Ryan Howard and Chase Utley Could Be Back with Phillies by Tuesday

It’s probably a bit of a reach, but it’s possible the Phillies are able to add Chase Utley and Ryan Howard to the lineup as early as Tuesday’s game against the San Francisco Giants.

Utley, who had thumb surgery back on July 1st, has a better shot of returning when the Phillies start their series against the Giants than Howard.

The All-Star second baseman has reported no soreness in his thumb after making rehab starts in the minors and is closing in on the estimated time of his arrival.

Howard, on the other hand, did report some soreness in his ankle after going through some workouts a couple days ago. He’s going to be evaluated by the Phillies’ team doctors Tuesday, but it’s likely they’ll decide to keep him benched for at least a few more days.

The Giants will probably get lucky and miss the return of both players. With a serious playoff push already under way, Charlie Manuel and the rest of the Phillies organization are going to want to make sure that their star players are 100 percent before throwing them back on the field.

If they rush them back, they could both wind up hitting the DL again, as was the case with Jimmy Rollins a couple months back.

Once both guys are activated, it’s going to be interesting to see what the team decides to do in order to make room for them. The bullpen is about as thin as it can get, so the two guys sent down will likely have to be from the field.

Greg Dobbs could find himself back in the minors, and it could also mean the end of Domonic Brown’s major league stint.

Brown has played well, but keeping him on the bench might not be worth it with a lefty in Ross Gload already on the bench. However, if Gload winds up on the DL, Brown could stay as the lefty off the bench and fill in for Raul Ibanez when he needs it.

Ben Francisco is playing well, so he’d likely be the guy if Manuel felt the need to give Jayson Werth the day off.

Dobbs, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to have a place. Wilson Valdez can play second or third, and the team has two other options for a left-handed bench bat. Manuel and Ruben Amaro Jr. have shown before they’re comfortable putting Dobbs through waivers, so it’s likely that’s the route they’ll go once again.

Either way, having Howard and Utley back this week is going to be a huge boost to a Phillies team already on a hot streak, and it could make them the favorites in the NL East or, at the very least, to earn a wild card spot.

 

UPDATE: Chase Utley has been activated from the 15-day DL and Greg Dobbs, as expected, has been designated for assigment. Dobbs will clearly clear waivers yet again and accept a roster spot with Triple-A Lehigh Valley with the hope of being called up once the rosters expand in two weeks.

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Carlos Ruiz Homer, Umpire’s Bad Call Help Phillies Sweep the Marlins

Roy Oswalt pitched a lot better in his second time around as a Phillie, going six innings and giving up two earned runs on his way to a no-decision.

But that’s not the story of the game that cinched a series sweep for the Phillies over the Marlins.

After the Phillies gave up a four-run seventh inning, all looked lost heading into the ninth down by two runs. But, after a few clutch knocks by the red-hot Raul Ibanez and Jayson Werth, the game was tied heading into extras.

And once in extras, it didn’t take long for the Phils to break the tie.

Carlos Ruiz led off the inning by belting a home run over the left field wall on a 3-2 count to put the Phils up by one. They put runners in scoring position with no one out, but the Marlins did a good job of limiting the damage and the Phils’ defense took the field with a one-run lead in the bottom of the tenth.

Brad Lidge came out, took care of business, earned the save, and the Phils completed their sweep of the Marlins.

However, to the delight of Phillies fans and horror of Marlins fans, the outcome should have been much different.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Marlins had Hanley Ramirez on second, one out, and Gaby Sanchez at the plate. Sanchez ripped a Ryan Madson pitch down the third-base line, but the ball was ruled foul and Sanchez would later strike out.

But upon further review, it’s clear the wrong call was made.

On the replay, you can very clearly see the ball ride the line, hop over the bag, and actually land in fair territory before bouncing in the corner in left field. The ball even kicks up a little cloud of dirt where it lands, so there’s no doubt it should have been a fair ball.

The third-base ump saw things differently, the Marlins were robbed of a walk-off hit, and the Phillies would go on to extend their record to 60-48 and stay two games behind the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves.

It’s definitely good to see things starting to bounce the Phillies’ way at this point in the season, but it’s got to be a bit alarming that another obvious call is blown.

The Jim Joyce call got extra attention because it robbed Armando Galarraga of a perfect game, but this call was just as bad or, if you’re a Marlins fan, coach, or player, possibly worse.

