The Phillies announced that Harry Kalas will be inducted posthumously into the team’s Wall of Fame on Aug. 7, at Citizens Bank Park before a game against the Florida Marlins.

“When we started the Wall of Fame in 1978, the intent was to honor the great players in our history,” team president David Montgomery said in a statement. “We believe it is fitting to make an exception because Harry deserves to be remembered along with some of the greatest names in our history. He is indeed a Phillies icon.

“Being a Wall of Famer is our organization’s highest honor. There’s no doubt Harry should receive such recognition,” said Montgomery.

During his Phillies career, Kalas broadcast 6,037 games. Kalas was inducted into the broadcasters’ wing of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002 when he received the prestigious Ford C. Frick Award, given to a broadcaster who has made “major contributions to baseball.”

The Wall of Fame display is part of the Memory Lane section of Ashburn Alley.

Wall of Famers who are expected to participate in the ceremonies include Robin Roberts (first inductee, 1978), Jim Bunning (1984), Steve Carlton (1989), Mike Schmidt (1990), Dick Allen (1994), Greg Luzinski (1998), Garry Maddox (2001), Tony Taylor (2002), Bob Boone (2005) and Dallas Green (2006). Kalas broadcast games involving all of these players.

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To read our earlier post about the Phillies' potential for a trade, click here

We'll start this afternoon with a point of reference:

The first major trade of 2008 came on July 7, when the Indians shipped CC Sabathia to Milwaukee in exchange for top outfield prospect Matt LaPorta, lefthander Zach Jackson and righthander Rob Bryson.

But it is never too early to start talking trade deadline, so I caught up with Ruben Amaro Jr. to get a general feeling of where the Phillies will be looking over the next couple of months. The Phils do not discuss specific trades publicly, so you aren't going to get any names out of Amaro. But generally speaking, the Phils will be looking to upgrade.

The organization's philosophy over the past few seasons has started with a simple dictum: you can never have too much pitching. As my esteemed colleague Paul Hagen pointed out in a story two days ago, the Phillies added Kyle Lohse in 2007 and Joe Blanton in 2008, and both players submitted key contributions to the team's ensuing playoff run. This year is different in years past in that the Phillies do not have a glaring opening in the rotation. That might seem counterintuitive, given Phillies starters' struggles during the first couple months of the season. But Cole Hamels is not going anywhere, and Jamie Moyer received a heavy investment from the club in the offseason, and Blanton is coming off his best start of the season, and J.A. Happ pitched well against the Yankees, and Brett Myers spot is safe as well.

Now, a lot can change over the next month. Myers is having an MRI on his ailing right hip today. If he is lost for any extended period of time, that would seem to drastically alter the Phillies' motivation to add another starter. Similarly, if Moyer or Happ or Blanton has a rough June, that would increase pressure to add another arm.

My point is, right now, it is difficult to gauge exactly how badly the Phillies need another starter.

The same can't be said about their need for another bat on the bench. I would be surprised if the Phillies don't find a way to add a right-handed bat over the next couple of months. Right-handed pinch-hitters are just 6-for-35 this season with two RBIs. Currently, the final spot on the bench is occupied by a player - John Mayberry - whom the team still feels is better served by getting regular at-bats in the minors.

The Phillies' quest for a right-handed hitter has been a long one. They tried to convince Ty Wigginton, Nomar Garciaparra and Gary Sheffield to assume the role. They looked at Kevin Millar and Andruw Jones. Problem is, it was impossible to convince a free agent to sign with the team with the number of potential at-bats that appeared to be available. Rare is the player like Matt Stairs who is happy with three or four pinch-hit at-bats a week and an occasional start.

When it comes to trades, however, players don't have much of a choice. So it would seem that the Phillies best chance at adding such a hitter will come over the next couple of months. There will be plenty available. Who, exactly, is on the block will become clearer as teams realize they have fallen out of contention over the next month. The point is, though, that the Phillies will be monitoring their options closely.

Again, it is early, too early to identify a hitter or pitcher who will be a realistic target of the Phils. But their wish list is pretty apparent: a right-handed bat with power or speed, and a starter.

