Hunter Pence will make his Phillies debut today.

He's starting in right field, batting fifth in the lineup. Here is his complete Q & A session with the media, what he called his first-ever press conference.




Q: What have the last 24 hours been like, and now joining the team with best record in baseball?

Pence: "It’s a pretty big swing. I think I am really happy to be a part of a team that is in a playoff race. A lot of people never get this opportunity and I have never been a part of it yet. I would sacrifice a lot for this. I am thrilled to be here and ready to go."


Q: What did you hear about Philly from other?

Pence: "Most everyone knows this is a baseball city, a very big sports city. Roy and Brad told me there is nothing like it: the crowd, the fans. It’s a packed house 150-something games in a row. That says something about the atmosphere every night. They said you’re in for a treat. Have fun and go place baseball."


Q: Did you follow the trade rumors?

Pence: "I was trying to block it out, but it became apparent that I was going somewhere. But no one told me where, but it’s one of those things that it’s a relief to finally know where I’m going to be playing baseball for a while. Just get it all over with. All the speculation and the rumors, there is no way to avoid it. every single day people are asking where are you going, where are you getting traded? I didn’t know until you guys knew. I am happy I landed in a good home where people want me, where we got an unbelievable baseball team around me."


Q: You had a conversation with Roy Halladay at All-Star Game?

Pence: "It’s kind of ironic. I think everyone knows in baseball there is a lot of respect for Roy Halladay. I went up to him, he’s kind of soft-spoken guy. I just went up to him and told him Roy, when we face you and compete at the highest level, we know we are competing against the best. I just wanted to tell him I respect what you do and it’s amazing to be in this league and to compete against someone of your caliber."


Q: What was it like being taken out of game last night, knowing you were no longer with the Astros?

Pence: "It was culmination of a long chapter in my life. Ii want to be good to everyone who gives me the opp. I think the Astros did a lot for me and I am grateful for that. all my teammates, we all been through a lot. I think that kind of adversity gives you a different type of asset that you can’t get unless you go through it. I know they are still vowing to turn that thing around and it’s emotional because I love those guys. I want the best for them. I think they are happy for me because I get this opportunity to play here. that’s just who I am. I am guy who cares about people and a guy who makes sure I can do right by who brought me. Now I am in a place they really want me with a chance to do something special. it’s an unbelievable opportunity and I couldn’t’ be more grateful."




Q: And when you saw Jason Michaels coming to take over for you...

Pence: "I was shocked. I knew it meant I was probably gone. That chapter was over. Looking back on it, I can still help the Astros in a way because I think they got some good prospects out of the deal. I guess the initial reaction was ok, get ready to move forward. There is a new path for you."


Q: You know you're picking up quite a few games in the standings...

Pence: "I was already talking about it. I was telling everyone I jumped 62 games in one day. I think that might be epic proportions. I don’t think anyone has beat that. it’s pretty cool."


Q: You've spent so much time in Texas, from growing up to college to Astros. What about playing in a new place like Philly?

Pence: "I think the longer you’re in major league baseball, you get to see different areas. You kind of just learn people are people. Everyone is the same. A lot of times coming up, you only know one place. You travel so much. You come to Philadelphia and play a ball game at this stadium as an opposing team, you see the passion. You come here and you want to play in those intense environments. Now those guys have my back and they are going to be on my throat if I am not playing the right way, which is how it should be. You want to be in town that exciting."


Q: How about playing in All-Star Game, not knowing you might be impacting World Series you could play in?

Pence: "I didn’t think there was going to be a trade. One thing I did think I did make a difference in the world series. You want to win. That’s the neat thing about the world series, teams that aren’t in contention still get to have an effect on what really happens. It’s unique twist. I like that baseball has it that way."


Q: How has it been moving your stuff, equipment and what not?

Pence: "Equipment, I am not really in all of my stuff. So I am a little uncomfortable. I am not going to have my spikes. In the end, the game is the game. That’s the only thing … we are used to flying. Not so used to flying and playing the same day, but it wasn’t too bad. I had a connector flight. Got in, came straight to the ballpark. Took care of me, had a driver come over here. just get some equipment and go play some baseball."


