Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
MIAMI — The Phillies promised changes to their mediocre middle relief. The first happened after Wednesday's 3-0 victory when Phillippe Aumont was demoted to triple-A Lehigh Valley.
But Charlie Manuel made it clear: The team is still enamored of the hulking Canadian pitcher.
"He has all the potential in the world," Manuel said. "One of these days, Aumont has a chance to be a big-time back-end bullpen piece. But right now he needs to pitch and get regular work in to develop his pitches."
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
MIAMI — Mike Adams, red faced after a strenuous bullpen session at Marlins Park, was optimistic he could return from the disabled list before the weekend ends. Pitching coach Rich Dubee later offered a dose of reality.
"He's throwing fine," Dubee said. "But he needs to see some hitters."
Adams (back strain) will travel to Clearwater, Fla., while his teammates head north to Washington. He will throw a live batting practice session Friday. He is scheduled to appear in a game Monday.
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
MIAMI — Curt Schilling, sixth among all Phillies pitchers in wins and fourth in strikeouts, will be inducted to the team's wall of fame Aug. 2, the Phillies announced Wednesday.
In addition to the weekend's alumni ceremonies, Brad Lidge will retire as a Phillie. He will throw the ceremonial first pitch Aug. 1 against San Francisco. On Aug. 4, the Phillies will honor the 1993 National League champion team with a pregame event.
Long viewed as a controversial figure because of his unceremonious exit from the city, Schilling spent nine of his 20 seasons in Philadelphia. He is one of the franchise's greatest righthanded pitchers. He was the first one to 300 strikeouts and won the MVP of the 1993 National League Championship Series.
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
MIAMI — In the 13 days between starts for the Phillies, Tyler Cloyd returned to triple-A Lehigh Valley. He pitched one more in the minors at Harbor Park in Norfolk, Va. Baltimore's triple-A affiliate bashed him for seven runs on 11 hits in 3 1/3 innings.
"Don't look at that line," Cloyd said Tuesday.
There was no need. He was promoted again despite the gruesome numbers. And, again, he delivered in the majors.
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
MIAMI — Forty minutes before first pitch Tuesday, the latest cruel twist in a cursed Phillies season happened. Chase Utley was scratched from the lineup with what the team described as "discomfort on his right ribcage."
Utley felt the injury during batting practice. He will be examined Wednesday. That it was not an injury to his knees came as a modicum of relief. Utley has chronically injured knees that halved his last two seasons.
Freddy Galvis replaced Utley in the lineup at second base.
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
MIAMI — The Internet was rife with conspiracy theories Monday night when the Phillies' broadcast feed showed Marlins pitcher Alex Sanabia spit on a baseball immediately after allowing a solo home run to Domonic Brown.
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel was not bothered by the incident.
"Not really," he said Tuesday. "It happens all the time. I didn't see it."
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
MIAMI — The cortisone injection in Ryan Howard's left knee apparently worked wonders. The $125 million first baseman is back in the Phillies' lineup Tuesday, one day after head athletic trainer Scott Sheridan said inflammation in Howard's knee "concerned us."
The team was unsure whether Howard had a tear in his meniscus. Even so, players can trudge through that injury.
The Phillies need every offensive reinforcement possible. They are scoring 3.49 runs per game, the franchise's fewest since 1972 (3.22). Miami will start phenom Jose Fernandez. The 20-year-old has thrown 13 scoreless innings with three hits and 14 strikeouts against the Phillies.
Bob Brookover, Inquirer Baseball Columnist
His team has failed to win more than three games in a row this season. Two-thirds of the season-opening starting rotation is on the disabled list as is the starting catcher and setup man. The power-hitting first baseman has not hit for much power or much at all lately and is dealing with a sore left knee that has kept him out of the last two games. Middle relief is an oxymoron and the offense is often marked absent. The two biggest offseason additions in the outfield have contributed little.
Welcome to the world of Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., who fielded a series of questions about his struggling team Tuesday morning.
Can this team weather the injury storm better than it did a year ago?
- Poll: Is Cole Hamels’ 1-7 record deserved? (979 votes)
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
MIAMI — The last time Cole Hamels threw a pitch with his team winning was April 7. It was a crisp Sunday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park; the wind gusted to center on a high 50s day. The season was six games old. In the fifth inning, Billy Butler smashed a 92 m.p.h. Hamels fastball to left for a grand slam. Hamels pitched to eight more batters that day, a 9-8 Phillies loss to Kansas City, and suffered his second loss of 2013.
That was the last time Cole Hamels pitched with a lead. That was 44 days ago.
His team won a game for him April 28 in New York by mounting a rally immediately after he departed. But that's it. He has seven losses, most in the majors. The Phillies are 1-9 when he pitches.
- Poll: Is Cole Hamels’ 1-7 record deserved? (979 votes)
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
Myriad injuries have cluttered the Phillies' roster, and the team faces numerous decisions in the next 24 hours. A quick rundown of the postgame news following a dramatic 3-2 victory over Cincinnati:
- Carlos Ruiz will not immediately travel to Miami. He will undergo an MRI in Philadelphia to determine the extent of his right hamstring strain. A trip to the disabled list appears likely.
- Ryan Howard will also undergo an MRI on Monday in Philadelphia. He has a left knee injury that has been nagging him, he said. He will fly to Miami on Monday afternoon. Charlie Manuel does not expect him to play Monday.
- Poll: Which injury concerns you more? (1324 votes)
