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Phillies can't fend off Braves, lose 5-4 in 10 innings

Martin Prado capped a 4-for-5 night with a walk-off single as the Braves got some breaks and finished on the winning side of a back-and-forth opener.

Beerleaguer: It's been a couple seasons since we've seen this phrase and now seems like the proper time to revisit it: "losses attributable to the bullpen." In the next few days, I'll go back and count, unless someone has the energy to assign the losses objectively. Because after tonight, the tally is certainly mounting. Their two most trustworthy relievers to end last season are suddenly among their most unreliable. Ryan Madson, whose throwing error advanced the eventual tying run into scoring position, was charged with a blown save in the eighth after John Mayberry and Pedro Feliz positioned them for the win with back-to-back homers. Chan Ho Park couldn't hang on in the 10th.

This wasn't an especially tough loss, but the problems with the pitching continue to run deep.

Game chat: J-Roll expected to start tonight's opener

If Charlie Manuel keeps his word, Jimmy Rollins will resume lead-off and shortstop duties tonight at Turner Field, where the Phillies won all nine games against the Braves last season. Right-handers Joe Blanton and Derek Lowe have the ball starting at 7:05. Lowe is 5-0 with a 2.14 ERA in his last seven starts against the Phillies, including a dominant performance on opening day.

Phils list Happ for Thursday, undecided about Friday

Tonight’s pre-game notes have been released, listing the upcoming probables as Cole Hamels for Wednesday, J.A. Happ for Thursday and a TBD for Friday’s home game against the New York Mets. Happ would be on regular rest due to the off-day. By pushing the open start to Friday, it opens the door for Rodrigo Lopez, who could pitch on normal rest after pitching a seven-inning, one-run start on Sunday. Andrew Carpenter, who pitched Saturday, would have five days rest. Carlos Carrasco would have six days. Gustavo Chacin pitched yesterday and Kyle Kendrick is listed for tonight.

Report: Phillies reacquire former farmhand Mazone

Lefty Brian Mazone, 32, was 0-1 with a 8.44 ERA in 13 injury-shortened appearances with Triple-A Albuquerque (Dodgers), all in relief. He had spent the previous three seasons with the Phillies, nearly earning a call-up in 2006 after going 13-3 with an International League best 2.03 ERA. Over 232 games, including 181 starts, the junkballer is 81-56 with a 3.67 ERA. Mazone figures to round out the Phillies’ Triple-A rotation or pen, which is bracing for the promotion of one of their starters to Philadelphia. The Phillies, in turn, have promised future considerations.

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Hot stove open thread

To get you started, here are some names spotted recently on MLBtraderumors.com and other sites.

The Phillies could be looking to address bullpen help even before they wrestle away a starter. Luis Ayala is available now, having been designated for assignment by Minnesota June 22. Keeping in the American League, Seattle's Miguel Batista is reportedly on the block as someone with a rubber arm to devour middle innings. Closer Joakim Soria is reportedly unavailable, but the Royals may be prepared to trade pitching. Former assistant Mike Arbuckle was spotted scouting Phillies' farmhands. David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News speculated that right-handers Gil Meche and Brian Bannister might be potential targets for his former associate Ruben Amaro Jr. Other starters floated recently include Arizona's Doug Davis and New York's Chien-Ming Wang. There's a report that the Blue Jays want to get out from under Vernon Wells and Alex Rios. Neither would be a fit for the Phillies' needs, but Austin Kearns and Josh Willingham of Washington might. Kearns is having a horrible season, but might fit as a 25th man off the bench. Willingham, the worst-fielding outfielder I've seen all season, represents my idea of a great 4th outfielder with right-handed pop. The price may be too high for him; Willingham belongs in the American League.

Breaking news: Bastardo to the DL; Escalona recalled

A strained shoulder will send left-hander Antonio Bastardo to the 15-day disabled list. Once again, Sergio takes the Escalona Escalator back up from Lehigh Valley. Carlos Carrasco is considered the front-runner to assume the vacant spot Thursday in Atlanta, but nothing has been finalized. The Phils will need to make another roster move at that time. (Murphy defeated Zolecki by seconds in the race to tweet the news first).

Beer nuts: Brad Lidge fooling no one with his knee

One of the benefits to covering the Phillies from the comfort of one's own home is being able to call bull once in a while.

If only Lidge was half as good at getting outs as he's been peddling horse pucky this season, the Phillies might have a 10-game lead. Here's Lidge, following yesterday's game: "I walked around the mound just to kind of take inventory and make sure everything felt all right," Lidge said. "And it did. That was huge for me to know that I didn't need to worry about that."

Nah, nothing to worry about here. No reason to feel concerned watching Lidge, owed in the neighborhood of $30 million, shot put the ball to home plate. The only reason Lidge escaped the ninth yesterday was because the Blue Jays let him. Can someone please explain what he's doing back on the mound? How does an obviously injured, confidence-shattered closer make the situation any better? How much ground could the Phillies possibly lose between now and the All-Star break if they gave Lidge more time?

Phillies can afford to wait: Nobody denies the Phillies need another starter, but if Ruben Amaro Jr. decided to stall until they were right up against the July 31 deadline in order to drive down the price of pitching, the National League East may be bad enough to accommodate them. As I write this, the second-place Mets, with Fernando Nieve on the mound, Argenis Reyes leading off and 20-year-old Fernando Martinez batting sixth and playing right, trail Milwaukee 3-0 and are in a bases-loaded jam with one out. As bad as the Phillies have been lately, they've lost no significant ground since opening up a four-game lead before the last home stand. Pitching isn't available anyway.

"Right now, there are only four or five teams that legitimately can say they're out of their races," Amaro told MLB.com. "With the supply and demand at this particular time, I don't see much action happening, particularly with pitching, which is a priority for us."

J-Roll: Following a fourth-consecutive benching, Beerleaguers wondered whether the punishment fit the crime. Rollins is hitless in his last 19 at-bats and is 7-for-56 since June 9, lugging the lowest OBP (.254) in baseball among qualified hitters, so he's clearly struggling and needed a break. But the length of the benching, and the silence surrounding it, suggests it's more than just a player fighting himself. Add last season's disciplinary measures and Rollins has been benched six times since his MVP season.

Carrasco, Carpenter make Thursday decision difficult

At the time of Brett Myers' injury, Carlos Carrasco was winless and just starting to pitch consistently. Since then, he's gone 4-1 and has pitched effectively for well over a month.

When the Phillies named 23-year-old Antonio Bastardo as Myers' replacement, they were selecting the hottest hand in the system. Now, with Bastardo in need of his own replacement, the Phils could use the same tactic, only this time the pitcher in place could also be their highest rated in the system, according to most preseason analysts.

