Following Saturday night's 9-6 win over the Nationals, the Phillies announced that 23-year-old left-hander Antonio Bastardo will take over Brett Myers' vacant spot in the rotation.

Bastardo was 3-2 with a 1.89 ERA in 11 games between Triple-A Lehigh Valley and Double-A Reading.

Bastardo began the 2009 season in Reading’s bullpen. But in mid-April, the Phils moved him out of the reliever’s role and Bastardo has thrived.

In seven combined starts between Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he was promoted less than two weeks ago, Bastardo is 2-2 with a 2.41 ERA. In 41 innings as a starter, he’s struck out 39 while walking eight.

“I saw him in spring training, for three or four innings,” Manuel said. “I hear he’s been pitching good… once they put him in the starting rotation in Double-A that he started pitching really good right away, and he’s had two good outings in Lehigh Valley.”





In his last outing on Thursday, Bastardo, who was signed as an amateur free agent out of the Dominican Republic in February of 2005, blanked New York Mets Triple-A team Buffalo for seven innings in a 7-1 win for Lehigh Valley.

Bastardo gets the start

The Phils announced that Antonio Bastardo will start Tuesday. He'll take Brett Myers' spot in the rotation in San Diego.

More to come...

Brett Myers is expected to have what it likely to be season-ending hip surgery on Thursday.

Here is some of what he said following Friday night's game.



What was your reaction?

"I didn’t expect it yesterday, I didn’t expect it to be as bad as it was. (Dr. Bryan Kelly) just pretty much told me flat out today that he could give me a cortisone shot, but that’s just going to make it worse... any time 'hip replacement' comes out of a doctor’s mouth, that’s not good, as far as the damage leading to that."


What's your confidence level you can be back before the end of the season?

"I haven’t had surgery before so I don’t know what kind of pain I’m going to be in, he told me (the injury) is similar to Chase’s. But he’s more cautious with pitchers because of the constant use of the hip and the leg, and the way we contort our bodies. I told him I wanted to be back in September but he told me it was kind of a long shot."

Would continuing to pitch on it have made it worse?

"What (Dr. Kelly) told me today that there was a chance that if I did a cortisone shot, I could mess the labrum up more, wear the cartilage down more. A cortisone shot might relieve some of the pain and the pressure, but it’s not going to relieve the popping the clicking and locking up of the hip. And then he started to tell me I could hurt my arm, that I wouldn’t be using my lower half, I’d be using all arm... and then I said is there any way away form surgery, he said, 'No.' And he said if you tear it up even more, in five or 10 years there’s a possibility of a hip replacement and I was like, 'Can we go (have the surgery) now?'"


Is all of this harder knowing you're a free agent at the end of the season? I can't imagine you want Wednesday to be the last time you pitch for the Phillies.

That really doesn’t come into factor. The only thing that would is that at the end of the year, the team would know I needed surgery because I’d still be hurt and I’d have nothing to look at. If I get it now, there’s a chance by the end of the season they’ll know if I’m healthy or not.

Brett Myers, who left his most recent start two nights ago with right hip inflammation, is likely lost for the rest of the season.

After meeting with hip specialist Dr. Bryan Kelly in New York Friday, it was confirmed that the damage in Myers' hip requires corrective surgery. Phils general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. and team physician Dr. Michael Ciccotti met with the media at the beginning of Friday's game at Citizens Bank Park to confirm that Myers will undergo surgery, likely in the coming week.

Ciccotti said the surgery would require Myers to be out of service for three months, but cautioned the pitcher would likely need another 4-6 weeks after that to get back into baseball shape and pitching form on a mound.

It's very likely Myers, who is a free agent at the end of the year, won't pitch again for the Phillies in 2009.

When I spoke to Phils G.M. Ruben Amaro Jr. about an hour ago, he said the team was still waiting on word from New York, where Brett Myers injured right hip was getting a second opinion.

But word from Florida is Myers has elected to have surgery.

Myers father has told the Jacksonville Times-Union that after his son saw hip specialist Dr. Bryan Kelly, that he has elected to have surgery. He may be lost for the season.

Here is the story from the Jacksonville Times-Union, the home newspaper of Myers, a Jacksonville native.

