Kendrick Struggles; Utley Injured

As seen on Phillies Nation.

Ryan Howard put good wood on a baseball and sent it to the deepest angle of Great American ballpark. Off the bat, it looked long gone, but it ricocheted off the top of the center field wall. That summed up the day for the Phillies: nothing seemed to go their way.

Kyle Kendrick retired the first ten batters he faced, but fell apart quickly after. In the fourth inning, Scott Rolen smacked a two-run shot to left. Since leaving the Phillies, Rolen has given his former club all sorts of fits (.350 AVG career vs. Phillies) and troubles. But that is typical for most ex-Phillies; it’s nothing out of the ordinary.

The Reds kept chipping away and tacked Kendrick for six runs (five earned) in 6.1 innings.

Meanwhile, Johnny Cueto cruised along, surrendering just one run in eight innings of work. He got plenty of help from his defense, as the Reds backed him with numerous spectacular plays and web gems, showing why they lead the majors in fielding percentage.

The Phillies finally added a couple runs with two outs in the ninth inning. Raul Ibanez sent Bill Bray’s breaking ball into the right field bleachers for a meaningless home run. It can’t hurt his statistics.

There is a little concern regarding Chase Utley, who was mysteriously removed for a pinch hitter in the ninth inning. It was later revealed that Utley had his thumb wrapped, and will have an MRI tomorrow. Utley, who made a fielding error, injured his thumb by sliding head first into second base.

“Hopefully [Utley] isn’t seriously-seriously hurt. But for him to leave the game, that in itself says something. That’s the last guy is going to take himself out of the game,” Shane Victorino said.

There is no word on the severity of the injury, but if Utley were to miss time, that would be a huge blow for an already snake-bitten clubhouse. Placido Polanco would normally be the replacement, however he remains out of the lineup due to elbow problems. Losing any player of Utley’s caliber is tough, so hopefully he does not miss a significant amount of time.

The Phillies’ 7-3 loss showed that the Reds are legitimate contenders. They currently sit in first place in the National League Central, when in previous seasons they were towards the cellar. The Reds finally have a healthy mix of young, talented players and proven veterans. If the Phillies are going to contend, they have to beat teams like the Reds, who also have a chance to make the postseason.

QUOTE SOURCE: Ryan Lawrence

5th Inning Rally Lifts Phils

As seen on Phillies Nation.

The red carpet rolled out and each player walked down from centerfield. Charlie Manuel proudly raised the blue 2009 National League pennant banner in Ashburn Alley. The players were introduced, and the 2010 Home Opener was underway.

The news did not start off good. Jimmy Rollins was scratched from the lineup due to a calf strain. Jayson Werth later left with an injury. Werth's injury is not expected to be serious, however Rollins may be headed for the disabled list.

Cole Hamels' second consecutive start against the Nationals did not go as planned. The lefty struggled once again, surrendering four earned runs in 5.2 innings. Hamels struck out six, but his earned run average raised to 5.06. Hamels has yet to put 2009 behind, and return to the form he was in 2008 and prior.

The Phillies found themselves in a 4-0 deficit, but the offense always has a comeback in them. Ryan Howard continued his hot hitting with a RBI single.

Juan Castro caught on to his new team quickly, driving in a run during his first game as a Phillie. Placido Polanco (2-for-4) raised his average to .484 with a RBI single of his own. Chase Utley smashed a two-run home run down the right field line to cap off a five-run fifth inning. The Phillies offense remains hot and has no desire of cooling off.

The bullpen did a stellar job to secure the win for Hamels. Chad Durbin, Jose Contreras, Danys Baez, and Ryan Madson combined for 3.1 hitless innings.

With the 7-4 victory, the Phillies improve to a Major League best 6-1 record. Tomorrow, Kyle Kendrick will look to redeem himself after a disappointing outing last week.

Phillies Notes: Halladay, Injuries, Minor Deals

As seen on Phillies Nation.

March is quickly coming to an end. The Phillies play one more game in Clearwater before returning north for an exhibition series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. April 5th will be here before we know it. There was plenty of Phillies news to end the third month of the year:

The Phillies lost to the Toronto Blue Jays, 5-2.

Roy Halladay surrendered four runs in the first inning. He would settle down by striking out the side in the second, and retiring the side in order in the third. In the three innings he worked, he struck out five.

Placido Polanco and Ben Francisco provided the Phillies with their only two runs. They each hit solo shots.

Brad Lidge received a Cortisone shot.

