On Tuesday night, Ryan Howard jumped out of character. It was 10 seconds of his life that he probably wish he could erase.

Howard tried to Wednesday, when manager Charlie Manuel gave him a mental and physical rest, leaving Howard out of the lineup. It's not a decision Manuel makes lightly: Howard has started 158 games in each of the previous two seasons.

But Howard needed a break, not just because he lost his cool at umpire Scott Barry (who probably deserved Howard's tirade, too). But Howard needed a day to step out of the batter's box and into the cage to reconnect with his swing.

When you return after missing three weeks on the DL, Howard said, you can get a little antsy at the plate.

"You're seeing pitches, your adrenaline kind of gets going and sometimes you want to do too much," Howard said after Wednesday's 3-2 defeat to the Astros. "Your mind and your eyes are so far ahead that the rest of your body, you’re trying to catch up. For me, it’s getting back into that comfort zone. It’s kind of like spring training all over again."

So Howard tried to take a step back in order to take a leap forward. He didn't hit with the team in batting practice; instead he worked inside the cage.

“I just went and kind of cleared the head a little bit, went down in the cage and did a little work in the cage, and just tried to find it, get my rhythm back, get my timing back and just seeing the ball," he said. "I wasn’t really seeing the ball real well. I just want to go out there and try to do that.”

Entering Wednesday, Howard was 2-for-19 with 10 strikeouts since coming off the DL. In Tuesday's 16-inning marathon, he tied a Phillies record by striking out five times in a game.

In back to back games, Howard was 0-for-11 with eight strikeouts.

Although Manuel intended to give his cleanup hitter the day off Wednesday, he called on Howard in the ninth inning of a one-run game. While he didn't tie the game with a home run, Howard single through the left side of the infield.

"I made contact," he said.

Baby steps. Howard, who was hitting .292 with a league-best 81 RBIs before he went on the DL, took on step Wednesday.

As for the near-fight with an umpire less than 24 hours earlier?

"I just let it go," Howard said.

Since the vast majority of the game story in the Daily Times (online here in a few hours and on your newstand/doorstep in the morning) focuses on the controversial call in the eighth inning, you won't see a ton about Brett Myers.

The former Phillies pitcher has been one of the best pitchers in the National League this season. Myers was brilliant for most of the seven innings he spent baffling the Phils' bats Monday night.

Myers retired the first six hitters he faced, four via strikeout. He struck out Ryan Howard all three times he faced him.

When Myers faced trouble, he eased out of it like a poised veteran: With two on, one out and the heart of the Phils lineup coming up, Myers for Shane Victorino to bounce into an inning-ending double play in the seventh inning.

“I feel like we were going to score some runs on Myers," Charlie Manuel said. "His stuff was right there like I thought it was. He was sitting 88 to 91 with the fastball and he moved the ball around. He had a real good curveball. He had some good bite on the curveball. I thought that was his best pitch. He hung in there. He changed speeds, and he did a good job on us.”

Myers is 9-7 with a 3.08 ERA in 26 starts this season. If he was on a winning team (or a team that scored more runs for him), Myers would probably be looking at a 16-win season or better.

He has pitched six or more innings in 26 straight starts to begin the season, an Astros team record (It's the longest such streak to start a season since Curt Schilling did so in 2002). Myers is the only MLB pitcher to pitch at least six in every start this season.


Here is what Myers, the Phils first overall pick in 1999 who played his first nine professional seasons in Philly, had to say after his first game ever against the Phillies and his first game ever as a visitor at Citizens Bank Park:


Weird flying into the city?
Last night, I came in and saw the city. I could see it from my hotel. It felt strange to be in a hotel instead of 95 on the way home. It was difficult and weird. I sat there and probably looked out the window for a good hour while I was watching TV, until I finally said, 'I got to [shut this down].' It brought back good memories for me, as a team and the way they treated us when we won the World Series and went last year.


It was big for me to come here and be able to control my emotions as best I could and not get overly amped up.

It's been different for me pretty much all year. I have a great group of guys here. Other guys have been through it with Bournie and J-Mike, so I was able to relax.


Put Philly behind you?
I did put it behind me, at least for the next three years. I'd like to have another chance to play here, but right now I have to focus on the team that I'm on now. This whole year, my main goal is when one start is over, don't relive it, just go on to the next one. I think that's helped me this year.


