Roy Oswalt diligently went about his work Tuesday night. When it was over, he hadn't allowed an earned run for the sixth time in 12 starts since joining the Phillies.

Oswalt is 7-1 with 1.65 ERA since arriving in Philly and the Phils had won 10 straight games he had pitched before Tuesday's 2-1 loss.

Quietly, Oswalt has been one of the top pitchers in baseball for a decade. Despite his impressive performance since joining the Phils, most people probably wouldn't have realized he currently has the fifth best ERA in the National League.

Oswalt has a 2.73 ERA in 33 starts - only St. Louis's Jaimie Garcia, Roy Halladay, Adam Wainwright and Josh Johnson have lower ERAs in the NL. It shouldn't be that surprising, really: he has a career 3.19 ERA in 10 big league seasons (fourth among active pitchers, secong active starting pitchers).

But just a year ago, Oswalt had a career-low eight wins and a career-high 4.12 ERA. People began to question the then 32-year-old.

It turns out that that criticism has sparked Oswalt into having his career reborn in Philly.

After holding the Nationals to one unearned run in five innings Tuesday Oswalt was asked what it felt like to be going to the postseason with a trio of himself, Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels.

"I like our chances, with Doc and Cole," Oswalt said. "Hopefully we'll get started out on the right foot and see where we go in a five-game series."

And, yourself? You have pitched pretty darn good in the last two months, you know?

"They said I was washed up at the beginning of the year, so I'm going with that," Oswalt said.

Who is "they?"
"Reporters."

What did you think about that?
"Everyone's got an opinion."

Where did that come from?
"I don't know. I'd see stuff here and there. When you don't win. When you win 20 games a few times and then you don't win too many games the next year, something's wrong, or he's done or he's old. Someone has to write something."

Doe that motivate you?

"They told me I was too small to play coming up. I don't read too much into it. You know what you can do when you get out there. Hopefuly these guys can start out strong in the first two games and maybe I can be strong in the third one."


For the record, the Phillies rotation hasn't been set for the playoffs, and Oswalt was just guessing. The Phils might be best served to start him in Game 2, for what it's worth.

In 10 career starts at Citizens Bank Park, Oswalt is 9-0 with a 2.10 ERA. (He's 5-0 with a 1.76 ERA in six starts at CBP this year).

It's pretty much physically impossible to hold a notebook, pen, voice recorder and video camera while conducting postgame interviews after a game - all while ducking the nonstop champagne/beer spray that often leaves you and your aforementioned reporting equipment drenched - but here's a brief glimpe at what it's like to maneuver threw a clinching clubhouse on a night like Monday.

Ryan Howard wore oversized, snowboard goggles around his neck. They didn't have to be over his eyes to block the champagne spray, mostly because he stood off to the side.

Jayson Werth had a cigar in his hand and kindly obliged to each reporter's question. Cole Hamels and Jamie Moyer shared a conversation and a couple of beers.

In the middle of the scrum following the Phillies 8-0 win over the Nationals, clinching a franchise-record fourth-straight division title and the best record in the NL, and thus, home field advantage throughout the playoffs, Brian Schneider wore a beer-soaked red t-shirt, Mike Sweeney was wet from head-to-toe and Roy Halladay couldn't bob and weave his way out of the constant barrage of adult beverages being heaved his way.

When the Phillies walked into the visiting clubhouse at Nationals Park Monday night, Ryan Howard summoned Schneider, Sweeney and Halladay to the center of the room.

"They yelled our names: 'Sweeney, Schneider, Halladay, get over here,'" Schneider said. "We popped the corks, let it rip. The rest is history."

The veteran trio had played in a combined 37 big league seasons prior to 2010. When they took a sip of beer Monday, it was their first taste of the postseason.

Halladay (320 career starts), Sweeney (1,451 career games) and Schneider (970 games) have never played in the playoffs.

The champagne stung a lot more than I thought it would, but it was an exciting emotion to share," Sweeney said. "With this group of guys, it’s not a feeling of contentment because we feel like we still have three more stages to go. As much as we enjoyed it today, we still have work to do and 11 wins ahead of us once the playoffs begin.”

