,” but the Phillies look comfortable in their own skins again after losing Chase Utley. It starts with good pitching and a few breaks. That's how two wins become three, four, five, etc., and now we're talking about a confident club that just put their top prospect online and will add Roy Oswalt to their rotation tonight.

They needed to make the right adjustments, too. Charlie Manuel hit on something when he moved Raul Ibanez higher. (And on a separate note, Ibanez is not only hitting the ball hard, but he looks fresh in the field and on the bases. Finally healthy?) And as I said earlier, Milt Thompson’s ouster seems to have served its purpose.

One last point: What a rock Ruiz has been. He’s hefting a .397 on-base percentage into August. He plays through pain. He played through a concussion for goodness sake. And think of how he’s handled this staff. What a player.

What a team ...

Game chat: Phils try to complete perfect homestand

Kyle Kendrick (6-4, 4.60) and the Phillies try to make it eight straight against newly acquired left-hander Joe Saunders (6-10, 4.60) and the Diamondbacks tonight at 7:05. After a scorching debut Wednesday, Domonic Brown sits for Ben Francisco against the left-hander. Actually, between last night’s excitement with Brown and tomorrow’s debut of Roy Oswalt, tonight sounds a lot like this.

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Amaro addresses media in beautiful high-definition

Oswalt to debut Friday; deal includes 3 players

Final details are still being worked out, according to Jim Salisbury, but the deal will include left-hander J.A. Happ, outfield prospect Anthony Gose and shortstop Jonathan Villar going to Houston. The Phils will also receive cash. According to Charlie Manuel, Oswalt will debut for the Phillies tomorrow night in Washington.

Anthony Gose, CF: Second round pick in the 2008 draft. One of the fastest players in the minor leagues (76 stolen bases in 96 attempts last season). Could become an elite defender in center field. Was also viewed as a left-handed pitching prospect. Still very raw, but at 19, has time to develop. Hitting .263/.325/.385 with 36 stolen bases, four homers and 103 strikeouts in 450 plate appearances at Clearwater. (Update: ESPN reports that Gose will be flipped to the Blue Jays, who coveted him during last season's talks with Toronto.)

Jonathan Villar, SS: Very fast, but very raw. Hitting .272/.332/.358 with 2 homers, 38 stolen bases and 103 strikeouts in 364 plate appearances. He's committed an eye-opening 42 errors at short. Only 19, he signed out of the Dominican Republic and made his US debut in 2009.

Beerleaguer: There is a common thread between Gose and Villar. Scouts will put way more stock in their tools and potential than their stat sheets. Reading a couple of reports, they were arguably among the Phillies' five or six-best position players in the system. The stats don't do them justice, and shortstop isn't exactly a position of strength for the Phillies.

Breaking news: Oswalt agrees to become a Phillie

A person closely involved with the negotiations has told CSNPhilly.com's Jim Salisbury that Roy Oswalt has agreed to waive his no-trade clause and come to Philadelphia. [Link] 

Oswalt owns the best curveball in baseball according to a number of metrics. Stuff-wise, he’s better than he's been in years, according to many of the scouts cited over the course of the last two months. Oswalt finished with one of the worst seasons of his career in 2009 due to a degenerative disc in his back. He maintained very steady peripherals even during the one-year hiccup. He's allowing a few more homers this season than normal, but nothing major; groundball rate is also at a career-low 1.19. On the plus-side, strikeouts per nine is at a nine-year high. His lofty contract negatively skewed perceptions; he's still an elite performer. Phillies have reportedly danced around picking up the 2012 option and got $11 million from Houston. By frequency, he'll go fastball, curveball, slider, change. He's a little like a right-handed version of Cliff Lee, only without Lee’s freakish accuracy. Fast worker like Lee and a good fastball to set up the curve. “Jumps” at hitters, as you’ll hear from Chris Wheeler over the next two years (pending the outcome of the deal). (stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com; photo from Getty Images)

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Let's make a deal: Beerleaguer deadline thread

1:20: Person close to Oswalt confirms to CSNPhilly.com that he will go to the Phillies for Happ and two others.

1:00 p.m.: Oswalt plans on accepting deal, according to Jayson Stark. Happ is clearly the centerpiece of the deal, Stark says. Dollars believed to be $11 million range from Houston to help cover Oswalt's contract, he says. The deal is still pending.

12:58 p.m.: Trying to Photoshop Oswalt's head into Brad Lidge's uniform and cap. Oswalt's lightbulb-shaped head is presenting a problem. Unsuccessfully tried using the liquify tool to bubble out Lidge's cap to accommodate Oswalt's melon. "It's like an orange on a toothpick."

12:25 p.m.: Rosenthal hears that Singleton is not in the deal.

ESPN accidentally publishes Stark's notes: Here they are before they're taken down: "Confirmed that Houston would get three players back -- J.A. Happ and two prospects. Nobody is revealing names of the prospects, but Houston has pressed hard for Phillies' best hitting prospect now that Domonic Brown is in the big leagues, Class A first baseman Jonathan Singleton. Also heard from an excellent source that the Astros offered to pay $12 million of the $23+ million left on Oswalt's contract through next year. Can't confirm that's the final number agreed on, but again it's from an excellent source who would know, even though he wasn't directly involved." [Link]

11:00 a.m. "Oswalt has been asking questions about the lay of the land in Philadelphia, has received texts from Brad Lidge, people close to situation say," according to Salisbury.

Bautista report: The Philadelphia Phillies are interested in Toronto Blue Jays OF and home run leader Jose Bautista. According to respected baseball scribe Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun, the Phillies have scouted eight of the Jays' last nine games. The 29-year-old journeyman came out of nowhere to hit .256/.366/.585 with 30 homers and 75 RBIs this season. He's a jack of all trades in the field, but a master of none....[+]

10:30 a.m. CSNPhilly's big gun, Jim Salisbury, says the signs point to the Phillies acquiring Oswalt. "Baseball officials with knowledge of the Phillies’ thinking said the club was carrying itself as if it had an agreement," Salisbury writes. Click here for trade details.

10:05 a.m. Ken Rosenthal tweets that his source says the deal is 3-for-1 with J.A. Happ as part of the package. Astros would reportedly pay a "very significant" part of Oswalt's remaining salary, which is over $23 million. Earlier, SI's Jon Heyman mentioned that as many as four pitchers, including Happ and Vance Worley, could be part of the package.

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Report: Phillies, Astros have Oswalt deal in place

An early morning report from a Houston television station reported that the Phillies and Astros have agreed on a deal in which right-hander Roy Oswalt would become a Phillie if he agrees to waive his no-trade clause.