"[Kelly] told him if he's going to be a baseball player, he's got to get [the surgery] done," Phil Myers told the newspaper. "The hip locked up on him Wednesday night [pitching against the Florida Marlins]."

I'm awaiting official word from the Phillies. When I know, I'll update.

Pregame Myers update

-Brett Myers is in New York, meeting with hip specialist Dr. Bryan Kelly. We should get word on that before first pitch.

-Regardless of how that goes, manager Charlie Manuel said Myers won't make his next start, scheduled for Tuesday in San Diego.

-General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said a pitcher from within the organization would replace Myers. When asked if Myers' status intensifies the search to upgrade the starting pitching via trade, Amaro said the team was already fairly aggressively talking with other teams.

He added that adding a pitcher that would increase payroll would be evaluated on a case by case basis.

The severity of Brett Myers' injury hasn't been confirmed (still haven't got a phone call back from general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.) but surgery appears to be inevitable. Myers is due to get a second opinion from a hip specialist ASAP.

If Myers has surgery sooner rather than later - which appears to be logical, given the fact that the hip is affecting his pitching - the Phillies are going to need a replacement.

Here are some names you could see in Phils pinstripes:

THE IN-HOUSE FIVE:

-Kyle Kendrick: 4-2, 4.25 ERA in 10 starts at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

-Andrew Carpenter: 2-0, 3.61 ERA in 8 starts at Lehigh, also had a cup of coffee in the big leagues two weeks ago in a spot start.

-Antonio Bastardo: 3-2, 1.89 ERA in 11 starts between Lehigh and Double-A Reading.

-Carlos Carrasco: 0-6, 5.81 ERA in nine starts at Lehigh.

-Vance Worley: 4-2, 2.83 ERA in nine starts at Reading.


TWO GETTABLE TRADE BAIT ARMS:

-Jason Marquis: 6-3, 4.45 ERA for the Colorado Rockies, who are sinking fast and likely to have a fire sale this summer.

-Brad Penny: 5-1, 5.96 ERA for the Boston Red Sox, who have an unlikely luxury - loads of pitching - including rehabbing John Smoltz on the way and rising prospect Clay Buchholz knocking on the major-league door.


TWO 'DREAM BIG' CANDIDATES:

-Jake Peavy: 5-5 with a 3.67 ERA for the San Diego Padres, Peavy would be an upgrade from Myers. He's a former Cy Young Award winner. But he'll come at a steep price in the form of prospects and the $52 million remaining on his contract after this year.

-Roy Oswalt: 1-2, 4.62 ERA for the Houston Astros, Oswalt might be the best pitcher in baseball to never win a Cy Young Award. He's a two-time 20-game winner and has won 15 or more five times in nine seasons. Perhaps former teammate Brad Lidge is campaigning to bring him to Philly...

News not good on Myers

Brett Myers right hip could land him on the DL. An MRI revealed "fraying and possible tearing in the labrum of the hip," according to GM Ruben Amaro Jr.

Amaro said, however, that it hasn't been determined if Myers will make his next start, let alone be placed on the DL.

Myers will likely get a second opinion on the hip before the Phillies leave for San Diego Sunday night.

Brett Myers was removed in the middle of the sixth inning of Wednesday night's game with right hip inflammation.

Myers allowed five runs on seven hits (including two home runs) in 5 2/3 innings.

Brett Myers is a tough pitcher to figure out.

Just when you think he's hit rock bottom, he reels off a run of ace-like starts. Just when you think he's beginning to realize his potential, he falls off the wagon and delivers a home run-filled clunker.

But perhaps Myers, who is a free agent at year's end, is finally figuring out what the word consistent means. Despite leading the major leagues in home runs allowed, Myers has been pretty good in 2009.

He's also been the most consistent Phillies starter since the beginning of the season. Tonight marks his 10th start of the season and he's allowed three or four runs in six of his previous nine.

That's not ace-like, but it's not terrible either, especially when you play for a team with an offense quite capable of scoring more than a handful of runs each night.

Myers was especially good last week at Yankee Stadium when he went eight strong innings in a 7-3 Phillies win.

In his last three starts, Myers is 2-1 with a 2.57 ERA. Opponents are hitting .211 off him in that span and he's racked up 16 strikeouts while walking just four.