Lidge is having elbow troubles once again. Lidge has inflammation on the outer part of his elbow. His off-season surgery was on the inner part. No MRI will be required for this injury, as there is no structural damage.

Michael Ciccotti, the team physician, said that the injury is due to “[Lidge's] reconditioning routine.” Lidge’s goal is to return by mid-April, although it could be later.

Joe Blanton injured his left oblique muscle.


The Phillies will not know more about the injury until tomorrow, when Blanton is examined by the team doctor. Blanton, who was scheduled to pitch on Saturday, felt the injury when throwing a bullpen session today.

Blanton has never been placed on the disabled list in his career. If Blanton were to miss time during the season, Kyle Kendrick would likely be the one to fill his shoes.

If the Blanton and Lidge injuries weren’t bad enough, Carlos Ruiz was kept out of today’s lineup after being hit by a pitch on the arm yesterday. The move was just cautionary though.

The Phillies signed right handed pitchers Josh Fogg and Ty Taubenheim to minor league contracts.

Both pitchers will report to minor league camp. These moves could kick Brandon Duckworth out of Triple-A.

Fogg was recently released by the New York Mets. He has a career 62-69 record, and 5.03 ERA. Taubenheim has only pitched in 46 major league innings, and also has an ERA over five.

Sunday's Recap and Injury Updates

As seen on Phillies Nation.

The Phillies lost in extra innings to the Tampa Bay Rays, 5-3, however there were some positive notes from Sunday.

First, Brad Lidge said that he will be able to throw to live hitters during batting practice on Wednesday. He could appear in a minor league game on March 15.

Shane Victorino, who is nursing a sore shoulder, will not make the trip to tomorrow’s game at Tampa. However, Charlie Manuel said that there is a chance that Victorino could play on Tuesday night against the Atlanta Braves.

Now back to the game. Domonic Brown continues to make spring highlights. He went 3-for-5 with two runs batted in. He grounded into a key double play, but since he has seven hits in the last three games, we’ll let it slide — for now. The other run came off the bat of Jimmy Rollins: a solo home run.

J.A Happ pitched 2.1 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks. Phillippe Aumont managed to make it through 2.2 innings without surrendering a run, bouncing back from his poor outing against Florida State University. On the other hand, Joe Savery and Yohan Flande each struggled.

Lidge, Contreras, Fans, NL East News

As seen on Phillies Nation.

There's eighty days until Roy Halladay (I'm already penciling him in as the Opening Day starter) throws the first pitch of 2010. There's 35 days until pitchers and catchers report. The season is quickly approaching, and soon we'll be hearing more Phillies news on a daily basis. There was still plenty of baseball news today:

• The Phillies announced that Brad Lidge had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, and his status for Opening Day is questionable.

"The surgery went well, and Brad is expected to begin his throwing program in 10 days," head athletic trainer Scott Sheridan said. "We're not sure if he'll be ready by Opening Day, but we don't expect that he'll be too far behind. This surgery was not directly related to any previous surgeries."

Loose bodies and a portion of his meniscus were removed. This is Lidge's second surgery this off season (elbow). This is his third surgery on his right knee since 2007. Lidge missed opening week in 2008 due to knee surgery, and also missed part of 2009 due to knee pain.

• The Phillies, along with four other teams, are interested in Jose Contreras.

Contreras, 38, had a 4.92 ERA in 131.6 innings with the White Sox and Rockies last year. Contreras would likely relieve, despite spending some time as a starter last year. If you were hoping for a reliever like D.J Carrasco, cross his name off the list. He reached an agreement with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Phillies need bullpen help, but personally I don't think Contreras is the answer.

• Smile! The Hardball Times named Phillies fans "the happiest in MLB."

Honestly, I was kind of surprised to see the Phillies listed as number one. I was expecting the 3-5 range, thinking Philadelphia would recieve the usual Philly fan stereotypes. A championship, two pennants, and three division titles in three years; yeah, that makes me happy.

• Brandon Duckworth and Jason Standridge sign minor league deals with the Phillies.

The Duck Pond is back!! I can’t believe I missed this news. Honestly, Duckworth was one of my favorite players in the early 2000’s, despite his struggles.

Since leaving the Phillies, Duckworth, 34, has spent time in the Astros’ and Royals’ system. Standridge, 31, was a first-round draft pick in 1997.

National League East news:

• The Atlanta Braves are pursuing Johnny Damon.