Citing league sources, the Astros have approached Oswalt about the trade and are awaiting his response. Additionally, the report says the teams have agreed on how much of Oswalt's remaining contract will be paid by Houston. The report indicates that Phillies lefty pitcher J.A. Happ is a part of the deal, but no other prospects were mentioned. Oswalt is owed approximately $5 million this season and is signed for $16 million next season in the last year of his deal. Plus, there's a club option for 2012 that could pay Oswalt another $16 million or a $2 million buyout. Oswalt is 6-12 with a 3.42 ERA, but like Roy Halladay, hasn't benefited from much run support with the struggling Astros. - CSNPhilly.com

Beerleaguers weigh in: "The Phils lower farms level have taken a huge step forward this year. If Singleton/Cosart/Colvin and the rest of the low-A all-stars had developed a year earlier, would the Phils have traded Lee to reseed the farm? There's obviously a connection between the Lee deal and the Oswalt deal, and payroll, while a mystery to us, has to be an issue 2011-2012. But there is a difference between 1 year of Lee and 1.5-2.5 years of Oswalt. Oswalt's contract, while a risk, may already be below market value (look at Lackey's deal), and you simply won't find a pitcher of his quality willing to sign a 1 or 2 year contract for $16M/yr this offseason. It really is all about what the Phils give up to me with the caveat that I have no idea what future's payroll will be."  - Sophist

Game chat: Phillies usher forth Dom of a new era

Domonic Brown makes his ballyhooed debut tonight and bats sixth when Roy Halladay (11-8, 2.28) and the Phillies continue their series with Edwin Jackson (6-9, 5.01) and the Diamondbacks. First pitch is 7:05.

Preview: When the 2010 schedule was first released, a Wednesday night game with the D-Backs in late July ranked right at the bottom among desirable tickets, yet tonight has all the makings of a show-stopper. Coupled with a season-high six-game winning streak and the larger-than-life presence of their ace, the Phillies open the curtain on a central character tonight, one they're hoping will dance through the annals of team history. Domonic Brown, recently knighted as the best prospect in all of baseball by Baseball America, rolls off the showroom floor and into Citizens Bank Park with a Jaguar's glint. Engineered to hit .327 with 20 home runs, 68 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in 93 games at the minors' highest levels, the 22-year-old is so refined, that he breaches the cold-storage bench buffer that entangles most young call-ups and will be served straightaway at the big league table. One can only hope that he'll improve with age and won't turn into vinegar.

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(From a Phillies news release) - Center fielder Shane Victorino was placed on the 15-day disabled list with an abdominal strain on his left side. To take his spot on the 25-man roster, the Phillies selected the contract of outfielder Domonic Brown from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Brown, 22, has combined to hit .327 (112-for-343) with 46 extra-base hits, including 20 home runs and 68 RBI over 93 games for Reading and Lehigh Valley. Brown will wear No. 9 and will be available for tonight's game against the Diamondbacks.

Beerleaguer: Reports are he will be in the starting lineup tonight and possibly start every night in right field until Victorino returns healthy. Exciting news; most exciting call-up since Cole Hamels.

Salisbury's source: Victorino to DL, Brown to Phillies

Via Jim Salisbury's twitter: "I am hearing that the Phillies with place Shane Victorino on the DL and bring up top prospect Domonic Brown."

Streaking Phillies slug past D-Backs; Shane dinged

The Phillies dropped a vintage whooping on the Diamondbacks Tuesday night, using 13 hits including three, two-run homers to secure a 9-5 victory, making it six in a row and nine-consecutive wins at home.

Jayson Werth, Ryan Howard and Cody Ransom homered and the 1-through-5 hitters accounted for 10 hits. Cole Hamels struggled with his command, allowing six hits and four walks over five innings, although he struck out eight. The Phils trimmed their deficit to 3.5 games in the National League East as the Braves lost 3-0 to the Nationals.

Shane update: Meanwhile, Shane Victorino will receive an MRI today for what has been diagnosed as a strained left ribcage. Vic complained of feeling a "knot in his side" while tracking down a ball hit to right-center. Depending on the severity, it could open the door for top prospect Domonic Brown and could also force the Phillies to scrap any plans they were making to trade Jayson Werth. The Phils could also consider Triple-A staple John Mayberry Jr. who they've used in the past.

Beerleaguer: Brown would send a jolt through everyone's veins, but Mayberry  would follow the Phillies' pattern in terms of outfield depth and mindfulness of the 40-man roster. Quite honestly, losing Vic (.250/.311/.438) for a short period of time isn’t terribly critical as long as Jimmy Rollins can get back on the field in short order. Werth, Ben Francisco, Raul Ibanez, Ross Gload and Mayberry would do OK, but make no mistake: Brown is ready. He went 2-for-4 last night with a triple and 2 RBIs, raising his Triple-A slash line to .346/.390/.561 in 26 games.

Game chat: Cole hoping to continue dominant July

Cole Hamels (7-7, 3.40) has been lights out for over a month. Now it's time for his offense to reward the effort. The Phillies' left-hander has the ball opposite former hometown helper Rodrigo Lopez (5-9, 4.58) and the Diamondbacks. First pitch is 7:05.

Hamels' resurgence has become one of the great untold stories of the season, "untold" because his hitters keep spoiling a good story. Hamels started the last game by striking out the first five batters and didn't allow a base runner until Matt Holliday singled in the fifth. He would allow an additional walk, but that was it, pitching eight-shutout frames of one-hit, one-walk ball, the first time in his career that he's allowed a hit or less over eight innings. Unfortunately, it took 11 innings for his hitters to get on the board. They'd hold on for the victory 2-0, with the win going to Chad Durbin for 2-3 innings of work.

Let me just read you these numbers from the Phillies pregame notes just to paint the right picture: Hamels has allowed one earned run over his last 22.2 IP (0.40 ERA), including two scoreless starts. He's 2-5 over his last 11 starts despite allowing three earned runs or less in 10 of them (2.97 ERA). He has pitched seven or more innings in eight of his last nine starts. He has a 1.72 ERA (7 ER, 36.2 IP) in five July starts, his lowest ERA of any month this season. He's holding left-handed hitters to a .176 AVG (18-102) this season, fifth lowest in the league. And he ranks 9th in the NL in SO/9.0 IP (8.50). Behind Halladay, I'd call him the best Phillie this season.

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Injury update: Foot injury forces J-Roll to sidelines

And just when the Phillies were feeling the flow ...

CSNPhilly’s Jim Salisbury has received word that Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins will be out of the lineup tonight when the Phillies open a three-game set with the Diamondbacks. Charlie Manuel told Salisbury that his foot is "sore and bruised" but will not require a trip to the disabled list. J-Roll suffered a contusion when he fouled a ball off his foot yesterday. Although he was clearly hobbled, he played through the pain and finished the game. Afterward, X-Rays taken on J-Roll’s foot were negative. Wilson Valdez will reportedly start at short tonight. (Getty Images)

Castro: In other news, the Dodgers signed infielder Juan Castro to a minor league deal. Castro, 38, was released by the Phillies last Saturday when Placido Polanco came off the disabled list. The veteran infielder, who spent last season with the Dodgers, hit .198/.237/.238 and saw limited action at short, second and third.

Hot stove update: On the trade front and in case you haven’t read, a rumor that Jayson Werth had been traded to the San Diego Padres picked up momentum during yesterday’s game. According to Randy Miller of the Bucks County Courier Times, a tweet “originated from Bill Werdl, a veteran Philadelphia-area media member who is known for his NFL Draft expertise, had Phillies right fielder Jayson Werth traded to San Diego for prospects.” The report wasn’t completely out of the blue; Werth and the Padres have been linked in previous stories. But with the Phillies rattling off five-straight wins, conventional wisdom seems to have the Phillies keeping Werth for the stretch run. In addition, the $16 million club option and no-trade clause appear to be significant roadblocks in the Phillies’ pursuit of Roy Oswalt.