Although the Phillies have not made a decision on who will pitch Thursday's game in Atlanta, it will likely come down to Carrasco, who's listed on the 40-man roster and was a candidate for the rotation in spring training, and Andrew Carpenter, the recipient of a spot start earlier in the season against Washington. While Carrasco has improved, Carpenter has been Lehigh Valley's most consistent starter hands down, tossing an eight-inning, seven-strikeout shutout in his last start. However, the Phillies may consider Carpenter's performance in his first start and test drive their younger prize, considered to have a higher ceiling.

Pros and cons help and hurt each candidate. Carrasco has the physical tools to succeed at the highest level, but confidence and his ability to stay cool when things haven't gone his way have been noted issues. Carpenter dictates the pace and locates, but he doesn't have electric stuff. Either one would represent a completely different look than Bastardo, a raw lefty who pitched on pure adrenaline, with the wildly varied results one would expect.

Phillies escape late-inning jams, hold on 5-4

Disaster was averted more than once in the eighth and ninth innings, as a four-run fourth, capped by Chase Utley's two-run triple, propelled the Phillies to the series win in Toronto.

Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge have been their own worst enemies lately and the last thing they needed was for their own teammates to contribute to their undoing. If not for a few lucky breaks, including John McDonald getting caught in a ninth-inning rundown, the Phils would have blown another one. Once the Phillies took the lead, there were several opportunities for big insurance runs that never materialized. Then, as if they needed any more reason to dump Eric Bruntlett, the guy commits a critical throwing error that leads to a bases loaded jam, which Madson escaped. Then, already iced, Lidge walked the tightrope in the ninth, allowing the first two batters aboard, but got the breaks and notched his first save since June 1.

Let's talk about Jamie Moyer. Burned by a couple breaking balls out over the plate, the second-half of his five-inning, four-run outing was as good as he gets, taking something off and dropping them in perfect spots. He showed a lot of guts today, but that's vintage Moyer. I'd take Moyer's afternoon over that of Brian Tallet, a generic left-hander the Phillies let off the hook.

Two wins following the closed-door meeting. The Phils will hope to get Raul Ibanez back this weekend and reinsert Jimmy Rollins back into the lineup Tuesday. In addition, I'd like to see the Phils make one or two roster adjustments before the Atlanta series.

Game chat: J-Roll benched again for finale

Beerleaguers cannot remember when a prominent uninjured starter had been benched for four-straight games, but that's the new, tough-love regime of manager Charlie Manuel. Jamie Moyer and Brian Tallet are scheduled in this important rubber match. First pitch is 1:07. In other news, the Inquirer reports that top prospect Carlos Carrasco could be recalled to pitch Thursday in Atlanta, with Cole Hamels pitching Wednesday and Antonio Bastardo sitting out with a shoulder strain. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Efficient Happ masters Blue Jays in 10-0 shutout

On an afternoon when Jayson Werth and the Phillies' offense exploded for 10 runs, J.A. Happ stole the show, using 100 pitches to go the distance and limit the Blue Jays to five hits.

Happ, a perfect 5-0 on the season, got ahead of hitters all afternoon and didn't issue a single walk. Following a closed-door meeting after last night's ugly loss, the Phillies came out and delivered one of the best all-around efforts of the season, led by Werth, who homered twice and finished 4-for-4 and a triple away from the cycle.

Beerleaguer: Just a solid, bullish, much-needed effort from the rising left-hander, whose future looks brighter with every passing turn. Today, he kept them off base and worked the strikezone early. Just a solid afternoon by the former third-round pick, who's becoming someone the Phillies can actually count on. Only the outright release of Eric Bruntlett (.129) would make Beerleaguer's day brighter.

In other news, J.C. Romero was identified as the Phillie who had an altercation with a Toronto fan. Daily News scribe David Murphy has the story. Guess we'll be seeing more Sergio Escalona sooner rather than later. [Link]

Game chat: Phillies, Jays set for Saturday matinee

Who doesn't love a nice interleague game to break up your Saturday afternoon, especially when your team is at their unwatchable worst? The Phillies ask J.A. Happ to deliver some innings and a win starting at 1:07. Following last night's loss, the Phils now have an even worse interleague winning percentage (.250) than last season. They hold a slim half-game advantage over the Mets in the National League East. According to Inquirer, Jimmy Rollins will sit again, making it three-straight benchings. Just like Jimmy, I'm sitting this one out.

Unraveling Phillies giving hope to NL East rivals

The Phillies went from an 11-3 run and a four-game lead to 2-11 slide and a half-game edge. Although they lost no ground, it was another discouraging night, as a miffed Cole Hamels lasted just 4 2-3 innings, Chan Ho Park left with a knee contusion, Brad Lidge stunk and the offense banged out a whole three hits.

"Park has been the most effective reliever out of the pen the past two weeks. With Condrey already out, it's a big deal if Park has to be shelved. ... I don't like the way the players have started to lose their cool with the umps the last couple of games. It just speaks to a general loss of control, letting the rest of baseball know your ship is officially sinking and the only thing you can do about it is bawl out the ump. Regarding Hamels: seems the league is beginning to adjust to him more. There's only so much unpredictability you can bring to the table with two effective pitches. Without a third, he's not likely to put up numbers much better than he recorded last year." - RSB

"Bruntlett clearly should be released. .138 average is not an anomaly, but a legitimate reflection of how good he is. It's a complete joke to have Bruntlett on the roster. When I wanted to bench/DL Rollins, I assumed it wasn't Bruntlett who would take the ABs. ... There's no [pitcher] in the minors who will really help. A trade is clearly needed. I wasn't all about Penny in the past but he's a huge improvement over anyone else we could use as our 5th starter. Also at this point there's some value in making a change just for the sake of change. I don't think anyone expects us to go far in the playoffs when our starter ERAs are 4.44, 5.97, 5.06, 6.75 and 3.47." - Brian

“The availability (of pitchers) really isn’t there. The number of buyers and the number of sellers isn’t even close to equal. There are no teams bailing or stepping out of this (playoff race). I don’t expect it to change a whole lot, but it’ll start to crystallize more as we get into July.” - Ruben Amaro Jr., via the AP

Romero smothers Phils, closed door meeting follows

Ricky Romero took a no-hitter into the seventh inning in the Phillies' 6-1 loss to Toronto. The rest of the National League East also lost, so the Phillies maintained their half-game lead in the division. Nevertheless, frustration over losing 11 of their last 13 led to a 20-minute closed-door session between manager Charlie Manuel and his club immediately following the game, according to reporters. More tomorrow.

Game chat: Phillies begin final leg of AL schedule

Left-handers Cole Hamels (4-3, 4.24) and Ricky Romero (4-3, 3.59) toe the slab when the Phillies and Jays open a three-game set in Toronto, Onterio, Canada. First pitch is 7:05.