Q: So you don't have cleats?


Pence: "I am still looking. I have like 30 assortments of different sizes and colors, none of which are Reebok that I am supposed to be wearing. I get paid to wear their spikes. I am hoping there is not some big picture that shows up everywhere. I know that is going to be the case."

New Phillies right fielder Hunter Pence spoke to the Astros media following tonight's game in Milwaukee.

Thanks for Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle for sharing:


"It's been a long chapter, and I've bled Astros for a long time, and I think everyone knows that I love all the guys here.

I've had a wonderful opportunity.

The realization that this day was going to come kind of hit me yesterday and now it's a reality and I think it's kind of a win-win. I think the Astros are going to get some great players. It's a new chapter for them and a new chapter for me. I'm on board with a team that's got the best record in baseball and unbelievable talent, so it's a wonderful thing for everybody I hope.

I was a kid when I was drafted here, and I've grown a lot and met a lot of great people. A lot of friendships that never end.

It's a shame I wasn't able to produce more playoff moments in the big leagues, but hopefully it all works out.

I'm really looking forward to just trying to be a part. I'm just going to play baseball and take whatever they ask of me and give my heart and soul like I always do."

According to reports from foxsports.com and ESPN.com, the Phillies are about to etch another All-Star into their lineup.

The Phillies could announce as soon as tonight a trade for Houston Astros outfielder Hunter Pence. According to both reports, the Phillies would send four minor leaguers to the Astros for Pence, led with their top pitching prospect, Jarred Cosart, and their top hitting prospect, Jonathan Singelton.

Domonic Brown is not in the trade.

Pence was pulled from the Astros-Brewers game at the start of the sixth inning at Miller Park.

More later...

Back in spring training, there was a movement among some of the Phillies minor leaguers to get Domonic Brown on Twitter.

The movement didn't last long. Brown didn't want any parts of signing up for the social media website.

Can you blame him?

Nearly every year at the trading deadline, beginning in 2009 when the Phillies first pursued Roy Halladay, Brown's name has been in the cross hairs.

Should the Phillies trade Brown?

The Phillies label Brown an "untouchable."

Could Brown get the deal done?

Nearly every day there's a different rumor this time of year, and somehow Brown was right in the middle of everything.

This year has been no different. The Phillies are in hot pursuit of Houston's Hunter Pence. They're willing to part with young talent. For most of the last week, Brown's name has been once again debated as a possible trade piece.

Before ESPN.com's Buster Olney issued this tweet -- "As of 5:15 p.m., NL source says the Phillies have no intention of putting Domonic Brown in a deal for Pence" --- it appeared Brown could be on the move, at least if you read every trade rumor as if its a fact.

Here's Brown's take on dealing with trade deadline madness:

"I'm definitely used to it by now. You really don't know what's going to happen. I just have to keep going out and doing what I've been doing: playing, having fun and that’s it."

"It's all just a bunch of rumors. It's not finalized until they tell me you're gone. So I'm not worried about it. I'm just going to go out and do my job, and if it happens, it happens."

And, yes, he stays away from the internet.

"I don't mess with that. (laughs). That's playing with fire. I don't do that."

Major League Baseball's non-waiver trade deadline is 50 hours away. (Sunday, 4 p.m. EST).

But Ruben Amaro Jr.'s pursuit of his top target, Houston Astros All-Star outfielder Hunter Pence, has reportedly reached a fever pitch. The Astros want to maximize the value of Pence; the Phillies appear to be ready to overpay to add an impact bat to an underachieving offense.


According to good pal Jayson Stark of ESPN.com (@jaysonst on Twitter), the Phils are offering their top pitching prospect (Jarred Cosart), their top hitting prospect (Jonathan Singleton). Domonic Brown's name is also in the mix, but according to Stark and others, might be spun to a third team to get more pitching prospects for the Astros.

