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Phillies' remaining schedule hardly meaningless

The Phillies may be resting their regulars, but their play this weekend will shape the playoff picture, and have significant implications on finalizing their own postseason roster.

The Padres, Giants and Braves are in the mix for the final two playoff spots, and as it stands, the Giants lead the Pads by two games in the National League West and the Braves hold a 1.5-game edge over the Padres in the Wild Card. The Giants and Padres finish up with the Diamondbacks and Cubs respecitely before meeting head-to-head this weekend. Meanwhile, the Braves will face a Phillies team scheduled to pitch Kyle Kendrick on Friday followed by two open slots Saturday and Sunday. It's unlikely that Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt will appear this weekend, and Cole Hamels could make just a short cameo. Still, half of the Phillies' players will be trying to cement their place on the postseason roster.

Notes: Ben Francisco homered twice and benchmates Mike Sweeney and John Mayberry also left the park in the Phillies' 7-1 win over the Nationals. Joe Blanton (9-6, 4.74) allowed one unearned run to stay unbeaten over his last 13 starts. In addition, Greg Dobbs added a pair of hits and played very well at third as the postseason roster picture appears to be getting muddier. Phils improved to 95-64 on the season, and as you might have heard, have already secured home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. ... Placido Polanco is expected to rejoin the team in Atlanta after getting a cortisone shot in his left elbow yesterday in Philadelphia.

Game chat: Phillies empty the bench for finale

Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth, Raul Ibanez and Carlos Ruiz get the night off as Joe Blanton and the Phillies finish up with the Nationals. Mike Sweeney, Ben Francisco, Paul Hoover, Greg Dobbs and John Mayberry are called into starting duty. Site note: Light posting until tomorrow as I we gear up for the postseason. Why not? Everyone else is sitting out. [Jump to the newest comments]

Game chat: Rollins, Brown back in lineup tonight

As admirably as Wilson Valdez has performed, the Phillies are hoping for a healthy and ready Jimmy Rollins for the start of the second season. With five days to play with, Rollins is back in the lead-off spot tonight when the Phillies play a meaningless game with the Nationals beginning at 7:05. Forgotten Ferrari Domonic Brown sets up in right field, Ben Francisco in center, Greg Dobbs at third and Brian Schneider behind the plate. [Jump to the newest comments]

Tuesday: Best of times eclipse worst of times

A sharp memory will never be my strong suit. My inability to retain even largest details in a baseball season was part of the reason I started to catalogue every moment on Beerleaguer.

I’ll often revisit archived entries because I forgot something that occurred only a few weeks ago. I know how my mind misfires. I know that last night’s boring game and contrived celebration will fade into the background. There is a certain defense mechanism triggered by the presence of Bud Light pounders. I’m happy for Mike Sweeney and Brian Schneider, I guess, but don’t push it. This is just the first step for the odds-on favorite to win the East anyway. We, as Phillies fans, know joy when we see it, and we know the Phils must take three more steps to feel it. It’s why Comcast SportsNet keeps repeating clips of Brett Myers closing out the game in the 2007 division clincher. Pure, unbridled joy. (It’s no coincidence that they were quickly bounced). From my vantage point, the widest smiles this season occurred after Doc’s perfect game and again when an onrush of teammates chased down Chooch after he walked off on Jonathon Broxton. In a season of extreme highs and lows, the lowest lows spanned a couple of excruciatingly bad sets: the ugliness of the Astros umpiring debacle, with Ryan Howard going ballistic, and going 0-for-the-Mets series.

Generally speaking, the good (Moyer two-hitter, Werth walk-off, Reds series dramatics, etc.) obviously outweighs the feeling of being seven back only a few weeks ago. Use this thread to jog our memories.

Game chat: Rollins will wait another day

Poor weather conditions have forced Jimmy Rollins from the lineup once again as the Phillies try to capture the East in rainy Washington. Roy Halladay and Jordan Zimmerman are scheduled.

Halladay in September: Roy Halladay has typically been dominant as the baseball calendar nears its end. In September and October, he's sporting a 2.77 career ERA, lower than that of any other individual month, with a record of 27-11. But in 2010, Doc is experiencing a rare slump. While he continues to win games (4-0 this September), Halladay’s numbers this month are strikingly inferior to his numbers in June, July or August. His 4.55 ERA is more than a point higher than during any other month, and his innings per start (6.9) and K/BB ratio (5.75) are both worse than his season norms.

Lineups: Victorino CF, Polanco 3B, Utley 2B, Howard 1B, Werth RF, Ibanez LF, Ruiz C, Valdez SS. The Nationals go Espinosa 2B, Bernadina CF, Desmond SS, Dunn 1B, Morse RF, Harris LF, Rodriguez C, Gonzalez 3B. Note the absence of Ryan Zimmerman.

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Getting to 25: Phillies face decisions with bench

With October baseball nearing, it’s time to start drawing up some rough drafts of the Phils’ 25-man playoff roster.

The Phillies will benefit in more than one way if they’re able to line up the Big Three to pitch in the Division Series. Scaling back the rotation to three pitchers would allow them to carry fewer pitchers and put the extra bodies toward the bench if they so choose. Here’s a quick look at the projected bench as it stands today.

Locks: Brian Schneider is a sure bet to fill the backup catcher role, and Wilson Valdez’s versatility and performance make him indispensable. Ross Gload has obviously had a better year at the plate (.274/.323/.424) than Greg Dobbs, plus he has better career numbers than Dobbs against two of the three most likely NLDS opponents. Gload is hitting .304 against the Reds’ staff and .269 against the Giants’ staff. Ben Francisco was abysmal in last year’s postseason, going hitless in 12 plate appearances. He’s had a lackluster season overall, but he’s next on the outfield depth chart.

Bubble: Dobbs’ offensive struggles (.190/.247/.333) have been no secret, but the corner infielder does provide some left-handed pop off the bench, plus he’s a career .333 (7 for 21) hitter in the playoffs. Mike Sweeney has never played in a single playoff series. However, the 16-year veteran does have the ability to drive the baseball, and his approach at the plate makes him an enticing DH (designated hugger) option against lefties. Mayberry and Brown are two players that can do some dynamic things on a baseball field. Both are a little green defensively, but each is capable of the occasional moon shot, and they can both run. Their 2010 minor league numbers are comparable for what they can provide off the bench: 15 homers and 20 steals at Lehigh Valley for Mayberry, while Brown belted 20 homers and stole 17 bags between Reading and Lehigh Valley. It could come down to whether the Phils would rather have a righty (Mayberry) or lefty (Brown) at their disposal.

No: Paul Hoover and Brian Bocock

(Written for Beerleaguer by Matt Grassie)

Monday: Phillies won’t settle for consolation prize

The Phillies lost to the Mets 7-3. Hours later, they were ensured a playoff berth when the Padres lost to the Reds 12-2.