Preview: With the life drained from nearly the entire team these days, the Phils face an opponent that contributed heavily to the sad state of things just a few days ago. Romero matched up with Hamels in Tuesday’s 10-inning loss and pitched well, giving up three runs in seven innings while striking out nine. Toronto (40-34) came ready to play, and the Phils will struggle again this weekend if they continue to play like they have these last two weeks. Once again, the Phils will not have Jimmy Rollins in the lineup, verified by Scott Lauber. For an inside look at Rollins’ slump, be sure to read the latest from Fangraphs.com. [Link]

Drabek: As the Phillies continue to eye alternates for their starting rotation, coaches gushed over Kyle Drabek’s performance last night in Reading. From Mike Drago’s report in the Reading Eagle: "I think he could've pitched in the big leagues tonight with what he had," said R-Phils pitching coach Steve Schrenk. "His stuff was good. His fastball was explosive. He was pitching inside, throwing his breaking ball for strikes, and he used his changeup later in the game. His fastball and his curveball early were big league pitches." In five starts, the 21-year-old right-hander is 5-0 with a 2.43 ERA. [Link]

Mounting miscues, but pitching defines Phils' woes

Postgame analyst Ricky Bottalico called it one of the most disgusting games he's seen, and with good reason. The Phillies fell over themselves in a sloppy 10-4 finale in a game where their pitching was busted open once again.

If you had been locked away in solitary confinement, unaware of the date and out of touch with the Phillies, you could immediately recogize the Phils were in the midst of another June swoon after only a few short moments of last night's game. Then you'd ask to be locked back in solitary to escape the trinity of torture, as the pitching, hitting and defense all deteriorated in burning unison.

There's a glitch in the hardwiring of this club that causes them to shortcircuit during interleague play. Perhaps it reminds them of the Grapefruit League and they go through the motions as if it were exhibition. Last night certainly resembled a spring training game. There's also something in the character of this group that makes them unable to maintain a mid-season lead. We know they thrive on adversity, playing their best when the chips are absolutely stacked against them, as evidenced by their play during the stretch run and all the comeback victories. When it comes to the Phillies, there's no other way than the hard way.

Charlie Manuel will wait out his defense and hitting, strengths that have been sucked into this slump. But there's nothing he can do about the pitching. He sent three pitchers to the mound in Antonio Bastardo, Tyler Walker and Jack Taschner yesterday who don't belong in the Major Leagues. There have been no signs of that improved slider and plus change-up we read about from Bastardo, who left in the fourth inning with a shoulder strain. Bastardo and Ruiz were out of sync all night, and Bottalico suggested the young lefty tried to do it his way. Then there's Taschner. After a good, long look, he basically offers one, very straight pitch.

Taschner was Ruben Amaro's choice. After losing 10 of their last 12, and with marginal talent throughout the roster, it seems like a good time to offer a midterm grade for the first-year GM.

Game chat: Series set to conclude without Rollins

Charlie Manuel tells reporters that Jimmy Rollins will be given at least two days off to clear his head, sending a message that his badly slumping shortstop must improve.

Beerleaguer: They had to do something. Rollins is hitting .211 and has not gotten a hit in five games. Desperately out of sorts, he must be badly pressing by this point. The benching is well-timed, too, setting him up to sit far away from home. The season is still young enough where you hope J-Roll can use this vacation as a springboard to start over. I would have never seen this coming. Rollins, one of the all-time great Phillies gamers, lost his game.

Lineups: Victorino CF, Dobbs 1B, Utley 2B, Howard DH, Werth RF, Stairs LF, Feliz 3B, Bruntlett SS, Ruiz C.

Notes: Celebrating the achievements of non-prospects

Marquee farmhands like Michael Taylor and Kyle Drabek may monopolize discussion, but the higher levels of the Phillies’ system have been getting a boost from their mercenaries.

At Lehigh Valley, first baseman Andy Tracy, who spent time on the Phillies’ bench last season, was named International League Batter of the Week for the week of June 15. The veteran hit .381 with 10 RBIs over that span and is second in the league in home runs (13) and RBIs (50). Man, minor league pop is at a premium, isn’t it? Right-hand man Mike Cervenak, another reservist during the title season, is also having a well-rounded season, hitting .313. Then at Reading, the R-Phils are getting good miles out of first baseman Kevin Mahar and third baseman Neil Sellers. Mahar, 28, collected his fifth homer in June yesterday, while Sellers, 27, has started all 70 games for the Phillies, according to Mike Drago, and has a nifty .834 OPS to go with it. A big Beerleaguer tip of the cap to our faceless farm heroes.

Lidge activated: As expected, Brad Lidge has rejoined the roster. To make room, Sergio takes the Escalona express shuttle back to Allentown.

Thursday: For your consideration, five Phillies failures

The Phillies’ troubles are the result of even spread of five intertwined issues. Here they are, in no particular order.

- The starting pitching got out of the blocks very slowly and never fully recovered. Better starts from Joe Blanton, Jamie Moyer and Cole Hamels haven’t been enough to pull the team from the depths of the National League in regards to ERA, and all the short starts have taken a toll on an overused bullpen. In my opinion, this is the principal issue.

-  The season-ending injury to Brett Myers leaves the team short, while mounting setbacks to Raul Ibanez, Brad Lidge, Clay Condrey and Scott Eyre are having noticeable consequences. Bank on even more nagging, unannounced ailments to the bullpen, taxed harder than most units.

- The bullpen isn’t as good as it was a year ago, starting with Lidge. He may be feeling “great,” as he told Scott Lauber in the News-Journal, but he’ll still be making adjustments. “The biggest thing for me, even more than velocity, was how I was delivering the ball and driving right toward the target,” Lidge told Lauber Sunday. "I think command will be the biggest thing that's enhanced by me being able to push off my back foot. I was able to push off, and I never thought about mechanics or what I was doing. I just did it.” The bridge to Lidge has also revealed cracks, with Chan Ho Park, for example, thrust into high-leverage spots while still adjusting to the bullpen.

- Their home record (13-22). Whatever hang-up they’re having, they need to get over it. Should Charlie Manuel shake it up at home and make adjustments to the starting lineup? Jimmy Rollins is a preposterous .192/.247/.338 hitter at Citizens Bank Park.

- J-Roll rounds out the list as the fifth and final fail. Every part of Rollins’ game is substandard from what the Phillies have come to expect.

A beauty for Blanton, but Rays break away in 8th

Pat Burrell's two-run homer turned out to be all the Rays needed on a night when the Phillies' offense didn't live up to their end of the bargain.

Joe Blanton was on the losing end of a pitcher's duel, allowing Burrell's two-run blast and nothing more, striking out 10 in a 121-pitch slog. Meanwhile, the offense had several chances, but couldn't penetrate Matt Garza's defenses. The right-hander stonewalled the Phils over eight crisp innings, striking out seven. Jayson Werth's solo homer was all the Phils could muster, hurting themselves with a pair of deflating double plays (Werth, Carlos Ruiz). No hits for Jimmy Rollins again (0-for-4, now hitting .211), but no hits by the top four hitters, either, along with hitless nights by suddenly-cold Feliz and Ruiz down at the bottom. The Rays iced it with a five-run eighth off Chan Ho Park and J.C. Romero. Antonio Bastardo and the Phils try for the series win tomorrow night.

