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Phillies Notebook: Lidge may start weekend exhibition
CLEARWATER, Fla. - Assuming everything goes smoothly in a minor league start Thursday, Brad Lidge should make his first Grapefruit League appearance this weekend. The Phillies closer, who had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on Feb. 25, threw a live batting practice session yesterday morning and said both his knee and arm are in good condition.
"The knee feels fine," Lidge said.
So does the arm. Pitching coach Rich Dubee said Lidge was very impressive late in the second inning of his workout, dialing up the velocity on his final six or seven pitches.
Afterward, Lidge said he is optimistic that he'll be available for Opening Day.
"We'll see," Dubee said. "We'll see how well he throws, how well his arm responds, where he thinks he is at - I know where he's going to tell me he's at - but that will be determined as we go into this."
Lidge could pitch in a Grapefruit League game as early as Saturday, when the Phillies host Detroit.
Helms speculation
With 13 days to go before Opening Day, the Phillies are still evaluating their options involving infielder Wes Helms. With utility infielders Greg Dobbs and Eric Bruntlett in the fold, the third baseman appears to be out of a roster spot. The Phillies would like to trade him.
Here's one move that seems to make sense: Helms to the Giants for lefthanded pitcher Steve Kline.
The Phillies don't have a place for Helms. Kline may have a hard time making the final cut for San Francisco.
The Giants appear to need corner infield help. The Phillies appear to need a lefthanded reliever.
The Phillies were interested in Kline when he was a free agent a year ago and he was interested in signing with them. However, they only offered a 1-year contract and the Giants offered 2, so he took it.
The money almost offsets. Helms is making $2.15 million with a $750,000 buyout on a 2009 option. Kline, who went 1-2 with a 4.70 ERA in 68 appearances last season, is making $1.75 million and gets $100,000 if he's traded.
The only snag is that the Giants, according to sources, are saying they're not interested in Helms. Of course, that could be posturing. Things have a tendency to change as it gets closer to the time final rosters are set.
The Dodgers also are reportedly in the market for a veteran third baseman.
Yesterday's game
Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino and Chase Utley combined to go 6-for-7 and drove in five of the Phillies' six runs in a 6-4 win over the Indians. Righthander Chad Durbin allowed three runs on four hits in five innings. Catcher Carlos Ruiz went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Victorino went 2-for-2 with three RBI to raise his spring average to .268.
Today's game
Lefthander Cole Hamels gets the start as the Phillies host Tampa Bay. Lefthander Fabio Castro and righthander Ryan Madson are also scheduled to pitch. *
Paul Hagen contributed to this story.