Qualifying for the postseason has become so commonplace that news of the Phillies clinching wasn’t even worth of its own blog entry. In fact, the Phillies may not even take a proper champagne bath at all. Heavy rain is forecast for Washington tonight. If the Braves lose, the Phillies could clinch the division sitting on their backsides in the comfort of their hotel rooms. Or how about this scenario: If the Braves prevail, the Phils could also clinch in a possible Tuesday double-header make-up, possibly Game 1, and put the champagne on ice until after the second game. (The champagne has indeed made the trip to D.C. To save on travel expenses, Brian Bocock and Paul Hoover stowed away with the crates of alcohol).

These ho-hum scenarios are all because Cole Hamels and the Phillies came out flat in their final regular-season home series. Hamels, who looked a little more like the “unglued” Hamels of ’09, battled an inconsistent strike zone and was burned by a couple of cutters that caught too much of the plate. Four innings tied his shortest outing of the season.

Sunday chat: Phillies prepared to punch playoff ticket

Sundays have been fine days for clinching. It could happen again if Cole Hamels (12-10, 2.93) and the Phillies top the Mets, and if Livan Hernandez (10-12, 3.75) and the Nationals can trip up the Braves. Both games begin at 1:35 ET.

Mets 5, Phillies 2: Ryan Howard gave the Phillies an early lead in the first inning with a two-run homer, but the Phillies couldn't tack on in Saturday's 5-2 loss. Kyle Kendrick pitched six shutout innings before running into trouble in the seventh. Chad Durbin allowed a run in two-thirds of an inning, but also allowed three of Kendrick's runners to score. Elsewhere, the Braves blanked the Nationals 5-0.

Lopes last season? First base coach and base-running guru Davey Lopes told Matt Gelb of the Inquirer that he is unsure whether he will return next season. Lopes, who is in his fourth year with the club, confirmed that he has been asked to stay on, but would not go into specifics on his future plans. Gelb also confirmed that all five field coaches, a group that apparently includes newly assigned hitting coach Greg Gross, have been asked to stay on for next season. "We would like to invite everybody back," Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. told Gelb. "We'll see how it goes." [Link]

Notes: The Phillies have been playing exceptional baseball, but could use a little more offense. Over their last five games, they've averaged under three runs. ... Charlie Manuel told reporters that Jimmy Rollins will be out until Monday at the earliest. ... Ed Wade is feasting on the Phillies' table scraps once again. The Astros claimed right-hander Cesar Carrillo off waivers from the Padres earlier this week. Carrillo, a former first-round pick, was picked up briefly picked up by the Phillies, but dropped to make room for Brian Bocock on the 40-man roster.

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Game chat: Phillies sitting on division title doorstep

Atlanta kept their extremely slim division-title hopes alive with a 5-0 win over Washington, meaning the Phillies must wait until tomorrow at the earilest, their last regular-season home game, to clinch their fourth-straight division title. In the meantime, the Phils try to take one-step closer tonight with Kyle Kendrick looking for his 11th win. Right-hander Dillon Gee goes for the Mets. First pitch is 7:05. The Phils go Victorino CF, Polanco 3B, Utley 2B, Howard 1B, Werth RF, Ibanez LF, Ruiz C, Valdez SS. [Jump to the newest comments]

Saturday: Phillies could clinch division title tonight

Joe Blanton continued the Phillies' run of dominant starts by throwing seven strong innings in a 3-2 win over the Mets Friday night. The Phillies' 11-game winning streak marks their longest since 1991.

Once again, the Phillies prevail on the strength of pitching and defense. Blanton allowed two runs on six hits as he continued his post-All Star break revival. In 14 starts since the break, he's 5-1 with a 3.59 ERA, an impressive roll overshadowed by the power of the Big Three. Meanwhile, the back of the bullpen continued to ice it down, starting with Ryan Madson, who might be the best reliever in the league right now. Madson, who pitched a perfect eighth, has not allowed an earned run in his last 19 appearances (18 2-3 innings), giving up just nine hits over that span and averaging over a strikeout per inning. Brad Lidge has been no slouch, either. Lidge stranded the tying run at third to finish the ninth for his 27th save and fourth in four games.

The win, coupled with Atlanta's 8-3 loss to Washington, means the Phillies would clinch their fourth-straight division title if Atlanta loses this afternoon and the Phils come out on top against right-hander Dillon Gee and the Mets tonight at 7:05. Kyle Kendrick is scheduled for the Phillies. Derek Lowe and Yunesky Maya pitch today's matinee for Atlanta and Washington.

Pitching and defense win. Timely hits when they (specifically Chooch, and lately, Ibanez) can get them. A gaudy 19-3 record in September. Anything your team can do this team can do better.

Game chat: Phillies host Mets, eye playoff berth

Joe Blanton (7-6, 5.04) and the Phillies open up a three-game series with R.A. Dickey (11-7, 2.92) and the Mets beginning tonight at 7:05 p.m. from Citizens Bank Park.

Notes: The last time Dickey took the mound against the Phillies, he threw a one-hit shutout on Aug. 13. The last time Dickey took the mound at Citizens Bank Park, five days earlier on Aug. 8, the Phils shelled him for eight hits and six runs in three innings en route to a 6-5 win. For the Phils, Raul Ibanez will attempt to stay hot. Over his last seven, Ibanez is hitting .464 with four doubles, a homerun and nine RBIs. The Mets are coming off five straight losses, while the Phils carry a 10-game win streak into the series. The Phillies’ magic number sits at four with nine to play. Tonight, the Phils line up with Victorino CF, Polanco 3B, Utley 2B, Howard 1B, Werth RF, Ibanez LF, Ruiz C, Valdez SS.

Rollins: Charlie Manuel told reporters that he intends to start Jimmy Rollins Sunday.

Probables:
Saturday:  Dillon Gee (1-1, 1.80) vs. Kyle Kendrick (10-9, 4.78)
Sunday:  Mike Pelfrey (15-9, 3.75) vs. Cole Hamels (12-10, 2.93)
Monday: Roy Halladay (20-10, 2.53) vs John Lannan (8-7, 4.58)
Tuesday:  Roy Oswalt (13-13, 2.80) vs Jason Marquis (2-9, 7.18)
Wednesday: TBA vs Ross Detwiler (1-2, 2.52)

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Valdez can pick it; Howard picks it up vs. LHP

Wilson Valdez set career highs in virtually every offensive category this year, but his contributions with the glove have been even more valuable to the Phils’ playoff run. (Getty Images)

Subbing for Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley, Valdez has demonstrated some serious middle infield versatility, showcasing a rifle arm, cat-like range and perhaps his best trait of all: reliability. In 421 innings at short, Valdez has committed just two errors. Of all National League shortstops with more than 25 starts, Valdez is the leader in fielding percentage (.991). In addition, during his time at second (June 29 to August 15, a span of 301 1-3 innings), Wil-Val booted it just once. Errors may not be the best measure of performance, but there’s something to be said about providing pitchers, and the skipper, with this much peace of mind, and doing so at two different positions.

