Thankfully, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel saved us all from watching the dreadful "Mr. Brooks" in the visiting clubhouse with some breaking news.

"Mr. Happ," Manuel responded when asked if the Phillies had named a starter for Friday.

"Mr. Happ" would be 25-year-old J.A. Happ, a lefty whose name should sound somewhat familiar to Phillies fans. He made one start last year with the big league club, nearly a year ago.

On June 30, Happ gave up five runs on seven hits in four innings against the Mets. Coincidentally, he's facing the Mets again Friday.

But I spoke with Happ in spring training and he said he was dealing with arm issue throughout the year, and Phillies assistant general manager Mike Arbuckle said the left-hander may have kept the injury to himself for a little while.

But Happ is healthy now - and he's pitched well at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. In 17 starts, he's 5-6 with a 3.54 ERA.

The 6-foot-6, 200-pound Happ, the Phillies third-round pick out of Northwestern University in the 2004 draft, has struck out 104 in 101 1/3 innings this year while walking just 28.

One last note about Happ -- his first name is actually pronounced like "Jay." So I guess the "A" is silent.