There's a lot to examine here.... like why the Phils would suddenly be willing to deal Brown, a player they labeled an untouchable two years ago when they tried to trade for the best pitcher in baseball (Roy Halladay), a pitcher whom they intended to re-sign to a long-term deal.

But here's another question worth asking: is Pence worth that expensive price? The Phillies have a nucleus of players that are in their 30s and are built to win now and next year. So from that perspective, Pence is better than Brown and the others reportedly in the deal are at Class A Clearwater, and thus, a few years away from the big leagues.


But is Pence good enough to be the savior to this offense? Can he provide the punch Manny Ramirez gave to the Dodgers a few years ago and that Carlos Beltran provided to the Astros in '04?

I'm not so sure.

To steal Charlie Manuel's words when talking about Giants pitchers Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, Pence is a very good player. A great player? Not so sure.

Here's a test, looking at two players since the beginning of the 2008 season:

Player A has hit .284 with an .801 OPS, 51 HR, 223 RBIs, 185 walks, 250 Ks in 517 games.

Player B has hit .285 with an .805 OPS, 86 HR, 307 RBIs, 163 walks, 418 Ks in 561 games.


Player A? Shane Victorino.

Player B? Hunter Pence.


So Hunter Pence is Shane Victorino, with a little more pop... but maybe not this year, since he has 11 HR in 99 games vs. Victorino's 9 HR in 77 games. (Vic's slugging this year is .510; Pence's is .472). It's really debatable, then, whether the guy you're getting to hit fifth in this lineup is better than the guy currently hitting fifth.


So Pence is more complementary piece, right? Is that worth the price of your top two prospects and a guy who was an untouchable 24 months ago?

If the Phils parade down Broad Street this fall.... you'll have a clearer answer.

Carlos Beltran will likely be the biggest name moved during this year's trade deadline season.

Sure he's a free agent in a few months. But he's also an All-Star having a great season and a guy who has had playoff success.

Beltran joined the San Francisco Giants in Philadelphia on Thursday. He'll bat third against Kyle Kendrick and the Phils tonight.


Before the game, Beltran met the media - both from San Fran and Philly.

He was asked a few questions pertaining to the Phillies. The first revealed a bit of news: the Phils pursuit of Beltran never got close enough to where he might have to approve a deal.


Q: Was Philly ever a realistic option from what you know?

Beltran: "Actually, when I supplied the teams I was willing to go, actually I said to the Mets that any team that was in contention, I was willing to go to that team, so I never got involved in the negotiations between the Mets and the teams they were dealing with, so they never approached me about Philadelphia. The only team they approached me about was the Giants yesterday. Of course i said yes. After what these guy, this organization did last year, their pitching, they're in first place, so it was an easy decision for me to make."


Q: While you were with Mets, Phillies beat you guys in division a couple of those years. Is this a chance to get revenge against them this year?

Beltran: "Well you know what this actually isn't about the Phillies. It's about me being a part of the Giants now and helping them try to win ballgames. We're in a different division. I know the Phillies are having a great season and are dominating in the National League East, they're in first place and they have a great team, great pitching. So I'm just looking forward to helping the Giants. And if we meet in the playoffs, we'll see what happens."


Q: If you were to meet Phils in postseason, how much would your familiarity with their pitching staff give you an edge?

Beltran: "Well, I don't think I'd call it an edge. When you face guys like (Roy) Halladay, (Cole) Hamels and (Cliff) Lee, you know, they have a great pitching staff also. Maybe I'd have an idea of what to look for, but you still have to get it done at the plate.

It happens ever year: after the All-Star Game, every fan base of a contending baseball team gets antsy. They want to see action.

If they had a remote control to operate the baseball season, they would fast forward to July 31. "OK, who'd we get??"

The trade market finally showed some signs of life Wednesday. First, the White Sox and Blue Jays made a trade involving oft-traveled right-hander Edwin Jackson. And then St. Louis got involved and made Jackeson even more oft-traveled.

The bigger move came down a couple of hours later: just as Giants players began arriving to Citizens Bank Park, they learned their team make the first big move for a bat among NL contenders, acquiring Carlos Beltran from the Mets.

Your move, Rube?