Game chat: Phils, Rays continue series at the Trop

Right-handers Joe Blanton (4-3, 5.28) and Matt Garza (4-5, 3.83) are scheduled when the 2008 pennant winners play the second of three from St. Petersburg, Fla. First pitch is 7:08.

Notes: Ruben Amaro confirmed to reporters before the game that closer Brad Lidge will be activated from the disabled list tomorrow. Scott Eyre also threw off the mound for the first time and experienced no pain in his calf, according to the News-Journal's Scott Lauber. Lineups are posted with Charlie Manuel's daily affirmation to Jimmy Rollins, who leads off, followed by Victorino CF, Utley 2B, Howard DH, Werth RF, Stairs LF, Dobbs 1B, Feliz 3B, Ruiz C. Blanton is looking to rebound afer a shaky 8-7 loss to Toronto on Thursday.

Rumor: Phillies had a deal in place with Rockies

According to New York Post baseball writer Joel Sherman, the Phillies were in serious talks with the Rockies on a deal that would have sent J.A. Happ and prospects to Colorado for right-hander Jason Marquis and right-handed outfielder Ryan Spilborghs. Writes Sherman: “But as talks were heating up on this deal, the Rockies took off. And once they took off they felt it would be wrong to make a trade that would be interpreted as surrender in the clubhouse and among the fan base. So they tabled talks and now Colorado is quietly out in the marketplace seeing if it can find a veteran reliever.” [Link]

Wednesday: High-motor Victorino feeling the flow

The debate over the best candidate to lead off has as much to do with a slumping Jimmy Rollins as it does with a high-flying Hawaiian.

While fans lament the lost glint in J-Roll’s bat, they’re missing another spark-plug season by Shane Victorino. Vic, who’s constantly riding a modest hitting streak and is currently on an 11-game run, has taken over the reins as this club’s catalyst. Recall Victorino’s involvement in many of the biggest plays of the post-season, everything from his grand slam in Game 2 of the NLDS to the dust-up against the Dodgers. This season, he’s shined against the Junior Circuit, tied for the most hits in interleague play with B.J. Upton after two hits last night, his sixth multi-hit game in the last eight contests. Ugly swing or no, it’s quite possible that he will lead the Phillies in hitting for a second-straight season; he’s at .308 now.

The hardest statistical evidence to support Vic’s table-setter status is his rapidly-rising .372 on-base percentage. An efficient lineup might include Victorino up top with Chase Utley sliding up, then stacking Jayson Werth and Ryan Howard into the 3-4 holes, allowing Vic to continue seeing pitches. Batting Utley second also keeps a left-handed pull hitter with speed in line to work the gap. But aside from OBP, Victorino is the best man to get something started out of the chute. He's the best pest, and he's consistently involved.

Postgame: Phillies jump on Rays early, cruise 10-1

A great road record (24-9) trumped a poor interleague mark (4-9) as the Phillies used a six-run first and a four-run fourth to pound David Price and snap their six-game losing streak.

Nothing like a nice laugher after the misery of last week, made possible by an early burst and good pitching. How about that Chase Utley, and how about that big rook John Mayberry? Along with Ryan Howard's down-in-the-count double, Utley and Mayberry, who got one in the wheelhouse for a three-run shot, accounted for the first-inning scoring to get this nine-game roadtrip started off right. Utley would later drill one into the seats for a two-run shot, finishing with four RBIs. Staked to a big lead, Jamie Moyer held the Rays at bay, allowing five hits and a run over six for his fifth win of the season, No. 251 all-time.

Shane Victorino, one of the few positives during the homestand, extended his hitting streak to 11 games and reached base four times in five at bats. He's hitting .308. Meanwhile, Jimmy Rollins reached on an error and scored in the first and didn't reach base the rest of the game. He's hitting .214.

Game chat: Phils revisit October in series with Rays

The reigning pennant winners open a three-game set starting tonight at Tropicana Field, where ailing slugger Ryan Howard has been spotted. No decision has been made on his status for tonight.

Preview: Following a 1-8 homestand, the Phillies, losers of six straight, better start watching their back. The Mets, Marlins and Braves all won yesterday, putting them 1.5, 3 and 4 games back, respectively. It’s not as though those teams are playing particularly well, but here they are. Maybe a nine-game road trip is just what the team needs, which starts tonight when Jamie Moyer (4-6, 6.35) and David Price (1-1, 3.46) step on the mound. Moyer last faced the Rays in Game 3 of the World Series, a no-decision, as everyone recalls. Price remembers Eric Bruntlett, who homered off him in the ninth inning of Game 2. Howard, who was diagnosed with acute sinusitis on Monday, is back with the club, according to reports, and if he feels well enough, could be reinserted into the lineup tonight. Elsewhere in nearby St. Petersburg, Brad Lidge is scheudled to pitch the eighth inning tonight for the Class-A Threshers (what if the starter is working on a no-hitter?). This marks his second rehab appearance following a 15-pitch outing Saturday for Double-A Reading.

Phillies enduring a bench and depth stress test

One way to measure a well-rounded bench and at-the-ready relief is how well they can contribute over a prolonged period of time.

The day of the role player has arrived for the Phillies, a team now featuring seven players who weren’t part of the world championship squad. Last season, a good bench meant little more than having one or two one-dimensional guys who could come off the bench and pop one, which they had in Matt Stairs and professional pinch hitter Greg Dobbs.

“In case of emergency, use Stairs.” Today, the Phils are faced with a different type of emergency (more of a situation than emergency). Following a relatively healthy run, the Phils’ bench has served two purposes: spot power, with Stairs and Dobbs, and spot defense and speed, with Bruntlett. It wasn’t constructed to cope with long-term injury or giving players regular time off. John Mayberry’s promotion from minor leaguer to immediate starter is proof of this one-dimensionality; his blend of power, speed and glovework may already make him the most well-rounded reservist they have. As for the rest of the bench, it’s an awkward mix that doesn’t quite work, with three lefties in Stairs, Dobbs and third catcher Paul Bako, then Chris Coste and Eric Bruntlett, who hasn’t been remotely productive.

Moving to the bullpen, the team made a concerted effort to load up with veteran help, signing guys like Mike Koplove, Gary Majewski and Tyler Walker to minor league deals. Koplove opted out of his contract June 1 when the Phillies couldn’t find a spot for him in the Majors. Majewski has been up-and-down at Lehigh Valley, while Walker has already appeared in a couple of games.