Tuesday: Timing is everything for improving Phillies

How did the Phillies arrive at a five-game winning streak, matching the longest mark of the season? Here are five reasons.

1. Research has shown that when an entire team is locked in a slump, they'll lose. Imagine that. Players rarely stay consistent through all 162 games and the Phillies house a bevy of streaky hitters. Unfortunately, the personal lulls were clumped together over exactly the same period. So now that they appear to be emerging from the doldrums, they've seen an uptick in production: more hits, more extra-base hits, more hard-hit balls, more runs and more wins. Although nobody in the lineup can be described as "red-hot," most of them have settled into a steady groove, including Ryan Howard, Raul Ibanez, Jayson Werth, Jimmy Rollins and a number of bench players, including Greg Dobbs and Ross Gload. Plus, they’re finally getting their feet back. (X-rays negative on J-Roll’s toe, but he was clearly gimping around yesterday).

2. Did Milt Thompson's ouster light a fire? It's hard to argue against it. It certainly appears that the Phils have been taking better at bats since Thursday, the day Charlie Manuel replaced Thompson with Greg Gross. Perhaps “GG” has the golden touch, but more likely, it sent a message that the offense is being held accountable for the Phillies backslide. It looked like amateur hour at the plate during their last roadtrip. So the timing and severity was appropriate.

3. Credit Manuel for the Ibanez-three-hitter lineup, his pseudo-platoon with Ben Francisco and the decision to sit Wilson Valdez in favor of more offense. As a result, the bench is hitting for the first time all season, with Francisco, Dobbs, Ross Gload and Brian Schneider coming through with big hits and productive games over the last few days. It also helps that the Phillies finally took out the trash by handing Juan Castro his walking papers.

4. The Phillies caught the road-weary Rockies at the best-possible time. Roy Halladay set the tone with a shutout in Game 1. Ubaldo Jimenez picked Saturday to pitch the worst game of his career. And in the last two games, Colorado fell all over themselves with crucial mistakes. Plus, Troy Tulowitzki was out with a fractured wrist. So when we talk about the Phillies’ win streak, it’s really what they did against one, beleaguered team at the tail-end of an 11-game road trip.

5. Starting pitching and middle relief tossed quality frames, offering a thumbnail of this entire season: Sharp for eight innings, dicey at the end.

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Game chat: Phils try to complete four-game sweep

The ever-evolving lineup will be without Jayson Werth this afternoon as Joe Blanton (3-6, 6.03) and the Phillies reach for the brooms against Jason Hammel (7-5, 4.23) and the breathless Rockies. First pitch is 1:05.

Notes: There is reportedly no subtext with Werth sitting; it’s just a routine day off, according to reports. Ross Gload, part of an improving bench, starts in right and hits fifth. Placido Polanco mans second once again with Greg Dobbs starting at third, keeping with the recent trend of getting “heftier” lumber into the lineup. Wilson Valdez has not started in three games, suggesting that Charlie Manuel has concluded that the light-hitting utilityman has been overexposed. … On the trade front, ESPN’s Jayson Stark reports that the Astros seek "a young, front-line player off the big-league roster, two high-end prospects and one more prospect" for Roy Oswalt. Stark was a guest on yesterday’s Phillies postgame show and wondered if J.A. Happ, who is 27, controllable and has experienced proven success, was too great a sacrifice for Oswalt. Stark also reminded viewers of the Phillies’ possible pursuit of Ty Wigginton and Miguel Tejada, noting that the Orioles are typically very slow to make deals. Looking at Tejada's numbers (.272/.311/.368, 7 HR), one wonders if he could be acquired at a minimal cost.

Minor league signings: The Phillies recently acquired a couple of independent league All-Star relievers: right-hander Joe Esposito of the Long Island Ducks and left-hander Derrick Loop from across the river in Camden. Esposito, 25, spent three seasons in the Orioles system before he was released at the end of 2010 spring training. He has been assigned to Lakewood. Loop spent last season with Double-A Portland (Red Sox). He has been added to Clearwater. The Phils also signed right-hander Mike McGuire from the Can-Am league.

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Phillies outlast Rockies to pick up fourth straight win

Summary: After singling home the tying run in the sixth, Jimmy Rollins scored the go-ahead run when Rafael Betancourt bounced a pitch that eluded Miguel Olivo making it 4-3, which was enough to stick despite some dicey relief. J.A. Happ, making his first start since April 15, looked understandably rusty, flashing good velocity, but shaky control. Happ, with an Astros scout reportedly in attendance, allowed three runs on four hits and four walks over five innings, striking out four. Ben Francisco, starting for Raul Ibanez against left-hander Jeff Francis, launched a majestic two-run homer to deep left in the second. The Phils wasted several opportunities to add runs early, but struggled with their situational hitting. They also survived bases-loaded jams by Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge, but escaped unscathed. The game was delayed for 1 hour and 40 minutes by rain. (AP Photo)

Pitching rumors: The Angels made a surprise move by acquiring right-hander Dan Haren in a 4-for-1 that will send Joe Saunders, Patrick Corbin, Rafael Rodriguez and a player to be named later to Arizona. The additional player is believed to be a top prospect. Haren had been scouted by the Phillies, who will now fall back on Houston's Roy Oswalt.

Werth targeted: CSNPhilly.com's Jim Salisbury reports that the Phillies continue to field offers for Jayson Werth. Two interested clubs – the Rays and Giants – had scouts in attendance today, Salisbury reports. Yesterday, ESPN reported that the Tigers have also scouted Werth this weekend. Werth singled and doubled today. In addition, Salisbury noted via Twitter than Pittsburgh also had scouts in attendance today. [More details]

Sunday chat: Happ ready to roll for the stretch run

Making only his third start of the season and first since April 15, left-hander J.A. Happ (1-0, 0.00) rejoins the Phillies for their Sunday matinee with Jeff Francis (3-3, 4.63) and the Rockies. First pitch is 1:35, with the Phils seeking their fourth-straight win and seventh-straight at home.

Phillies 10, Rockies 2: The story was written in a seven-run third inning with the Phillies making an unusually erratic Ubaldo Jimenez throw strikes. Jimenez walked six batters and uncorked a wild pitch before he was chased after just two-plus innings, marking the shortest outing of his career. It also marked the second-straight game of crisp production by the previously listless Phillies offense. Jimmy Rollins went 3-for-5 with three RBIs, including a two-run triple to ice the seven-run rally. Raul Ibanez, who is hitting .328/.397/.474 in his last 16 games, blasted his eighth homer of the season off the facing of the second deck. Pitching-wise, Kyle Kendrick allowed a run on six hits over seven innings, the only run coming on an Ian Stewart solo shot. And with the game out of reach, recent call-up Vance Worley made his debut in the ninth and retired the Rockies in order. The 22-year-old right-hander was shipped back to the minors after the game to make room for Happ. The Braves and Giants, the division and Wild Card pace setters, also won, but the Phillies gained on the Mets and Marlins.