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Could Domonic Brown Start for the Philadelphia Phillies Next Season?

Once Shane Victorino hit the DL, everyone knew it would finally be time to call up the minor league phenom, Domonic Brown. But what no one knew is just how ready he actually was to make an impact in the majors.

Brown, who seemingly did most of his damage in the minors with his long ball, is making his presence felt for the Phillies by doing all the little things. His fielding has been very good and his knack for getting a hit in a clutch situation has been outstanding.

Whether it’s a hard single or a fly ball just deep enough for the sac fly, or his beautiful throw from right field to nail Gaby Sanchez at home on Wednesday night, Brown has been very impressive during his short time with the Phillies.

In fact, if Brown can keep this up, the Phils might have to find a way to keep him on the major league roster, even once Victorino is ready to come back.

It’s going to be tough with the activation of Victorino, Ryan Howard, and the recently-acquired Mike Sweeney, but it might be worth the roster shuffle to keep the kid in the bigs.

With Jayson Werth likely jumping ship in the offseason, Brown is going to see regular time in Philadelphia sooner rather than later, so getting him the experience this year could pay off in years to come.

But even if Brown is able to stay on the hot streak he’s on, I still don’t see him as a viable replacement for Werth next season because he’s left-handed. However, he would be a perfect replacement for Raul Ibanez…in the lineup, and in the field.

If I have noticed that, and some of the fans have noticed that, then it’s likely the Phillies have noticed that and could make such a transition possible this offseason.

Either way, it looks like this kid belongs as a starter in the near future. He can read pitchers, he can run the bases, he can hit in the clutch, he can make plays in the field, and he can do everything else that a starter needs to do.

The one thing we’re not sure of (yet) is whether he can do it consistently. But, they’ll never know unless they give him a shot.

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Ryan Howard To Visit Team Doctor, Could Hit the DL

When it rains in Philadelphia these days, you can bet it’s going to pour.

With the Phillies’ No. 3 hitter, Chase Utley, already on the DL for who knows how long, the Phillies’ No. 4 hitter, Ryan Howard, could be joining him very shortly after spraining his ankle Sunday against the Nationals.

Howard and the team originally said a trip to the DL likely wouldn’t be necessary, but with Howard staying in Philadelphia to see a team doctor rather than traveling to Florida with his teammates to start a series with the Marlins, the optimism is starting to die down.

And to be quite frank, thinking Howard wouldn’t hit the DL was most likely wishful thinking to begin with.

Almost everyone has sprained their ankle at one time or another, and it’s never a quick recovery. It usually takes a few weeks for the swelling to go down completely and for the pain to subside.

It’s also an injury that can linger if not properly healed before it’s put through any kind of activity again.

So, with that in mind, it might be in Howard’s, and the team’s, best interest if he does hit the 15-day DL and allow his ankle to heal before the season really gets down to the wire.

If they hurry him back, his production will dip as he deals with the pain all season long. But if they find a way to tough it out and ride the storm while he misses a couple weeks and comes back at 100 percent, it could have a greater payoff at the end of the season.

It would certainly require some lineup juggling, but the Phils have become accustomed to that this season.

Charlie Manuel has a tough call to make, but barring some miracle, I would expect to see Howard hit the DL at some point later today after the doctor tells him that’s the best route to take.

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Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard Injured in First Inning of Nationals Game

After being hit by a pitch, Ryan Howard made his way to second base after a single into right field by Ben Francisco. Howard thought, if just for a second, that he might be able to make it to third, and began rounding second.

He realized his mistake in time as the ball was just about to reach second base, and made an attempt to jump back to second with his left leg extended.

His efforts worked as he reached second base safely, but his ankle gave out and twisted underneath him. Howard immediately fell to his knees and even the people of Washington in Nationals Park were silent as trainers and Charlie Manuel came out to attend to the injured first baseman.

Howard was looked at by Manuel and the Phillies’ trainer for a little while before tossing an arm over each of them and limping off the field. Cody Ransom came in as a pinch-runner and Howard’s replacement at first base, and the Nationals fans gave Howard a classy round of applause.

But right now, everyone in Philadelphia is thinking the same thing: here we go again.

Through all the injuries, whether they are to stars like Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, and Shane Victorino, or other guys like Placido Polanco, Ryan Madson, J.C. Romero, or Chad Durbin, Howard has been the one constant in the lineup.