With Clay Condrey headed to the DL today, that makes three missing relievers. Think back to 2008; I wonder how the Phils would have addressed a situation like this. Maybe a mix of R.J. Swindle, Les Walrond and Joe Bisenius. That sounds pretty clunky on paper, but Sergio Escalona, Jack Taschner and Walker doesn’t sound ideal, either, With Brad Lidge and Scott Eyre expected back soon, the Phils may not have time to find out.

Beerleaguer: There's a reason the Phils have been hounding Colorado about bench help. The Rockies have what I would consider a well-rounded bench, with players like Ryan Spilborghs, Seth Smith and Jeff Baker (who's hurt), players who would be a productive over a prolonged period.

Report: Everyday Clay blows out with oblique strain

ESPN's Jayson Stark has learned that reliever Clay Condrey will be placed on the 15-day disabled list before tomorrow's game in Tampa.

Left-hander Sergio Escalona will earn his fourth call-up of the season and replace Condrey on the roster, according to Stark. Condrey, co-star of MLB Network's "The Pen," has been instrumental to the middle innings, already logging 34 innings with a fine 3.71 ERA, working his way into key spots. He last pitched June 18 against Toronto. Condrey will join Brad Lidge and Scott Eyre, who are working their way back to full health. Lidge will reportedly be ready to return from the DL sometime this week. In other news, Ryan Howard will not travel with the club tonight, accordiing to reports, but could catch a flight to Tampa in time for tomorrow's opener.

Beerleaguer: It's all catching up to the taxed bullpen now. Losing Condrey at this stage is a rather big loss for an already depleted pen, but better now than September.

Beer nuts: Very strange days for Pat the Bat

Embracing the designated hitter isn’t the only adjustment former Phillies creature of habit Pat Burrell has been forced to make.

When the Phillies travel to Tampa this week, they’ll be reunited with a former teammate whose career has careened wildly off course since riding down Broad Street nearly eight months ago. Sidelined for 29 games with a strained neck, and hitting just .240/.351/.296 with one homer in 146 plate appearances, the struggling slugger was thrust into two unfamiliar roles upon his return from the disabled list. On June 14 against Washington, manager Joe Maddon slotted him second in the Rays’ lineup, behind B.J. Upton and ahead of Evan Longoria, marking the first time in his career he’s started a game out of the No. 2 hole. Then on June 18 in Colorado, Maddon got him onto the field for the first time all season ... starting him in right, the first position he’s played other than left field or DH since 2000.

Beltran to DL? According to early reports, the Mets have lost another key player to the disabled list as Carlos Beltran becomes the latest to fall. So here's tonight's lineup, according to reports: Cora, Murphy, Wright, Tatis, Church, Santos, Reed, Castillo, Redding.

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Injuries part of losing

Seems obvious enough, but it’s one obstruction that didn’t get much play in the aftermath of the Phillies’ 1-8 homestand, and an impediment the Phils never had to deal with last season.

One could point to any number of areas when assigning blame for the Phillies’ six-game losing streak. Starting with Tuesday’s game with Toronto, it certainly did not appear the Phils were giving it their all two days removed from a win over Boston. Sorry at bats and poor defense were running themes all week, but by the time Sunday hit, lackadaisical play may have given way to the pressing need to snap their skid and tight play set in.

Should we give the Red Sox, Blue Jays and Orioles credit? Sure, yes. There’s that, too. The Phils were outplayed and outpitched by all of them, bookended by a dominant perfomance by Jon Lester last Friday and ending with a good one by Jeremy Guthrie yesterday. The O’s held off the Phils yesterday largely because of their defense.

But this losing streak also coincides with the Phillies’ mounting injuries and ailments. Brett Myers is lost for the season. Brad Lidge and Scott Eyre are gone from a bullpen that blew a pair of ninth-inning leads this week. Offensively, production was at a premium. Ryan Howard had his consecutive games streak snapped at 343 yesterday as he continues to battle some sort of flu or infection. Then there’s the loss of RBI machine Raul Ibanez, who has contributed to more clutch, late-inning wins than anyone in baseball. The Phillies are clinging to their East lead largely because of their new left fielder.

A 1-8 homestand should never happen, but the Phils have some valid excuses.

Philadelphia tells clueless Phillies to take a hike

A capacity crowd advised the defending champs not to let the door hit them on the way out after watching the Orioles complete the sweep, ending one of the worst Phillies' home stands in history.

Four hits and a run was all the Phils could squeeze from their lifeless bodies this afternoon, beaten for six losses in a row by the Jays and O's in a 1-8 home stay. A carbon copy of last June's interleague abomination, the story remains unchanged for good-glove, no-hit shortstop Jimmy Rollins, hitless this entire series and the embodiment of the Phillies' offensive plight. It may no longer be premature to believe this is more than just a slump, but the beginning of a sharp decline for the former MVP. His wimpy reaction to the missed call at first summed up his season.

The rest of the lineup made nobodies look like All-Stars this week, while the defense also fell on its face. Need evidence that their heads and hearts weren't in these games? How else would one explain six in a row against opponents and pitchers like these? No matter how short-handed they may be, a 1-8 home stand can't happen, and shouldn't happen without consequence.

On the bright side, the Phils take to the road as owners of the best road record in baseball, but the play at Citizens Bank Park must improve or their slim stranglehold on the East will disappear for good.

Game chat: Phillies try to finish homestand with a win

A win today would be just the second in a nine-game interleague home stay, the last one occurring last Sunday.

Preview: The Phillies turn to Cole Hamels (4-2, 4.48) in a game where the Phillies could be without Ryan Howard for the second-straight time. Howard was readmitted to the hospital as he continues to suffer a nasty bout of the flu, according to pregame Twitter reports. The Phillies will be opposed by Jeremy Guthrie (4-7, 5.42), who's having a disappointing year. Consistent production has been at a premium for the Phillies' offense dating back to the 10-game road trip and has been compounded by the loss of Raul Ibanez. I'm in the mood the long-lost win where the Phillies lead from start to finish. Of course, that's not how this team wins. Audio: Listen as I warn fans not to expect runaway success in the East Monday with Rich Quinones from 1290 AM. [Audio]

Sunday: Happ fitting in, but must improve control

Before Ryan and Ryan rewrote the script, starter J.A. Happ supplied another sample.

Early signs suggest Happ will fit in nicely at the bottom of the Phillies' rotation, but the learning process continues and there is room for improvement. Happ needs to work on keeping the ball down, but even more importantly, he needs to keep his walks under control. Happ allowed an uncharacteristic 10 hits yesterday, a season high, but also four walks, which has become the norm; he's now walked 14 in his last three starts, including six in his last outing, pushing his season strikeout-walk ratio to 41/28. Happ has pretty good stuff and hitters generally have had a tough time picking him up and getting good swings. The promise of better control, along with refinement to his secondary pitches, will put his club in position to win every time he takes the mound.

Where's the barf bag?