Trade rumor links: Here’s the latest collection of things heard around baseball, courtesy of the alert staff at MLBTradeRumors.com.

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Game chat: Phillies try to keep chipping away today

The Phillies gained ground on the division-leading Braves with a 6-0 win last night. They'll attempt to do the same this afternoon against Cy Young contender Ubaldo Jimenez (15-1, 2.38) and the Rockies. First pitch is 4:10 p.m. with the game airing regionally on Fox. For the Phillies, Kyle Kendrick (5-4, 4.82 ERA) goes back to work after a brief demotion to the minor leagues. Lineups are posted: Rollins SS, Polanco 2B, Ibanez LF, Howard 1B, Werth RF, Victorino CF, Dobbs 3B, Schneider C. CSNPhilly.com's Jim Salisbury tweets that the Phillies will scout Roy Oswalt's start tonight. They trail the Braves by 6 games in the East and the Giants by 3.5 in the Wild Card. [Jump to the newest comments]

Saturday: Five-run fifth fuels second-straight shutout

Roy Halladay blanked the Rockies for eight innings, while the offense found the golden touch in its first game under the watchful eye of hitting coach Greg Gross, as the Phillies christened the homestand with a 6-0 victory.

Beerleaguer: Good win that yielded several encouraging performances as the Phillies try to get something going here at home. Raul Ibanez went 3-for-5 with three RBIs, and as Chris Wheeler mentioned in the broadcast, he stayed on the ball and took it the opposite way, something he hasn't done a whole lot this season and one of the reasons why he was so successful early in 2009. Don't look now, but just when you're about to stick a fork in a guy, Raul starts hitting again; he's up to .254/.335/.398 and is posting a .333/.404/.452 in his 10 games out of the three-hole. I was also relieved to see Shane Victorino, who has been puttering along without any real gain for the offense, get the night off in favor of Ross Gload, who rewarded Charlie Manuel with a 2-for-2 including a two-run bomb. Jimmy Rollins also hit the ball hard and looked sharp in other areas. It was a good night without even mentioning how Doc bounced back after Sunday's downer in Chicago. I think the Phils are running into a road-weary Rockies team at exactly the right time, too, so I look for a big series here.

Game chat: Phils gaze through the looking glass

Like Alice, the Phillies have experienced a reversal of reality since Mick Billmeyer peered through the lens in Colorado.

When the Phillies and Rockies last met, the series was marred by an alleged sign-stealing incident involving binocular-wielding bullpen coach Mick Billmeyer. It resulted in a warning by Major League Baseball. And as everyone knows, the issue turned out to be a big misunderstanding. Rockies skipper Jim Tracy has let bygones be bygones, while the Phillies, out to show that they'd never attempt to gain a competitive advantage through such backhanded measures, continued to produce as they always have, hitting .243/.311/.389 (.699 OPS) in the 62 games since, a mere .100-point drop in OPS since the first 33 games of the season. And down the rabbit hole they go ...

Pitching preview: Sinkerball specialist Aaron Cook (4-5 4.56) toes the slab for Colorado. Roy Halladay (10-8, 2.40) tries to rebound from one of his worst starts as a Phillie Sunday against the Cubs. Colorado is in the midst of an 11-game road trip and lost three of four to Florida in their last series. [Jump to the newest comments]

Milt Thompson takes the fall for underachieving O

Milt Thompson has been relieved of his duties as hitting coach, the Phillies announced late last night after the Phillies barely squeaked out a 2-0 win yesterday afternoon.

Thompson, 51, was part of the 1993 World Series team and has been the hitting coach since 2004. Greg Gross, who has been serving as a coach for Triple-A Lehigh Valley the past three seasons (2008-10), will assume hitting coach duties for the Phillies. Gross, 57, was the Phillies' Major League hitting coach from 2002-04 before being reassigned to the player development system in 2005.

Beerleaguer: Thompson, who oversaw the rise of a typically prolific offense and development of Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins and others into MVPs or MVP-caliber players, takes the fall here for a badly underachieving group of hobbled veterans. What "message" does this send? I'm not exactly sure.

Postgame rollover: Phillies break through in 11th

Placido Polanco homered leading off the 11th inning, and the Phillies survived another poor offensive showing, with a 2-0 victory that ended the Cardinals’ eight-game winning streak and averted a four-game sweep on Thursday. Cole Hamels threw a one-hitter over eight innings. (Summary courtesy of the AP, one of the handy back-pocket perks from Comcast's buyout of Beerleaguer.)

Moyer update: Jim Salisbury reports that Jamie Moyer will be lost for a significant amount of time and will indeed head to the disabled list. Word is the Saturday and Sunday replacement will be filled internally instead of by trade, according to other trusted Twitter reports.

Game chat: Phils hope to salvage one in St. Louis

Cole Hamels (7-7, 3.63) goes in search of another dominant performance, while the offense hopes to provide better run support, as the Phillies try to snap a four-game slide against right-handed ace Adam Wainwright (14-5, 2.02) and the surging Cardinals. First pitch is 2:15. Charlie Manuel continues to tinker with the lineup this afternoon, going with Polanco, Victorino, Ibanez, Howard, Werth, Rollins, Schneider, Valdez. Very quietly, Rollins, a fixture atop the lineup, has seen his lead-off role diminished. Howard, who homered yesterday and leads the league with 75 RBIs, continues to be the only productive part of the lineup. Meanwhile on the trade front, talks between the Phillies and Astros regarding Roy Oswalt have reportedly cooled. ESPN reasons that Oswalt is asking his next team to guarantee his $16 million option in 2012 before he would approve a trade, which is reportedly a sticking point for the Phillies. [Jump to the newest comments]

Amaro's first phone call should go to Dom Brown

Think back to how the hometown nine finally overcame years of mediocrity and it's filled with cases where the Phillies decided to get out of their own way. So why are the Phillies sitting on Baseball America's No. 1 prospect in favor of a pair of left fielders batting .248/.331/.394 and .231/.288/.352? (Getty)

After banging out a whole run for the second time in two nights, the Phillies, losers of four-straight and six-of-their-last-seven, desperately need to implement real change to their stale and sagging lineup. For all this talk about netting a front-line starter, pitching isn't the real issue: it's the offense. Or, to be more precise, an offense that is so hard to watch that I no longer watch.

I’ve been hesitant to bang the drum for Domonic Brown until he experienced a little more Triple-A seasoning, but it’s become an open and shut case, primarily because of how the parent club has crumbled. Raul Ibanez, who was finished before the season even started, and Ben Francisco, who belongs on the bench and never in the three-hole, are essentially wasting lineup space at a position where the Phils should be garish about run production.

So here’s your offense, which doesn’t hit for average, steal bases or hit for power anymore. And here’s Brown, hitting .323/.385/.580 with 19 homers and 14 stolen bases. Forget about waiting to trade Jayson Werth. Forget about staying the course with the current model, hoping to catch lightning in a bottle with the likes of Francisco, Dobbs are Ransom. Give Brown a buzz, stick him in left and try to salvage the season if it isn’t already too late.