Howard’s improved splits: In 204 plate appearances against lefites, Howard is hitting .264/.333/.500 with 12 bombs (15.2 AB/HR) and 37 RBIs. Last season, in 199 plate appearances, he was a .228/.296/.417 hitter with seven homers.

(Written for Beerleaguer by Matt Grassie)

A hit-or-miss season for ex-Phillies prospects

While we wait for the Phillies to clinch the division, here’s a look at how some recently departed farmhands fared with their new squads.

Kyle Drabek: In 27 starts for Toronto’s Double-A team, Drabek, 22, went 14-9 with a 2.94 ERA including a no-hitter against New Britain on July 4. Drabek led the Eastern League in wins, was third in innings pitched and third in strikeouts (132). The recently promoted right-hander allowed six total runs in 11 innings in losses to the Orioles and Mariners.

Michael Taylor: Swapped to the Athletics shortly after his trade to Toronto, the 24-year-old outfielder spent this season at Triple-A, posting a .272 average with a .348 on-base percentage. After hitting 20 homers in 116 games last season (splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A), he managed just six home runs in 127 games this year. He missed time mid-season with a calf injury.

Travis d’Arnaud: Several front office officials were reluctant to deal their promising catcher, but in the end, d’Arnaud would become part of the package to Toronto. The 21-year-old backstop was a .259/.315/.411 hitter with six homers and 38 RBIs for Single-A Dunedin. He threw out a career-high 30 percent of base stealers (16 of 54) from behind the plate.

Carlos Carrasco: The 23-year-old righty had a solid season for the Indians’ Triple-A affiliate, going 10-6 with a 3.65 ERA. He was promoted to the majors earlier this month and has been impressive through five starts with Cleveland. He is 1-1 with a 3.03 ERA and has put forth a quality start in all five outings. By comparison, he made five starts for the Indians last year and went 0-4 with an 8.87 ERA and zero quality starts.

Jason Donald: The 26-year-old infielder spent most of the season with Cleveland, seeing time in 88 games (84 starts). Donald hit .253/.312/.378 with four home runs and 24 RBIs for the Tribe while splitting time between second base and shortstop. His five minutes of fame came on June 2 when he was the apparent final out of Armando Galarraga’s near-perfect game, only to have umpire Jim Joyce call him safe on the play.

Lou Marson: In 82 games for the Tribe, Marson only managed a .196 batting average with three home runs and 22 RBIs. He hit only .159 against right-handed pitching. The 24-year-old catcher spent most of the summer in the minors, but things didn’t get any better for him at Triple-A Columbus as he hit just .202/.327/.371 in 37 games.

Jason Knapp: A big right-hander who underwent shoulder surgery shortly after he was traded to the Indians, Knapp enjoyed a solid cameo in the minors this season. The 20-year-old appeared in nine total games between Rookie Ball and Class-A and notched a combined 2.86 ERA. Knapp struck out 47 batters in 28 1-3 innings and did not allow a home run.

Anthony Gose: The main prospect involved in the Oswalt deal, Gose was immediately swapped to the Blue Jays and assigned to Single-A. The 20-year-old outfielder batted a combined .262 in 130 games for the Phils’ and Blue Jays’ Single-A affiliates, swiping 45 bases but also getting thrown out 32 times. He has not displayed much power at this point, registering just seven homers and 27 RBIs in 130 games in 2010.

Jonathan Villar: It has been a rough stretch for Villar since joining Houston’s Single-A team. He has hit just .225 in 32 games and has struck out 50 times in 129 at-bats. In 500 ABs split between the Phils’ and Astros’ Single-A squads, Villar hit .260 with five home runs and 55 RBIs. The 19-year-old also stole 45 bases in 60 attempts, but he was a disaster in the field, committing a whopping 56 errors in 130 games at shortstop.

(Written for Beerleaguer by Drew Silverman)

Plenty to follow in Florida Instructional League

Many of the Phillies’ top young prospects, and a number of surprise faces, were invited to participate in the annual invitation-only league.

Pitchers: Gabriel Arias, Phillippe Aumont, Jesse Biddle, Lisalverto Bonilla, Jacob Borup, David Buchanan, Garett Claypool, Jarred Cosart, Jacob Diekman, Sergio Escalona, Craig Fritsch, Perci Garner, Nick Hernandez, Mario Hollands, Steven Inch, Colin Kleven, Tyler Knigge, Derrick Loop, Mike McGuire, Marek Minarik, Brian Morgado, Jon Musser, Hector Neris, Miguel Nunez, J.C. Ramirez, Juan Sosa, Ethan Stewart, Kevin Walter; Catchers: Angel Chavarin, James Klocke, Chase Numata, Cameron Rupp, Sebastian Valle; Infielders: Chris Duffy, Edgar Duran, Maikel Franco, Harold Garcia, Anderson Gonzalez, Cesar Hernandez, Stephen Malcolm, Geancarlo Mendez, Cody Overbeck, Joe Savery, Francisco Silva, Jonathan Singleton; Outfielders: Aaron Altherr, Miguel Alvarez, Zach Collier, Kelly Dugan, Kyrell Hudson, Jiwan James, D’Arby Myers, Brian Pointer, Domingo Santana, Jeremy Slayden.

Mathieson: According to PhuturePhillies.com, Scott Mathieson has also joined the roster and will not return to the big club this September. Mathieson had been on the DL with a lower back strain.

Notes: After his early July demotion to Clearwater, Aumont struck out 77 batters in 72 1-3 innings. Biddle debuted in the Gulf Coast League, where he went 3-1 with a 4.32 ERA. Cosart enjoyed a terrific, albeit injury-shortened, year at Lakewood, earning a nod to the Futures Game before heading to the disabled list in June. Escalona, who spent five separate stints with the Phils last season, notched 10 saves at Reading. Savery will try to channel his inner Rick Ankiel as the former number one pick continues his transition from pitcher to position player. Savery hit .348 with 22 total bases in 46 at-bats at Lehigh Valley. Collier, a first-round pick in 2008, sat out this year with a hand/wrist injury. Dugan was sidelined for the early portion of '10 with a foot infection, but returned to action with Williamsport in late August. Slayden, a non-roster invitee a season ago, announced his retirement from baseball late in '09, but it appears he’s giving it another crack at age 28.

(Roster provided by the Phillies, notes compiled by Matt Grassie for Beerleaguer)

Phillies strongarm the Braves right on outta here

Summary: Five total pitchers were all the Phillies needed in muscling all three from the Braves. Roy Oswalt saved the best for last by combining with Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge on a one-hitter as Raul Ibanez's two-out double in the eighth pushed across the game's only run in Wednesday's 1-0 victory. The Phils reduced their incredible and magical shrinking number to four with nine to play and have won 10 straight.

Beerleaguer: The Phillies have become masters of the 162-game schedule. They know precisely when it's acceptable to let off the gas and when it's time to step on it. They over-prepare, because that's what winners do. They set a target on this series weeks ago - making the trade for Oswalt, lining up their rotation - and pierced Atlanta with three shots to the center of mass. The Braves can't even limp home. They're already dead.