Phillies fever turned into another tough pill to swallow. After sick slugger Ryan Howard gave his mates the go-ahead off the bench in the 7th, Ryan Madson gave it right back in the 9th in a 6-5 loss to the Orioles.

The Phillies continue to find ridiculous new ways to lose at home, this time erasing one of the single-best storylines of the season. Suffering flu-like symptoms and a 104-degree fever following last night's game, resulting in a hospital stay, Howard stepped off the bench and deposited a three-run, go-ahead home run into the seats in the 7th, capping a five-run rally. Howard's appearance preserved a personal streak of 343-straight games and should have snapped the Phillies' ugly losing streak. Instead, it sent fans home with the same symptoms that kept Howard out of the starting lineup.

Sleep will be hard to come by for a new Ryan tonight. We'll take Chris Wheeler's word that the 8th inning is a different animal, and the proof is in Madson's performance these last three games. But can anyone explain where Madson's off-speed pitch went? The one he should have thrown to Rod Barajas Thursday and should have been skinned tonight?

It all amounts to a fifth consecutive loss, and another home series loss, falling to a 13-21 record at home. The Orioles, who entered the series 8-20 on the road, have actually outplayed the Phillies significantly just as the Jays did, getting their six runs on 16 hits tonight.

The Phils try to salvage just their second win of this dizzying nine-game homestand tomorrow before reaching for the only medicine that seems to work: getting the bleep outta town.

Bako to get first start behind home; Howard has flu

Game chat: Following another embarrassing loss at home, Charlie Manuel will make a major lineup shake-up tonight by using three bench players.

According to the Phillies press corps, catcher Paul Bako will make his first start in a Phillies uniform, Greg Dobbs will start at first in place of Ryan Howard, who reportedly suffered through a 104-degree fever last night, and Matt Stairs will start in right. The lineup will go like this: Rollins, Victorino, Utley, Stairs, Werth, Dobbs, Feliz, Bako, Happ, according to CSNPhilly's John Finger.

Readers, skipper, lament another lackluster loss

The Phillies fell 7-2 to an Orioles team that entered the night with an 8-20 road record. Afterward, answers were hard to come by.

"If this team is so freaking taxed in the bullpen that they have to use Taschner for a second inning tonight in a close game why is Bako still on the roster? ... I will say this - Bastardo pitched well (in fact I think his best start of the year) and got ahead of hitters tonight consistently. Didn't allow a single BB or HR. He deserved better but his defense failed him in a couple of key spots and his offense was a no-show." -- MG

"I think Manuel ought to have a closed-door meeting with himself." -- RSB

"Mayberry's play was a reasonably tough catch which he should have made, but it wasn't an error. Utley's was just a simple throw, right in his glove. I don't know how it wasn't charged as an error. Maybe the official scorer wasn't sure that the runner would have been out if Utley had caught it." -- bay_area_phan

"Some of the swings that we take that I see about every night, I sit there and I scratch my head and I wonder." -- Charlie Manuel (via the Daily News)

Notes: The Mets and Braves picked up a game in the standings with respective victories over the Rays and Red Sox. ... I personally threw in the towel after Bastardo allowed an RBI liner to Rich Hill, but the way he rebounded proved to be the highlight of the evening. Nevertheless, I'm still on the fence about the experiment; his repertoire needs refining.. ... On a positive note, in Reading, prospect Kyle Drabek threw an eight-inning, four-hit shutout in the R-Phils' win over Harrisburg. "That's the Kyle Drabek we didn't see the first three times out there," Roadcap told the Reading Eagle. "Good curveball, good changeup." Meet the new Brett Myers, maybe? ... And speaking of Reading, Brad Lidge will begin a rehab assignment there today.

Game chat: Lefties slated as Orioles fly to town

The Phillies hope to put a horrid sweep by the Blue Jays behind them when they open a new series against the 29-37 Orioles. Rich Hill (2-1, 5.81) and Antonio Bastardo (2-1, 5.25) have the ball starting at 7:05.

Best of the press notes: The Phillies have experienced an RISP slip, according to the pre-game notes. Over their last 27 games and after a great start in this category, the Phillies are hitting .190 (47-247) with runners in scoring position. Here’s another interesting figure: The Phillies are 15-8 against left-handed starters, including an 8-4 mark at home, good news as they oppose lefty Rich Hill tonight.

Utley: For whatever reason, I was thinking about Chase Utley today. Beerleaguer’s least discussed player is also the Phils’ best player overall (go figure). The All-Star-bound second basemen is hitting .308/.441/.567 with 15 homers; that .441 OBP is good for third in the league. He’s quietly been on a roll lately, too, hitting .349 (38-109) over his last 28 games.

Ex-Phillies news: Beerleaguer favorite R.J. Swindle has allowed only one earned run in 30 Triple-A games for Nashville, lowering his season ERA to 0.30 and career minor league ERA to 2.16 over 383 2-3 innings. Marlon Anderson is now playing for the Newark Bears.  Pete LaForrest is catching for Quebec les Capitales in the Can-Am league, and he recently caught Eric Gagne's first game.

Lineups are posted: Rollins, Victorino, Utley, Howard, Werth, Feliz, Mayberry, Ruiz, Bastardo.

Column sparks debate over keeping top prospect

Daily News columnist Bill Conlin writes that he wouldn’t part with five-tool outfielder Michael Taylor under no uncertain terms, even if it meant getting a pitcher to fortify a busted rotation. Here’s the problem with that.

Even if the Phillies’ best prospects reach their estimated ceiling, doesn’t the vision for what the Phillies may become, seven years down the road, pale in comparison to what they’re set up to achieve right now? The window in baseball never stays open for long, and odds are always against prospects, even the best ones, to develop into productive Major League contributors. Conlin writes “Don't break up potential belting bookends Michael Taylor and Ryan Howard before they have gone back-to-back for the first of what should be many times.” I’d settle for Howard and Werth in a repeat appearance deep in the postseason. Unfortunately, it may take a farm-gutting move for front-line pitching to get there. In other words, don’t get attached to players like Taylor. It’s the price the Phils will need to pay for immediate, high-impact help. In other words, no prospect should classify as untouchable while the window remains open.

Phillies still afloat above stumbling, bumbling East

A sampling of news from around a middling division.

Francisco Rodriguez blew his second save of the season, including his second-straight game with a bases-loaded walk, in the Orioles’ 5-4 ninth-inning comeback over the Mets. Starter Liven Hernandez, who’s proven to be one of the best, low-budget signings in baseball, pitched through a cramp in his right arm, considered minor. In Boston, the third-place Marlins, who’ve shown small signs of life, earned a 2-1 victory over the Red Sox in a rain-shortened game. Ricky Nolasco held Boston to one hit in the first five innings. In Cincinnati, a pair of newcomers, rookie hurler Tommy Hanson and recent acquisition Nate McLouth led Atlanta to a 7-0 shutout over the Reds. Hanson, who made his Major League debut June 7, improved to 2-0 by allowing three hits over six innings. Atlanta has been one of baseball’s most disappointing teams, with rumblings that it might be time for the team to move on from Bobby Cox. And in Washington, any hopes of a second-half resurgence rest in the hands of top draft pick Steven Strasburg, but negotiations with the hard-throwing right-hander could take months.