Phils GM Ruben Amaro Jr. is not discussing trades, which is no different than the last two years at the deadline. Could Ruben be moving more aggressively toward acquiring the apple of his eye this summer, Houston's Hunter Pence?


It's definitely possible.

But let's look at this briefly from the other team's perspective: if you're Houston, why deal your top player now if you can't get the player you want most (Domonic Brown)?

It's actually eerily reminiscent of the Phillies-Blue Jays talks exactly two years ago. The Phillies really, really wanted Roy Halladay. The Jays wanted Domonic Brown, Kyle Drabek and Anthony Gose.


No deal. The Jays didn't HAVE to make a move at the time. So they waited. Eventually they got 2/3 of those players.

So from Houston's perspective, they might be best served by waiting. Why simply settle for what they can get now when the market for teams interested would be bigger in the winter anyway?

Don't think the Phillies don't realize this, however. The Beltran move and the fact that Houston does not HAVE to move Pence now might mean the Phils could step up their pursuit.

Just read the words of newly enshrined Hall of Famer Pat Gillick this afternoon:

Gillick was asked about trade deadline strategy. His answer was pretty revealing when interpreted while looking at Phillies current agenda:

"You have to evaluate what your needs are, what this player will do for your club, you take it all into consideration," Gillick said. "Probably most of the time, with a club like ours, you have to be prepared to overpay a little bit. Sometimes, to get what you want, you have to overpay a bit."

A quiet morning at Citizens Bank Park saw at least three Phillies take the field before Sunday's matinee with San Diego.

After Cole Hamels threw a morning bullpen session, Roy Oswalt followed and Placido Polanco trotted out to his position at third base, too.

Polanco, who had anti-inflammatory shots on his ailing back Thursday, played catch and fielded ground balls. He said he would also take about 50 swings before the game.

Polanco added that the plan was to take batting practice with the team Monday and Tuesday, with the idea of beginning a minor league rehab assignment on Wednesday. It's possible Polanco could be activated some time next weekend.

Roy Oswalt is on a somewhat similar path: both he and Polanco could jump into the Lehigh Valley IronPigs lineup on Wednesday.

Oswalt threw between 40 and 50 pitches Sunday. Earlier this week, he faced hitters in a bullpen session Friday and also threw off the mound Tuesday.


Like Polanco, Oswalt had a series of shots in his back, and like Polanco, he appears to be moving forward pain-free.

"I feel good," Oswalt offered Sunday morning.

Oswalt said the next step will be to throw in a minor league rehab game on Wednesday, which he believes will be at Triple-A Lehigh. Oswalt would probably throw around 60 pitches in that first game.

Whether he would acquire another rehab start is debatable. He could return during the Phillies upcoming west coast trip either way.

Ryan Howard is 2-for-28 since the All-Star break. He is 0-for-8 with 8 strikeouts and one walk in his career against today's Padres starter, Mat Latos.

So despite Charlie Manuel's undying loyalty to his starters - especially Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Howard - it wasn't that shocking that John Mayberry Jr. was in the lineup playing first base and Howard was not in the starting nine Saturday afternoon.

Howard was hitless in three at-bats Friday night and is hitting .071 (1-for-14) in his last four games.


Howard leads the NL in RBIs, but that's masked an otherwise poor season for the $125 million man. He entered Saturday hitting .245 (31 points lower than last year) with 18 home runs (four fewer than he had at this point last year), with a .341 on-base percentage (12 points lower than last year) and a .789 on-base-plus-slugging percentage (he finished last year at .859.

Howard usually heats up in August and September, so we'll reserve calling this a lost season until the final two months play out.

The lineup:

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Michael Martinez, 3B
3. Shane Victorino, CF
4. Chase Utley, 2B
5. Raul Ibanez, LF
6. Domonic Brown, RF
7. Brian Schneider, C
8. John Mayberry Jr., 1B
9. Kyle Kendrick, P

On Monday, uncertainty and uneasiness may have been two words to describe the plights of Roy Oswalt and Roy Halladay.