• Carlos Beltran had surgery on his knee without asking the Mets for permission.

The Mets' injury woes continue into 2010. Beltran is expected to miss at least twelve weeks.

In other Mets news, the Mets are close to signing catcher Bengie Molina. Molina batted .265 with 20 home runs with the San Francisco Giants last year.

• The Washington Nationals are interested in Orlando Hudson.

The Nationals could offer Hudson a two-year deal -- at the right price. Hudson could want as much as $9 million, which may be too much for the Nationals.

• What about that other team in the National League East?

The Marlins? You may have noticed that they haven't been spending a lot of money. Well, they reached an agreement with the players' union to increase spending due to complaints about the team's payroll violating baseball's revenue sharing provisions.

Blog of Note: We Should be GM's has a nice motion picture of the man, Chase Utley.

Minor Leaguer Fails Physical, But Deal Done

UPDATE (4:00 PM): Nevermind, the deal is done, officially! Press conference at 5:00 PM to introduce Roy Halladay.

The Roy Halladay/Cliff Lee blockbuster is now on hold. Apparently, somebody failed their physical, and it is not Lee or Halladay.

The likely targets are Phillippe Aumont and Kyle Drabek. Both have had a histroy of injury problems, however the latest reports are stating that Aumont passed. Chances are that it is Drabek or even Michael Taylor. Ruben Amaro is confident that a deal will still get done, but talks will likely extend into Thursday.

Blogs of Note: Help get a Harry Kalas Memorial Statue! Also, the We Should be GM's boys created a Phillies Phantastic Phour!

Lidge, Ibanez, Eyre To Have Surgery

As seen on Phillies Nation.

Brad Lidge, Scott Eyre and Raul Ibanez will each have surgery next week.
It turns out that Lidge was injured this year, but it’s not his knee. On Wednesday, Lidge will have surgery to repair loose bodies in his elbow. In addition, he will need to have his flexor/pronator tendon examined. If Lidge’s tendon is okay, then he should be ready to pitch when pitchers and catchers report to spring training. However, if his tendon needs to be repaired, then he is doubtful to be ready by the beginning of spring training.

Scott Eyre will have the same surgery as Lidge. Eyre and Raul Ibanez will each go under the knife on Monday. Ibanez will have a sports hernia surgically repaired. Eyre and Ibanez are expected to be ready by spring training. It is still uncertain if Eyre will pitch in 2010.

Phils Pick Up Lee's Option; Other Notes

The season just ended, but the Phillies kicked off the offseason with their first move.

The Phillies picked up Cliff Lee’s $9 million option for the 2010 season. No surprise here. There is still a possibility that Lee will be signed to a long term deal. The Phillies have not made a decision about Pedro Feliz’s $5 million option for next season.

Ruben Amaro has notified Brett Myers that he will not play for the Phillies in 2010. The right hander is officially a free agent.

There will be no coaching changes. Rich Dubee, Milt Thompson, Davy Lopes, Sam Perlozzo and Pete Mackanin will all stay on Charlie Manuel’s coaching staff. Again, no surprise here. This staff has done a phenomenal job.

Eyre is undecided if he will play next year, but will definitely need surgery to remove a loose body from his elbow. Lidge will be getting checked to see if he has the same injury. Ibanez will have an MRI on his groin, but he may also need surgery for a tear in his abdomen.

The Phillies contacted Chan Ho Park's agent about returning next season. Park was terrific out of the bullpen. But does he still have his eyes on starting?

Game 3 Postponed

Game three of the National League Division Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and Colorado Rockies has been postponed due to snow.

The game is rescheduled for Sunday night at 10:07 p.m EST. Game four has been moved to Monday.

The postponement could turn out to be a good thing for the Phillies. Pedro Martinez was originally slated, but J.A Happ will start tomorrow. Also, Cliff Lee will have enough rest to make him a possibility to start on Monday.

Jamie Moyer will be released from the hospital today. Moyer has been in the hospital since Wednesday due to a type of blood infection. Ruben Amaro Jr. said that Moyer is okay.

Blog of Note: We Should be GM's celebrated the end of the decade by putting together the "Team of the 2000's."

Call of the Day: Jimmy Rollins' first major league hit.

"Jimmy Rollins is going to have his first major league hit. Off the fence and
watch him fly! It's going to be a triple! Rollins... heading for third... Head
first slide. He's there with a triple!"

Pedro Injured in 6-4 Loss

As seen on Phillies Nation.