Game 3 primer: Hanson stands in way of sweep

Preview: The Phillies timed their longest winning streak and best-collective effort to coincide with the biggest series of the year. In the first two games, the Phils have outperformed the Braves in every possible way: better pitching, better defense and enough timely hitting to put the required runs on the board. Tonight will be the first time this series the Phils face an established starter. Right-hander Tommy Hanson (10-11, 3.62) last faced them on May 31, the day the Braves ripped away the division lead and would secure it for most of the summer. The Phils took it back Sept. 7 and have opened up a five-game lead in the days since. Roy Oswalt (13-13, 2.90) tries to push the Phillies’ lead to six and improve to 8-1 as a Phillie. Hanson allowed four runs in six innings against the Mets in his previous start. … Lineups have been announced: Sans Rollins, standard set.

Rotation notes: Joe Blanton, Cole Hamels and Roy Halladay will pitch this weekend against the Mets following tomorrow’s off day. Kyle Kendrick, Oswalt and Blanton are set for next week’s series in Washington.

Record ratings: Tuesday's Phillies game set another ratings benchmark for Comcast SportsNet. Tuesday’s game delivered a 15.0 rating (446,000 households) and peaked at a 19.8 rating (589,000 HHs), breaking both average and peak records set this past Monday (14.5 rating and 18.9 peak). Last night’s Phillies game was the most watched program in the Philadelphia market. Through 15 games in September, the Phils are averaging a 10.6 rating (315,000 HHs), besting last year’s September average 8.7 rating. (via CSN news release)

Phils' affiliate could become reality for West Chester

No formal agreement is in place, but the Phillies have confirmed meeting with a West Chester group about the possibility of bringing a team to a proposed $40M ballpark, according to reports.

Financial hurdles would need to be cleared before the 4,000-5,000 seat venue becomes a reality, but according to reports, the Phillies would at least have some interest in bringing a Class-A team to nearby West Chester, Chester County, possibly a short-season team. The proposed stadium would be built on a 32-acre lot that was formerly a Wyeth Laboratories facility at South Bolmar and East Nields streets, a lot currently owned by Pifzer. State Senator Andrew E. Dinniman is working to secure a $20 million grant for the project, according to reports. Borough boosters calling themselves the Turks Head Stadium Alliance are pushing to make it happen in time for the 2013 season. [Link: Borough ballpark push under way]

Wednesday: Readers celebrate rare 20-win treat

Beerleaguers also recognize Roy Halladay’s poise in working out of jams even when he doesn’t have his A-game.

“When I was a kid, winning 20 games was quite an achievement, but usually each league had a handful of 20 game winners. Now, with the pitch count limits and designated by inning relievers, starters aren't involved in as many decisions, so instead of a handful of 20 game winners each year, in each league, we now get a handful of 20 game winners each decade. My hat is off to Roy. His 20 wins are a great achievement. How many wins does he who shall not be named have this year? The answer is 12.” – Lake Fred

"Doc certainly hasn't brought it the past handful of starts, but this is really the only spell like this this season for him. I'm sure that the extra rest days will catch up with him soon enough. And can you think of anyone who would will themselves towards superiority more than Halladay for his first round of playoffs?"  – Sam

"Halladay induced a key ground ball that would have gotten him out of an inning without giving up a run, but Rick Ankiel, who slid outside the basepath, got hit in the hand with the ball coming out of Valdez's hand. If that double play gets turned, or is ruled a double play on the basis of Ankiel clearly going outside of the basepaths. Halladay's night doesn't look quite so un-Halladaysian anymore, as he likely goes 7, giving up 2 ER, or maybe goes into the 8th, as he would have had less pitches. No matter what, though, he always gives the Phillies a chance to win." – Fatalotti

Halladay notches 20th win; Phillies lead East by five

Roy Halladay (20-10) pitched seven effective innings in becoming the first Phillie in 28 years to win 20 games.

Beerleaguer: For second-straight night, a Phillies starter fought through a tight strikezone while the offense did what it needed to do against a rookie pitcher. Halladay lasted seven, but had his share of problems, allowing seven hits - many of them hard hits - while walking two and striking out three. To my eyes, he didn't seem to be in control the way we're accustomed to seeing. There's something that isn't quite the same lately. Meanwhile, Jayson Werth broke open the scoring with a huge three-run homer in the third, while Raul Ibanez's second double of the night knocked in the other pair later in the sixth. Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge were again sharp in locking down the eighth and ninth. For Lidge, it was his 25th save in 30 tries.

Roy Oswalt and Tommy Hanson are scheduled tomorrow when the scorching-hot Phils take aim at a six-game lead and 10-straight wins. Marching right along ...

Transaction: CSNPhilly's Jim Salisbury reports that the Phillies have signed a 16-year-old Dominican pitcher named Franklyn Zavala. The 6-4 lefty received a $330,000 signing bonus, Salisbury writes.

Game chat: Halladay takes aim at 20th win tonight

Roy Halladay (19-10, 2.49) tries to become the first Phillie since 1982 to accomplish the feat tonight in the second of three with Braves. First pitch is 7:05, with rookie Mike Minor (3-1, 5.84) slated for Atlanta. Following last night's win, the Phillies, who have won eight straight, hold a four-game lead in the National League East. Notes: Monday night’s Phillies victory over the Braves had the highest rating of any Phillies regular season game in Comcast SportsNet history. The 3-1 win received a rating of 14.5 (431,400 households). Phillies games are averaging an 8.0 household rating through mid-September, which is also a new high for the network. Lineups: Sans Jimmy, standard set. [Jump to the newest comments]

Tuesday: A love letter to Placido Polanco

Monday's win featured the little things that Polly has added all season.

Stats can never be the be-all and end-all in baseball. Placido Polanco, who finished the game 0-for-3, is a perfect example. If you watched the broadcast you heard Chris Wheeler repeatedly praise Polanco's approach to hitting. Nobody is less likely to hit one out these days than Polanco, including Wilson Valdez, and possibly even Brian Bocock. Polly has shortened his swing considerably since getting plunked on the left elbow by a Tim Hudson fastball, a condition that will require offseason surgery. At best, he'll muscle one into the gap; he did this last night by stroking one deep to left-center; but the wind held it up long enough for Matt Diaz to get under it. In my lifetime, I've seen few better situational hitters than Polly roll through town. As successful as the Phils were before bringing him aboard, they were missing a hitter like this. Give him a baserunner and he'll move him along. He'll always hit behind the runner and will always give himself up. He's itching to swing, but in certain situations, he'll kill you with patience, just as he did by drawing a smart lead-off walk to open the seventh inning. Additionally, his health issues haven't affected his glove or arm, which have been spot-on.