Roy Oswalt hadn't thrown off the mound in nearly a month. Roy Halladay, the National League leader in innings pitched, exited a game before recording an out in the fifth inning, absolutely spent due to the extreme heat in Chicago.

On Tuesday, optimism reigned around the two Roys.

Oswalt, who had two anti-inflammatory shots in his ailing back 11 days ago, threw close to 50 pitches in a side bullpen session. About two hours later, a refreshed, cooled off Halladay talked about his odd exit Monday as if it was nothing more than a freak occurrence while saying he'd be ready to make his next start on Sunday.


"I felt like I could get through it, and then in the last inning it was just the point where I felt like I was about to get wheeled off the mound," Halladay said. "There are times where you have it, but it seemed like in between innings I couldn’t get away from it. It was almost as hot in (the dugout) as it was out there, you just can’t escape it. I think it just got to the point where it kept continuing and it kept getting hotter and hotter. I just couldn’t stop it."

Halladay tried ice towels, uniform changes, "everything and anything." The 34-year-old pitcher is known for being extremely detail-oriented, and thus, said hydration wasn't an issue.

"I’ve always been very cautious of that," Halladay said. "You take combinations of pedialyte, electrolyte pills, a lot of water, a lot of Gatorade. And I started that the day before. Its never something I’ve neglected. I think from my understanding when you get to the point when you heat up and you’re sweating and your body can’t catch up, in the process you can’t replenish enough."

Thanks to Thursday's off day, Halladay was able to take it easier on himself from a workout standpoint Tuesday. He'll return to his regular routine Wednesday and remain on his normal turn.

Oswalt, meanwhile, expressed optimism that he would slide right back into the rotation in early August. He'll throw another bullpen session Friday.


If that goes well, Oswalt thinks he'll be ready after a couple of rehab starts.

"It feels great - daylight to dark," the 33-year-old Oswalt said of his previously ailing back. "I actually felt great (throwing). Probably felt as good as I did in spring training. No pain. Biggest thing now is build some arm strength and get my other pitches going. I actually had a real good fastball today."

For more on Halladay, watch this video.

"It's so damn hot... milk was a bad choice."

How hot is it in Chicago? I have the local news on and some guy just fried an egg on his driveway.

So if you're among the many Philly fans that rightly choose this series as the one to watch the Phillies in a visiting city/ballpark (it gets no better than Chicago/Wrigley), be sure to stay hydrated (with water and gatorade, not beer) and pack the sunscreen, too.

OK, that's enough of the fatherly advice. Just don't want to see anyone dying. We need the readers.

What's not hot? The Cubs.

In case you haven't heard, the Cubs haven't won a World Series since 1908 -- six seasons before Babe Ruth walked onto a major league field. The Cubs haven't been to a World Series since 1945 --- when little Charles Fuqua Manuel was 20 months old.


The Cubs won't end either of those droughts this year: they enter play Monday 20 games under .500. Among major league teams, only the Houston Astros (31-64) have more losses than the Cubs (38-58).

Here's how bad the Cubs have been: a local, long-time columnist wrote on Sunday that this current Cubs team is the worst in the long, losing history of the franchise. While Morrissey admits he might be playing with a little hyperbole, he was also born and raised here and knows all about how bad some of the previous Cubs teams have been.

And he wrote that column before Chicago lost to the equally hapless Florida Marlins Sunday. The Cubs are 15-30 since May 30.

So what might ail the Cubs woes? How about three games against the pitching-rich Phillies, baseball's best team (they can become the first to reach 60 wins tonight)?

Even better for the Cubs? Reigning NL Cy Young winner Roy Halladay gets the series started tonight, followed by Cliff Lee (5-1 with a 1.26 ERA in his last seven starts) and then Vance Worley (3-0 with a 0.89 ERA in his last five starts).

Long story short: it could be a really ugly three-day series for the home team in Wrigleyville.



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In case you hadn't noticed, I've been away from the Phils in each of the last two series. A much-needed All-Star break of my own.