Is Myers ready to reel off the best run of his major league career? Perhaps.

But you just never know when it comes to Brett.

The first round of early results are in for the All-Star Game and just one Phillies player is leading the voting.

Chase Utley, who led all National League players in voting last year regardless of position, currently leads all second baseman in the NL.

Ryan Howard is third among first baseman (but over 500,000 votes behind leader Albert Pujols, who leads all players in voting). Raul Ibanez is sixth among outfielders (Ryan Braun, Alfonso Soriano, Carlos Beltran, Manny Ramirez and Mike Cameron - Mike Cameron? - are ahead of Raauuuuul).

At shortstop, Jimmy Rollins is in third place behind Hanley Ramirez and current leader J.J. Hardy. (J.J. Hardy?)

It seems there's a Milwaukee conspiracy at play. (Or the Brewers have played more home games, and thus, have had more ballots in play, than other teams since the polls opened). Milwaukee is either 1st or 2nd in voting results at every position.

Shane Victorino (10th) and Jayson Werth (12th) were also among the top 15 outfielders. No other Phillies player is currently in the top 5 of their position.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Actually, I'll take the wisecrack about Mike Cameron back. He's hitting .285 with 9 home runs - that's certainly not terrible.

It doesn't warrant being ahead of Ibanez, but it's not laughably bad either.

My hiatus from the Phillies is over... as is the team's three-city, 10-game road trip.

In case you missed it, they did pretty well. 8-2.

The Phils are a major-league best 16-6 on the road.

But they're back home now. In case you missed it, Charlie Manuel was asked early on their last road trip - when we were in DC - about why the Phillies do so well away from home.

Here was his take:

"I think winning the World Series has something to do with that," Manuel said. "We do more things now, our players are involved with more things in the public, and on their own since we won a World Series. Sometimes at home we’ve got so many things to do that baseball has to be put back in the priority we’ve always had it. I know we’re going to do that.

"I think the other day, when we made our (White House) visit, we laid 2008 to rest. I definitely think we’re getting into 2009, and if we don’t, I’m going to keep harping on it."

-------------------------------------------------------------

I was away last week for my brother's wedding. And all I heard from relatives - at the bachelor party, rehearsal dinner, reception, day-after barbecue - was, "What's wrong with Brad Lidge?"

Well I've been kind of noticing this even before the most recent road trip. Blown saves or not, he hasn't had many clean innings at all this year. He's beginning a lot of innings with walks or hits, which is like playing with fire if you're a closer.

He insists it's not a physical thing, not related to his oft-injured right knee.

So could it be mental? That might be far worse than a physical injury a guy can recover from.

Perhaps like Brett Myers a year ago, Lidge needs to get away for a while. Maybe he takes a DL trip.

With Ryan Madson pitching well and J.C. Romero coming back next week, the Phils may actually be in a good position to do without Lidge for a two-week period.

Should be interesting to see how Lidge gets out of his current funk...

Bob Grotz is in Cincy for me, but the news is already spreading big time back in Philly:

J.A. Happ is taking Chan Ho Park's place in the rotation. Charlie Manuel apparently saw enough after Park allowed five runs and couldn't pitch his way out of the second inning Sunday against the hapless Nationals.

Happ is 2-0 with a 2.49 ERA this season.


Park is 1-1 with a 7.08 ERA.

Chan Ho Park is tentatively scheduled to make his next turn in the Phillies rotation on Saturday at the new Yankee Stadium.

Will he make it? Will he be demoted to the bullpen?

Manager Charlie Manuel wasn't revealing his hand following Sunday's game, when Park lasted 1 1/3 innings and allowed five runs on four walks and five hits.

Park was bad. Perhaps bad enough to erase his two previous, strong starts.

His ERA is over 7.00. Meanwhile, J.A. Happ is an obvious suitor to take Park's place in the rotation.

As Delco Times columnist Jack McCaffery wrote today, I think it's time for Happ to get his shot.

In addition to being more bad than good, Park hasn't shown poise -- which, in my mind, is an underrated element of pitching. When one thing goes bad - an umpire's call, an untimely hit, etc. - he doesn't react well and lets it affect his next pitch, at-bat and inning.

