Posted on Sat, May. 10, 2008
SAN FRANCISCO -
Brad Harman never expected to be here in the first place, so he enjoyed the time while it lasted.
Harman replaced
Jimmy Rollins on the 25-man roster when the Phillies placed Rollins on the 15-day disabled list April 20 with a sprained left ankle. The shortstop was activated before last night's game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park, which meant Harman was optioned to double-A Reading.
"It's going to help in the sense that I've been able to watch these guys work," Harman said. "I know what I need to do. I know what's expected up here. Basically, I'm going to go back down and keep doing what I'm doing, which was what got me here in the first place."
Harman went 1 for 10 with a double, RBI, walk, strikeout and run scored in six games. He had the challenge of facing
Brandon Webb,
Randy Johnson and
Tim Lincecum in that span.
"I faced some pretty decent pitching when I got in there, so it wasn't a real smooth ride," Harman said. "But I know I can hit the guys that I faced. Those are good guys that I faced. Getting in there and taking the swings I did and not being tentative or scared I guess was a positive for me mentally. It's something I can take away from it. If there was a pitch to hit, I was putting a swing on it."
So who's better? Webb or Johnson?
"They're both as tough as each other," Harman said.
The East is a beast
The Phillies entered last night a game behind the Florida Marlins in the National League East. The Braves were a half-game behind the Phillies, and the Mets were a half-game behind the Braves. Even the Nationals have been playing decent baseball lately.
It could make for an interesting summer.
"We wouldn't want it any other way," manager
Charlie Manuel said. "If you're a champ, you can play anywhere."
TV blackout
This afternoon's game against the Giants will not be televised because of Major League Baseball's contract with Fox. It is the first Phillies game not to be televised since June 10, 2006, when the Phils played the Washington Nationals at RFK Stadium. That happened because Fox dropped the broadcast.
Fox has an agreement with MLB that says any Saturday game that falls in a specific afternoon time frame cannot be televised because it conflicts with Fox's national broadcast.
Fans can listen to
Harry Kalas,
Chris Wheeler and
Scott Franzke on WPHT-AM (1210).
On tap
Lefthander
Jamie Moyer (2-2, 4.15 ERA) faces Lincecum (4-1, 1.49 ERA) this afternoon, so break out the comparisons: old vs. young, doesn't-throw-hard vs. throws-hard.
Lincecum allowed six hits and four unearned runs in six innings Sunday against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. He walked two and struck out five. Moyer did not face the Giants last weekend, but he went 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA in one start against them last season. He is 4-5 with a 2.73 ERA against them in his career.
Simply the best
The Phillies are 16-10 (.615) since April 10, which ties them with the Arizona Diamondbacks for the best record in the National League. The Phils had the best record in the league (85-62) after April 20 last season.
- Todd Zolecki