Beerleaguer: Even in a bad division, the Phillies are in for a dogfight if they cannot fix their pitching. If they land one, they will sail into the postseason barring a collapse. But without a consistent starter, they’ll stay in contention, but the race will become very tight and they risk falling short. It would be a crying shame for a team with this much talent. You can bank on a second-half improvements across the board, starting with the Braves; the Phils will get to see much more of them after the interleague schedule. Things like defense and bullpen are going to hurt Florida, but they’ll linger. The Mets will get healthier. As for Washington, perhaps a pair of encouraging wins against the Yankees are enough to build their confidence as they look to finish strong.

New riverfront stadium proposed for Reading: A $70 million ballpark to house the Reading Phillies has been added on to a $2.8 billion plan to develop Reading’s Schuylkill River waterfront. R-Phils part owner Craig Stein said he’s not holding his breath. [See the Reading Eagle for details.]

Phillies labor in back-and-forth loss; Jays sweep

Frustration over the Phillies' halfhearted effort has yielded to a fear that injuries, fatigue and holes will lead to a hard fall until the All-Star break.

Credit the Blue Jays for taking three on the road, but there's no excuse for the Phillies to get swept at home against a below-average, depleted Blue Jays' pitching staff. With mounting injuries of their own, the Phillies are in no position to take anything for granted, but that's exactly what they did in the horrid series that ended with an 8-7 loss this afternoon. At what point do the Phillies realize there will be no Brett Myers this season? When do they recognize that perfection will no longer come from Brad Lidge? Now? Now, after starting the homestand 1-5? Now that their most productive player has gone on the shelf for an undetermined amount of time?

But bearing down will only do so much. The bullpen is battered, beaten and eyeing Antonio Bastardo's start a little over 24 hours from now. They're desperate for pitching. They've hit the interleague wall, just as they did last June. Many would argue that everything came up roses. Perhaps, but that team was perfectly healthy, while the current club is falling apart before our very eyes.

Injuries handicap every to club and cannot be predicted, but something must be done to get this team to dig deeper and improve the focus at home. Up 0-2 on Rod Barajas, there's no way he should be getting a letter-high fastball. Ryan Howard. After six years in the league, he must know B.J. Ryan is throwing him a down-and-away breaking ball. The front office. They must recognize that they've allocated resources to the wrong areas, and it's had a direct impact on the downward spiral.

Game chat: The first of maybe many without Raul

A strained groin has sidelined early MVP candidate Raul Ibanez, and word is his recovery could take longer than 15 days pending the results of a scheduled MRI.

Now it's up to perennial MVP candidates like Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and slumping lead-off man Jimmy Rollins to pick up the slack starting this afternoon when Joe Blanton toes the rubber against Brad Mills and the Blue Jays. John Mayberry Jr. will need to step up, too, replacing Ibanez in the lineup and starting this afternoon in right field. The Phillies are hoping to salvage a game after a pair of flat efforts in the first two games of the series. The Phils lead by three games over the Mets in the NL East.

Breaking news: Ibanez heads to DL with groin strain

Shocking news this morning. The Phillies Twitterazzi reports that Raul Ibanez is headed to the disabled list with a strained left groin. Outfielder John Mayberry Jr. has been summoned from Triple-A and will start in right field today, with Jayson Werth sliding over to left. Ibanez, who leads all outfielders in NL All-Star voting, is hitting .312/.371/.656 and is second in the league in homers (22) and RBIs (59), but had cooled off recently. Mayberry, who was called up briefly for the Phillies’ interleague series with the Yankees, was hitting .257/.338/.470 with 8 homers for Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Beerleaguer: Ibanez is a 37-year-old player, so while the news is surprising, we should be prepared for breakdowns during his tenure.

Blue Jays hand Phillies another home series loss

Tonight's loss can be pinned on two areas: Jamie Moyer struggled with his command and the offense decided to take the night off against a pitcher they should have handled.

Moyer allowed four early runs set up by the fact that he couldn't find the zone. To his credit, he settled in and started making some pitches, but with a depleted bullpen, Charlie Manuel asked a six-inning starter to pitch into the seventh and was burned for a couple of more, putting this game out of reach. There's really no other choice but for Moyer to start hitting his spots, or the situation in the 'pen will continue to unravel. And just so we're clear, because there seems to be confusion: Moyer isn't going anywhere, so they'll need to deal with this.

Moving to the offense, which has not been the fluid, well-oiled machine we've been hearing about, even during that 7-3 roadtrip. The execution and approach against Scott Richmond, who matched a season-high 11 strikeouts against this offense using the same basic pitch, was an insult to fans who came out to watch this 13-18 home team in the rain. Even when they still in striking distance, there was no desire to work a count, reach base and get something started. Chalk up another home series loss, too; the only series wins have come against the Nationals, and the last one occurred in late April. You'd need to hop on a plane somewhere to see good baseball from this club.

The Phils are a very good team, but fall into predictable patterns, and this series could be spotted from miles away. Up a couple games, in June, you just knew they'd let off the gas following high-profile series in Los Angeles, New York and against Boston.

Game chat: Phillies turn to Moyer in second game

Hot stove update: Phils allegedly 'leery' of Bedard

Lefty Eric Bedard is posting great numbers, but will the M's deal?

There’s a man in our newsroom called the news editor whose job is to ask one basic question over and over and over again: Is this newsworthy? Here, we ask a slightly different question: Will it spark intelligent debate? This third installment before game chat fails the first question, but passes the second, just like the first two posts of the day. Citing the always popular “someone familiar with the Phillies’ thinking,” SI.com and MLB Network contributor Jon Heyman reports the Phils are ‘a little leery’ of pursuing Seattle left-hander Eric Bedard. The lefty is 5-2 with a 2.47 ERA and 175 ERA+.

The information was part of a report on how pitching options appear to be drying up due to the health of guys like Jake Peavy, DL-bound Chris Young and Roy Halladay, and reluctance of teams like Cleveland to deal pitching, in their case, Cliff Lee. Heyman also links the Phils to Brad Penny, using the always-reliable phrase “believed to have checked in.” Our news editor would never go for that, but on Beerleaguer, it’s gold, Jerry, gold.