However, if the injury is as bad as it looked, that could change.

I’ve personally suffered the same type of injury, or at least suffered an injury in the same circumstance heading back to second base. When he plants that ankle and locks it, he still has the rest of his body weight coming and it all forces itself right onto his ankle.

When it happened to me, I sprained my ankle and had a partially torn tendon. Hopefully Howard avoided such an injury and only rolled it, but it certainly looked a lot more serious than that.

If Howard is out for any extended amount of time or if he has to hit the DL, it’s going to really set this team back and leave them without a true clean-up hitter. Ross Gload would likely take over at first and Jayson Werth would probably assume the fourth spot in the lineup.

Hopefully it doesn’t come to that, but that’s what I would expect to see for at least the next couple of games.

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Roy Oswalt Disappoints in Philadelphia Phillies Debut

If there’s anyone like me who wasn’t a true fan of the move to bring in Roy Oswalt, you’re probably hoarse from screaming at your TV all night long.

Oswalt was incredibly erratic in his Phillies debut as he and the team fell to the Washington Nationals, 8-1.

Of those eight runs, Oswalt allowed four earned, five total. He also allowed seven hits, two walks, and struck out only four in six innings of work.

Is it just me, or could J.A. Happ have done that?

The Phils had better hope that Friday night was an aberration for Oswalt, and that he’ll come back strong in about five days or so, because if he has another showing like that, the Philly police might have to set up a border around Ruben Amaro Jr.’s home and keep watch for crazed fans.

But on a more positive note, Jayson Werth did hit a home run.

And back to the negative: the Phils offense once again looked anemic as they were only able to muster six hits, most of them meaningless, and struck out eight times.

It’s tough to get too down on them after the run they’ve been on recently, but it’s hard not to see the cycle starting again.

Especially when the guys had two errors in the field to go along with their poor showing at the plate.

Joe Blanton takes the mound for game two, so there’s no telling how this game will turn out.

If he gets into trouble early and starts walking guys, it’s going to be a very long night. However, if he’s placing his fastball, it should be fairly easy to hold down this Nationals lineup.

Oh, and if Jimmy Rollins could get a hit and stay healthy for more than a couple games at a time, that’d be great.

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MLB Trade Deadline: Roy Oswalt Waives No-Trade Clause, Becomes a Phillie

Well, the deal everyone has been waiting for is finally done. Roy Oswalt has waived his no-trade clause and will become a Philadelphia Phillie, according to multiple reports.

Included in the deal, according to Ken Rosenthal, is pitcher J.A. Happ, outfielder Anthony Gose, and shortstop Jonathan Villar (not Villan). In return, the Phillies will receive Oswalt and a cash amount that still has yet to be verified. However, most believe it’s $11 million.

The Phillies will also add $1 million to Oswalt’s buyout in 2012, but have not exercised his $16 million option by making the trade.

Most believe Oswalt will become the third guy in the rotation, knocking Joe Blanton down to the fourth spot that Happ once occupied. Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels will likely remain the first two, and Kyle Kendrick will round out the rotation at the fifth spot.

It is possible, however, that Oswalt becomes the second guy and knocks Hamels to third.

Oswalt certainly makes the rotation better, but I’m still not a fan of moving Happ. He’s not on the same level as Oswalt just yet, but he’s shown the ability to be a great pitcher in the future, and at a much, much cheaper price.

But, if we didn’t already know it before, this move shows that the Phils are hellbent on winning this year. They’re not thinking about clearing up the cash to re-sign Jayson Werth or worrying about what they’re rotation will look like in three years.

All they see is three potential aces on their roster, an offense that’s heating up, and a shot at playing in October.

So while they might see immediate benefits this season, this trade could have repercussions—both positive and negative—lasting at least two seasons, if not more.

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Roy Oswalt: Phillies and Astros Waiting on Star Pitcher To Finalize Deal

UPDATE: Jayson Stark tweets that Oswalt is expected to give the green light on a deal that would send him to the Phillies. However, nothing is official just yet.

UPDATE(2): According to ESPN’s Amy K. Nelson, the Phils will add $1 million onto Oswalt’s 2012 buyout, making it likely that’s the option they’d take. The two sides are also trying to work in a no-trade clause for Oswalt with the Phillies.