For as long as he's able to do the little things, the Phillies owe it to themselves to insert the best possible candidate into the leadoff spot, and right now it's Shane Victorino. The Phils have received everything they could have possibly wanted from their two-hole hitter. He's still one of the best in the business.

Hamels chops down Braves as Phillies prevail 3-1

Beerleaguer: Cole Hamels would have beaten anyone tonight, especially with defenders who executed as well as the Phillies. Hamels endured a tight strike zone and smart Atlanta lineup in allowing a run over eight innings, striking out six, as the Phils seized the first of three key games with the Braves. Hamels used a mixture of four pitches including a seldom-seen curveball in keeping the Braves off the bases. Brad Lidge followed with a lights-out ninth to earn his 24th save. The Phils turned three terrific twin killings to keep Cole out of trouble. At the dish, the Phils used a patient approach and benefited from a couple of Atlanta errors in scoring three runs off last-minute replacement Brandon Beachy. Atlanta's best moment came when outfielder Matt Diaz gave park security a gentleman's assist in tripping a red-costumed streaker (video gratuitously embedded below, even thought Chris Wheeler instructed viewers not to). With the win, the Phillies lengthened their lead to four games in the National League East. (AP Photo)

 

Braves-Phils countdown: Beachy gets nod for Atlanta

Notes: The Braves have announced that Brandon Beachy will indeed replace scheduled starter Jair Jurrjens, who is out with a sore knee. The move means that the Braves will be starting rookies, Beachy and Mike Minor, in back-to-back starts in the most important series of the year. The Braves, who trail the Phillies by three games, are also keeping a close eye on the Wild Card race, where they hold a 2.5-game lead over the Padres and a 3.5-game lead over the surging Rockies. Atlanta tries to continue their recent success against the Phils, having won 7 of 12 head-to-head meetings. Meanwhile, the Phils, who are a white-hot 15-3 in September, send one of the hottest pitchers in baseball to the hill in the form of Cole Hamels (11-10, 3.01), who is aiming to extend the Phillies’ winning streak to eight. Hamels has surrendered just one run over his last 31 2-3 innings.

Braves-Phils countdown: Jurrjens could miss start

The Braves have summoned pitching prospect Brandon Beachy to Philadelphia in case Jair Jurrjens' sore knee keeps him out of Monday's start against the Phillies, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Braves GM Frank Wren says the move is precautionary and that Jurrjens' condition is improving. Beachy , a 24-year-old right-hander, split the season with Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Gwinnett where he went a combined 5-1 with a 1.75 ERA and a very strong 148/28 K/BB ratio in 35 games (13 starts, 119 1-3 innings). Jurrjens has struggled lately, pitching to a 7.09 ERA over his last five starts.

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Retribution for Phils' pair

In particular, Raul Ibanez, who's climbing toward career norms, and Jayson Werth, who endured his RISP mix-up and delivered one of the greatest clutch hits of 2010. (Getty Images)

Retracting from a previous edition of Beerleaguer, Ibanez isn't washed up after all. In his customarily streaky way, and on the heels of a 3-for-4 with a homer, he's back to hitting .272/.351/.442 (110 OPS+). That's all one could have hoped for after the first three months or so, watching him drag his bat through the strikezone as if he was coated in a thick shell of molasses. Perhaps the groin is finally healthy. He's hitting it hard and hitting it the opposite way, just like he did in his superhuman opening months of '09. It appeared that those days were behind him, and perhaps even his status as a starting player. Ibanez was essentially platooned for a few weeks with Ben Francisco, an arrangement that seemed beneficial for both sides, but the plan was quietly scrapped, and now this second chance has also worked. Over his last dozen games, he's hitting .467/.529/.800 with three homers and 10 RBIs.

As for Werth, we've read a lot about how producing with runners in scoring position isn't an actual skill, but going 1-for-100, or whatever it was, must have chaffed his beard something fierce. Hang-ups like that are why slumps often go from bad to worse. Manuel benched Werth during several low points in an attempt to clear his head, just so he could be in the right state of mind when it mattered most, which is right now. Werth will never be my favorite player (and certainly not now that he's hired Scott Boras as his representation), but when the Phillies look toward their power-user run producers, there's no question where they're getting most of it.

Werth's walk-off jack powers Phillies past Nationals

Sunday chat: Phillies close series as Atlanta looms

Joe Blanton (7-6, 5.00) and the Phillies go for seven in a row this afternoon against rookie right-hander Yunesky Maya (0-2, 6.55) and the Nationals. First pitch is 1:35, with the Braves and Mets getting underway at 1:10.

Kendrick: Ryan Howard set a franchise record with five straight seasons with at least 30 homers and 100 RBIs, while Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez also homered in Saturday's 5-2 victory. Ibanez and Wilson Valdez collected three hits as the Phillies continue to spread their production evenly this September. They've also capitalized on a run of lousy opposing pitching. As a group, they haven't smoked the ball this well since the opening weeks of the season. Meanwhile, Kyle Kendrick overcame an iffy first and fat pitch and survived six innings, allowing a pair of runs. It's time to regard Kendrick's season as a success rather than a failure. The 26-year-old right-hander fought to win back his job in spring training, has started 29 games (169 1-3 innings) and has collected 10 wins, just as many as Tommy Hanson and more than Ted Lilly and a number of others. Granted, he's received the fifth-highest run support in the league, but still. Someone had pitch those innings. Better an internal option like Kendrick, with his 4.78 ERA, than an expensive veteran equivalent. He's a flawed, but adequate fifth starter for this team. If after four seasons Vance Worley is 34-23 with a 4.71 ERA like Kendrick, I'll eat my hat.

Hamels benefiting from performance specialist: CSNPhilly's Jim Salisbury is the first to reveal Cole Hamels' secret weapon: a San Diego-based sports psychologist who's helped the left-hander get his mojo back. Read Salisbury's full article here before Fox and ESPN recycle it.

Lakewood wins Sally League title: Congratulations to the low-A Lakewood BlueClaws who beat Greenville 4-2 on Saturday afternoon to clinch their second straight South Atlantic League title. The BlueClaws have won three titles in the last five years. The Phillies Gulf Coast League team also won their league championship earlier this month.

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Game chat: Streaking Phillies seek sixth straight

 Preview: Kyle Kendrick (9-9, 4.85) tries to overcome his home woes and struggles against the Nationals tonight in the second of three from Citizens Bank Park. First pitch is 7:05 with Jordan Zimmerman (0-1, 5.29) scheduled for Washington. Kendrick, who has a 5.81 ERA at home and a 12.71 ERA against Washington, will look to build on a decent start in his last turn. The Phils will go with their standard lineup against Zimmerman, who is coming off his worst outing of the year. [Jump to the newest comments] 

Saturday thread: Phillies swat aside the Nats 9-1

Roy Oswalt earned his seventh-straight win as the Phils continued their second-half dominance against the National League East.