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The Phillies are hitting .277 with runners in scoring position this season, thanks in large part to the addition of Raul Ibanez to the line-up and the rejuvenation of Carlos Ruiz and Pedro Feliz.

So it's tough to give the team too much grief for its performance last night. But their struggles with men on base were a big reason why they weren't able to overcome Myers' three-run sixth inning.

Three times the Phillies had a runner on third base with less than two outs. And three times they were unable to drive him in with either an out or a hit.

All told, they were 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

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We'll try to get you some news on Brett Myers' MRI later today. Stay tuned.

Brett Myers was visibly nervous about the hip injury that forced him from tonight's 6-2 loss to the Marlins in the sixth inning. The righthander will have an MRI tomorrow, at which point more should be known. He walked with a noticeable hitch in his gait in the clubhouse after the game.

“I’m kind of a little nervous because I’ve never been hurt really bad,” said Myers, who allowed five runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. “I don’t like needles either.”

Myers said the hip has locked up on him several times in the past. But tonight was by far the worst it has been.

“It was pretty bad out of the stretch,” Myers (4-3) said. “Sometimes it would just give way. It’s kind of hard to finish pitches when you don’t have your back leg pushing off. Against the Yankees I was feeling it, but it wasn’t too bad. It was maybe once an inning. But tonight almost every second or third pitch it would bother me. Hopefully there is nothing serious with it and there is some treatment I can do to get rid of it.”

Possible contingency plans, other than Chan Ho Park?

Andrew Carpenter pitched last night at Lehigh Valley, and Kyle Kendrick pitched tonight, so either could be available.

It is still too early to tell, though, if Myers will miss a start.

Raul Ibanez leads all National League outfielders in home runs (17), RBI (43), slugging (.750), runs (38) and his fourth in batting average (.345).

But in All-Star voting, the Phillies left fielder is currently sixth.

Ibanez has little more than half as many votes as Ryan Braun, who leads all NL outfielders with roughly 1.6 million votes. Among others ranked ahead of Ibanez? Brewers outfielder Mike Cameron and suspended Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez. Apparently people in Milwaukee don't have much else to do besides vote for the All-Star game, because Corey Hart is a mere 57,000 votes behind Ibanez.

It was an interesting baseball game, in that there were three key situations that may or may not have affected the outcome of the game.

***First, the Shane Victorino caught stealing in the ninth inning: It was Victorino's decision to go. The Phillies essentially give Rollins and Victorino a green light at all times. But a frustrated Charlie Manuel said afterward that the onus is on the runner to realize the situations when running is not prudent. With the tying run at the plate and no out in the ninth, that was the situation the Phillies were in. But Victorino ran on a 1-0 pitch to Matt Stairs and was gunned down.

 “That was a mistake,”  said Manuel, who pulled Victorino aside in the dugout after the play. “We talk about our running game and things like that, but also you’ve got to know when to run. I can stop him, but at the same time, our baserunning, with the way we set it up, we like to think you won’t make mistakes like that.”

Victorino addressed reporters shortly after the clubhouse was opened to the media and issued a mea culpa.

“I (messed) up,” Victorino said. “It was a stupid situation there, but hey, I made a mistake. I’m not going to second-guess myself right there. I’ll face the reality that I messed up.”

***Second, Wes Helms' three-run home run in the fourth: Jamie Moyer threw a 2-2 fastball that either caught the inside corner or landed just outside. Marvin Hudson ruled it was the latter.

Home plate umpire Marvin Hudson ruled it was the latter situation, and on the very next pitch Helms sent a 3-2 change-up sailing into the left field seats for a three-run home run.

“It really doesn’t matter what I think,” Moyer said of the pivotal play, which sparked the Marlins to a 5-3 victory and handed the Phillies just their third defeat in 11 games. “You need to go ask Marvin.”

***Third, Ronny Paulino's RBI single up the middle in the sixth (if you are counting, all five runs were driven in by ex-Phillies). The Phillies were trying to pitch around Paulino, believing that the Marlins would leave Chris Volstad in to bat with the bases loaded and two out in the innings. After throwing Paulino three balls, Moyer unleashed a pitch that caught the plate. Paulino drove it up the middle for an RBI.