“To share that with Doc and Schneider – the three of us have played over 35 years in the big leagues and never had a chance to do this. To have this group of guys, really all three of us are first-year guys here, and to let us be the ones to pop the champagne first, it’s an amazing tribute to the guys in this clubhouse and that’s what makes it so special.”

Unlike the other two parts of the veteran trio, Halladay was front and center in helping the Phils finish off the NL East title on Monday night. He heaved a two-hit, complete game shutout at the Washington Nationals, arguably his best performance other than the perfect game in what will likely end up being a Cy Young Award-winning season.

Halladay retired 26 of the 28 Nats batters he faced Monday. The only two base runners he allowed reached in singles.

It was fitting that Halladay, who waived a no-trade clause in December to join the Phils, a team he thought would help him reach the postseason, was at the controls Monday, motoring his way through the Washington order to clinch the team's division title.

"Honestly I didn't care where I was, as long as I was a part of it," Halladay said. "I've been watching too much from the sides, so I'm just glad to be a part of it."

And how does the champagne taste, Doc?

"It's everything it's cracked up to be, especially with a group of guys you like," Halladay said of the celebration. "This is the coolest thing I've ever been a part of. And this is the start, I think."

Halladay is 21-10 with a 2.44 ERA. He leads all major league pitchers in wins, complete games (nine) and shutouts (four).

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Here is more mid-celebration chatter from the winning clubhouse:

David Montgomery, team president, on Halladay finishing off the division crown on the same mound where he made his Phils debut on April 5:
"It's kind of fitting. He started it here and finished it here. This was the path he was certainly hoping to follow, and he did it."


Rich Dubee, pitching coach, on letting Halladay go back out in the ninth after a lenghty, top half of the inning:
"That was a tough decision. Do you take the guy out, or do you leave a guy who has been so important, who came here for this? He deserved the right to finish that game and be out there, almost like what we did with Lidge last year. These guys are special. You need to reward good players. He came for that reason. But we were going to watch him. We weren't going to let him get too deep of a pitch count. But we thought he deserved the right to be out there for the last out."


Jayson Werth, right fielder, on Halladay finishing what he started:
"It was one of those meant-to-be situations. That top of the ninth almost too long for him to go back out there, but I think if Charlie would have taken him out, he might have had a problem with that. I'm glad we were able to do that, that makes it extra special."


Ryan Howard, first baseman, on comparing this year to the last three NL East champ-winning teams:
"If you look at our record compared to years past, we have a much better record. But at the same time, we’ve had so many injuries. I think it was definitely tough, and we were down seven games. To be able to come back from something like that and do what we’ve done this year, that’s a great accomplishment.”


Charlie Manuel, manager, on his Phils team making history, becoming first to reel off four straight division titles:
“I don’t look at it that way. I think it’s competitive, it’s a way I want to play. Winning the game, it just gets bigger and bigger. I’ve never been a guy that looks at things for records or for stats. I’ve looked at it as our players. … I’d like to run off 14 in a row to Bobby Cox. That’s pretty good. I’ve got 10 more to go, and hell, I wouldn’t be but 76 years old. I could see getting used to winning. There’s nothing like that.”
“It feels real good. I think it’s very important, especially for our fans and the people in Philadelphia and our players and of course the Phillies organization. I’d like to win another World Series.”


Roy Halladay, staff ace, on if he thinks his team sets up pretty good for a few more champagne celebrations:
"Yeah, you definitely look forward to it. But I think we realized in September that we're a lot better going game to game, taking baby steps through it. I think that’s the way we'll take it."


Ruben Amaro Jr, GM, on trading for Halladay:
"When you have an opportunity to acquire a player of this caliber, you’ve got to do what you can to try to do it. We put ourselves in a good position with the players we had in our system and some of the advice I got from our people to make a run at Roy. We’re really fortunate to have brought him here to Philadelphia.”