Farm system rising: On a positive note, Beerleaguer’s senior correspondent received the latest copy of Baseball America and is happy to report some favorable news regarding the Phillies’ farm system. Brown, who appears on the cover, is indeed rated as the new No. 1 prospect in all of baseball. Among six players whose stocks are rising, two are Phillies: right-hander Jarred Cosart and first baseman Jon Singleton. Matt Rizzotti made the All-Surprise Team. And the Phillies system on the whole has rebounded after series of trades. John Manuel, who covers the Phils for BA and generally buys into their affinity for high-ceiling athletes, is particularly excited about the Lakewood class.

Game chat: Phils try again as weekend TBAs loom

Nobody knows what the hell is going on beyond Friday as Joe Blanton and the aimless Phillies strap up their stirrups for another round with Jaime Garcia (8-4, 2.27) and the surging Cardinals. First pitch is 8:15 with the real action happening in back offices, where Ruben Amaro Jr. will broker the phones in preparation for next week's trade deadline. The Phillies currently have two "TBA" placeholders occupying their Saturday and Sunday pitching probables. Meanwhile, the Phillies reshuffle the deck chairs tonight against the left-hander: Polanco 3B, Victorino CF, Francisco LF, Howard 1B, Werth RF, Rollins SS, Ransom 2B, Ruiz C. Rollins is hitting just .178/.263/.277 since returning from the disabled list. [Jump to the newest comments]

Breaking news: Worley earns big league promotion

The revolving door of starting pitching kept spinning today as the Phils made another surprise move, reaching for a hot-handed right-hander.

Vance Worley had his contract selected from Double-A Reading and Andrew Carpenter, after pitching in an emergency role for the fallen Jamie Moyer last night, was optioned back to Triple-A. Worley, 22, was 9-4 with a 3.20 ERA in 19 starts (112 1-3 IP) for Reading. He has pitched 17.0 consecutive scoreless innings over his last two outings, which included his first professional shutout, a three-hitter on July 9 against Harrisburg. Worley was named the Phillies' Minor League Pitcher of the Week today. His last start came Sunday: eight shutout innings against Trenton. Worley, a third-round selection in the 2008 draft, was viewed before the season as a second-tier prospect due to a 7-12 (5.34) final mark over a full season at Double-A, but he's still young. He is a sinker/slider type who has been successful at keeping the ball down.

Choose wisely: Beerleaguer trade bonanza thread

1:30 p.m. The Astros claimed Nelson Figueroa off waivers and plan to have him join the team Friday. The 36-year-old right-hander went 2-1 with a 3.46 ERA in 13 appearances, including a spot start. He was designated for assignment for the second time by the Phillies on July 15 to make room for Chad Durbin. Figueroa cleared waivers seven weeks ago, but this time, Ed Wade bit. The Houston Chronicle reports that one more move corresponding to the Astros' 25-man roster will be announced postgame. Beerleaguer: Figueroa is the type of pitcher teams reach for when they're unsure what the short-term future holds, so it's interesting in light of today's speculation.

10:30 a.m. CSNPhilly's Jim Salisbury reiterates on radio that the Phillies are scouting Dan Haren tonight, but they are really working on getting Roy Oswalt, reflecting Salisbury's earlier report on the Phillies' particular interest in the Astros' right-hander.

10:05 a.m. The Houston Chronicle reports that the Phillies and Astros are engaged in advanced talks regarding right-hander Roy Oswalt. Last night, ESPN and multiple other outlets reported that the Phils are talking about a three-way deal involving Jayson Werth going to the Rays with prospects going from Tampa to Houston.

(Getty Images)

Phillies buried seven deep as bell tolls on Moyer

The Phillies fell to a season-high seven games off the pace in the National League East and absorbed yet another injury - a strained lefty elbow that will send Jamie Moyer to the DL - in a macabre 7-1 loss to the Cardinals.

"... maybe this isn't their year." I was barely paying attention to the television set when I heard this brutally honest admittance by the Phillies broadcast crew. It echoed like a 21-gun salute. There was indeed a sensation of grim finality in this game. When Moyer walked into the tunnel after the first inning, it felt like the 47-year-old was marching into a tomb.

After the latest nine-inning death knell, CSNPhilly.com's Jim Salisbury assessed how the Phillies intend to jury-rig the rotation: "Even before the game, the Phils were looking at a need for a starting pitcher to fill demoted Kyle Kendrick's spot on Saturday. Now they will need a starter for Sunday, too. Happ likely will return from the minors to make one of those starts, Charlie Manuel said. Ruben Amaro (who met with Manuel and pitching coach Rich Dubee behind closed doors after the game) is working on landing a starting pitcher and there are signs that he is pursuing Houston’s Roy Oswalt. You can also bank on the Phils’ scouting Dan Haren’s start Wednesday. Short of a trade - and sources say that nothing is imminent -- the Phils could look to Andrew Carpenter or possibly bring back Kendrick. The Phils will have to keep going without Moyer, who will likely head back to Philadelphia to have his elbow examined. Moyer indicated that he had strained his flexor muscle/tendon. Manuel compared the injury to the one that bounced J.A. Happ from the rotation two starts into the season."

(Pictured: Jamie Moyer's left arm lies peacefully in state)

Game chat: Phils face tough customer in Carpenter

Making his first start against Philadelphia since 2006, right-hander Chris Carpenter (10-3, 3.16) tries to extend the Cardinals' winning streak to seven when they face Jamie Moyer (9-9, 4.88) and the dizzy Phillies. First pitch is 8:05. Moyer, who has lost his last three starts, has been crushed in his last two. The Phils try to get on track using the same lineup as last night. Before the game, Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. reportedly hinted at acquiring pitching help from outside the organization. For now, Andrew Carpenter, who replaced last night's loser Kyle Kendrick on the 25-man roster, will pitch in long relief. (AP Photo) [Jump to the newest comments]

SP shakeup: Kendrick optioned; Carpenter recalled

Surprising news on the Phillies' front where Kyle Kendrick and his palatable 5-4 record and 4.82 ERA (87 ERA+) is being demoted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley following a seven-run drubbing by the Cardinals. Right-hander Andrew Carpenter, who was 7-6 with a 3.41 ERA and 70/33 K/BB ratio in 100 1-3 innings at Triple-A, returns to the club.

Beerleaguer: Pretty quick hook after Kendrick gets bombed out of Busch. And it's not like Carpenter is mowing them down at Triple-A. Over his last 10 starts, he hasn't made it through the seventh inning once, although he's 3-2 with a 2.98 ERA over that span. Beerleaguers will recall that the 25-year-old right-hander is a "command of four pitches" type who isn't overpowering and relies on throwing strikes. He's made one Major League start for the Phils: May 16 in 2009 against the Nationals.

Kendrick must be dumbfounded. Before yesterday, he was 5-2 with a 3.64 ERA (31 ER, 76.2 IP) over his last 12 and had allowed three earned runs or less in seven of those starts. Frankly, he's pitched better than Joe Blanton and Jamie Moyer. As Matt Gelb of the Inquirer notes, since May 1: Moyer (7-7, 4.78), Blanton (3-5, 6.21), Kendrick (5-3, 4.04).

Precursor to Happ return? Alert Beerleaguer, Jack, wonders if this paves the way for J.A. Happ's return. "It's likely a precursor to calling up J.A. Happ, who pitches tonight in Lehigh Valley. Carpenter pitches in the 'pen the next few days, and Happ replaces Kendrick in the rotation over the weekend." Carpenter last started on Friday, so he should be relatively fresh for a relief role.