But I've tried to keep tabs on all of the news during the layoff, particularly the gluttony of injuries. Here are a few quick hits:

--Shane Victorino played in his second straight game at Double-A Reading Sunday and is expected to rejoin the Phillies when he is eligible to return from the DL Tuesday. Victorino hit safely in both games, so his right thumbs appears fine.

--Placido Polanco's balky back landed him on the DL when the Phils returned from the All-Star break. He is eligible to return Wednesday, but since no minor league rehab game has been scheduled yet, a more accurate timetable might be this weekend in Philly.

--Brad Lidge threw back-to-back scoreless innings for Double-A Reading this weekend. Lidge will pitch at Lakewood Wednesday and will probably be activated in hopes of making his long-awaited 2011 Phils debut this weekend.


--Joe Blanton and Jose Contreras continue their long roads back from arm issues. Contreras will throw Tuesday - but he still have to go through the progressions from playing catch to long toss to bullpen sessions to rehab starts. That could take up to a month, barring setbacks. Blanton's return looks even further away after experiencing a setback this weekend.

--Roy Oswalt rejoined the Phils in New York this weekend, following two injections to help cure his aching back. Oswalt will throw a bullpen session at Wrigley on Tuesday and could begin a minor league rehab assignment within the week.

For the second time in two years, Shane Victorino is going to the All-Star Game by way of MLB's "Final Vote" competition.

Victorino finished with a baseball-best 9.2 million votes in a five-day span to become the first two-time winner of the Final Vote.

Although he's been nursing a right thumb sprain since Sunday, Victorino has expressed confidence that he would be able to play both this weekend against the Braves and in Tuesday's All-Star Game in Phoenix while fielding interviews in town over the last two days.


"The past few days have been incredible," Victorino said. "To take the lead from Day One shows how supportive the fans have been from the start of the campaign. Just to be on the ballot was exciting, but to be the first player to be selected by the fans twice is such a tremendous honor.

"The fans in Philadelphia and Hawaii as well as my offseason home in Las Vegas are so loyal to me – that’s what means more than anything. I would also like to thank the Detroit fans for their support, as well as all fans around baseball, who thought I was worthy of this final All-Star spot. Mahalo to everyone for making my trip to Arizona possible."


The Phillies and Tigers came together with a "Vote Victor-Victorino" vote campaign in an attempt to get both Victorino and Victor Martinez to the All-Star Game. But Martinez didn't win -- Chicago's Paul Konerko won the AL Final Vote.

Everyone saw at least two replays. Some of us saw three. Some got MLB Network to zoom in, others got Chris Wheeler's (biased) opinion.

But the only one who knows if he touched second base in the sixth inning of the Phillies 7-6 loss to the Marlins was Domonic Brown himself.

Here's what he said after the game:


"I didn't touch the base. Right there, I've at least got to go back and take the double. I don't know what I was thinking about there. Too aggressive I guess. Right there, it cost us the game. Live and learn."

"I was just thinking about getting to third on that play."

"I've got to get around that ball and get it in. It sped up a little more than I thought. I was trying to cut it off and almost over-ran it. Things like that happen, but the base-running mistake, you can't do that."

Placido Polanco is not in the Phillies lineup for the second straight game. He said his back first began bothering him "about a month ago."

But Polly plans on playing this weekend against the Braves and in fulfilling his start at third base in next week's All-Star Game.

"It's not a big thing," Polanco said. "We have a day off coming up tomorrow. I can play, it's just not comfortable. So they decided to not play me these two games, take advantage of that day off tomorrow, let it rest and heal and come back Friday."

The way the Phils have it figured, Polanco will get a full three days to rest his ailing back thanks to Thursday's day off before they begin a critical three-game series with the Braves.

Polanco will, however, get his back checked out by a specialist when the team returns to Philly.

"The more I've played it made it worse and worse. I think that turf in Toronto made it worse. That didn't help," Polanco said. "Something that worries me a little is I'm feeling some numbness on my side, too. So we'll go ahead and make sure it's nothing bad-bad."

The Phillies have the best record in baseball. But they also continue to have a seemingly never-ending list of players dealing with injuries.