Reason you want to play here again?
I enjoy the city. I enjoy the people. I know some people don't like me, or whatever their reasoning is, and that's their opinion. After today, with the way they treated me in the bullpen -- I expected them to boo when I'm coming to the plate. I'm on the other team. How respectful they were to me in the bullpen shows that this city has a big heart for players who accomplished things for them. They showed me respect today.


What did they say?
Just welcome home. It always feels good to have people say that to you. This really isn't home right now, but they still think of it as my home. It feels good.

Ready for boos?
I was prepared for anything and everything. I've had the worst. I think it was worse when I played here. I guess it's a miss you when you're gone type of thing. I felt like they showed me a lot of respect.



Astros GM Ed Wade said you've changed?
I think I'm still the same guy. I felt like this team need a more leadership role. Over there, you can goof around. They had so many leaders on that team, it was hard to stand in your place and try to tell people how they felt. I never really felt like a veteran that I had become now. Over here, I was treated like a veteran. I think that had a lot to do with it, taking responsibility and trying to help some of the younger guys. I never really had that chance over there, because a lot of those guys were established.


Do you feel like they chose Joe Blanton over you, since he got a three-year contract and you got cut loose?
No, I'm happy for Joe. He's one of my good buddies and I'm happy things worked out for him. They probably have seen enough of me and wanted new faces in there. That was their opinion. If that's the way they see it. I'm going to try to go out there and beat them because that's my nature. I still have a lot of friends over there.

Apparently one minor league rehab game was enough.

Less than 24 hours after Ryan Howard began his minor league rehab assignment for the Lakewood BlueClaws, the Phils have activated the former MVP from the disabled list. Howard will likely be in the Phillies lineup tonight against Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals.

Howard, who has been sidelined since spraining his left ankle on August 1, went 1-for-2 with an RBI double Friday night at Lakewood and said afterward his left foot felt fine.

“It felt good running down to second, around first, accelerating, decelerating,” Howard said. “It felt pretty good."

The original plan was for Howard to play at Triple-A Lehigh Valley tonight. That plan apparently changed after Howard saw the team training and medical staff on Saturday.

To make room for him on the 25-man roster, Ross Gload was placed on the 15-day DL (retroactive to August 19) with a right groin strain.

Just when it seemed like the Phils finally escaped the never-ending criticism for the December trade that sent ace Cliff Lee to Seattle, the lopsided deal is back in the headlines.

Tyson Gillies, a 21-year-old outfield prospect the Phillies received from Seattle last winter, was arrested early Friday morning in Pinellas County, Fla. on a felony charge of possession of cocaine.

According to the St. Petersburg Times, Gillies was arrested at 1:10 a.m. and then released at 10:52 am. on $2,000 bond.

The Phillies issued the following statement on the incident: "The Phillies have confirmed that Tyson Gillies was charged today on a drug possession charge arising out of an incident that was alleged to have occurred in June. Because this is an open case, we will not comment further at this time."

Gillies was one of three players the Phils received for Cliff Lee, along with right-handed pitchers Phillippe Aumont and J.C. Ramirez.

Gillies has been limited to 28 games this season due to a hamstring injury. The speedy center field prospect, who was in major league camp this spring, has hit just .238 at Double-A Reading this season.





* photo by Eric Hartline, Times Staff

Ryan Howard said Wednesday he planned to return to the Phillies lineup on Monday.

It appears that plan is falling into place.

The Phils announced this afternoon that Howard will begin a minor league rehab assignment on Friday at Single-A Lakewood. If Howard progresses without problem, he will then play at Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday.

Howard has been out of action since spraining his left ankle at Washington on August 1.

In addition to playing for the Lakewood BlueClaws on Friday night, Howard will take part in a pregame ceremony where his No.29 jersey will be retired. The ceremony was originally scheduled for Sept. 2 but had to be rescheduled when the Phils and Rockies planned to make up a rainout date on that day in Denver.

Howard hit .280 with 19 home runs and 87 RBIs for Lakewood in 2002.

Less than 24 hours ago, Chase Utley revealed to the assembled press corps that he had a secret date in mind to return from the disabled list. That date was August 17, and sure enough, Utley was back in the Phillies lineup, less than 7 weeks removed from right thumb surgery.