The Phils signed Park for their bullpen, but backed themselves into a corner by agreeing to let Park compete for a starting job in spring training. The chance to start was why Park signed with the Phillies.

While they felt obligated to stick to their word and give him the job at the end of spring training, Park hasn't done a whole lot to convince them he should keep that starting spot.

My guess is Chan Ho Park doesn't have very long for the rotation. I'm thinking you'll see Happ making his first start of the season on the next homestand.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Just a brief heads-up: I'm not with the Phillies this week, so the blogging will be pretty minimal. I'm not a big fan of trying to report about a team when you're not actually covering the team.

The newspaper and delcotimes.com will have you covered, however. Our Eagles beat writer, Bob Grotz, is heading to Cincy while McCaffery is going to Yankee Stadium this weekend.

After making his first major league start, Andrew Carpenter was optioned back to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Sergio Escalona, a left-hander from Double-A Reading, will take over the vacant spot on the roster on Sunday. Phils manager Charlie Manuel said he expects the team to keep the extra pitcher for the duration of the three-city road trip.

Carpenter originally replaced reserve infielder Miguel Cairo.

Escalona, 24, was 0-0 with 10 saves and a 2.08 ERA in 14 games at Reading this year. He has 16 strikeouts in 17 1/3 innings.

Probably nothing shocking about this, but Chase Utley isn't in the lineup for the first of a double dip of baseball here in Washington.

Here are three reasons Utley is likely getting the game off:

1. He is 0-for-18 with eight strikeouts in his last five games. his batting average has plummeted from .323 to .270.

2. It's a doubleheader, coming off a 12-inning game Friday night and before an afternoon game tomorrow. That's a lot of baseball in a three-day span.

3. The Nationals are starting a lefty, Scott Olsen. Utley is 4-for-27 (.148) with eight strikeouts in his career against Olsen.


Here's the rest of the lineup:

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Shane Victorino, CF
3. Raul Ibanez, LF
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Jayson Werth, RF
6. Pedro Feliz, 3B
7. Chris Coste, C
8. Eric Bruntlett, 2B
9. Brett Myers, P

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Also, in the event you missed President Obama's presentation to the Phillies Friday, here it is in its entirety.

Cairo designated for assignment

The Phils needed a pitcher after using JA Happ Friday night. So they're turning to Andrew Carpenter.

Carpenter was summoned from Double-A. To make room, Miguel Cairo was designated for assignment.

I just arrived to the ballpark from the White House.

Here is President Obama's speech to the team in its entirety:


Welcome to the White House and congratulations to the World Championship Philadelphia Phillies!

We originally planned to do this last month but we postponed it after the loss of legendary voice so familiar to any sports fan, Hall of Fame announcer, the great Harry Kalas.

Harry died in the ballpark, preparing to call another game for his beloved Phillies and I know a season without the warm comfort of his voice is difficult, but I also know Harry is here with us in spirit today and that he’s proud of all of you.

He waited 28 years to call another World Series Championship run, and what an unbelievable run it was, full of come-from-behind wins from an underdog team that loved to prove progosticators wrong. We share something in common there, because nobody thought I was going to win either.

This is a team that never gave up. You weren’t supposed to win your division, you weren’t supposed to win postseason series against the Dodgers and the Rays. And even thought the stretch between the top and bottom of the sixth inning of Game 5 took two full days of rain, you came out in front of the toughest fans in sports to win Philadelphia’s first major championship since 1983

This was truly a victory for young folks and the young at heart, who waited nearly three decades, and a new generation of fans had been waiting their entire lives.

As I mentioned to the team (earlier), it was not just a victory for the people of Philadelphia, but for long-time fans like Joe Biden and my campaign manager David Plouffe. I’m not sure if he cared more about my victory or for the Phillies victory, but it was a close call. As well as folks from the entire Delaware Valley

This is a team made up of guys who don’t quite. Cole Hamels, an unbelievable playoff ace. Chase Utley, a throwback who plays hurt, who plays hard, who never complains. Brad Lidge who came to the Philly organization looking for a fresh start, who went a perfect 48-for-48 in save opportunities all season long and who wiped away 28 years of near-misses and heartbreak with that final strikeout.