The Phillies scored four runs in the ninth inning, but came up short in their 6-4 loss to the Atlanta Braves.

Lately, players have been dropping like flies. For the second straight night, the Phillies lost their starting pitcher due to an injury. Pedro Martinez left the game after the third inning with stiffness in the right side of his neck. Martinez allowed three earned runs on seven hits. He walked one and struck out one during his three innings.

Matt Diaz broke the game open in the fifth inning with a two-run home run off Chad Durbin. In 2.2 innings, Durbin gave up three runs (2 earned).

Braves starter Javier Vazquez limited the Phillies to just three hits during his seven shutout innings.

The Braves had a 6-0 cushion headed into the ninth, but the Fightins rallied against Rafael Soriano. Ryan Howard put the Phillies on the board with his third home run of the series. Greg Dobbs and Jimmy Rollins each had RBI singles. However, with the tying run at first base, Ben Francisco flied out to end the threat and the game.

The loss ends the Phillies six-game winning streak. The Florida Marlins won, therefore the Phillies hold a seven game lead in the division. The Phillies are seven and a half games ahead of the Braves. The magic number remains at eight.

Phillies Injury Updates

Here is the latest injury news, as seen on Phillies Nation:

◦J.A Happ left Friday’s game after tweaking his oblique. However, Happ said he was fine and that he did not tweak his muscle nor experience any pain. Charlie Manuel removed him for “pre-cautionary reasons”.

◦Carlos Ruiz left Friday’s game with a sprained left wrist. Ruiz’s wrist has been bothering him for a few days, but he aggravated it on a close play at the plate. Ruiz stayed in after the play, but left the game in the sixth inning. X-Rays were negative. Although he is not in tonight’s lineup, Manuel does not expect him to miss a significant amount of time.

◦Ryan Howard was hit by a pitch in the forearm last night. He was hit in the same spot a night earlier. Howard said he was sore and that he would wait and see if he could play today. As of now, he is in tonight’s lineup.

◦Scott Eyre (left elbow) threw a bullpen session today. His session went well and he hopes to pitch on Tuesday. He will have surgery after the season.

◦J.C Romero (strained left forearm) also threw a bullpen session. Romero will report to Clearwater tomorrow for a week. Rich Dubee liked what he saw from both Eyre and Romero.

◦Chan Ho Park, who pulled his hamstring, reportedly played catch in the outfield today.

◦Shane Victorino (gastrointestinal problems) is not in tonight’s lineup. However, he claimed that he is “no longer sick.”

◦Jack Taschner has a mid-back strain. He is rehabbing in Clearwater.

SAL Champions: BlueClaws

Congratulations to the 2009 Lakewood BlueClaws! For the second time in their 16-year history, the Phillies Single-A affiliate clinched the South Atlantic League title. They beat the Greenville Drive (Red Sox) 5-1 in game four of the series.

Korey Noles earned the win, pitching seven solid innings. The BlueClaws were able to manufacture runs by playing small ball. Travis d'Arnaud, Harold Garcia, Troy Hanzawa, and Anthony Gose each drove in runs. Gose's speed was a key factor in the victory.

It was a good night for the Phillies organization. The Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves 9-3, decreasing their magic number to 8.

The only down side was that J.A Happ (oblique) and Carlos Ruiz (sprained wrist) left the game early. Ryan Howard hit two home runs, but he had a bandage on his arm at the end of the game. Shane Victorino was not in the lineup due to stomach problems. Luckily, none of the injuries appear to be serious.

Mayberry, Kendrick Recalled

John Mayberry Jr. and Kyle Kendrick have been recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. They are expected to arrive in Houston today.

In 5.1 innings with the Phillies this season, Kendrick is 0-1 with a 5.06 ERA. Mayberry is batting .189 with 4 HR and 8 RBI.

Chase Utley is day-to-day with a bruised foot, and Shane Victorino left last night's game with swelling in his right knee.

Former Phillie Randy Wolf won his 100th career game last night.

Another former Phillie, Curt Schilling, discussed the possibilities of becoming involved with politics. You can read more on 38 Pitches.

Injuries and Elimination

Brett Myers was activated from the disabled list today. To make room on the 40-man roster, Joe Bisenius was out-righted to Lehigh Valley.

As one man returns, another suffers a setback. Clay Condrey’s (oblique) rehab assignment was pushed back because of a setback to his slow-healing muscle.

Ruben Amaro said that it is “possible” that Condrey could be done for the season, but won’t know details until Condrey visits the team physician next week.