Amaro, on Halladay's season:
“I kind of couldn’t have dreamed it. For him to win 21 games and have pitched the way he did and to clinch this ballgame for us, it’s special. I’m glad for him. It’s been a long road for him. He’s been a tremendous competitor and professional for so long that for him to get the opportunity in the postseason now, it’s got to be gratifying for him.”

First a bit of news: Jimmy Rollins, originally on tap to return Sunday, will not be back Monday instead, Charlie Manuel said after Saturday's game. Manuel said Rollins felt sore Saturday and figured another day wasn't going to be a big deal.



The Phillies were ready to celebrate Saturday.

The first sign of the NL East division title on the brink was the plastic wrapping rolled up along hooks above the locker stalls. But on a day that began with the Phils having the chance to clinch a division (with a win and a Braves loss) or just a playoff spot (with a win), they did neither.

Ryan Howard's two-run home run in the first inning was all the Phillies could managed in a 5-2 defeat to the New York Mets. New York overcame a 2-0 deficit by scoring five times in the fifth inning; while Kyle Kendrick came unglued in the inning, a tough hop that led to an error by Howard didn't help.

The champagne stayed on ice.

Rather than basking in victory after the game, the Mets continued to gripe about a play that happened over 24 hours earlier. In Friday's game, Chase Utley attempted to break up a double play with a takeout slide at second base.

The double play was still completed, but New York second baseman Ruben Tejada was left upended. The play was a hot topic before the game, with nearly everyone - including Mets manager Jerry Manuel - coming to the conclusion that Utley's slide was a hard, but clean play.

Everyone but Carlos Beltran.

Here's what the Mets center fielder said following Saturday's game. He basically called Utley a dirty player.

On attempting to break up a double play in the seven inning Saturday... but failing to make contact with any Phillies infielder:
"I was trying to break up the double play. Yesterday the way Chase Utley slid into second base, I felt it was time for me to do the same thing he did, slide hard and try to hit somebody. In my career I have never played dirty, but in that particular slide I wanted to hit somebody. Unfortunately nobody was there, but they had to get out of the way."


You were trying to slide like Utley did?
"There was an issue (inaudible) he played hard and not dirty. We feel different. Our plan today was anytime we get on base try to break up the double play, and that's what we did."



You think Utley's slide was dirty?
"To me, yes, he crossed the line. Not only on that play. He has done things in the past, like blocking bases. It's okay to play hard, it's okay to get outs. But once you try to hurt somebody, that's no fun. He's such a good player, too good, to be doing that. But I guess that's the way he plays. We can play like that, too."

So you were trying to run him or another infielder over?
"Honestly, I didn't know where the ball was going to go. I just try to hit somebody. I don't know. Utley kind of like stayed away, but it's OK."


Jerry Manuel thought about it, said it was a good play after all and Mets should do it, too?
[Beltran shakes his head 'no.'] I don't know. I mean, it's OK to break up double plays, when you break a double play, you try to hit the guy but at the same time you don't want to hurt the guys, that's different. We felt that it was unnecessary, once you pass the bag you slide close to the bag, and you pass the bag four or five feet, your intentions are not to break up the double play, your intention is to hit somebody, you can slide break the double play and take a normal slide, you don't need to pass the bag five or six feet, to me, if he said that was a good play, to me, it's not.

Did Utley take advantage of Ruben (Tejada?)
"Well, probably, I don't think he would have done it to Jose, I don't think he would have done it to Jose, I think Jose would have reacted right away and let him know something, but that's OK, that's baseball, whatever you call it, you can call it play hard, you can call it play dirty, I felt that I did the same thing he did, I don't regret it, I wish I would have hit somebody."

Even if the Phillies and Mets are going in opposite directions, and have been all season, you have to love when they get together. The games between the two teams rarely lacks for drama.

Following Friday's win by the Phillies, moving them seven games ahead of the Braves with eight to play, the Mets were crying foul in the visiting clubhouse. At issue was a slide by Chase Utley in the fifth inning.

Utley, attempting to break up a double play, slid hard into second baseman Ruben Tejada.