Guys like our manager, Charlie Manuel, who lost his mother during the playoffs. And I know how tough that is. I lost my grandmother in the middle of my election. Charlie, I admired your perseverance during those trying times. I know how hard that must have been on you.

Also, guys like Shane Victorino. Shane we don’t get that many baseball players from Hawaii…. He was pointing out the Hawaiian flag on the carpet in there, saying, “Shaka,” local boy. That means there are a lot of folks looking out for you. And then Jimmy Rollins, who I have to say made some telephone calls on behalf of our campaign before the election and I couldn’t be more grateful to him for that.

I remember giving a campaign speech in Chester, just outside of Philadelphia one week before the election and it was the day after rain had suspended the series game. And it was still raining. And I told my staff, if they can suspend a World Series game in the middle of the day, the least they could do is to find an indoor location for my speech. That was the coldest I may have ever been. I mean, it was cold. But true to form, thousands of Philadelphians showed up to brave the rain and my speech, just like they had showed up to watch their beloved Phillies play. So like this team, I tried to give them my best.

I also know how it felt for the Phillies to get this weight off their back because my beloved White Sox finally did it three years ago after 90 years of waiting. So, Cubs fans out there, take heart. Anything is possible.

I also want to point out the example each and one of these guys, their wives and everyone in the organization set with their time and efforts off the field. Chase works on behalf of pediatric hospitals; Brad supports are wounded warriors; Cole helps those suffering HIV AIDS in Africa; Ryan Howard is a national face for the Boys and Girls Clubs and participates in the Make-A-Wish foundation and takes an active role in mentoring inner-city students… and on and on.

Just as the number of African American kids taking up baseball has declined, the impact of having role models like Ryan and Jimmy to look up just can’t be measured.

Jimmy likes to say nothing comes easy in Philly, and I think that’s why so many Americans found themselves rooting for this extraordinary team. As Americans, we know a little something about being underdogs, we know a little bit something about coming together when times are tough. And like this team we remember a simple truth which is we rise and fall together, no one individual is bigger than the team.

So, to the Phillies, congratulations for not only a great season but for doing it the right way.

And to their manager [shakes Manuel’s hand], great job.

On to the White House...

You know those "Wanna get away?" TV ads? The Phillies probably do.

They've lost 12 of their 20 games at home this year, including the last two games to the Dodgers.

Sounds like as good a time as any to hit the road for a 10-day, nine-game, three-city road trip.

The trip begins in DC and ends at new Yankee Stadium , with a three-game stop in Cincy in between.

The Phils are 8-4 on the road this year.

But before the games begin, we're off to meet President Obama at the White House.

Minus DC traffic, it should be fun...

If you missed it, stay up and watch SportsCenter or tune into Comcast SportsNet at 1 a.m.

Or show up a little late for work to catch the same highlight shows in the morning.

With the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh inning, Jayson Werth stole home.

And no, it wasn't the cheap, easy steal of home of the double-steal variety. He straight up took the plate from Dodgers catcher Russell Martin and reliever Ronald Belisario.

It was the first steal at home by a Phillies player since Ruiz pulled the trick on June 26, 2007 against Cincinnati.

Werth: "I noticed something and just saw an opportunity. I was going to wait until there were two strikes. The first pitch, he didn’t look at me. so I figured if we got to two strikes and he didn’t look at me, I was going to go. if he’s not going to pay attention to you. The first pitch, I knew I had it. When we got to two strikes, I felt like I had the timing. I knew it was going to be close. But I felt like I was going to be safe. I thought it was the right situation."

Charlie Manuel: I was just as surprised probably as you were. When I looked up and saw him coming, I thought to myself, `What's going on?'


Actually, forget those highlight shows. Don't you love the internet? (I apologize that the guy who posted this clip doesn't know how to spell Werth's name).







(Photos by AP photographer Tom Mihalek)

Rollins out of leadoff spot

Hot off the press: Jimmy Rollins, hitting .195 with five walks all season, is out of the leadoff spot.

He's batting fifth.

1. Victorino
2. Utley
3. Werth
4. Howard
5. Rollins
6. Ibanez
7. Feliz
8. Ruiz
9. Park

What Would Jimmy Do?