Beerleaguer: The Phillies have certainly made the other side look like a bunch of chumps this past week. Winning has never looked this easy; 19 of their last 24 against the East, and all told, a familiar 40-21 after the break, the best mark in the league again. It's all clicking; the pitching, the hitting, all in perfect balance. Predictably, it's all gone according to plan: hang loose until the trade deadline, pick up a marquee arm, then go 13-3 to start off September and overtake the division lead.

Game chat: Phillies open final homestand of ‘10

Jason Marquis (2-8, 6.60) is queued up for the surging Phillies tonight in the first of three with the Nationals. First pitch is 7:05 with Roy Oswalt (6-1, 1.98) slated to deal.

Preview: The Phillies keep running their Ryan Howard Blue Cross deserving Phillie promo spot. My choice would be Roy Oswalt, who is 6-0 with a 1.56 ERA since the beginning of August. According to Stats Inc., his .177 BAA against is the lowest in baseball over that span. Oswalt is coming off a complete-game shutout in Sunday's finale against the Mets, a huge win that helped the Phils catapult to a three-game lead in the National League East. Meanwhile, a runner up would be Shane Victorino, who’s ignited an offensive resurgence since shifting into the leadoff spot. Vic is 18-for-42 with five stolen bases and 12 runs over a nine-game hitting streak, representing his best little stretch of the season. Lineups are posted: Vic, Polanco, Utley, Howard, Werth, Ibanez , Ruiz, Valdez.

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Friday thread: Phillies back in the driver's seat

Getting up to speed as the first-place Phillies get set for the Nationals.

No news is good news in mid-September for a contending team. Two years ago during the Phillies' run to the World Series, there was still plenty of uncertainty as to whether the Phils would even qualify for the postseason. Those covering the hometown nine, Beerleaguer included, were writing at a fever pitch. Not today. A lot has changed. Even when the Phils were still trailing Atlanta, the prevailing wisdom was that they'd eventually hunt them down. Now that they have, you'll notice how the conversation has shifted to a "barring a collapse" tone, at least today as they get set for a series with the "pesky" Nationals, "pesky" being the word that used to describe the Marlins. Everybody knows that the season hinges on six with Atlanta and the Big Three's ability to throw strikes. In other words, nobody can stop the Phillies but themselves. History supports this. As the last few seasons have shown, they won't stand in their own way.

Game chat: Phillies finish up in South Florida

The Phillies can strengthen their division lead to three games if Roy Halladay (18-10, 2.44) can lock down the Marlins tonight in Miami.

Preview: Start after start, Halladay has savaged the NL East, going 11-1 with a 1.46 ERA against division foes, including a 1.13 ERA and a perfect game against Florida. Meanwhile, Jorge Sosa (2-2, 5.82) will start in a by-the-committee game for the reeling Fish, so the Phils are set up to walk out of Sun Life with the sweep. Washington helped the Phils by chopping down the second-place Braves 4-2 this afternoon. The Phils go with the same lineup as last night, with Shane Victorino setting the table. Vic is hitting .432 with five stolen bases and four walks in 11 games since sliding into the leadoff spot. (AP Photo)

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Red Sox, A’s, Rangers to visit Phillies in 2011

The Phillies will open next season at home against the Astros on Friday, April 1 and close Sept. 28 in Atlanta. They’ll also play a pair of interleague sets in Seattle and Toronto.

Beerleaguer: This is mostly a cake schedule, but if there’s a trouble spot, it’s that 20 of their last 30 games will be played on the road, including 17 of 27 September games. The schedule is generally front-loaded with home cooking and they’ll have no long homestands for the final two months. The annual 10-game West Coast swing begins Aug. 1, directly following a 10-game homestand that includes a series with the Pirates. There’s also a nine-game roadtrip from May 27 to June 5. For once, the Phillies appear to have a slight advantage in interleague play. They host the Red Sox, A's and Rangers and take on Toronto and Seattle on the road. Aside from a heavy August and September road schedule, the rest of the the itinerary appears favorable. Take a look at the complete schedule here.

Phillies pitch past Marlins, lengthen lead in East

Cole Hamels (11-10) struck out a Phillies season-high 13 batters over 6 2-3 sharp innings, while the offense squeezed out just enough run support from a handful of chances, in a 2-1 win over the Marlins Tuesday night. Brad Lidge worked a spotless ninth for his 22nd save to secure the Phillies' 16th road win in their last 19 tries. The win, coupled with the Braves' shutout loss to the Nationals, gives the Phillies a two-game cushion in the National League East standings. More tomorrow ...

Game chat: Phils play between the raindrops tonight

Cole Hamels (10-10, 3.06) works to extend his 25-inning shutout streak when the Phillies and Marlins play the second in South Florida.

Preview: Lately, the effectiveness of Hamels' newly crafted cutter has become more and more apparent. Adding a third, late-breaking hard pitch has kept hitters from sitting dead-red fastball. And when they get a fastball, it's zipping in at 94 mph. As a result, Hamels has looked mighty dominant with no signs of slowing. It's been a good year for the cutter actually with the addition of Roy Halladay, Hamels and Jamie Moyer twirled a good one before he got hurt. ... Career minor-leaguer Adelberto Mendez (1-0, 0.00) can't possibly fool the Phillies twice. Mendez pitched a six-inning one-hitter against the Phillies on Sept. 6. ... The Phillies confirmed that Roy Oswalt will pitch Friday and Kyle Kendrick on Saturday, meaning that Hamels, Roy Halladay and Oswalt are lined up for the Atlanta series beginning Monday. ... Standard lineup tonight. Jimmy Rollins is still a little worse than day-to-day with no word on when he'll return to the lineup.

First base, outfield glovework among nits to pick

Here's your wet-blanket report for Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010.

Here are two overlooked areas that aren't as good as they were last season. It's not for a lack of trying, but Ryan Howard will never be mediocre at his position. He'll always be below average. Advanced metrics, like several seasons worth of UZR data, verify his sub-mediocrity in the context of the league, while we, the fan, absorb another season's worth of anecdotal evidence, like Monday night's ill-advised throw to second in the 9th inning. The Big Piece is lugging a -9.0 UZR, which is second worst among qualified first basemen and worse than what it was last season. Only Prince Fielder is worse. But as bad as he is, he's not the biggest butcher at his position among teammates. That distinction goes to Raul Ibanez and his outfield -9.9. In fact, the entire starting outfield is in the red (Shane Victorino, -2.2; Jayson Werth, -2.5). Long and tedious essays have been written about the merits of these stats, but to the layperson like me, I see where they're coming from (not so much Victorino). I've seen improved outfields across the league, while balls that would have been fielded a season ago by the Phillies' all-star outfield are dropping into play, especially in left.

Injury timeouts turn into blessing in disguise

A silent minority believed that injuries to Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard and others would turn out for the best. The league’s best record (84-61) and a dugout of fresh bodies have proven them correct.