"I think it's a little dirty because he slide right on top of the base," shortstop Jose Reyes said. "You don't need to do that there in that situation. But he plays the game hard, so what can I say?"

David Wright took the issue a little further. The unofficial Mets captain said his team was going to "have to reevaluate the way we go into second base."

Wright said a good deal more:


"If he doesn't mind guys coming in like that when he's trying to turn a double play then we have no problem with it.... He's a second baseman. He knows how to turn a double play and he knows the difference between a clean slide and a slide that's late. It's a better question for him."

"Chase plays the game hard, he plays the game passionately. But there's a thin line between going out there and playing the game hard and going out there and trying to get somebody hurt. It's a thin line."

"We're going to have our teammates back. I think cooler heads prevailed but we've got to let them know we didn't appreciate it and we're going to go out there and have our teammates back."

Utley was unavailable for comment Friday night.

You may have seen how the game ended -- was is the Mets' attempt at getting back at Utley?

The ninth inning was rather bizarre, with Brad Lidge appearing to escape a jam by fielding a comebacker and throwing to first base for the final out.

But the Mets had called for timeout -- on an 0-1 pitch, no less - to insert a pinch runner. Neither Lidge or Jesus Feliciano, the Mets batter at the time, knew a timeout had been called.

But the umpires still granted the timeout, erasing the potential game-ending ground out.

"I think that was terrible, that’s what I think," Manuel said. "I think if they’d have tied that game up there or lost it, it’d have been really good. Terrible it was allowed and when it was done. He’s in the stretch. He’s in the process of throwing the ball and they’re screaming timeout."

Lidge went on to strike out Feliciano, ending the game.

But it wouldn't be too surprising to see some more sparks fly Saturday, would it?

As you probably read here or elsewhere in the last 48 hours, Jayson Werth, a free agent this winter, recently switched agents.

Werth dumped Jeff Borris of the Beverly Hills Sports council to sign on with Scott Boras of the Boras Corporation. Werth didn't go too much into detail why he decided to make the move, which is his right.

"Being in the situation that I'm in, having never gone into free agency, over the past few months, I just thought it was time to make the switch," Werth said Monday. "I went with Boras Corporation; I think it's the best place for me right now. I don't think it has anything to do with anything other than wanting the best representation going into free agency."

But a source told the Delaware County Daily Times on Tuesday that the issue isn't as simple as wanting new representation. It appears Werth wants to save some of the cash coming his way, too.

The source told the Daily Times about a report in Newsday last weekend regarding Werth's wishes to dole out less to whichever agency negotiates his free agent deal this winter. According to the story, Werth wants to pay the agent a fee, rather than give them the customary 5 percent commission.

The Newsday story says Werth was "hoping to give something closer to 3 or 3.5 percent."

It's unknown if Werth worked out such a deal with Boras.

Regardless, Werth is due to earn a hefty payday this winter, which will likely steer him somewhere other than the Phillies, who have close to $140 million committed to 16 players already for 2011.

But if the Newsday story holds any validity - as the Daily Times source inferred today - it appears the Phils aren't the only party pinching pennies.

Then again, since Werth is 31-years-old and coming off the best two seasons of his career, you probably can't blame him for trying to maximize his value to the fullest and get every possible dollar coming to him, right?

Werth is hitting .292 with 24 home runs and 76 RBIs. He also leads the NL with 44 doubles and ranks 14th in all of baseball with a .902 OPS (on-base-plus-slugging percentage).

Jayson Werth hit a walk-off, dramatic home run to cap a comeback win Sunday.

But the euphoria of victory for Phillies fans didn't even last for the rest of the night. It was confirmed Sunday night that Werth, a free agent after the season, had signed with agent Scott Boras.

If you follow baseball, you know Scott Boras is pretty much the Ari Gold of sports agents. He gets what he wants; he doesn't settle for anything less than top dollar.

So you could surely understand Phillies fans for fearing Werth changing agents and selecting Boras meant the right fielder won't be back in 2011.

Here is what Werth had to say about the issue in a Q&A before batting practice at Citizens Bank Park on Monday.