We're not entirely sure what his plan is for digging out of his dreadful start - he's hitting .195 entering tonight's game against the Dodgers. We don't know because Jimmy Rollins left the clubhouse Sunday after declining to talk to reporters.

Rollins went 1-for-14 in the three-game series against the Braves.

There may be reason to panic - Rollins really hasn't been the same MVP-caliber player since '07. As Jack McCafffery wrote in Monday's paper, this is isn't just a 6-week thing for J-Roll.

Then again, there may be reason not to panic - he hit .183 in the first month of the season in 2004 and was sitting at .209 when he 30 games into the season that year.

But the more jarring number really isn't Rollins' batting average - it's his on-base percentage.

I was watching the Rays-Red Sox game the other night and noticed the other 2008 World Series leadoff hitter, Tampa's B.J. Upton, was actually hitting lower than Rollins. Upton is hitting .167.

But Upton has at least done something Rollins has failed to do, something important for a leadoff hitter - he's getting on base occasionally. Upton has 16 walks; Rollins has just five.

Although it's stil not pretty, Upton's on-base percentage is .277; Rollins' OBP is .231.

Phils manager Charlie Manuel said he thinks about a lineup shakeup every day, although he finds it difficult to bat Rollins anywhere but leadoff. I still wouldn't be stunned with a temporary change in an effort to get Rollins going.

Perhaps Jayson Werth, who has a lot of characteristics of a quality leadoff hitter, even if his value is more important to the middle of the order.

So maybe it's not as much "WWJD?" as it is "WWCD?"

Charlie is likely going through the daily chore of figuring out how to fix what ails the top of his lineup as I type...

The time to blog has been few and far between this weekend as I try to keep up with the daily/Sunday/off-day stuff.

But here are a few items to keep something on your plate on a Sunday afternoon (Happy Mother's Day, by the way).

-- I think this stat tells you all you need to know about the 2009 Phillies: they are 15-4 when they score more than three runs; they are 0-9 when they score three runs or less. Those numbers perfectly illustrate the fact that the starting pitching has yet to bail out the offense this year.

-- While a lot of the attention has been on the lack of effectiveness by the starters, Brad Lidge's struggles have gone somewhat under the radar. Check out today's Phillies scoop to see how the Phils closer leads the NL in two categories that aren't exactly the kind of categories you want to lead in.


-- I spoke with Chipper Jones on Friday, a day after the Manny Ramirez scandal broke. Jones and Ramirez both established themselves as every day players 15 years ago and have had similar career paths... until this week.

-- Comedian Dane Cook (don't you have to be funny to be considered a comedian?) was scheduled to take batting practice with the Phillies before Saturday's game. He pulled out at the last second with a sore shoulder. Weak. Charlie Manuel has likely banned him from ever sharing a batter's box with Chase Utley.

-- Oh, and no Jayson Werth Fleece Blanket. Apparently the coloring came out bad in the production line. Fans will instead receive coupons that they can turn in for the fleece when it arrives at the Majestic Clubhouse store at CBP on July 24.

As the reigning champion in their sport, Charlie Manuel and the Phillies will take advantage of one of the perks to being on top.

A week from today, they will meet President Barack Obama during a visit to the White House. The Phils, who play a four-game series against the Nationals next weekend, are on the White House agenda to meet with the new commander in chief from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday before playing the Nationals that night.

The Phils were originally scheduled to visit the White House on April 14, but the event was postponed when Hall of Fame broadcaster Harry Kalas passed away a day earlier.

After the initial, "great, another current high profile player is tied to performance enhancing drugs," my next reaction to the news on Manny Ramirez?

Advantage, Phillies.

Last year the Phils were one of the unfortunate NL teams that caught the Dodgers twice on their schedule after they acquired Manny (and then again in the playoffs, of course).

Now the Phils are on the other end. With Ramirez's 50-game suspension going into effect tonight, the Phillies host the Dodgers next week and visit Dodger Stadium for four games the first weekend of June.

All told, they'll play seven games against L.A., sans Manny.

Less than a month after the passing of Harry Kalas, the Phillies have lost another prominent figure in franchise history.