UPDATE (3): ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick and AOL FanHouse’s Ed Price are both hearing outfielder Anthony Gose could be the third guy the Phils send Houston. In all, it would mean Happ, Worley, and Gose for Oswalt and $11 million.

After a couple weeks of back and forth talks between the Phillies and Houston Astros, it appears as though a deal could finally be in place. And, according to rumors, J.A. Happ is one of the guys the Phils will have to give up in order to acquire the Astros’ pitcher.

For now, the only two names being mentioned with any certainty are Happ and Oswalt. There are reports that the Astros were pushing hard for Class-A first baseman Jonathan Singleton, but it doesn’t appear as though the Phils were willing to part ways with the young slugger.

Outside of Domonic Brown, Singleton is widely considered the Phils’ best young hitter, and could one day find himself in the majors.

Another name being kicked around in the deal is Vance Worley, the kid from Double-A who was called up for three days before being sent back down. It’s not much, but just seeing him on an MLB roster might have made him attractive enough for Houston.

Other than that, the only thing we’re hearing is a “young pitcher” from the Phils, and a lot of cash ($10-$12 million) from Houston to help pay Oswalt’s salary for the remainder of this season and next year. Oswalt is still owed $5.46 million for the remainder of 2010, $16 million in 2011, and either a $16 million option in 2012 or a $2 million buyout.

Oswalt, however, is demanding that any team he is traded to picks up his option for 2012 or he’ll refuse to waive his no-trade clause. The Phillies have basically said that’s not happening, but there is a possibility they open up talks to restructure his deal in order to keep him around longer at a more reasonable price.

Oswalt does of course have the right to refuse this trade, but it seems unlikely since he’s made it quite clear he wants out of Houston. They’re a team going nowhere and the Phillies are yearly contenders not only for the division, but for the pennant.

There had been talks that Oswalt doesn’t like Citizens Bank Park (since it’s a hitter’s park), and would have preferred the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals have, however, dropped out of the Oswalt talks and the Phils appear to be the only team seriously interested at this point.

So if Oswalt truly wants out of Houston, he’ll waive the no-trade clause and spend at least a year and a half with a winning franchise.

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Domonic Brown: With Shane Victorino on the DL, the Rookie Shines

After suffering an injury that most thought would keep him out a few days put Shane Victorino on the DL, the Phillies’ top prospect, Domonic Brown, made his presence felt immediately.

In his first major league at-bat, Brown nearly went deep with a man on base. Instead, he knocked one off the right center field wall, legging out a double and plating Jayson Werth. Later in the inning, a Wilson Valdez groundout allowed Brown to cross home plate for his first career run.

Brown later showed that he can also run the bases and isn’t just a power bat as he scored from first on a Carlos Ruiz double in the sixth inning.

Overall, Brown went two for three, with two runs and two RBIs. Brown batted sixth in the lineup and played right field, while Werth was kicked over to center in Victorino’s absence.

But as exciting as it was for everyone to finally see what Brown could do in the majors, the news on Victorino has to take some of the wind of the sail.

“I’ll say about two weeks, but it may be at least three weeks (before Victorino returns to the lineup),” manager Charlie Manuel said.

Victorino was placed on the 15-day DL, so it’s possible he returns once his stint is up, but no one sounds too optimistic — including Victorino.

“I’m hoping (to be out only) 15 (days),” Victorino said. “It’s sore today.”

With Victorino gone, and Jimmy Rollins currently riding the bench with a foot bruise, the Phillies are short on contact-hitting base-runners. So unless Rollins is able to return soon, Brown’s play could be overshadowed by the fact the lineup is now dominated by power-hitting lefties.

But, for now, the Phils are riding a seven-game win streak and look as good as they have all season long. Whether or not they can overcome the constant stream of injuries to their All-Star players and overtake the Braves has yet to be seen, but it’s now safe to say they’re out of their slump.

However, as we’ve seen with this team, they can fall back in at any time.

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Philadelphia Phillies: The Placido Polanco Effect

So, I’m watching TV waiting for these people to get eaten by sharks when a thought crosses my mind: They can’t get eaten—they’re telling the story.

But wait. I can only see them from the neck up. Perhaps someone lost a limb.

There is hope.

There is hope for a pennant too.