Q: Why did you decide to switch agents, I'm sure Phils fans are wondering what that might mean in your possible return.
A: Being in the situation that I'm in, having never gone into free agency, over the past few months, I just thought it was time to make the switch. I went with Boras Corporation, I think it's the best place for me right now. I don't think it has anything to do with anything other than wanting the best representation going into free agency.

Q: Difficult going through this process and having to think about switching agents this time of year?
A: No.


Q: Why yesterday?
A: It was pre-planned. I made my decision at the end of last week. It just happened to work out like that. It was done on Friday. Once I did it, I just wanted a few days to have some time. For whatever reason, the way things worked out, that's the way it went.

Q: Boras has good reputation of getting the most for his players. Some fans might assume this means there is no chance you'll be back. What do you say to that?
A: I can't really comment on what other people feel. I know for me it's just a matter of being comfortable with reputation and having a guy that I want to have representing me in this process. Any specific questions I'm sure you can contact the Boras Corporation and they'd be happy to answer any of your questions. For me it's just about who I want to hire.

Q: Jayson, do you think there's any shot you'll be here next year?
A: Do you?

Q: Me?
A: What do you think? I'm worried about the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies, winning another division and winning the World Series. That's as far as it goes.

There's a scene in the timeless, cinematic class "Dumb and Dumber" when our friends Harry Dunn and Lloyd Christmas have reached a crossroads in their, um, journey.

It's Murphy's Law for our favorite dumb duo: everything that could go wrong, does go wrong.

"We got no food, no jobs... our PETS' HEADS ARE FALLING OFF!" Christmas, played by Jim Carrey, says in the memorable scene.

(Someone please alert the good folks at AFI so we can get to that scene on-line, on-demand).

So what exactly does this have to do with baseball, and more specifically, the Phillies? Glad you asked.

If there's an opposite of Murphy's Law (is there?) it appears to be happening for the Phillies this month. Any deficit, no matter how big, no matter how little time there is to make it disappear, isn't a big deal for the Phils.

Sure, it's a characteristic this team has had for the better part of Charlie Manuel's tenure as manager. But, in this month, here in September 2010, today, when the first place Phillies begin a critical, three-game series against the second-place Atlanta Braves, it's difficult to imagine a scenario where this team could be any better than they are right now.

They're 41-15 since the first road trip after the All-Star Break. They're 89 wins are more than every team in baseball save the Yankees (who have 90). Take away the Braves and the Phils have a five-game lead over every other NL team in the race for the league's best record, and thus, home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Oh, and they have Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt set to pitch against the Braves; Atlanta, meanwhile, won't have Tim Hudson, Derek Lowe, and now possibly, Jair Jurrjens at their disposal in the series.

The Phillies have won seven straight games, including Sunday's dramatic, come-from-behind victory fueled by a 720-foot home run by Jayson Werth that maintained the team's three-game division lead.

"We hold our own destiny," Werth said Sunday. "Here we are getting into late September again, and we’re right where we want to be, clicking on all cylinders, and we’re going to be a force to reckon with.”

So, once again, how could things be any better?

"Maybe if (Jimmy) Rollins was able to play or something," Manuel said. "There again, (Wilson) Valdez has been super for us. If Jimmy is well, that’s always good."

OK, so Charlie got us. The Phils are without Rollins and it's unknown when he'll return. The manager had to go ahead and become Charlie Downer.

But the truth is the Phils don't exactly need Rollins right now. Valdez has played exemplary defense and has hit .333 in 13 games this month (with a .391 on-base percentage).

Valdez isn't alone in having a productive September. Everyone in the lineup save Placido Polanco (.247 BA, .647 OPS) is clicking at the same time.

Here's the rest of the lineup's numbers this month, heading into tonight's first game of the Braves series:


Carlos Ruiz: .347-2HR-12RBIs in 17 games (.997 on-base-plus-slugging %)

Ryan Howard: .297-6-19 in 18G (1.071 OPS)

Chase Utley: .333-4-17 in 18G (1.027 OPS)

Raul Ibanez: .375-3-11 in 17G (1.046 OPS)

Shane Victorino: .365-2-8 in 18G (.974 OPS)

Jayson Werth: .271-6-13 in 17G (.844 OPS)



Howard, Utley and Ibanez rank in the top 10 in the NL in OPS this month; Ruiz and Victorino are 12 and 14, respectively.