"I should have thrown it to the backstop," Moyer said.

Who knows if the Phillies would have won had any of the aforementioned three situations transpired differently. Even if Helms had struck out, there would have been one out and men on base in the fourth. Even if Paulino had walked, the Marlins might have pinch hit for Volstad in the sixth. And even if Victorino had remained at first, Stairs' groundout might have been turned into a double play.

That's the beauty of baseball.

I'm sure you all know this by now, but the Phillies have called up John Mayberry Jr. He will join the team tomorrow. LHP Sergio Escalona was sent to Lehigh Valley.

I'm in a hurry to hit the Jersey Turnpike, so I'll leave you with this quote on Brett Myers' pitch that he threw behind Derek Jeter's back in the first inning:

“I think that’s what we need to do as a team,” Myers (4-2, 4.34) said. “I think everyone protects each other on the team. It’s part of the game. It’s kind of like eye for an eye.”

I wasn't blown away by Citi Field. I can't say the same thing about the new Yankee Stadium. They did this place right, and somehow succeeded in making an ultra-modern ballpark feel retro. The most impressive aspect of the new park? It's got to be the giant video board in center field. The thing is huge, and the picture clarity looks better than the flat screen television in my apartment. I haven't had a chance to sample the concessions, but the food in the press box puts everything else in the major leagues to shame. By far the most impressive new park I have been to. I really like Citizens Bank Park, but if I had to cover 81 home games here, I wouldn't complain.

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Indications from both Charlie Manuel and Ruben Amaro Jr. are that the Phillies plan on announcing a roster move tonight after the game. Neither would shed any light on if the call-up will be John Mayberry, who did not start at Triple-A Lehigh Valley tonight, the first time that has happened this season.

I expect Mayberry will be up and one of the team's extra relievers will be sent down. The question - has Sergio Escalona impressed enough to warrant keeping around? He has made three appearances, and tossed three scoreless innings. Would the team think about keeping him and sending down Jack Taschner? We'll have to wait and see.

Still no word on who the Phillies will call up after tonight's game, but John Mayberry would seem to be a likely candidate. The outfield prospect, whom the team acquired from the Rangers this offseason for Greg Golson, is a right-handed power hitter who fits the mold of the player the Phillies will be looking for to fill out their bench against lefties Andy Pettitte and CC Sabathia.

Just talked to someone up in Lehigh Valley who told me that Mayberry is not in the line-up tonight, although he is present at the IronPigs' ballpark. It is the first time this season Mayberry has not been in the line-up.

That could serve as an indication that the Phillies are planning on calling him up after tonight's game. INF Pablo Ozuna, another candidate, is in the line-up.

Mayberry could just be getting a day off. We'll find out soon.

A few quick notes before I skedaddle to the airport for a flight home. . .

1) Charlie Manuel said the Phillies would not make a roster move before tomorrow night's game, but could make one before Saturday's game. Facing righthander A.J. Burnett tomorrow, either Matt Stairs or Greg Dobbs will DH. But because of games against lefties Andy Pettitte and C.C. Sabathia Saturday and Sunday, the team could call up a right-handed bat from the minor leagues and send down one of the extra relievers they are currently carrying on the roster.

2) Raul Ibanez hit his 15th home run of the season, Chase Utley hit his 11th, and Jimmy Rollins went 4-for-6 to improve his batting average to .234.

3) Rollins has hit safely and scored a run in nine of his last 10 games, during which time the Phillies are 7-3.

4) Sergio Escalona continues to impress: he tossed a scoreless ninth inning today.

5) Chan Ho Park made his first relief appearance, pitching a scoreless eighth inning.

6) Manuel was complimentary of Joe Blanton's pitching performance, despite the five-spot he allowed in the fifth. Three of those runs came courtesy of one bad pitch, a hanging slider with two-out in the fifth inning that Brandon Phillips crushed for a three-run home run.

7) Blanton said the one area of his game he is dissatisfied with is his performance with runners on base. Heading into today, the opposing hitters were batting under .200 against him with the bases empty, and .338 against him with runners on.