Still, a raw deal for Kendrick, who has outperformed Blanton.

Phillies muddying the waters before July 31 deadline

Four measly games over .500 and losers of four-of-five since the break, the Phillies haven't resembled a World Series contender for two months, yet it's mostly the same squad that won the Pennant the last two seasons. Decisions, decisions. (Getty)

Time to walk in Ruben Amaro's shoes. For argument's sake, your squad is seven games out on July 31 and four back in the Wild Card. You have history and Chase Utley on your side for the stretch run. But you know deep down that your team hasn't demonstrated playoff-caliber baseball for two months and the Braves have shown no signs of falling out of contention.

Last night didn't provide much clarity on what the second-year GM should do. The Phillies built an early lead and finished with 13 hits, but in the fifth, Kyle Kendrick released all the air from the balloon by surrendering three homers and an RBI double in a 8-4 loss to the Cardinals. Kendrick has been hit or miss lately, but afterward, Charlie Manuel caught some well-deserved flack for keeping Kendrick in the game to get his brains beaten in. A call to the 'pen appeared to be made only after the second homer.

In a few days, Amaro will decide whether to buy, sell or stand pat, and a strong case can be made for all three. The Phillies have openly dabbled in the pitching market and last night's outing reiterated why. However, take a look at their prospect inventory and they may only hold enough chips to outbid another club for a "good" starter without sacrificing a marquee player like Domonic Brown. Hypothetically, even if they could afford a pitcher like Ted Lilly or even Dan Haren, would that improve their odds to a much greater degree than standing pat and having J.A. Happ back healthy, Utley in September and players reverting to career norms? On the other hand, there is a growing sense that their two-month dry spell is the new reality and the time is right to restock by trading Jayson Werth, and also, possibly, pending free agents like J.C. Romero, Jose Contreras and Chad Durbin.

And that is why they pay Rube the big bucks.

Readers: "Phils offense had 17 baserunners last night, everyone getting a hit besides Valdez (0-2 w RISP). The 3-4-5 hitters went 6-12 with 2 BB. The Phils only scored 4 runs and lost anyway. Why? A combination of missed opportunities and, mostly, Kendrick. The other thing that stands out in my mind is that the Cards walked Kendrick twice, and it didn't seem to lead to much damage with the 7, 1-2 batters going 2-14 with 0 BB. Against RHP Ruiz needs to be higher in the order. Feels like the Phils have been wasting his quality AB for half a season. The team hitting since Utley went down now stands at .233/.296/.398." - Sophist

Game chat: Phillies open 4-game stay in St. Louis

Right-handers Kyle Kendrick (5-3, 4.44) and Blake Hawskworth (3-5, 4.73) are scheduled when the Phillies move on to a four-game date with the Cardinals. First pitch is 7:05.

Best of the press notes: Before the game, Ryan Howard was selected as the National League Player of the Week. Howard, who has been honored as the player of the week more than any Phillie in history (6), hit .400 with four homers and 8 RBIs form June 15-18. ... The Phillies are 21-9 in their last 30 games against the Cardinals and 12-5 in their last 17 games in Busch Stadium. Among the most memorable was a 20-run outburst in 2008 that preceded a long offensive drought. [Jump to the newest comments]

Beer nuts: What you see is what you get

The Phillies have one big cog, Chase Utley, missing from the machine. Otherwise, they’re all present and accounted for. Scary.

The question from earlier, “When was the last time the Phils looked like a team in control,” resonates strongly as the Phils get set to follow a miserable four-game set with another four-day festival of fun. The hometown nine has either looked brilliant (Cincinnati, Milwaukee) or brutal (Pittsburgh, Chicago) against the National League Norris, but hold a healthy 18-11 mark against the Norris overall, much of that padded when the Phillies were “in control.” St. Louis always fails to impress head-to-head, but the Phillies’ inconsistency since mid-May makes this series more imposing than usual against the Cards. Considering how they’ve swung the bats, these are terrifying probables:

Monday (7:05 ET): Kendrick (5-3, 4.44) vs RHP Hawksworth (3-5, 4.73)
Tuesday (8:15 ET): Moyer (9-9, 4.88) vs RHP Carpenter (10-3, 3.16)
Wednesday (8:15 ET): Blanton (3-5, 6.21) vs RHP Garcia (8-4, 2.27)
Thursday (2:15 ET): Hamels (7-7, 3.63) vs RHP Wainwright (14-5, 2.02)

If the season ended today, the Cards would make the playoffs as the Norris winner, so it’s another barometer for the Phillies, who fell to third place and 5.5 back in the division and 2 games back in the Wild Card race yesterday.

Stuff Beerleaguer missed: Ryan Vogelsong, a Kutztown University product, was released by the Phillies Friday to make room on the the Lehigh Valley roster for Antonio Bastardo. The right-hander went 2-5 with a 4.91 ERA in 25 games. He signed a minor league deal with the Phillies in January after spending three seasons in Japan.

Phillies ratings: The Phils' woes haven't detered viewers. Phillies games on Comcast SportsNet are averaging a 7.2 household rating (214,000 households) through 50 games, a 16 percent increase over last season’s first-half 6.2 ratings average.

Worley: CSNPhilly minor league insider Kevin Czerwinski wonders what it will take for 22-year-old right-hander Vance Worley to earn a promotion. Worley threw eight shutout innings yesterday and is 4-0 in his last four starts, including a three-hitter in his last outing. This is his second full season in Double-A, and Lehigh Valley's pitching staff is mostly stiffs.

Halladay comes up empty in prime time loss

A rather reprehensible series, wouldn’t you say? And just think what it would feel like if Geovany Soto held on to the ball Saturday.

What can you say about the 2010 Philadelphia Phillies? Here are 26 words that sum it up for me: Hardly worth the commitment it takes to set aside three hours to watch a game and the time it takes to slug out a blog entry. How’s that? As one reader phrased it: "When was the last time the Phils looked like a team in control?" Cincinnati series aside, we’re rarely treated to good, compelling baseball anymore. Heck, when was the last time everything clicked like it was supposed to? Perhaps it’s because we’ve been spoiled by an embarrassment of offensive and defensive riches for so long that when they suddenly turn into the Houston Astros overnight we feel a little prickly.

The Ikea shelves weren’t going to hang themselves, so Bob Brookover of the Inky will pinch hit today’s game summary whether he wants to or not: “The record also will show that Halladay, who fell to 10-8, allowed six runs in six innings before departing after a season-low 87 pitches. But underneath it all, there is the fact that Halladay has entered an inning with a lead exactly three times in his last three starts, and that he has pitched with a deficit in a career-high 36 percent of his plate appearances through 20 starts. Last night, two key defensive lapses helped push home an unearned run in the four-run second inning. First, Howard was unable to track down a catchable, two-out popup from Derrek Lee in foul territory, which extended the inning with runners on the corners. Then, with two strikes on Lee, Carlos Ruiz one-hopped a throw to second on a stolen-base attempt by Starlin Castro, allowing Tyler Colvin to score from third.” [Link]

Raul's days as everyday player appear to be over

That’s the suggestion as Phillies skipper Charlie Manuel will start Ben Francisco in left field against left-hander Tom Gorzelanny tonight, meaning Francisco and Raul Ibanez have platooned this entire series. Ibanez, who is hitting just .217/.270/.349 against lefties,  last started against a lefty before the break and was hitless. Francisco hasn’t fared much better, hitting .227/.292/.364 against southpaws.

