PHAIR AND PHOUL

* Waiting area: There has been some speculation that former Phillies manager/ coach/shortstop Larry Bowa could be on the Orioles' list of possible replacements for Dave Trembley.

That makes some sense. There were those who thought Trembley was a little too laid-back. Let's just say that nobody ever accused Bowa of that. And the pattern is often for a fiery manager to follow a more mellow one.

Bowa is currently the third-base coach for the Dodgers and the Los Angeles Times reported that the team might not grant permission for him to be interviewed during the season. Which wouldn't necessarily kill his chances. While O's president Andy MacPhail has already interviewed Bobby Valentine and Eric Wedge and plans to talk to Buck Showalter next week, he hasn't ruled out making a final decision until after the season.

It's also not out of the question that another former Phillie, current interim manager Juan Samuel, could be retained.

* Trivia time: Shane Victorino leads the Phillies in triples with seven. No surprise there. The Flyin' Hawaiian led the league with 13 three-baggers in 2009. But do you know who's second on the team?

* 20-20 hindsight: While many fans still seem to be fixated on the trade that sent Cliff Lee to the Mariners, another Phillies pitching decision during the offseason has been largely overlooked.

Brett Myers, told the day after the World Series that the Phils would make no effort to re-sign him, is 4-4 for an awful Astros team going into his start last night against Kansas City with a 3.16 ERA.

Granted, there were reasons beyond his ability for letting Myers go. A certain fatigue seemed to have set in on both sides of the relationship. But that sort of production would look pretty nice right now in the middle of the Phillies' rotation.

* Believe it or not: The Phillies went into last night's game at Yankee Stadium with just two .300 hitters: Placido Polanco (.311) and Joe Blanton (.308).

* Catching up with: Michael Taylor: Many Phillies fans were unhappy to see the slugging outfielder, who batted .320 with 24 homers and 84 RBI between Double A Reading and Triple A Lehigh Valley, included in the Roy Halladay trade.

Toronto immediately flipped him to Oakland, where he has struggled all season. Through Wednesday, he was hitting .225 with three homers and 29 RBI playing for the A's Triple A affiliate.

* Trivia answer: Raul Ibanez (3) is the only other Phillie with more than one triple this season.