Former Danny Ozark died this morning at his home in Vero Beach, Fla. He was 85 years of age. In his first five years, Ozark guided the Phillies to 71, 80, 86, 101 and 101 wins. The Phils won three consecutive National League Eastern Division titles starting in 1976, a record unmatched by any other Phillies manager.

Ozark was named Phils manager on Nov. 1, 1972; Dallas Green replaced Ozark during the 1979 season.

"I was saddened by the news of Danny's passing," Phillies Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt said. "He was a good friend, my first major league manager, played a major role in early years my career, and was instrumental in building us into prominence in the mid-1970's. He brought a wealth of baseball experience from his years with the Dodgers to Philadelphia and we were fortunate to have him as our leader throughout that time. My wife and I extend our deepest sympathy to Ginny and the Ozark family."

Utley in the lineup?

I had travel issues today and arrived at the ballpark with the word in the street that Utley was a gametome decision.

Well, according to the lineups posted on the scoreboard at Citi Field, Utley is playing second and batting third.

The next time Manuel is in St. Louis, he'll sit in Tony LaRussa's seat in the home team's dugout.

Manuel will be managing the National League All-Star team. The World Series-winning manager has the honor of selecting the non-starters.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Manuel said.

Manuel will surely want to bring some of his own players. Raul Ibanez, who enters tonight’s series with the Mets hitting .351 with eight home runs and 21 RBIs in 24 games, has never made an All-Star team.

Utley out of lineup

I'll try to dig around and find out why; for now, here's the starting nine:

1. Rollins SS
2. Victorino, CF
3. Ibanez, LF
4. Howard, 1B
5. Werth, RF
6. Feliz, 3B
7. Cairo, 2B
8. Ruiz, C
9. Myers, P


OK, back up from the clubhouse. Utley isn't in the lineup for the second time in three games because of right foot injury.

Phils GM Ruben Amaro said the injury was not serious and the team doesn't plan on putting Utley's ankle through any tests unless it worsens. He'll be re-examined before Wednesday's game in New York, but the team sounds optimistic he'll be ready to return.

Utley was hit by a pitch from Mets right-hander Mike Pelfrey Friday and was held out of Saturday's game.

If you were watching the Phils' game Monday night, you saw it, too.

Rick Ankiel hit the wall in left-center while running at full force. Like Aaron Rowand a few years ago, Ankiel's head was the first thing to hit the wall.

Unlike Rowand, however, Ankiel was already falling to the ground before the collision, and it looked like it could be a terrible, tragic neck injury. The sight of everyone in Cardinals' uniforms running out to Ankiel seconds after it happened and the sounds of ambulance sirens minutes after he was carted off the field on a stretcher were downright terrifying.

I'm not at the ballpark yet, but I was glad to read this when I woke up on ESPN.com:

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Rick Ankiel, who left Monday night's game on a stretcher after a violent head-first collision with the outfield wall, has been released from an area hospital, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

Ankiel was brought to the hospital for X-rays after the collision and remained overnight for observation.

"Right now things are positive," Cardinals GM John Mozeliak said Tuesday of Ankiel's condition, according to the newspaper. Mozeliak said the team would have more detailed information Tuesday afternoon, including when Ankiel might be available to play again.

Ankiel chased down Pedro Feliz's long drive in the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies but couldn't stop himself from crashing into the padded center-field wall. He stayed flat on his back for several minutes as teammates gathered around him, and the game was delayed about 15 minutes as a hush fell over Busch Stadium.

Ankiel lay motionless for several minutes, telling left fielder Chris Duncan he thought he wasn't seriously hurt but didn't want to move.

"I said, 'Are you all right?'" Duncan said. "He said, 'I think so. I'm just going to lay here.' It's pretty scary to see someone run that fast into a wall."

He was placed in a neck brace and strapped to a gurney before being carted off the field accompanied by team physician Dr. George Paletta and trainer Barry Weinberg. As he was wheeled off, Ankiel flashed a thumbs-up sign.

X-rays and a CT scan of Ankiel's head, neck and back were all negative and showed no fractures, team spokesman Brian Bartow said Monday night.