Game chat: Phillies-Cubs conclude their series tonight on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball. Discuss it here. [Jump to the newest comments]

Sunday: Phillies finally catch a break, steal it 4-1

Down to their last out, the Phillies were forgiven for an afternoon of runners left stranded and base-running mistakes as they capitalized on five walks and a wild pitch by Cubs closer Carlos Marmol and a critical dropped ball at home on a relay throw that should have ended the game. (AP)

Beerleaguer: The Phillies haven’t been gift-wrapped a win lately, not since the early days of the season when the Braves were stuck in the basement and the Nats were still a laughingstock. Those were indeed the glory days 2010, and until Brian Schneider touched home safely when he should have been out by five feet, it looked like more of the same from the maddeningly ineffective fightins: more wasted pitching, more ducks left on the pond, more heartache. Nevertheless, it’s not like the Cubs, who scored their only run on a squeeze bunt, deserved to win, either. Cole Hamels, who lowered his ERA to 3.63, was dealing yet again, and Chad Durbin and Brad Lidge were able to hold, something the Cubs couldn’t do.

The Phillies seek the split under the lights tonight at 8 p.m. on ESPN.

Odds and ends: Joe Savery hit a pinch-hit solo homer in Lehigh Valley’s 5-1 win over Louisville. ... On Friday, Lakewood center fielder Jiwan James went 5-for-6 and finished a homer from the cycle, raising his hitting streak to 23 games. He’s hitting .363 (33-for-91) during the streak, but just .277 overall with a .707 OPS. ... On the trade front, the latest report from the Baltimore Sun says talks between the Phillies and Orioles concerning Ty Wigginton and Miguel Tejada are “dead.” And finally, Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports reasons that the Phils aren’t positioned well enough to make a run at Roy Oswalt, but also aren’t far enough out of the race to deal Jayson Werth, although he believes a Werth-for-Javier Vasquez deal would make some sense, with Domonic Brown capable of providing an “energy boost” in place of Werth. A related update on ESPN says the Yankees are now unwilling to part with catching prospect Jesus Montero and would have only traded him for Cliff Lee.

Transaction: Phillies activate Polanco; release Castro

To make room for Placido Polanco, the Phillies released veteran infielder Juan Castro. Seeing time at second, third and short, the 38-year-old infielder hit .198/.237/.238 (27 OPS+) in 136 plate appearances. Had it not been for injuries and uncertainty surrounding Jimmy Rollins' calf, it's likely he would have been gone sooner. The move means Greg Dobbs and Cody Ransom will stay for now. Castro signed a $750k Major League contract with a 2011 club option last December, which looks even more foolish now than it did back then.

Game chat: Polanco possible for Saturday matinee

Injured third baseman Placido Polanco is expected back this afternoon when Cole Hamels (7-7, 3.78) and the Phillies hope for a reversal of fortunes against Randy Wells (4-7, 4.61) and the Cubs. First pitch is 1:10 p.m.

Notes: No announcement has been made regarding Polanco as of 9:55 a.m., but reports are that his GCL rehab assignment went smoothly and his left elbow is feeling strong. The Phils could certainly use the help atop the lineup where Jimmy Rollins is hitting just .190 since returning from the disabled list. J-Roll went -for-4 and the Phils collectively managed just five base runners yesterday in a flat 4-3 loss. ... Turning to the hot stove, the Phillies have scouted the A's last four series, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Starter Ben Sheets and second baseman Mark Ellis are seen as possible targets. Meanwhile, the Phils continue to discuss Ty Wigginton with the Orioles, according to the Baltimore Sun. According to the report, the two sides have engaged in discussions for several weeks and the Phils have also expressed interest in Miguel Tejada. Wigginton is reportedly sought by multiple suitors, including the Rangers and Yankees.

[Jump to the newest comments]

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Werth turning heel

First it was Tiger Woods, then LeBron James. Now, it appears that Jayson Werth has become the latest face to turn heel in 2010. From Ryan Lawrence of the Delco Times.

"Strange things are afoot in the clubhouse of the two-time defending National League champions," Lawrence writes. "Heads are hanging. Making excuses has become tiresome. Players have become downright snippy. After Ryan Madson served up the go-ahead home run in the eighth inning of the Phillies 4-3 defeat to the Cubs Friday afternoon, the dejected setup man stood his ground as a couple of questions were lobbed his way. A few feet away in the close-quarters clubhouse, when Madson’s brief Q&A session ended, Jayson Werth decided to chime in. 'Nice interview, guys,' said the starting right fielder, who went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts, all looking, Friday.

"Nice game, Jayson," Lawrence quips. [Link]

Postgame: Cubs top Phillies on a wind-blown homer

Aramis Ramirez's homer off Ryan Madson in the bottom of the eighth proved to be the deciding run in a 4-3 loss to the Cubs Friday.

Summary: All four of the Cubs runs came with two outs, included a bases-loaded walk of Ted Lilly by Joe Blanton in the fifth. Lilly held the punchless Phillies to four hits and stuck out 10, part of a 13 strikeout effort by Cubs pitching. The Phils battled all afternoon to string together hits, but all they got were 0-fers (Rollins, Werth, Francisco, Valdez).

Beerleaguer: I said before that the Phils would slowly fall out of the race until Chase Utley returns, and that's exactly what has happened. They're staring at the possibility of falling 6.5 back if the Braves win tonight. It doesn't help that his teammates continue to underachieve in his absence. Can Jayson Werth look any more screwed up at the dish? The Phils needed him to be a central figure with Utley out of lineup, but every time he stands and admires strike three - which is happening almost daily now - it suggests that he'd rather stand in the shadows. Let someone else give him the big contract.

But I digress. Werth, Blanton, the bullpen, Wilson Valdez, the manager. Take your pick, really. The Phils are headed in the wrong direction for countless reasons.

Game chat: Phillies have another go in Chicago

Joe Blanton, (3-5, 6.41), who was bailed out of a loss in his last start when the Phillies staged a thrilling 10-inning rally to beat the Reds 9-7, tries to get back on track this afternoon against left-hander Ted Lilly (3-8, 4.08) and the Cubs. First pitch is a jarring 2:20 p.m. ET. The Phillies will feature a different lineup against Lilly: Rollins, Victorino, Werth, Howard, Francisco (LF), Ransom (3B), Ruiz, Valdez. Lilly is one of several starters bandied about in trade speculation, but don’t look for the Phillies to be active pursuers. According to Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Ruben Amaro Jr. isn’t optimistic about acquiring help before the deadline. [Jump to the newest comments]

Would Phillies revisit the half-season plan for Pops?

