CHRIS O'MEARA / Associated Press
Champing at the bit to get off the disabled list are Phillies leftfielder Raul Ibanez (left) and closer Brad Lidge, who is due to be reactivated today.
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Phillies Notes
Hamels and wife expecting a son
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Cole Hamels is expecting a son, the lefthander told The Inquirer yesterday. The Phillies' ace, 25, and his wife Heidi Strobel, 30, learned Monday that their first child will be a boy.
Strobel is nearly six months pregnant. The couple intended to travel to Ethiopia in December to adopt a child, but the pregnancy has forced a delay in those plans of six to nine months.
"We still plan on adopting," Hamels said. The pregnancy "is something we were planning on doing anyway. We're going to adopt a girl, and it will be great for her to grow up with a brother. They'll be like twins."
Hamels and Strobel have shown a consistent interest in Africa. The Cole Hamels Foundation aims to improve education in American inner cities as well as in Malawi, where the couple initially planned to adopt a child. But Malawian rules require parents to live in the country for a year before adoption, so the family turned to Ethiopia.
"We're excited," Hamels said of the pregnancy. "Hopefully we'll be headed for the World Series when it happens."
Lidge returns
Brad Lidge (right knee sprain) will be activated from the 15-day disabled list today, and a corresponding roster move will be made, according to general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. Lidge made two successful minor-league rehabilitation appearances, and he and the team decided he was ready.
Amaro said that athletic trainer Scott Sheridan "felt like there were no restrictions" on Lidge, meaning that the closer would be used as usual. Manager Charlie Manuel said he would use Lidge on back-to-back days if necessary, but probably not three straight days at first.
"It's pain-free when I throw, and it's looking good," said Lidge, whose knee remains swollen but noticeably less so than several weeks ago. "I had altered my mechanics for a while, but now I'm able to be back to where I was."
Lidge is 0-3 with a 7.27 earned run average, 13 saves, and six blown saves this season.
Wanted: Pitching help
Amaro is still seeking an upgrade for the pitching staff, but said that finding a trade partner has been difficult. With several of the pitchers who would seem a possible fit for the Phillies injured, and others playing for teams still in contention, available starters are scarce.
"The availability really isn't there," Amaro said. "The number of buyers and the number of sellers isn't even close right now."
With Brett Myers likely lost for the season after hip surgery, Antonio Bastardo has gone 2-2 with a 5.21 ERA in Myers' slot. "If he pitches effectively, there is no reason why he wouldn't continue to pitch," Amaro said.
Colorado's Jason Marquis and Boston's Brad Penny have been mentioned as possible fits, but both have become more important to their teams of late, Marquis because of the Rockies' success and Penny because of Daisuke Matsuzaka's struggles.
"There are many teams who are staying in [the race] longer," Amaro said.
The GM did say that he expects talks to intensify when the July 31 trade deadline draws closer. "Things will heat up, because everyone is still kind of in it [right now]," Amaro said. By the end of next month, presumably, some teams will decide they are not contenders.
Eyre progressing
Amaro said that Scott Eyre (calf strain) was "improving faster than we thought he would." Eyre has thrown off a mound several times over the last few days, and felt that the injury was healing. He is eligible to be activated from the disabled list on Saturday, though Amaro said he did not know when Eyre would return.
Contact staff writer Andy Martino at 215-854-4874 or amartino@phillynews.com.