First it was Chase Utley, then Brad Lidge, then Jose Contreras... it's probably easier to list the players who haven't had something ailing them in the season's first three months.

Anyway, there was news on a trio of prominent players battling injuries this afternoon. Without further adieu...


-- Closer Ryan Madson threw a bullpen session for the first time since landing on the disabled list with a right hand bruise. Madson will likely throw another pen session before the weekend.

When asked how the session went - and if Madson was able to grip his pitches without any issues - pitching coach Rich Dubee said, "Yup, he was good."

Dubee also said it's possible that Madson could rejoin the team next weekend in New York, when the Phils open up the second half against the Mets. Madson would likely throw in a minor league game, barring a setback, early next week.


-- Center fielder Shane Victorino got a plug from a very big and influential person in his campaign to make the All-Star team. That was the good news for Camp Victorino. The bad news is he was not in the lineup or even in Florida this afternoon.


Victorino has flown back to Philadelphia to have his right hand examined by hand specialist Randall Culp. Victorino jammed his thumb in an awkward fall in center field Sunday in Toronto.

The initial tests came back negative and assistant GM Scott Proefrock said Victorino is seeing Culp for precautionary reasons. It's unknown whether Vic will rejoin the Phils in Florida Wednesday.


-- Third baseman Placido Polanco was out of the starting lineup. Polanco asked out, as he's been dealing with an ailing back. Polanco is in the midst of an 0-for-15 slump.


Whether Polanco asks out of the All-Star Game is probably too premature right now. But the injury has clearly affected his performance: Polly is hitting .183 (20-for-109) since June 1.

The Phillies will be well represented at next week's All-Star Game in Phoenix.

For the first time in franchise history, they'll send three pitchers to the midsummer classic. Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee - who ranked 2, 3 and 7, respectively, in the National League in ERA - were all named to the NL team Sunday afternoon.

For Halladay, it's his eighth selection. He is tied for the NL lead in wins (11), leads in innings (136 1/3), complete games (six), ranks second in strikeouts (131) and third in ERA (2.44).

Hamels was chosen for the second time -- he was a first-time All-Star in 2007. Hamels is second in the NL in ERA (2.41) and first in WHIP (0.94). Newsy note: Hamels, who was hit in the right palm in his last start, threw a bullpen session Sunday morning and has been cleared to start Tuesday in Florida.

Lee is an All-Star for the third time in his career. He takes a 32-inning scoreless streak into today's game in Toronto. Lee leads all major league pitchers with four shutouts.


In addition, Placido Polanco was voted in by the fans to start, marking the 13th time a Phillies player has started at third base in the All-Star Game. Polanco is hitting .280 this season (third among NL third basemen) while also playing stellar defense.

It's the second time Polanco has started an All-Star game: he started at second base for the American League in 2007.


The Phillies, who own baseball's best record, have the chance to send a fifth All-Star to Phoenix next week: Shane Victorino is one of the five candidates in the NL's "Final Vote" competition. You can cast your vote for him on mlb.com.


So who was snubbed? Antonio Bastardo probably deserved a look, along with bullpen mate Ryan Madson, who is currently on the DL.

Cole Hamels was knocked out of Thursday's game against the Red Sox when a line drive from Adrian Gonzalez hit him in the right hand - the non-pitching hand.

The ball hit Hamels under the glove, so flush on his hand.

He wore a bandage over the swollen hand Friday in Toronto... but was hopeful he'd be able to make his next turn Turesday in Florida.

Here's the Q&A between Hamels and the traveling media corps.



Q: None of us were there yesterday. What happened?

Cole Hamels: "Well, I got really pissed at Chooch and I got him in the tunnel. I missed him. He ducked and I hit the wall."


Q: You had two comebackers, right?

Hamels: "The first one hit me here [points to higher on glove hand]. The second one hit me there [points a bit lower]. It got me.


Q: It knocked the glove off, didn't it?

Hamels: "Yeah. It didn't even hit the glove. That's why it's so bruised. It hit solid meat. I had some stitching."


Q: Looks kind of swollen...