Johan Santana, among others are finished with 2009. You can add Grady Sizemore to the list. His season is over. The Cleveland Indian's star center fielder will go under the knife for season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow. Sizemore batted .248 with 18 HR, 64 RBI, and 13 SB this season.

The season is also over for the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals. They were both eliminated from their divisions. Well, they still have hope. The Orioles are 24.5 games out of the Wild Card. The Nationals are 28 games out, but the elimination number is down to one.

The Phillies magic number is down to 22.

Vote for the Pepsi "Clutch" Performer of the Month! Clifton Phifer Lee is a nominee.

Myers Progressing Nicely

As seen on Phillies Nation.

Brett Myers could find himself in the Phillies bullpen sooner rather than later. Myers, who is recovering from hip surgery, got the save in a rehab appearance last night.

In two rehab appearances in Double-A Reading, Myers went 0-1, allowing one run in four innings. He struck out seven. Last night, he added two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

"It's good to be able to get out there, obviously," Myers said. "I haven't felt anything in the hip for about a month."

Myers topped 92 mph on the radar gun. He will pitch again today to see if he can go back-to-back days, the final step before returning.

UPDATE: Myers pitched a 1-2-3 inning on Wednesday night in Lehigh Valley. He threw 8 pitches: 6 strikes.

QUOTE SOURCE: Philly.com

Pedro's Return

Philadelphia Phillies (70-50) at New York Mets (57-66)
Pedro Martinez (1-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. Oliver Perez (3-3, 6.06 ERA)

Pedro Martinez will be making his first start against his former team. Martinez spent four season in New York, winning 32 games and posting a 3.88 ERA. Pedro's last outing was cut short due to a rain delay.

Pedro will be opposed by Oliver Perez. Perez is 2-3 with a 3.55 ERA in 13 starts against the Phillies. Sometimes Oliver Perez will dominate. Other times he will get lit up. Perez faced the Phillies earlier this year and lasted 1/3 of an inning. He gave up four runs on five hits and six walks.

Chase Utley will not be in today's lineup, recieving a day off against the left-hander. Lefties are hitting .205 against Perez this season. Eric Bruntlett will start at second base.

In injury news, Greg Dobbs was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a minor tweak to his right calf. Miguel Cairo was called up from Triple-A. To make room for Cairo on the 40-man roster, Antonio Bastardo was transferred to the 60-day disabled list.

In other injury news, Brett Myers is scheduled to pitch in a rehab appearance today. J.C Romero and Clay Condrey are scheduled to throw tomorrow.

Story Changes Again for Myers

Brett Myers lied again. Myers’ rehab appearance on Saturday was pushed back because he had a swollen eye. Initially, Myers claimed that he injured his eye while playing catch with his 4 year old son. A day later, the story changed; he said that he fell out of his truck and landed face flat. However, according to sources, the real story is that he was punched in the face.

“He’s a grown man; I’d like to see him be a professional,” Charlie Manuel said.
“At the same time, there’s not a whole lot I can do when he’s down in rehabbing
and getting ready to pitch. When he’s [in Philadelphia], my concern becomes
greater. I don’t want him to get in trouble.”

An altercation broke at the bar Myers was at out and witnesses originally said that he was not involved. Myers denies being in a physical altercation and police reports claim that Myers was only involved in a verbal dispute.

Myers, who is recovering from hip surgery, is scheduled for a rehab appearance in Clearwater on Thursday.

QUOTE SOURCE: PhillyBurbs

Blog of Note: Down on the Pharm has the latest on Daniel De La Cruz's no hitter. Cruz, a member of the Dominican Phillies, allowed only one baserunner (on an error) and struck out 12.

Black Eye Pushes Back Myers' Rehab

Brett Myers missed a rehab appearance due to a swollen eye. At first, he claimed that his 4 year old son hit him in the eye while playing catch. Then, the story changed.

A day later, Myers changed the story because he was "embarrassed" about what really happened. He felt bad about lying, so he admitted that he hurt his eye while falling out of his truck.

The night the injury occurred, Myers was at a bar with his friends. An altercation broke out. The incident included one of Brett's friends, however, Myers was not involved. Witnesses agree to this report. The bartender said he served Myers three beers and his eye was fine at the time.

In 2006, Brett Myers spent the night in jail after allegedly beating his wife. Since, Myers received counseling. After the black eye report, Myers knew what people would think, but his wife said that she did not hit him over the head with a frying pan.