Once again, patience was the virtue to help the Phillies survive the summer. If the inmates were running the asylum, the Phils would have schlubs like Willie Bloomquist and Akinori Iwamura sitting on the end of the bench, twiddling their thumbs. Or better yet … remember how everyone had a hard-on for Ty Wigginton? He of a .645 OPS since the trade deadline and no home runs since the middle of August. Credit Ruben Amaro for staying the course, saving his chips for a real difference-maker (Roy Oswalt) and trusting what he had to make ends meet (Wilson Valdez, Ross Gload, his Seattle Linkedin colleagues to help connect with Mike Sweeney.) Utley and Howard are back on track; tonight will be Utley’s 100th game. Kicking the chair put Ryan Madson’s foot, and arm, on ice for a couple of weeks, and it shows. Man, wouldn’t it be nice for the Phils to wrap up early and give Cole and Roys some much needed R & R, too? Wishful thinking ...

Postgame: Phillies tee off on Miller, Marlins

Chase Utley, Jayson Werth, Carlos Ruiz and Greg Dobbs crushed homers, and Joe Blanton pitched six steady innings, as the Phillies routed the Marlins easily 11-4. (AP Photo)

Beerleaguer: Have you ever seen Chooch put a charge in a pitch quite like the one he hit out to deep left tonight? Utley blasted his, too. And Werth. And Dobbs actually. There's plenty to pick from tonight, including some nice subtle execution, like Ruiz showing discipline in taking a bases-loaded walk after he had just hit a ball to the moon. On the mound, Blanton bullishly fanned eight; the fact that he lasted only six innings doesn't tell the whole story. He pitched a very good game. Finally, it's always a great night for Beerleaguer when John Mayberry, Ben Francisco and Brian Bocock get to grab their bats and gloves. More tomorrow ...

Notes: Yesterday, the Phillies designated recently-acquired right-hander Cesar Carrillo for assignment to make room for Bocock. They'll attempt to get him through waivers; they should have no trouble getting him to clear the National League since he fell to the Phillies the first time.

Game chat: Phils coming down the home stretch

With 18 to go, Joe Blanton (6-6, 5.15) and the Phillies move on to Florida for the first of three beginning at 7:05.

Beerleaguer: It's always beneficial to glean the pregame notes before a game, especially when you're as busy as I've been. They're fabulous. How about this nice reminder of the job Ryan Madson has done lately: Since August 1, Madson has pitched in 26 of the Phillies’ 40 games (65 percent). Over that 26 1-3 inning stretch, he's posted a 0.68 ERA. Since his run-in with a chair, he's kicked it into gear, so to speak, allowing runs in only three of his last 31 appearances, after surrendering seven over his first 15. ... Roy Oswalt gave Madson and the rest of the bullpen a nice breather with a four-hit shutout to finish off the Mets, marking the 13th complete game and fifth shutout by a Phillies starting pitcher this season. Both marks lead the league. ... Lineups are posted: Victorino, Polanco, Utley, Howard, Werth, Ibanez, Ruiz, Valdez. Domonic Brown is reportedly available to play after missing the last couple games with a strained quad.

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Update: Rollins day-to-day with mild hammy strain

CSNPhilly.com Phillies insider Jim Salisbury reports that Jimmy Rollins has been diagnosed with a minor hamstring strain. He is expected to rejoin the team tomorrow in Florida. Update: More from Salisbury. Pitching coach Rich Dubee said there is "a good chance" the Phillies will skip Kyle Kendrick's turn on Friday and pitch Roy Oswalt on normal rest. The move will allow the Phillies to stick Oswalt, Cole Hamels and Roy Halladay up the Braves' rear ends next week.

Monday open thread: Rollins isn’t aging gracefully

Jimmy Rollins is back in Philadelphia for an MRI on his pulled hamstring and could land on the disabled list for the third time this season.

Beerleaguer: Rollins, who is having his second-straight 85-ish OPS+ season, was finally starting to hit a little, but his absence didn’t prevent the Phillies from picking up two-of-three from the Mets, with Wilson Valdez’s arm having a coming-out party, second only to Roy Oswalt’s cannon. (That’s pitching, kids). It's said that as J-Roll goes, so go the Phillies. Turns out that as J-Roll goes, the Phillies will go anyway:

Valdez: Team Record in Appearances: 53-41 / in Starts: 40-34
Rollins: Team Record in Appearances: 51-31 / in Starts: 51-30

Now, to be clear, J-Roll has the superior line. And nobody would deny that J-Roll is the superior player. But consider the context of these numbers. Many of these wins, occurring after his second DL-stint, came in the post-Oswalt era, in which the starting rotation and bullpen have been brilliant. True, the Phillies have experienced their typical second-half surge, but one can’t in good conscience say that J-Roll’s .640 second-half OPS has much to do with it, let alone anyone else from the starting lineup. He's been the lineup's worst producer by a significant margin.

Frankly, it may be time to divorce oneself from the “as Jimmy goes” mantra once and for all. These sprains and strains are happening with sobering regularity, he's been a middling hitter for two seasons and on a team with Oswalt, Cole Hamels and Roy Halladay, winning no longer falls on J-Roll's shoulders.

Sunday chat: Series victory in Oswalt's sights

Roy Oswalt, who is 5-0 with a 1.85 ERA over his last seven starts, leads the Phillies into their series finale with Jonathon Niese (9-7, 3.85) and the Mets. AccuWeather calls for a 60 percent chance of rain for the first pitch at 1:10.

Phillies recall SS Bocock: Mandy Housenick of the Morning Call breaks news via Twitter that the Phillies have purchased the contract of shortstop Brian Bocock, suggesting that Jimmy Rollins may not be close to returning. If so, the Phils will need to make a corresponding 40-man roster move. Bocock, who was in Phillies uniform earlier in the season but never got into a game, hit .226/.313/.303 with the IronPigs. He's up strictly for emergency defense and will give Charlie Manuel some flexibility to pinch hit for Wilson Valdez if need be. I cannot recall a Phillies team with this many September call-ups.

Lack of lefty relief discussed: "Cholly lifted Kendrick at an appropriate time today. Got his five innings from him. One Achilles Heel is the lack of a single effective left-handed reliever out of the pen. Romero is 'erratic' at best and I would be stunned if Bastardo makes the postseason roster. It was the one area where Amaro came up a bit short where there were some low-cost options that were available." - MG

"The frustrating part for me is that Romero has to be able to come in and get an out in that spot, and he has proven over and over again he can't." - Jim

Beerleaguer: Give Mike Pelfrey credit; he's having a breakout season and he continues to pitch the Phillies tough. Sixty-nine of his 109 pitches were for strikes. He's blossomed into a formidable foe and represents one of the Mets few bright spots. I echo many of the sentiments about Kyle Kendrick and the bullpen. I thought the Phillies made the right call staying with Kendrick and think he did just enough to validate their decision. Meanwhile, the Phillies wait for Antonio Bastardo to show them anything while they dance around J.C. Romero's inconsistency. I, too, worry that the situation will come to a head at the worst possible time.