I asked Ryan Howard, who has been sidelined since August 1 with a left ankle sprain, if he has set a similar date in mind as he eyes his own return.

"We'll see what happens, but if I get out of here this weekend hopefully by Monday we'll try to be back and get in," Howard said.

Howard took part in batting and fielding practice Wednesday afternoon before heading off to right field to take part in running drills with team trainer Dong Lien. He says he isn't limited by anything, but is still trying to regain complete strength in his left foot.

For Howard, spending the next few days getting his foot back into playing shape - and then likely playing a few minor league games before the end of the weekend - is worth being healthy for the long run.

"I wish I could be back earlier, but I'd rather be safe than sorry," Howard said. "The competitor in you wants to be out there, but at the same time you have to take your time because if you rush back and get hurt again, then it's all for naught. You don't want to come back too soon and then go back down, and then all of a sudden I'm done for the rest of Sepetember. I'd rather take a few extra days, make sure I'm comfortable and feel good with it. then I gcan be healthy through the stretch."

Chase Utley's game plan was a secret, but it made sense when he finally unveiled it following Tuesday night's 9-3 win over the San Francisco Giants, his first game since June 28.
Utley underwent surgery on his right thumb on July 1. He knew he would be cleared to hit at the six-week mark.

So if he could hit, he could play, right?

"That was my goal a long time ago," Utley said. "I didn't tell you guys. Obviously, I needed to be cleared by Dr. Weiland and he cleared me. I went down to Florida, worked hard and tried to get some timing down.

"I did some math in my head. I knew at six weeks there was a possibility for me to start hitting again. I figured four or five days after that I'd be ready."

Sounds pretty logical, right?

Utley said he's playing with "no limitations, none whatsoever."

But what about sliding headfirst into second base...

"I'm going to try not to do that," Utley said, smirking. "But you never know."
After getting cleared to hit last week, Utley spent three days playing in four games at Class A Clearwater over the weekend.

"We just to see if there was any pain and so far, so good," said Utley, who went 0-for-5 in his return Tuesday night. "I think I can gain a little bit more strength from here on out. Knock on wood, it doesn't hurt."

As for continuing to beat the rehab clock, as he also did after undergoing hip surgery before the 2009 season?

"Maybe the prognosis are too long," Utley joked.

As I've been figuring for a while now, Chase Utley should be available to return to active duty for the upcoming homestand, way ahead of the original eight-week schedule.

Utley flew to Florida on Thursday night to continue his rehab program, the team said. Well, it didn't take long for him to get game-ready.

The Phils announced today that Utley will begin his official minor league rehab assignment by playing five innings for the Class A Clearwater Threshers tonight.

As long as he responds well, Utley could play again Sunday and Monday, and then rejoin the Phils Tuesday, when they open a 10-game homestand against the San Francisco Giants.

Utley has been sidelined since injuring his right thumb while attempting to turn a single into a double on June 28 in Cincinnati. When he underwent surgery on July 1, the Phillies estimated his rehab at eight weeks.

But Utley has worked diligently throughout his rehab, taking ground balls for the last 2-3 weeks. He was cleared to begin swinging a bat on Wednesday.

Since Utley was scheduled to have the splint in his hand removed last week, it's not altogether shocking that he's close to healthy. Once the splint was removed, it was likely going to take another week or less before he got clearance to hit.

If you think Chase Utley is going to spend three weeks hitting, but not hitting in the Phillies lineup, you do not know Chase Utley.

Utley also beat his rehab clock at the beginning of last year. Following hip surgery in November of 2008, Utley wasn't supposed to be back until May of 2009.

He was in the lineup for Opening Day '09.


Here is what Charlie Manuel said Friday regarding how many at-bats he thinks Utley would need in Florida before being ready.

“He’s going to have to get some at-bats. I don’t know how many,” Manuel said. “Usually it won’t take him a long time because he’ll work at it, and he’ll be ready.”

It may sound crazy, but since the Phillies have managed to stay in contention during Utley's time on the D.L., his 6-weeks away could potentially be a good thing, since his body got a lengthy rest. Utley, who showed signs of slowing down last September, should be stronger than ever for the stretch drive.