Ankiel was expected to be in attendance on Tuesday night as the Cardinals played the second game of a two-game series against the Phillies.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

For good or bad, yesterday's flurry of rainouts has set the rotations of the Phillies, Cardinals and Mets back a day.

For the Phillies, it means the opportunity to no rush Cole Hamels (left ankle) back to the mound. He's scheduled to throw a bullpen session before Tuesday's game, and tentatively on tap to start Friday against the Braves in Philly.

It also means Joe Blanton, originally on tap to pitch Sunday, pitches tonight in St. Louis instead. I'm not sure how much stock you put in one start, but arguably Blanton's best game of 2008 took place at Busch Stadium last year.

On August 2, his third start with the Phillies, Blanton held the Cards to four hits and one run in seven sharp innings of a 2-1 win at Busch Stadium. It might be the karma Blanton needs to wake up from a disastrous start to 2009 (0-2, 8.41 ERA, six home runs allowed in four starts).

As for their opponents...

St. Louis was also rain out (in Washington) on Sunday, meaning former Phil Kyle Lohse starts today. Lohse has been as good as Blanton has been bad -- 3-0, 1.97 ERA in five starts.

It doesn't get any easier Tuesday - the Cards send Adam Wainwright (3-0, 2.76 ERA) to the mound.

The rain also means the Phils won't avoid Johan Santana, as originally projected. Santana should probably be 5-0 - the bats and the bullpen have come up short in his starts. He's 3-1 with a filthy 1.10 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 32 2.3 innings.

A quick recap: in the next three nights, the Phils face Lohse, Wainwright and Santana. I guess they should be happy it's their arms - and not their bats - that are slumping.

Otherwise, that threesome could spin the Phils into a quick tailspin...

Cole Hamels threw a bullpen session before Saturday's game and "felt some soreness," according to Phils general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.


Amaro said Hamels is still day-to-day and will be reevaluated when the team arrives at Busch Stadium in St. Louis Monday. But there's a chance Hamels won't pitch against the Cardinals.

"It is very possible he could not make that start," Amaro said.

Hamels suffered a mild ankle sprain while fielding a bunt during his most recent start, Tuesday night against the Nationals.

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Also, Chase Utley is out of today's starting lineup. Charlie Manuel told me Utley is sporting a sizable bruise on his foot after getting hit by a pitch Friday night.

Amaro didn't believe it was anything the team needed to be concerned with, brushing off a question if Utley needed the foot to be examined with an X-ray or MRI.

Saturday's (unique) lineup

1. Victorino
2. Ibanez
3. Werth
4. Howard
5. Rollins
6. Feliz
7. Bruntlett
8. Ruiz
9. Moyer

Utley likely has the day off with Mets lefty Oliver Perez on the mound.

As you read earlier, Brad Lidge (right knee inflammation) is good to go. After throwing a lengthy bullpen to test out his knee earlier today, he was given the go ahead to return to action Saturday.

Cole Hamels (left ankle sprain) did not throw a bullpen session. Manager Charlie Manuel said Hamels would test out his ankle off the mound Saturday.

But I'm peering down on the field now and Hamels is playing long toss with fellow lefty Scott Eyre. Hamels and Eyre are close to 200 feet away from each other, and Hamels is pushing off his left leg and, with a little crow hop, throwing strikes to Eyre's glove.

Lidge avoids DL

Brad Lidge (right knee inflammation) threw a 30- pitch bullpen session Friday afternoon and declared himself ready to return.

Lidge might not pitch tonight since he had a lenghty bullpen, but he said he'd "absolutely" be available Saturday.

Big weekend at the ballpark.

At least as "big" as they come the first weekend of May. It's the first installment Phils-Mets, the best rivalry in the National League.

These two teams have created arguably the best theater in baseball over the last three years. There was Jimmy Rollins' "team to beat" proclamation, an assortment of bad comebacks from Flushing and some very entertaining games, quite a few of the wild comeback variety.

But the main theme of this rivalry is the Mets' propensity for letting their grip on the NL East slip in September... and the Phils' fortitude to take advantage and take control.

Let's face it: the Phils have the mental edge.

Joel Sherman of the NY Post nails that in his column today.


Also, a look at the biggest Phils' bat that's gone under the radar in the season's first month - Ryan Howard.