That same “Throw them to the sharks” mentally is what Phillies fans are notorious for, so will they sigh with content at two straight four-game sweeps at home or will they expect the team to go in for the kill?

I’m not suggesting the Phillies will have to claw and scrape their way to the top of the division, but it sure is nice to attain something with the effort the team has extended lately.

Take Ryan Howard, for instance. He’s my vote for hardest working first baseman in America.

It’s easy to observe his greatness, especially when he’s playing opposite Jason Giambi. Ryan was sliding and diving and working so hard he looked like he was dipped in chocolate sprinkles.

Someone should lick him off.

I’m sorry, I meant clean him off.

Then there’s Placido Polanco. He’s my vote for greatest spaz at third base. And now he’s playing Chase Utley quite well at second. Polly rules the Phillie Playmate of the Week pinup in my head and excites me so that I extend to him my highest rating yet—.

Wait, my husband says I can’t say that on public access. Let’s just call the third baseman my own Steely Dan.

Jimmy Rollins is back as the renewed leadoff hitter, Shane Victorino is stealing bases so fast I had to check to see if I still had my pants, and the Jayson Werth signs are back. Whatever Greg Gross is giving out, I’m sure it’s a secret and illegal and I want some.

Now that the lineup is hitting, Ruben Amaro Jr. can turn his attention to pitchers not named Hamels or Halladay. I hate to see him scrape the bank account dry, but it’s not like he hasn’t tried some insiders.

We’ve seen Antonio Bastardo, Sergio Escalona, and I even had a dream that Brett Myers was back. But they were all gone by sunup.

Then there’s Scott Mathieson: He’s had more elbow surgeries than he has elbows. At this point why wouldn’t he just have them remove those ligaments altogether?

Then he could be like RA Dickey, throw the elusive knuckleball, and set the record for most wild pitches in an inning.

Or he could find a side job as a contortionist. Either way, he’s wowing people.

Andrew Carpenter is a name that comes and goes like Hugh Hefner’s wives.

And who the hell is Vance Worley? He was gone before I could pull up the 25-man roster that bore his name. Now he’s mentioned as a candidate for a trade. It’s like the bullpen’s in a game of hide-and-seek.

Not long ago the Phils had a guy named Dane Sardinha catching pitches from the unknown Mike Zagurski.

Did you know Zagurski is Polish for “No neck?”

I thought not.

Did you know Dane is from Hawaii and his name rhymes with Shane so he and Victorino are neighbors?

Okay, maybe not. That was judgmental of me. It’s like saying since Pamela Anderson and I both have breasts, we must be equally as buoyant.

We all know there’s no comparison. She’s like her own personal life vest. Well, unless she gets deflated. Unlike a guy, there’s nothing Viagra can do for her.

Men have all the options. They virtually pull up to the pharmaceutical air compressor when it’s honky-tonk time while girls have to wear their sex appeal around like a BabyBjörn.

Okay, maybe baby Björns are just what mine look like.

Wait, I’m completely off the subject. Where were we?

I know, things that interest me the most: sweaty men in uniform not married to me.

See, if I put it that way, my husband can’t put on a fancy hat, stand in the sun for a second, and think he has a chance without Tequila.

I tell him that’s why The Village People haven’t staged a comeback—like a Charlie Manuel pinup, I think it’s illegal.

Like me going for a swim at the Playboy mansion. I can pay my way into the public pool but a fake bunny tattoo doesn’t get me into Hugh’s place, even with my A-cup discount.

Besides childbirth has left me a little leaky—plus my stream now pulls to the right. If Pamela and I were in the pool together, I’d have to stand to her left when I have to sneeze, especially if Hugh has that blue indicator in the pool.

I’m like a peeing ventriloquist.

I’m sorry. My husband says that’s too much information.

Speaking of my beau, he’s now following my blogging progress online. He said, “Dolly Parton has 674-some thousand followers and you have 56. There are two reasons for that and both of them are holding up her blouse.”

What’s he saying—I need a strap-on chest?

Maybe I need a BigMamma Björn.

My husband says I need more help than that. Even the sharks won’t come for me.

That’s because they know I pee in the pool.

I’m done now.

See you at the ballpark.

 

Copyright 2010 Flattish Poe all rights reserved.

View this blog on my site at http://tinyurl.com/placidoeffect or catch life one-liner at a time on Twitter http://twitter.com/ABabesTake

 

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