"Usually it won't take him a long time because he'll work at it, and he'll be ready," Manuel said. "Actually I think with the time off, he's strong, and I look for him to come back and be really good."

When Sunday rolls around, the Phillies will have played two full weeks without Ryan Howard and Chase Utley.

Imagine if you were told back in March that, for two - maybe three - full weeks after the All-Star break, the Phils would have to play without their best two offensive players. Sounds like the nightmare scenario, or at least the kind of problem that would effect their pursuit of a fourth straight NL East pennant, right?

Instead, the Phils haven't lost any ground and appeared to have gained momentum.

This theme came to mind as I entered Flushing, New York. Imagine if it were the Mets, not the Phillies, who had to deal with their best two players out of the lineup for 2-3 weeks. Let's say David Wright and Jose Reyes were out.

Would they also persevere? Or would they fold like an old rug?

Per usual, the Mets are in a state of disarray as we enter the heat of the pennant race.

Just take the "problems" of the respective beat writers. The most challenging thing Phillies beat guys have had to do in the last week is rewrite game stories on deadline (which isn't easy, hence a story that problem made little sense in your paper).

The Mets beat writers? They've had to camp out at court.

Surely you've heard of closer Francisco (K-Rod) Rodriguez's problems this week.... and if that wasn't bad enough, ace Johan Santana is facing a civil suit after having sexual relations with a woman (who wasn't his wife) on a golf course last fall.

The Mets enter this weekend's series with the Phillies with their season on life support. They're in fourth place, sport a .500 record (57-57) and are nine games back of the Atlanta Braves.

They'd need something akin to what happened the last time the Phillies visited - a perfect sweep (three shutouts) - in order to revive what's ever left in their 2010 season.

But while the Phils can endure periods like dealing without Utley and Howard, the Mets have shown they can not persevere when times get tough. So my guess is you won't seeing any Miracle Mets stuff this weekend at Citi Field.


Oh, one more addition to his blog entry, thanks to my buddy Paul Hagen for filing this in his weekly notes column. We'll call this the Mets quote of the year:

"It's hard to get ready for every pitch," Jose Reyes told the New York Daily News. "How many pitches does a pitcher throw to home plate? A hundred-and-something? It's hard to get ready on every pitch. I try to do my best [but] maybe you are going to get lazy with two or three because it's tough to get ready all the time. It is what it is, man."

The road to returning from the disabled list is made up in baby steps.

Ryan Howard took two important baby steps Thursday. While cloudy skies and a short rain shower forced batting practice indoors, it didn't keep Howard from manning his position at first base for the first round of fielding practice since spraining his ankle.

Later, he stepped into the cage to work on his hand-eye coordination.

Howard, who sprained his left ankle on Aug. 1, is eligible to return Tuesday. Although it's a long shot, he isn't ruling it out.

"Yeah. If the pain is bearable and it goes down enough and we get a little more of the swelling out -I’ll probably get downgraded to a flashing yellow on the basepaths - but other than that, I think I’ll be able to go out there and make some things happen," Howard said of the possibility of returning when his D.L. stint expires.

Then again, he's also being smart.

"Obviously I’m not going to rush it," Howard said. "I’m not going to try and come back if it’s not ready. I’m not going to force it. The worst thing you could do is try to come back before you’re ready and then just go back on the D.L. I want to make sure it’s cool, it’s good enough to play. I think the most important thing is trying to get ready for the stretch run. If it takes a little bit of extra time to make sure that it’s 100 percent, I think everybody would rather me do that than try to force it just go straight back on the D.L."

Chase Utley took a morning trip up to New York Wednesday and received the best news since undergoing surgery six weeks ago: he has been cleared to swing a bat.

"IT's very positive news from our perspective," assistant GM Scott Proefrock said Wednesday afternoon. "From this point forward it's going to be a matter of how he feels and how he progresses. We're still on the same time table we've been on before, so it's all going according to plan to this point.

"We just have to wait and see how he feels as he goes through his hitting progression. We're very optimistic and very pleased with the update."

Utley, who tore a ligament in his right thumb on June 28 and had surgery to repair that thumb on July 1, has been taking ground balls in the last two weeks. But the ability to swing a bat - and develop strength back in his right hand - is all that is standing between him returning to the Phillies lineup.