The Phillies pushed Jamie Moyer into semi-retirement a year ago with the addition of Pedro Martinez, a change that brought out the best in their pitching staff and extended Moyer’s battery life (until he ruptured his groin). Would they do it again? (AP Photo)

In yesterday's poll, the back end of the rotation was the least of readers' concerns, earning just six percent of the vote among the top five second-half roadblocks. But one wonders if this was the type of outing Phillies GM Ruben Amaro has in mind when he sends his men to scout starting pitching and keeps giving Pedro’s agent a courtesy call. That's not to say that Moyer hasn't been among the season's best achievers, because he has. But he's part of a group that has logged the most innings by a rotation in all of baseball, and at 47, he’s pitching now in the most brutal of months. Last night Moyer just couldn’t locate; he allowed six runs on five hits, including two long homers, and quite tellingly, two hit batsmen when he was ahead in the count. He was gone after three innings, making it two stinkers in a row. In his previous start against the Braves, the wheels came off in a hurry in a six-run sixth.

In his defense, his unsightly 4.88 ERA is inflated by about a half dozen games or even innings like this. Still, there was something to be said about the way the rotation worked a year ago. The Phillies brought in a fresh-bodied Pedro and moved Moyer into a sixth starter role, assigned to double-headers, emergency starts, rain delays and routs, and it seemed to extend Moyer's season while giving the team a good boost.

Readers: “Werth has just been abysmal. Both he and Vic are the two main people actively hurting this offense. They ended up scoring 6 runs (mainly thanks to Howard), but it was a pretty rough night at the plate for most of the team.” – Iceman

“I have to keep reminding myself that, except for his doubles (which are way up) and homeruns (which are significantly down), Werth's overall numbers are almost exactly the same as last year. I also keep having to remind myself that he hasn't really been slumping since April; he actually had a big June. I think the reason it seems like he has been slumping forever is because he's hitting an astonishingly bad .169 with RISP, and he has exactly 2 RBIs in his last 17 games.” – bay_area_phan

Game chat: Phillies go back to work in Windy City

Jamie Moyer (9-8, 4.51) and the Phillies try to match their longest winning streak of the season tonight when they start a four-game set with the Ryan Dempster (7-7, 3.81) and the Cubs. First pitch is 8:05 EDT. The Phillies will welcome Chad Durbin back into the fray.

Beerleaguer: With permission to mail-it in at the break, Beerleaguer is fully recharged and ready for some fast and furious blogging. We're talking non-waiver trade deadline, waiver trade deadline, the division race, wild card race, all with the hope that the Phillies become the last team standing in November. It all starts tonight for the 47-40 Phillies, who arrived at the break looking up at the Braves and looking around the clubhouse at some unfamiliar bodies. Injuries defined much of the first half, with Chase Utley expected to be gone until Septmeber. Nevertheless, the Phils saved their best series of the season for the end of the first act: a classic four-game sweep of the Central-leading Reds. They're looking to extend their streak to five tonight. The Phils have won eight of their last 10 over the Cubbies, who enter the second half a disappointing 39-50.

Transactions: Reliever Chad Durbin has been reinstated from the 15-day disabled list. To make room, right-hander Nelson Figueroa was designated for assignment for the second time this season. The Phils made an additional move, activating left-hander Antonio Bastardo form the disabled list and optioning him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Pitching matchups: Just a reminder that schedule-wise, this isn't your typical series. Tomorrow at 2:20 ET: Joe Blanton (3-5, 6.41) vs Ted Lilly (3-8, 4.08); Saturday at 1:05 ET: Cole Hamels (7-7, 3.78) vs Randy Wells (4-7, 4.61); Sunday, July 18 at 8:05 ET; Roy Halladay (10-7, 2.19) vs Tom Gorzelanny (4-5, 3.16).

[Jump to the newest comments]

Poll: Sizing up the Phillies' second-half obstacles

Make your selection and discuss in the thread below.

Sans Utley, Phillies getting the gang back together

The Phillies are getting healthy again, and most notably, they could be setting the table with Jimmy Rollins and Placido Polanco as early as this weekend. (Getty)

The Phillies are hoping to hit the reset button as they start the second half. Rollins and Polanco have only hit No. 1 and 2 in the lineup 11 times, a tease considering how the tandem tore it up when the season first opened. Polanco is set to appear in a couple of rehab games and pending the outcome, could rejoin the Phillies Saturday in Chicago. Polly has taken batting practice and reported no ill effects from the left elbow inflammation that’s kept him out of the lineup since July 26. Meanwhile, the bullpen could be back at full strength shortly. Chad Durbin pitched two scoreless innings Monday in Clearwater, while Antonio Bastardo, for what it’s worth, struck out two in a scoreless inning. The absence of Durbin and Ryan Madson in particular didn’t cripple the team too badly, but over the last two weeks, the oil leaks had become more noticeable. Hoping to carry over some of the momentum of a four-game sweep of the Reds, the Phillies will open the second half in Chicago tomorrow night trailing the Braves by 4.5 games in the standings.

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Byrd, Manuel stand out

Ryan Howard went 0-for-2 and Roy Halladay threw 17 pitches, becoming only a small part in the main plotline of National League pitching dominance. (Getty)

Making his first appearance in right field this season, former Phillie Marlon Byrd, who has been the lone beacon of light for a dismal Cubs team, came through with a key force out to help the NL win their first All-Star Game since 1996. With David Ortiz on first, Byrd quickly converged on a bloop, spun and fired to get the force at second to prevent the tying run from reaching base in the ninth inning. According to reports, it was the first All-Star Game outfield force out in 53 years. Byrd's two-out walk in the seventh also set up Brian McCann's three-run double. Phillies skipper Charlie Manuel also mapped out a tight blueprint to neutralize a strong American League lineup, going with match-ups by mixing starters and relievers in the middle innings. Should the Phillies reach their third-straight World Series, they'll have home-field advantage.

Beerleaguer: Byrd has become your classic late bloomer and is living up to the promise he displayed as a prospect in the Phillies' system, particularly during a sizzling 2001 season in Double-A Reading (.316/.386/.555, 28 homers, 32 stolen bases).

All-Star stage shines the light on Howard’s evolution

Over the course of Beerleaguer history, no body of work has been more widely interpreted than that of Ryan Howard, who has transformed into the total player. (Getty)

Yesterday, I took lunch with old friend and Phillies blogger Tom Goodman and we naturally got to talking about the Phils. I hadn’t met up with Tom for about a year, and halfway through our fried clam roll sandwiches, it occurred to us how much Howard has changed, along with our personal interpretations of his varied skills.

Howard may never satisfy the statisticians’ thirst for OPS and his homers may only max out in the mid-30s this season, but to paint Howard’s game with such a narrow brush stroke short-changes the strides he’s taken to become a better overall performer. Impervious to the lineup-wide slump, he’s hitting .294 with only 86 strikeouts. Without depositing as many balls into the seats, and with all the hitters around him in limbo for basically the entire season, he’s been a rock. He’s among the league leaders with 65 RBIs and smart money says he'll lead the league again when the final numbers are tallied.

Two years ago, fans were resigned to a one-tool, 200-strikeout hitter whose performance was defined entirely by the longball. Today, he’s regarded as a steady producer, a terrific athlete and self-made defender who has made commendable strides with the glove. He's matured into the total player.