Hamels: "It's swollen. It bruised up right away, all the way to the other side. I'm just getting the movement back. I'll just keep the same program that I can. I'm doing everything I can. It makes it harder to move around. Obviously I won't be taking batting practice anytime soon. I won't be swinging the bat when I stay up there."


Q: Did you want to stay in?

Hamels: "I wanted to. But that's just not my call. The competitiveness we all have... I wanted to go out. I knew I was pitching well. I felt good. No matter how bad this hurts, if they didn't hit it back at me, I probably would have done all right."


Q: Think you can field your position in five days?

Hamels: "Yeah, yeah. Most of the time, even with a glove, bunts are so soft I can grab them with my hand anyway. That won't be a problem."


Q: Ruben Amaro Jr. said it's "not a slam dunk" you'll make your next start?

Hamels: "I don't know. It all depends on being able to throw a bullpen and being able to get out there. From what the trainer said, it's not as swollen as they assumed it would be. Just make the proper recovery and keep the swelling down as much as possible."


Q: Can you wear anything under the glove for extra padding or protection Tuesday?

Hamels: "I don't know."


Q: Were you scared you broke something?

Hamels: "No. I knew when it hit, it hit solid muscle. I didn't feel any pop or something you'd feel when you break a bone. I guess it's what a catcher feels 24/7. I don't envy them."


Q: Throwing a bullpen tomorrow or Sunday?

Hamels: "I'm not sure yet. Tomorrow is my normal bullpen day. I'll go out and play catch today, that’s all you can really do."


Q: You looked pretty pissed more than anything after it happened.

Hamels: "Yeah, you know it just kind of takes… it steals the thunder out of what was going on. You're locked in, trying to make pitches and you know it's going to be a competitive game all the way to the last out. You want to be able to play well. So I feel like it kind of stole that way from me."


Q: What happened to your face?

Hamels: "I got an infection in my chin, I had to have it drained."


Q: You look like you've been in a fight, with hand wrapped, face taped...

Hamels: "That’s what I keep telling people. Some of them believe it. It's been a bad week."


Q: The second hit that got you, but you had the first comebacker you caught... did that hurt?

Hamels: "The first one hit, about two centimeters away (from where hit the second time). It the glove, but it still got my hand, it's still a sensitive area."


Q: So it sounds like they're going to have to tie you up to keep you off the mound?

Hamels: "Yeah, basically."


Q: You look like you want to make that next start...

Hamels: "I want to pitch as much as I possible can, it's what I do. Every five days I want to go nine innings."


Q: So in your mind you think this will not prevent you from making next start?

Hamels: "In my mind, it doesn’t. But they do... they've seen it before. I'm jut not the type of guy that's going to shy away from wanting to play or that would quit on the team."

Greetings from Canada... where the Phillies will celebrate Independence Day weekend.

Kyle Kendrick will take the mound in just about three hours from now. But the story of the weekend - barring another shutout from Cliff Lee on Sunday - will be the guy pitching in the middle game of the series.

Roy Halladay spent his first 12 major league seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays. He was with the organization since getting drafted out of high school in 1995 all the way up until he was traded to the Phils in December of 2009.

Thus, Halladay called Toronto home for quite some time.

Jays reliever Jason Frasor has also spent a lot of time with the Jays. He's been a member of the team's bullpen since 2004.

There's a nice feature on Frasor - a veteran who could be a decent addition to a injury-ravaged Phillies pen at the deadline - in today's Toronto Globe and Mail.

He had some interesting stuff to say about Halladay:

“I don’t know if he was close to many guys. And a lot of guys who play with him say, they question his leadership, he should have done this, he should have done that. But I mean if anyone led by example it was that guy."

“If you can’t learn by watching someone like Halladay, then I don’t know who you can learn from.”


PHILLIES LINEUP

1. Jimmy Rollins, DH
2. Shane Victorino, CF
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Placido Polanco, 3B
6. Ben Francisco, LF
7. Dom Brown, RF
8. Carlos Ruiz, C
9. Wilson Valdez, SS