Proefrock said the original plan was that Utley would need eight weeks to rehab his thumb. But if Utley can swing a bat with power - taking batting practice, and not just light-hitting off a tee - by this weekend, there's at least a chance he could begin a rehab assignment next week and return to action the weekend of August 20.

Proefrock, however, wouldn't play along with setting new dates.

"I don’t think it makes any sense to throw dates out there," Proefrock said. "We were on the 8-week timetable to begin with and I don't think anything has changed from that perspective. If it progresses faster than that, great, if it progresses slower than that great. The main thing is that Chase is healthy and ready to play at his full capacity when he comes back.

"I'd imagine he'd start slow (with hitting). It's just going to be a matter of how he feels on a regular basis. When he tells us he's ready to go on a rehab assignment, we'll have him headed in that direction. Once he tells us, then we'll tell you."

In two months, all of the major regular season awards will be decided - MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year. As a BBWAA member (Baseball Writers Association of America), I have the responsibility to take part in the process.

Since most of us pay attention to the Phillies all the time (that would be my primary job), let's try a little interactive exercise where you, too, can play a part in a similar voting process.

Who is the Phillies MVP?

Granted there is still two months left in the season, so it's obvious votes can change between now and the first week of October (votes are due in after the last game of the regular season).

But for this blog's sake, vote as if the season ended today. Who is the Phillies most valuable player?

For a little help, here's is how the MVP rules are drawn up, the same way they were presented when the first ballot went out in 1931:

1. Actual value of a player to his team, that is, strength of offense and defense.
2. Number of games played.
3. General character, disposition, loyalty and effort.

Pitchers and designated hitters (the latter of which doesn't affect this particular exercise) are eligible.

In order to vote, you have to pick 10 players - ranking them from 1 to 10 (with "1" being your MVP pick) in order of how worthy you believe they are for the award.

I'm going off t he top of my head here to get you started - I haven't eaten lunch yet, so that's my excuse for running through my Phillies MVP picks quickly. (I'd obviously give it more thought if this counted for something!)

But you can go ahead and take your time. And, if you wish, explain how and why you voted for your choices.


Here is my, off-the-top-of-my-head Phillies MVP voting results, as of August 10, 2010:

1. Roy Halladay
2. Ryan Howard
3. Carlos Ruiz
4. Placido Polanco
5. Cole Hamels
6. Jayson Werth
7. Chase Utley
8. Raul Ibanez
9. Chad Durbin
10. Shane Victorino

When you make your picks, do so in the "comment" section below. Thanks for playing along!

Despite the missing pieces throughout the Phillies lineup, most of the regular faces are still around the team. Both Shane Victorino and Chase Utley have been on the current road trip as they go about their respective rehab programs.

But Utley, who had thumb surgery on July 1, wasn't in Florida on Thursday. He flew back to Philadelphia for an exam.

General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said earlier this week that Utley wasn't close to returning. But Utley is having the splint from his hand removed tomorrow (Friday).

If you know anything about Utley's personality, you know he's already climbing the walls inside the clubhouse when the game is going on. He wants to be on the field.

If the splint is removed Friday and he's cleared to hit in, say, another week after building strength in his right hand, it's not a stretch to think he could do a rehab assignment sometime between the 14th and 19th and could be back in the lineup the weekend of August 20, when they host Washington, is it?

Maybe I'm playing the Utley-is-a-gamer card too strongly. I just can't see Utley sitting around for 3-4 weeks idly when he has a right hand free of a splint and ready to hold a bat.

We shall see...

A day after placing Ryan Howard on the 15-day disabled list, the Phillies filled their vacancy at first base.

The team acquired veteran Mike Sweeney from the Seattle Mariners for a player to be named later (or cash considerations).

The 37-year-old, right-handed hitting Sweeney is a career .298 hitter in 16 major league seasons with the Mariners, Oakland A's and Kansas City Royals. Sweeney spent 13 seasons with Kansas City, where he made five All-Star teams and finished second in the AL batting race in 2002, when he hit .340.

Although Charlie Manuel said Sweeney will be his primary first baseman in Howard's absence, there's a good chance the manager will work a platoon with Sweeney and the left-handed hitting Ross Gload.