So the Phils are going well and set up for success. The Braves chances at still winning the division?

Hey, they're not one in a million, but they don't look too great, either.

"So you're telling me there's a chance ..... YEAH!"


(Sorry, couldn't resist bringing Lloyd back to have this entry come full circle).

The Phillies begin a three-game series with the Marlins tonight.

When they return home, they'll host the Nationals for three games.

But everyone interested in this team right now can't help but look a week from now, when the Atlanta Braves arrive at Citizens Bank Park. The Braves lost to the Cardinals Sunday night (you can thank Triple Crown buster Albert Pujols) and enter play today one game back of the Phils in the NL East.

So it goes without saying that next week's matchup could be more important than the final three games of the regular season, when the two teams meet again in Atlanta.

Don't think the Phillies don't realize this.... and that they're praying for three rain-free games in stormy South Florida. (The sun is out now, but you can never can tell down here).

What the heck does the weather have to do with anything? Well, right now the Phillies starting pitching couldn't line up any better for the Braves series.

With a day off Thursday, the Phillies have the flexibility to pitch Roy Oswalt (on regular rest) in what would be Kyle Kendrick's turn Friday against the Nationals. Kendrick would be flip-flopped with Roy O, pitching Saturday instead.

The Phils haven't said they're making this move - pitching coach Rich Dubee will keep tabs with Oswalt this week - but it's increasingly likely they will do so. Because by moving Oswalt up in the rotation (and again, not pitching him on short rest thanks to the off day), he would also be in line to pitch against the Braves next Wednesday.

In that scenario, it would be Cole Hamels vs. the Braves on Monday, Roy Halladay vs the Braves on Tuesday and Roy Oswalt vs. the Braves on Wednesday.

Asked about that scenario - putting the H20 Trio on the Braves - Dubee said there was "a very good chance we might do that."

The guess here is the only thing that could derail that from happening - other than Oswalt saying his arm could use the extra day, which I really don't see happening - is for rain to throw the rotation off in one off the next three days in Florida.

If, for example, tomorrow's game was washed out, Hamels would be pushed back for one of two games in a doubleheader Thursday. So, you don't want that to happen.

Start your own rain dance.


UPDATE: And what about the Braves? Could they align their top guns at the Phillies, too?

Well, it's not as easy for Atlanta. Tim Hudson (15-8, 2.62 ERA) pitched Sunday and the Braves, like the Phillies, are off Thursday.

So Atlanta, too, could bring Hudson back Friday in order to pitch against the Phillies. But Tommy Hanson (9-11, 3.54 ERA) is on tap to pitch Friday and would also be one of the pitchers the Braves would undoubtedly want against the Phillies.

If Hanson stays on for Friday, Hudson would follow Saturday and could only start against the Phils if he pitched on short rest Wednesday.

So while the Phils can align all three of their aces, the Braves can only throw Hanson (who has been lights out since the All-Star Break) or Hudson (their Cy Young Award candidate). Advantage, Phils.

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Jimmy Rollins' injury update: (sorry, I usually leave these to the good folks over at ZWR.)

Here's the deal - Rollins was diagnosed with a mild hamstring strain after undergoing an MRI today in Philadelphia. He'll rejoin the team in Florida Tuesday, but Charlie Manuel said he would not start his shortstop (he can pinch hit).

My gut is Rollins won't be back in the every day lineup until Friday. But that's just an educated guess.

The final three outs at Citizens Bank Park was reminiscent or October baseball, or a playoff-clinching victory. Each out was followed by a near-deafening roar from the sold-out South Philly ballpark.

But the Phillies clubhouse was oddly quiet, missing the usual music that pulses out of a bass-defying boombox next to Jimmy Rollins' locker. Perhaps there was a reason for the silence...