RH presence missing; Howard’s awful year vs. LHP

Offensive thunder is last on the list of concerns, and Jayson Werth did, in fact, account for two of the Phillies’ three runs against Toronto. But one reader identifies a dark cloud under the silver lining:

“Watching the way Howard and Ibanez struggled last night against a middling left-hander still indicates to me that the Phillies' lineup could use some adjusting. Werth is the wild card righty somewhere between 2 and 6, and frankly, he's not been enough of a presence in that role to this point. Maybe it's time to move Feliz up a bit to help break up that cluster of left-handedness. Manuel will scream to the hills that it don't matter, but hell if it don't sometimes, Charlie.” – RSB

Beerleaguer: Following a listless night at the plate, let’s continue this offensive pile-on and talk about Ryan Howard for a moment. For the second year in a row, he’s been downright putrid against lefties, hitting .194/.263/.350 with 39 strikeouts in 112 plate appearances. The Phillies need to admit that Howard has now been exposed as a liability against lefties. Here’s an absolutely absurd idea; bear with me. Give John Mayberry a couple of reps at first at Triple-A, just for jags. Good athlete. Future is on the bench anyway. Just one more avenue to get his good bat against lefties onto the field.

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Not to be negative, but ...

Beerleaguer would take great pride in becoming the first to point out that fan favorite Raul Ibanez has cooled off. A reader weighs in:

"At the risk of being called 'negative,' I just noticed that Raul Ibanez is hitting .220 in his last 50 ABs and has nine strikeouts in his last four games. Considering that he has been single-handedly carrying the team up to this point, and considering the extraordinarily slim likelihood that he can remain anywhere near his current pace, I'd say that's a disturbing development. Someone else is going to have to step up very soon." -- bay_area_phan

Phillies' bullpen beaten by Blue Jays in bonus round

Ryan Madson's blown save in the 9th led to a five-run bloodletting of Clay Condrey and Tyler Walker in the 10th, as the Phillies fell to the Blue Jays in an uninspired 8-3 opener.

Toronto set themselves up to score all night, but squandered almost every opportunity until their final at bats. Lucky to be leading 3-2 when they handed the ball to Madson in the ninth, the Phillies' luck quickly ran out, starting with a swinging bunt and ending with a bases loaded walk to tie it. Mad Dog managed to escape the jam with just one run, but then Condrey came on for what proved to be his worst outing of the season. Walker, making his Phillies' debut, allowed all his inherited runners to score. Larry Andersen, working the radio broadcast, complained about home plate umpire Eric Cooper's strike zone the entire night; Cooper charged Phillies' pitchers with 10 bases on balls. Offensively, the Phils pieced together few positives.

Game chat: Phils open three-game set with Jays

Left-handers Rick Romero and Cole Hamels are scheduled when interleague play continues between the Blue Jays and Phillies under gray skies. First pitch is 7:05.

Remember when this series was billed as a rivalry, due to the World Series, I suppose? Well, after an exciting road trip followed by a three-game meeting with AL-best Red Sox, I'm feeling almost no juice from this match-up whatsoever. My page tracker suggests I'm not alone. Here's hoping the Phillies don't feel the same blahs and come ready to play, because the Jays are certainly capable of biting them.

Morning mail-in: Time for Hamels to take charge

Cole Hamels’ season has boiled down to a pair of brilliant starts against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In many ways, Hamels, on the mound tonight to open the Phillies' series with Toronto, has been this season's missing player. Actually, he still doesn't have enough innings to qualify among league leaders even if his numbers weren't as mediocre as they are. Much of that isn't his fault, but some of it is. He showed up unprepared by his own admission. So far, we haven't seen the focus and consistency one would expect from an elite starter. Now the Phils are living with a taxed bullpen and short-handed rotation. It's time for the World Series MVP to settle in and take command.

Links: Scott Lauber offers a well-constructed study of Ryan Madson’s rise to prominence, including a behind the scenes look at his decision to accept a long-term deal. Be sure to check it out here. ... Todd Zolecki cites some advanced numbers to explain how luck has not been on Jimmy Rollins’ side. ... Yesterday in Reading, just after the crack of dawn, Joe Savery improved to a Segovia-esque 8-1 in a 5-2, victory, moving the R-Phils to just 3 1/2 games out of first. Thanks to a stacked rotation that includes Savery, Kyle Drabek, Vance Worley, Michael Stutes and Tyson Brummett, the good times are back in Baseballtown, writes Mike Drago.

Minor stats: Outfielder Michael Taylor third in Eastern League OPS (.955). Quintin Berry second in EL stolen bases (20). Berry’s been getting on base at a good clip (.363), but has no power (.324 SLG). In the Florida State League, Dominic Brown, rated as the best prospect in the Phillies’ system, mirrors Tayor with a third-best .911 OPS with 9 homers and 14 steals. Power is at such a premium in the minors, and around baseball frankly. It’s nice to have some weapons rising up the chain.

Jays pitching matchups: Tonight at 7:05: LHP Romero (3.71) vs. Hamels (4.62); Tomorrow at 7:05: RHP Richmond (3.90) vs. Moyer (6.11); Thursday at 1:05: RHP Janssen (6.23) vs. Blanton (5.17).

Fans express nice show of support for Feliz, Ruiz

Third baseman Pedro Feliz (fourth in All-Star voting) and catcher Carlos Ruiz (fourth) will need manager Charlie Manuel’s help in making the National League squad, but their inclusion is by no means a reach.

When Feliz signed a two-year, $8.5 million contract with a 2010 club option (interesting topic, that option), it appeared to be another one of those begrudging veteran signings to band-aid an area of need. Turns out, Feliz, an unsung hero in the postseason and hitting a very steady .318/.365/.446 this season, has been worth every penny. His season has been filled with surprises, including 21 multi-hit games and a shocking .338/.375/.448 readout against right-handed pitching. Typically prone to slumps, his bat has yet to go cold. One reason is his hits have been true, leading the team in frozen ropes with a 28.5 line-drive percentage. Typically, line drives fall in for hits 75 percent of the time, according to Hardball Times.

Ruiz, who may be a few home games away from surging ahead of Jason Kendall for third in voting, has supplied many of the same surprises, hitting .284/.405/.459 over an injury-shortened year; his greatest trait being that .405 OBP. Ruiz has rekindled one very important part of his game, that being the gap power he demonstrated early in his career. Like Feliz, he’s hitting balls on the nose and also has a good rate of liners at 21.2, which is third among regulars.   

Meanwhile, Chase Utley, Raul Ibanez and Jimmy Rollins maintained their voting leads, with Utley surpassing Albert Pujols in overall totals. Rollins would be making the team on name recognition alone, and after some reconsideration, I’m at peace with that (one of the benefits to winning the World Series, I suppose). Similar to Pat Burrell, Ibanez, a 14-year veteran, has never been named an All-Star (unlike Burrell, he’s on the verge of making his first trip). Howard gained in votes since the last report, but is still miles behind Pujols.

Shane Victorino also made a push, jumping all the way to fifth among outfielders, while right fielder Jayson Werth is eighth. I wouldn’t want to be in Manuel’s shoes if he needed to omit them from the final roster.