How it stands: The Phillies fell back into tie with Atlanta for the division lead. Tim Hudson (15-7, 2.41) faces Kyle Lohse (2-7, 7.13) under the lights at 8 p.m., so lots of sports on tap today, with the Eagles season set to take flight beginning at 4:15. It's raining in Philadelphia, so stay inside and enjoy some sports.

Another solid outing for Carrasco: Former Phillie Carlos Carrasco, part of the 2009 Cliff Lee deal, gave up five hits over 7 1-3 scoreless innings for the Indians on Saturday night against the Twins. Carrasco has a 2.18 ERA in his three starts this season. I said it once and I'll say it again: Carrasco was a very savvy buy-low add-in by the Indians, more-so than Jason Donald, Lou Marson or Jason Knapp.

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Saturday chat: Kendrick out to prove himself today

Kyle Kendrick (9-8, 4.89) gets another crack at keeping his job this afternoon against Mike Pelfrey (13-8, 3.96) and the Mets. First pitch is 4:10 in a game airing regionally on Fox.

Phillies 8, Mets 4: Last night in a rare twist, Roy Halladay, who was still very good, was upstaged by his teammates. Right on cue, the calendar flipped to September and Ryan Howard flipped a switch. The Big Piece homered for a third-straight night and also blasted a double off the wall to dead-away center field. Carlos Ruiz reached base in all five at bats, keeping his lusty on-base percentage hovering around .400. Chooch also contributed a heady play on the bases, forcing a rundown between first and second that allowed Raul Ibanez to score with two outs. I've said it before and I'll say it again: team MVP. Jayson Werth and Shane Victorino also pitched in multi-hit games; Werth has been a thorn in the Mets' side this season, while Vic continues to look like the Phillies' best answer to their lead-off problems during this recent lineup experiment. Defensively, Wilson Valdez came to play. I thought he showed great range and a laser arm.

As for Halladay, he was reportedly miffed to be taken out of the game midway through the 8th, but at 116 pitches, enough is enough. Halladay pitched an iffy third, but battled through it and collected his 18th win, which is tied for the league lead. He keeps winning, but this has probably been his worst stretch as a Phillie, and understandably so. One can't expect a pristine performance every turn, especially with his innings near 230. He hasn't been as sharp and he's made some uncharacteristic mistakes. Frustration is starting to show. But it's understandable; it's a long season. He's probably just anxious for October.

Notes: Jimmy Rollins is likely out of the lineup again today.

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Game chat: Phillies play first of three in Queens

Roy Halladay (17-10, 2.36) tries to continue his reign over the National League East (10-1, 1.13) when the Phillies open a weekend set with rookie right-hander Jenrry Majia (0-3, 3.68) and the Mets. First pitch is 7:10.

Preview: The pregame notes offered a good thumbnail of Halladay's Cy Young worthy season. He's now tied for the most wins by a Phillie since 2005 (Jon Lieber, 17). He's holding hitters to a .161 average with runners in scoring position. He's been tough on the NL East, but has been especially merciless against the Mets, winning all three starts against them and pitching shutout ball in two of them. Still, these last three games may represent Halladay's worst stretch as a Phillie; he's pitching to a 4.29 ERA over that span and surrendered four home runs to Milwaukee last Saturday. The Phils should have the upper hand pitching-wise in at least two games this series. Tomorrow will be Kendrick and Niese, Sunday will be Oswalt and Pelfrey. ... On the injury front, Jimmy Rollins reportedly took batting practice, but could miss most of the series. Wilson Valdez will start at short. ... Lineups read Victorino, Polanco, Utley, Howard, Werth, Ibanez, Ruiz, Valdez. ... The Phillies have a one-game edge in the standings over the Braves, who face Chris Carpenter tonight.

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Kendrick to start Saturday; Baez back from DL

CSNPhilly.com reports that Charlie Manuel has decided to keep Kyle Kendrick in his regular rotation spot for Saturday’s game against the Mets. In addition, Danys Baez is back on the active roster, as reflected on the Phillies.com roster.

Beerleaguer: Kendrick would have been my pick. He’s pitched the Mets tough, he’s lasted this long in the rotation ... I’m just more comfortable at this point going with the known quantity, even if he's been batting practice since the end of July. Lefties and location have been the big killers, and he hasn’t pitched well at home. But against the Mets tomorrow, I like him more than Vance Worley. Speaking of going with the known quantity, Baez is back in, essentially replacing Scott Mathieson, who went on the DL yesterday. Mathieson hasn’t impressed, so here again, I’ll take the veteran sub-mediocrity over the unknown. 

Cardinals knock Braves a full game behind Phillies

Colby Rasmus belted a pair of homers and Adam Wainwright (18-10) pitched eight innings for the win as the visiting Cardinals beat the Braves 11-4 Thursday night at Turner Field.

Beerleaguer: Nobody expected the Phillies to spend a full 100 days chasing the Braves, but many thought they would be fending off a strong Atlanta threat. Forget how they arrived at this point. The Phils are right where they were they were projected to be. They have the best record in the league (81-60, .574), and would appear to be on a collision course with a World Series rematch with either the Yankees (87-53, .621) or Rays (84-65, .604). On tap: a control-your-own-destiny, seven-series slate against the National League East, including six head-to-head opportunities with the Braves. Assuming they reach the postseason, none of their opponents will be as seasoned. As as we pointed out yesterday, they could chose their NLDS schedule if they hold on to the top mark in the league, which means they could throw Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt on regular rest. (Heck, they could even receive a favorable TV time slot for once if the rest of the smaller-market contenders hold their ground.)

Phillies claim RHP Carrillo off waivers, DFA Robertson

Cesar Carrillo, a former first-round pick of the Padres, never got on track after 2007 Tommy John surgery. To clear 40-man roster space, the Phillies designated left-hander Nate Robertson for assignment.

Beerleaguer: The Phillies dump a guy who was pounded in his last outing for another. Carrillo, 26, surrendered five home runs in his final start with Triple-A Portland before he was put on waivers. The Pacific Coast League hasn't been kind to the once-promising right-hander. He finished 5-14 in 27 starts with a 5.60 ERA and 95/57 K/BB ratio. The University of Miami product once rated as the Padres' second-best prospect by Baseball America, but elbow and control problems have kept him from realizing his full potential. Before the surgery, his fastball routinely sat in the mid-90s and he was considered to be on the fast track; he was drafted in June of 2005 and would be pitching in Double-A later that season. But the high minors is where he would stay for the next five, making only three starts for the Padres in 2009. He couldn't make it out of the third inning in two of them. Carrillo, who throws fastball-curveball-changeup, was added to the 40-man and will become a fun reclamation project for next season.

To make room, the Phillies bid adieu to Robertson, whose brief time with the Phillies will be defined by making a 10-0 lead too close for comfort in Wednesday's win over the Marlins.

Mathieson to DL: The Phils also placed right-hander Scott Mathieson on the 15-day disabled list with a strained latissimus dorsi, or in gym-rat terms, a strained lat.