The Fightins has "actual footage" of the injury. Myers is scheduled to throw a rehab appearance in the middle of the week.

Survivor: Mets Edition

In order to make money to help pay for their new stadium, the New York Mets agreed to do a reality show to help pay for funds. The show-- Survivor: New York Mets Edition-- is schedule to air on SNY at the end of the season.

Originally, none of the players agreed to do it, until it was decided that the winner would get traded. Once David Wright heard this, he was on a mission. He wasn't about to win a championship in New York, so why not win this tournament.

Wright thought everything through. He was smart enough to know that performance enhancing drugs weren't going to work; it'd just lead to disqualification. He researched hard, and hired a team of professionals to create a plan.

Before the season started, Billy Wagner, Angel Pagan, and Tim Redding were already on the disabled list. David knew they weren't a threat anyway, but it still helped. Not much happened in April, other than Brian Schneider straining a muscle. One player gone wasn't enough for David, so he fired the crew that he had been working with.

"Hmmm... injury," David mischievously thought regarding Schneider. He did not want to hurt his teammates. He knew he'd feel bad, but it was the only way he'd be able to seek victory, and a new ballclub. He looked toward his own, the Mets athletic training staff.

"I have to win this thing! I'm already trying my best to get traded by not hitting home runs! This is my only hope. I need you guys to help me out," David said to Ray Ramirez, the head of the training staff.

"I don't blame you for wanting to go. We already know what the outcome is," Ray replied.

"Okay, I wa--" David was cut off.

"On one condition. You must give me $100 for each player that goes down."

"Deal."

"Just tell me who you want voted off Citi Field first?"

The answer was easy, Oliver Perez. He never returned to his 2004 form when his ERA was under 3.00 with the Pirates. Fed up with his 7.03 ERA, David wanted him gone. "He's so unpredictable. I'm so fed up with this 'Good Ollie,' 'Bad Ollie' bull. Just be good for crying out loud!" Next thing ya knew, Perez was on the DL with knee tendinitis.

The DL grew. Carlos Delgado (hip), Alex Cora (thumb), and Ryan Church (hamstring) were added. But the Wright's biggest competition was still on the island; Jose Reyes. Wright was always good buddies with Reyes. They'd pose for magazines together, they'd dance in the dugout. Many thought they were soul mates.

But David was always jealous that he didn't have a fancy chant for when he stepped to the plate. Reyes was the most popular Met and the favorite for the competition, and David wasn't down with that.

David had a serious talk with Ray, and soon enough, Reyes was placed on the disabled list. Just when Reyes was about to return, the training staff "forgot" to stretch out Reyes during a rehab assignment. First calf tendinitis, now a hamstring injury.

And the DL grew. Once a guy returned, another one fell down. Ramon Martinez, J.J Putz, John Maine, Fernando Martinez, Fernando Neive and Gary Sheffield were on put on the DL.

Even after Church returned, Wright convinced Omar Minaya to trade him to Atlanta because he felt that Jeff Francouer would be a better "fit for the team." In other words, less competition for David.

But David wasn't done. The season far from over, players were becoming closer to returning. Tired of seeing the instant replay of Luis Castillo dropping a ball that would have ended the game, David placed a banana peel on the dugout step. Castillo tripped over it, and was significantly hurt.

The next day, Jon Neise left the game because he was injured. He's done for the year. Sheffield was just coming back, and he left the game because of another injury. The Mets are dropping like flies.

The Mets have used 47 different players this year. "Wright" now, David is currently the leader of Survivor: New York Mets edition.

Lopez Removed due to Injury

Originally posted on Phillies Nation.

Rodrigo Lopez was removed after five innings due to inflammation in his right shoulder. Lopez started feeling tightness in the fifth, and the velocity of his fastball dropped down to 82 mph.

“Like when the muscles are really, really tired, where it starts to bother you —
that’s the way I felt,” he said.

Feeling “uncomfortable” Lopez wanted to play it safe and avoid a long term injury. After the game, Lopez said he felt better and no tests have been scheduled at this time.

QUOTE SOURCE: Phillies.com

Call of the Day: Harry called them all. Even R.J Swindle's curveball.

"...There it was. There's that curveball. Lets see what speed that
was. (*laughs*) A 54 mile an hour curve ball. There it was and he struck
him out. Yep, there it is. No runs, no hits, no errors. We go
to the bottom of the eighth. Its 10-5, Mets."