Sweeney has battled back problems this season, appearing in just 30 games with the Mariners this season. He's hitting .263.

Additionally, he has played only eight games at first base since 2008. Sweeney has been used primarily as a DH with the Mariners.

Manuel, who managed and coached with the Cleveland Indians, is a big fan of Sweeney after watching him rise to stardom with the Royals when both were in the AL Central.

Raul Ibanez, who played with Sweeney in KC, also spoke highly of his new/old teammate.

"He brings positive energy wherever he goes, he's just a quality, upbeat guy," Ibanez said.

More in the Delco Times and delcotimes.com Thursday.

Oh, one other note: Sweeney will wear No.5, becoming the first Phillies player to wear the jersey since Pat Burrell.

MIAMI – And the (injury) hits keep on coming…

The Phillies have placed first baseman Ryan Howard on the 15-day disabled list with a moderate left ankle sprain. Howard had an MRI in Philadelphia on Tuesday that revealed two injured ligaments in the foot.

"We're hopeful to have him back in two weeks. It may be longer than that, we're not sure. It all depends on how he feels," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "The good thing is it wasn’t a severe ankle sprain. It only affected the lateral (outside) side. Not the medial (inside) side. That’s the positive news. It could have been a lot worse."

Amaro said Howard's ankle injury, suffered on the base paths in Washington on Sunday, is not as severe as the sprained ankle that kept Jimmy Rollins out of action for three weeks in the April of 2008.

The Phillies recalled outfielder John Mayberry from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to take Howard's roster spot. Mayberry, who played first base in college, took ground balls at Lehigh Tuesday and could be used at first base, although Ross Gload, Cody Ransom and Greg Dobbs are also options.

Howard is hitting .292 with 23 home runs and a National League-leading 81 RBI in 104 games for the Phillies this season. He is the 15th Phillies player to be placed on the disabled list this season, including all four of the team's All-Star infielders.

UPDATE: Howard had X-rays on his right elbow (where he was hit by a pitch to reach base) and on his left ankle (which forced him from the game). Both came back negative.


If you didn't think things could get much worse for the injury-plagued Phillies, you would be wrong.

Ryan Howard suffered a sprained left ankle in the first inning of Sunday afternoon's game vs. Washington at Nationals Park. Howard is currently having X-rays on his left foot.

Howard, who was hit by a John Lannan pitch, suffered the injury after Ben Francisco drove in the game's first run on a single. Howard, running from first to second on the play, rounded second base and was nearly thrown out by Nats rightfielder Michael Morse as he went a little further past second base than he would have liked.

Although Howard was safe after his scramble back to the bag, he immediately doubled over on the base. Howard appeared to twist his knee awkwardly on the play; but the injury was announced as a "left ankle sprain" later in the press box.

Check back later -- stay on top of everything at twitter.com/ryanlawrence21 for all of your Phillies happenings -- for the latest on Howard's injury.

The ugly play came in the middle of an ugly inning, but since no trainer ran onto the field and because the player in the middle of it all went on to hit a big home run later in the night, it was largely forgotten.

But Raul Ibanez hurt his left wrist while attempting a diving, glove-first catch in left field in the first inning of Saturday's Phils-Nats game, when Washington scored three times against Joe Blanton. Ibanez did not make the catch - despite the gutsy attempt - and appeared to land awkwardly on his left, glove-hand. (It looked like it was bended backward).

Ibanez, who hit a game-tying home run in seventh, said his wrist felt worse after the game and again this morning.

Although Charlie Manuel originally had his name in the lineup, Ibanez was a late scratch with a sore left wrist. Thankfully for the injury-plagued Phillies, X-Rays on Ibanez's wrist came back negative Saturday night.

With Monday's off day in the schedule, resting him Sunday gives the team the chance to give Ibanez two full days to completely rest the wrist. He wasn't on any of the the pregame batting practice groups, and thus, the team will likely stay away from using him as a pinch hitter today, too.

The injury couldn't have come at a worse time. In addition to the Phils already missing Shane Victorino and Chase Utley, Ibanez was arguably the hottest hitter in the lineup at the time of his injury.

He just finished off a month of July that he hit .337 with four home runs and 15 RBIs in 25 games.

"It's all right," Ibanez said Sunday. "I'll be all right by Tuesday."