After the Phils 8-7 win over the Marlins, which put them back into first place for the first time since the final day of May, manager Charlie Manuel said Brad Lidge was unavailable to pitch because of a sore elbow.

"It's a little tender, I shouldn’t' say sore," Manuel said after explaining why Lidge wasn't used in the ninth with a one-run lead. "I think we'll rest him today, then we have Thursday off and then he should be fine."

This, of course, is not good news for the Phillies. In the last five weeks, Lidge had been pitching at his best since 2008. He has saved 14 of his last 16 opportunities.

But the beleaguered closer has rarely been able to escape injuries before or after the 2008 season. When he was traded to the Phillies in the fall of 2007, Lidge was walking on crutches after having his right knee scoped.

He had the knee worked on again before the '08 season, during spring training, and again last offseason.

Although he never attempted to use injuries as an excuse in 2009, when he led all of baseball with 11 blown saves, Lidge had elbow surgery when the season was over. He began the season on the DL.

Lidge has needed two cortisone shots on his elbow this season. He was placed on the DL again May 15.

But in the season's second half, Lidge has been as reliable as the Phillies could have hoped. With the exception of his July 31 nightmare in DC, when Ryan Zimmerman hit a walkoff, three-run home run off him, Lidge has helped the Phils finally get the back of their bullpen in order with Ryan Madson and J.C. Romero also pitching healthy and effective.

Now, the elbow pain returns with 22 games left in the regular season.

Here is what Lidge said after Tuesday's game.

"I’m not concerned. It's a little hyperextension. I pitched through it yesterday. There’s a little bit of pain there. It’s one of those things were they wanted to rest it today and tomorrow and we have an off-day Thursday. I’ll definitely be back for sure on Friday.

"But we just figured take two days right now as opposed to two weeks later. It’s different from what I’ve had before and it’s really not bad at all. Trying to throw through the pain may make it worse."



Did you see (team physician Michael) Ciccotti?

"Yeah. He was here and went over it again and said, ‘You hyper-extended your elbow a little bit and hopefully in a couple days you’ll be right back.'"

When did you first feel it happen?

"Two appearances ago."


Any MRI?

"No. It really is minor. If we blow them out tonight and tomorrow night, I might have been able to sneak through the cracks. Fortunately for me, it’s not bad now and I guess now we just have one more game. The bullpen got it done tonight [JC Romero points to himself and says, 'I didn’t.'] Madson did a great job and everybody in front of him got it done."


How did it happen, on one pitch?

"Yeah. There was a fastball that got away from me that I just kind of overthrew. It was two outings ago. It was the second to last pitch, so I was able to finish the inning and throw again last night. It was still kind of painful and kind of grinded through last night a little bit. And I kind of figured that instead of grinding through the rest of the season, that should be all I need."


What is the diagnosis?

"It’s so minor they’re not even doing that. They didn’t need to label it other than a day or two of rest. I still haven’t ruled out possibly pitching tomorrow if it feels good enough. But I know they feel like they want me to take another day. I’ll play catch tomorrow and hopefully it will be just about all better."

The Phillies coaching staff and management has continually side-stepped their way from questions regarding who would be called to pitch on Monday, when the team needs a starter for a doubleheader with the Marlins.

"We'll definitely come up with one," Manuel joked before Friday's game at Citizens Bank Park.

A few hours later, the identity of than unknown starter may have been revealed. Triple-A Lehigh Valley right-hander Vance Worley was seen shaking hands with coaches after just one inning in the IronPigs game against Buffalo Friday night.

Worley didn't return to pitch the second inning. He threw 14 pitches (11 for strikes), meaning the start could act as a between-starts bullpen session, making him available to pitch Monday in Philadelphia.

Worley was summomed to the big leagues briefly in July, when Kyle Kendrick was sent down the Triple-A. He pitched a perfect ninth inning in his only major league appearance, in a 10-2 win over the Rockies on July 24.

Worley, the Phils 3rd round pick in the 2008 draft, was 10-7 with a 3.38 ERA in 26 starts between Lehigh Valley and Double-A Reading entering Friday.